Knowing Employee Rights in the Workplace
Know your rights! A part of ensuring your mental well-being is knowing what rights and benefits you are entitled to. We have compiled a list of labor standards that are used internationally and also specifically in Singapore for you to reference.
According to the International Labour Organization, all persons should, without discrimination, enjoy equality of opportunity and treatment in respect of:
"(i) access to vocational guidance and placement services;
(ii) access to training and employment of their own choice on the basis of individual suitability for such training or employment;
(iii) advancement in accordance with their individual character, experience, ability and diligence;
(iv) security of tenure of employment;
(v) remuneration for work of equal value;
(vi) conditions of work including hours of work, rest periods, annual holidays with pay, occupational safety and occupational health measures, as well as social security measures and welfare facilities and benefits provided in connection with employment.” (International Labour Organization, 2003)
In Singapore, the Ministry of Manpower encourages everyone to know their rights. Here are some important, basic rights you should know of! (Ministry of Manpower Singapore, 2023)
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Your employer is required to issue Key Employment Terms (KETs) to you within 14 days after the first day of employment. This should include details of employment, working hours and rest days, salary, leave and medical benefits, and others, such as probation periods. Please see the QR code for the exhaustive list.
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Your contractual working hours cannot exceed 44 hours a week or 8 hours a day. Anything above this is overtime.
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If you earn more than $50 per month, your employer must contribute CPF for you, even if you are working on an ad-hoc, part-time, or contract basis, or during your probation.
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You are entitled to 1 rest day per week without pay.
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You are entitled to 11 paid public holidays per year.
The full list can be found at https://www.mom.gov.sg/-/media/mom/documents/employment-practices/workright/workright-guide-employment-laws.pdf. We strongly suggest you read it thoroughly.
If you encounter a non-compliant employer, please report an employment act violation at https://www.mom.gov.sg/eservices/services/report-an-employment-act-violation or call the hotline at 1800 221 9922. Your identity will be kept strictly confidential.