Singapore – Ministry of Manpower says there were 50 cases of worker misclassification by employers to deny entitlements

Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower announced that last year there were 50 cases of workers complaining they were denied entitlements like overtime pay, because their employer had classified them as a manager or executive.

The Ministry added that of all the cases, 90% of them had evidence to back the complaints.

“The MOM takes a serious view of attempts to misclassify employees in order to avoid employer obligations,” a Ministry spokesman said in a statement.

According to the Ministry, the incidence of such worker misclassification has been consistently low compared to other complaints. The 50 cases from last year make up less than 1% of all cases received by the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM).

Under the Employment Act, workers earning below $2,500 (SGD 1,829.9) are entitled to benefits like overtime pay, unless they are classified as managers or executives.

Singaporean MP Patrick Tay estimated that 30,000 workers in Singapore are classified as professionals, managers and executives but earn below SGD 2,500 a month (USD 1,829.9). Tay also added that some bosses inflate an employee’s job title to avoid paying overtime to them.

When contacted on Monday, Tay told The Straits Times that although only 50 cases were reported to the ministry , most were substantiated.

Source:: http://www2.staffingindustry.com/row/Editorial/Daily-News/Singapore-Ministry-of-Manpower-says-there-were-50-cases-of-worker-misclassification-by-employers-to-deny-entitlements-46596