The Employment (Amendment) Bill No. 23/2015 was introduced in the Singapore Parliament on 13 July 2015. It was read a 2nd time and passed on 17 August 2015. The legislative change will take effect on 1 April 2016. Significant proposed amendments to the Employment Act include:
(a) itemised payslips: employers shall have to give itemised payslips to employees in a prescribed form within a prescribed time and in the event that an employee resigns or is dismissed (section 96);
(b) employee records: employees shall have to keep complete and accurate records of their present and former employees containing certain prescribed particulars for a prescribed retention period; present and former employees would be entitled to access these records (section 95);
(c) written key employment terms: employees shall have to give employees a written record of their key employment terms no later than 14 days after start of employment or such other prescribed period (section 95A);
(d) paid maternity leave: a female employee shall only be entitled to maternity leave if she has served at least 3 months prior to the delivery date, but the 3 months need not be immediately prior to delivery (section 77).
While the detailed particulars for the above new requirements have yet to be stipulated, guidance may be taken from the Tripartite Guidelines on Issuance of Itemised Payslips and the Tripartite Guidelines on Issuance of Written Key Employment Terms.
These proposed amendments would go towards a more transparent employment regime which would be good for both employers and employees. Employers should take heed to bring their practices up to speed with the new regulations once the amendments have been passed. Check out the MOM webpage here.