MOM calls for public feedback on Employment Claims Tribunal

MOM calls for public feedback on Employment Claims Tribunal

The current Labour Court under the Employment Act only covers workers who earn less than $4,500 per month regarding their salary disputes. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is considering establishing the ECT to expand this scope to include all employees (except public servants, domestic workers and seafarers for the time being). The detailed proposal can be found here. The public has until 23 March 2016 to give feedback.

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February 27, 2016

Poem: operation beside private development

its arm bled leaves. an orphaned
stub remained, stoic, silent.
the worker wielded a long blade
expertly, sawing at bone; dust
and sound of blunt metal on wood
flecked onto lifeless leaves.

I saw the whole row of them
standing in line, waiting for execution,
by the metal fence. on the other side,
infant shrubs watched listlessly.

we draw lines with surgical precision
dividing organ and waste, yours and ours,
cutting flesh and soul to which
none of us belong.

February 25, 2016February 27, 2016

“Do more to protect higher-skilled workers: NTUC”

Do more to protect higher-skilled workers: NTUC, Straits Times (25 February 2016)

HR and employment matters can turn very ugly when employees are terminated, retrenched or dismissed. Anger and bitterness resulting in potential long-drawn disputes and litigation can actually be avoided if employers and HR professionals apply the fundamental Golden Rule to employees who are being asked to leave.

Unions offer a form of protection and support. Legal counsel is an even more important way because then one would know what the legal rights are and how to negotiate for a fair and peaceable outcome for all.

February 17, 2016February 19, 2016

The Straits Times Opinion: Why a Constitutional Commission to review the Elected Presidency?

My Straits Times Opinion Article

I wrote an OpEd for the Straits Times, “Why a Constitutional Commission to review the Elected Presidency?”, explaining the background to the recently appointed Constitutional Commission, which is only the 2nd one since independence. The previous one was in 1966.

I opined on why the PAP Government did so when it had never found the need for it regarding all its constitutional amendments since 1966. I suggest the new political context where a PAP Government-backed candidate may plausibly lose the vote. This is amidst the backdrop of societies and voters moving further left in economic policies and also rising sensitivities as regards ethnic-religious minorities.

Update: make submissions to the constitutional commission

Submit in writing, signed, by 21 March, 5 PM. There may be public hearings for clarification and elaboration.

Submissions can be in Malay, Chinese, Tamil or English and need to be typed or legibly written by hand. The submissions must also be signed, whether in hardcopy or PDF form.

The precise dates of the public hearings will be announced in due course, but these will likely take place over a limited number of days between April 18 and May 15, 2016.

The submissions must be addressed to the Constitutional Commission Secretariat, and sent by post to 1, Supreme Court Lane, Singapore 178879, or e-mail to CCSecretariat@supcourt.gov.sg.

February 15, 2016February 27, 2016

“Nearly 30 spats between neighbours head to the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunal”

Nearly 30 spats between neighbours head to the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunal, Straits Times (15 February 2016)

300 – Inquiries received by tribunals in first three months
85 – Pre-filing consultations held
27 – Actual court filings

Meaning that presumably a substantial number of parties managed to resolve their disputes prior to court action. Most disputes are regarding excessive noise. Sometimes it just takes the real threat of legal action to nudge a stonewalling person to come to the table to mediate and resolve the dispute.

January 20, 2016January 21, 2016

Terrorism threats as opportunities

“We face four types of inter-related threats in Singapore, and they are becoming more urgent. First, of course, is the threat of a terrorist attack. It is not a question of “if” but “when”. Second is the threat of radicalisation of a part of the Muslim population. The third problem we face is our Muslim population growing somewhat distant from the rest of our society. The fourth, which is a very serious threat, is Islamophobia among our non-Muslim communities.”

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December 12, 2015December 14, 2015

Daesh (ISIS / ISIL), Terrorism & Ideology

The Daesh plays on fear to undermine our liberal democratic values and fracture our societies. And people in the U.S. and France are falling right into their trap.

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December 1, 2015December 4, 2015

Smile in the Garden

I hurried through a tiny, litter-peppered park enclosed within an HDB precinct. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed someone walking towards me. A cleaner–broom in hand, South Asian descent. I hastened. He slowed to a stop. He looked past me. I threw a furtive glance in that direction. There was a domestic helper with a toddler in her arms, fair as morn. The toddler was smiling. At the man. She waved animatedly at him. Eyes twinkled. The man hesitated. Then he sheepishly waved back at the child.

We paused: the man, the woman and I.

The moment passed when finally, the child turned to look at the playground some distance away. Our fellowship dispersed. I slowly left that tiny budding garden, my heart blooming a thousand golden petals.