THE Ministry of Manpower (MOM) helped 750 aggrieved local workers recover a total of about $800,000 in salary claims from errant employers in the first four months of this year.

Between January and April, the MOM’s Labour Court heard 490 cases, for which orders were issued to employers to pay the workers. In the remaining cases, employers reached out-of-court settlements with their workers.

The wide range of disputes included unpaid salary in lieu of termination notice to failure to pay employees during their sick leave to unauthorised deductions by employers.

Warning that it is unfair for an employer to deny employees their notice pay if the workers have no opportunity to serve out the notice period, the MOM cited the case of Idealsoft.

The company had terminated the services of four employees. Not only did it not pay the employees in lieu of notice, it also owed three of them salaries. The amounts owed ranged between $1,700 and $6,000.

At a Labour Court inquiry, Idealsoft said the employees had verbally agreed to waive the two months’ notice period, but the claim was disputed by the workers.

The company didn’t dispute the salary arrears. On advice from the MOM, Idealsoft reached a settlement with the workers and has since made full payment.

In another case, a teacher employed by Candy Kids Childcare was not paid for time during which she was hospitalised. The childcare centre also deducted from her salary hospitalisation leave taken in a previous month.

Candy Kids argued that the teacher was on probation and therefore was not entitled to paid sick leave.

But the Labour Court said that an employee on probation remains an employee, and time served during probation must be considered when determining eligibility for sick leave.

Under the Employment Act, a worker is entitled to paid sick leave if he or she has served the employer for at least three months.

As the teacher had worked for more than six months before she was hospitalised, she was entitled to paid sick leave.

The MOM advises workers to refer to their obligations and rights under the Employment Act.

Workers can contact the MOM for advice and assistance at 6438 5122 or through its website at www.mom.gov.sg if they feel that the law has not been complied with.

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