DISPUTE RESOLUTION   MINISTRY OF MANPOWER    SNEF    NTUC

Singapore - There will soon be a new dispute resolution process for professionals, managers and executives (PMEs) to help this group of workers resolve employment disputes with their employers.

The proposed process involves the use of mediation, and hopes to provide a speedy and low-cost avenue for PMEs and their employers to resolve their employment disputes. Currently, PMEs who have employment disputes with their employers would mostly have to resort to civil litigation to settle the dispute, which can be costly and protracted for both parties.

The types of disputes that can be addressed through mediation are salary arrears, payment of retrenchment benefits, and issues arising from individual employment contracts. If the dispute cannot be resolved through mediation, he may pursue his claims through the civil courts. He may also pursue salary claims through an adjudication process by Ministry of Manpower. 

Currently, about 240 PMEs seek MOM's help yearly. Last year, the number grew to 350 cases due to the recession. MOM hopes to introduce this dispute resolution process in 2011, and would leverage on the tripartite partnership between MOM, Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) and National Trades Union Congress.

Stephen Lee, president of SNEF said that with the growing number of PMEs in the workforce, some of their employment problems may need to be addressed with third party assistance. “This tripartite approach will enable disputes to be resolved quickly and cost-effectively for both parties. SNEF supports the government’s initiative to introduce a dispute resolution mechanism for PMEs that leverages on our cooperative tripartite relationship.”

 

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