EXPLOITATION OF WORKERS DURING FESTIVE PERIODS

EXPLOITATION OF WORKERS DURING FESTIVE PERIODS: 11.

Dr Ong Seh Hong asked the Minister for Manpower (a) whether the attempt by an employer to penalise its staff who take sick leave during Chinese New Year is against any law; and (b) what more can be done to protect the interest of workers in Singapore against unreasonable exploitation especially during festive periods.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Manpower (Mr Hawazi: Column: 2530

Daipi) (for the Minister for Manpower): Sir, under the Employment Act, an employee has the right to take sick leave. While employers can introduce incentive schemes to motivate their employees to meet operational needs or enhance productivity, schemes which deny employees of their right to take sick leave would not be in line with the law. Employers should not unfairly penalise their employees for taking such leave.

If employees feel that they are being compelled not to take sick leave or are unfairly penalised in the consumption of sick leave, they can seek advice and assistance from MOM. If they are union members, they can also seek help from their union. On the part of the employer, they could better familiarise themselves with the law by attending training courses as well as to work with the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (ASME) or other employer organisations to look into how appropriate incentive schemes could be introduced without depriving employees of their rights under the law.

Dr Ong Seh Hong (Marine Parade): Sir, I have a few supplementary questions. First, besides denying employees from taking sick leave which is a very clear infringement of the Employment Act, there could be other forms of exploitation of the workers, such as requiring them to work unnecessarily long hours. I would like to ask whether there is any clear guideline on the working hours and the demands that the employer can make on the employees during festive periods. Secondly, I would like to know whether there are any cases of complaint of exploitation during festive periods by the workers and, if there are, how many are there in the last few years. And, thirdly, what is the redress that workers can seek?

Mr Hawazi Daipi: Sir, complaints from employees that they have been compelled

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to work during the festive holidays even when they are on sick leave is not an issue. On whether there are any other forms of abuse by employers, there can be. But if employees have any issue with that, they can come to MOM for advice or seek the advice of their union leaders if their company is unionised. As I said in my reply, it is an offence to deprive any worker of their sick leave.