More than $1.5 million was recovered for over 1,500 local workers who filed Employment Act claims against their employers in 2009.

Salary arrears was the most common Employment Act violation, reported by 78 per cent of the workers. Other complaints included non-payment of notice pay, overtime pay, and disagreements over contractual provisions.

While the Labour Court issued orders for payments to be made to 900 workers, 600 reached out-of-court settlements with their ex-employers after the Ministry of Manpower's (MOM) intervention.

Eighty-nine per cent of the workers had an outcome to their claims within two weeks from the first hearing.

MOM has provided examples of cases settled in the Labour Court to illustrate common misperceptions by employers and employees.

Financial difficulty is no excuse >>