Managing employment disputes at the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM)

The Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) provides employees and employers with services to resolve employment disputes.

TADM and the Employment Claims Tribunals (ECT) were set up in 2017 to provide an efficient, cost-effective avenue for resolving salary and wrongful dismissal claims. Jointly established by the tripartite partners – the Ministry of Manpower, the National Trades Union Congress and the Singapore National Employers Federation - TADM helps employees and employers manage their employment disputes by providing advisory and mediation services.

If you are facing an employment dispute, you should use the "Ask TADM" chatbot advisory service to get advice from TADM and make an appointment to speak to a TADM advisory officer. You can also file your claims through the TADM eServices, or approach your union if you are a union member.

For claims resolved through mediation, parties will enter into a settlement agreement under the Employment Claims Act.

Claims that cannot be resolved through mediation will be issued with a claim referral certificate and referred to the ECT.

TADM handles salary and wrongful dismissal claims and all requests for assistance will be redirected to TADM. You should approach TADM directly to resolve your case more quickly.

Types of claims

These are the types of claims that can be heard at ECT. They need to be first filed at TADM.

For employees	Statutory salary-related claims from all employees covered by the EA, RRA and CDCA. Contractual salary-related claims by all employees, except domestic workers, public servants and seafarers. Wrongful dismissal claims from all employees covered by the EA and CDCA.
For employers	Claims for salary in lieu of notice for all employers.

When to file your claim

For statutory and contractual salary-related claims:

Still employed by the company	Within 1 year after the dispute arose.
No longer employed by the company	Within 6 months from your last day of work.

For wrongful dismissal claims:

For pregnant employees	If you feel that you’ve been wrongfully dismissed without being paid your maternity benefits, you must file your claim within 2 months from the date of your confinement.
For other types of wrongful dismissal claims	Within 1 month from your last day of work.

Tripartite Mediation Framework

The Tripartite Mediation Framework (TMF), in accordance with the Industrial Relations Act, allows more employees to benefit from tripartite mediation as an option to resolve employment disputes.

Eligibility for tripartite mediation

All PMEs who are union members in non-unionised companies.
Rank-and-file union members in non-unionised companies.

Coverage of issues

Employment statutory benefits, e.g. salary arrears, overtime pay, public holiday and rest day pay, maternity and other leave.
Re-employment issues.
Breach of individual employment contracts.
Payment of retrenchment benefits.
Wrongful dismissal issues.

Maximum claim amount

You can claim:

Up to $20,000.
OR
Up to $30,000 if you go through Tripartite Mediation Framework or mediation assisted by unions recognised by the Industrial Relations Act.

If your claim exceeds the maximum amount, you must forego the excess amount to be able to enter into a settlement agreement under the Employment Claims Act, or to enable your case to be heard by the ECT.

Financial relief for unpaid salary claims

TADM also operates a short-term relief fund to help local low-income claimants, if their employer cannot pay their salary arrears due to business failure. TADM will assess if claimants qualify for the financial relief.

Mediation for disputes not covered under employment laws

Employees can contact TADM for assistance if they have a dispute that is not covered under employment laws.

Mediation for self-employed persons

Self-employed persons (SEPs) who encounter payment disputes with service-buyers can:

Approach Small Claims Tribunals (SCT).

Approach their sector agencies, such as:

Sector agency	Contact for more info
LTA	feedback@lta.gov.sg

Approach TADM.

Download and use the KETs template for SEPs.