Written Answer to PQ on ECT Costs and Fee Recovery Framework

NOTICE PAPER NO. 1532 FOR SITTING ON 3 NOVEMBER 2026
QUESTION NO. 2237 FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

MP: Ms Gho Sze Kee

To ask the Acting Minister for Manpower whether the Government will review the framework for costs in Employment Claims Tribunals proceedings, including whether employees who substantially succeed in their claims should generally be able to recover reasonable lodgement fees and other disbursements incurred in pursuing their claims.

Answer:

1. The Employment Claims Tribunal (ECT) was established in 2017 to provide employees and employers with an affordable and accessible avenue to resolve employment disputes. The ECT lodgement fees are intentionally kept low at $30 for claims amounting to S$10,000 or less, and $60 for claims amounting to more than S$10,000.

2. The Tribunal or Registrar is empowered to order a party to pay the other party's costs and disbursements, including lodgement fees whenever it is assessed to be appropriate. In practice, the ECT has been exercising such discretion in various cases.