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Written Answer to PQ on Protection for PMETs working on contractual rest days

NOTICE PAPER NO. 1405 OF 2026 FOR THE SITTING ON OR AFTER 4 NOVEMBER
QUESTION NO. 3209 FOR ORAL ANSWER

MP: Mr Lee Hong Chuang

To ask the Acting Minister for Manpower (a) whether the Ministry has assessed the prevalence of Professionals, Managers, Executives, and Technicians (PMETs) working on contractual rest days without additional compensation; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider extending appropriate minimum protections to PMETs who are required to work on such days, including through time off in lieu or monetary compensation, while taking into account the operational needs of employers.

Answer:

1. Part 4 of the Employment Act requires employers to compensate eligible employees at double their basic rate of pay if employers request them to work on their rest day. Part 4 applies to workmen earning up to $4,500 and non-workmen earning up to $2,600. This would include technicians earning below this workmen income threshold. An employer’s failure to compensate eligible employees on this basis is an offence. We do not track the prevalence of technicians or PMEs working on contractual rest days without additional compensation.

2. Currently, the Part 4 provisions do not apply to Professionals, Managers and Executives (PMEs). This recognises that PMEs generally have greater autonomy and are expected to deliver work outcomes, rather than being paid based on their working hours. However, tripartite partners recognise that lower-income PMEs may have limited bargaining power and would benefit from additional protections. As such, as shared previously in MOM’s reply to Question No. 1 for Oral Answer at the 9 Sep 2026 sitting, we are reviewing the salary thresholds for Part 4 workers including workmen, as well as studying how to strengthen support for lower-income PMEs as part of the ongoing Employment Act review. This includes considering how to extend appropriate protections while preserving the flexibility that many PMEs value. We will provide an update in due course.