TADM Maintains High Resolution And Salary Recovery Rates Despite Uptick In Employment Claims

In 2025, while the overall incidence of employment claims and appeals lodged with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) saw a slight increase from 2024, the majority of disputes were resolved swiftly and amicably through mediation at TADM. Employment claims resolution remained high with more than 80% resolved at TADM and more than 90% of claimants fully recovering their salaries and payments.

2 These are the key findings of the Employment Standards Report 2025 released by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and TADM today. The full report can be found on MOM’s website at go.gov.sg/employmentstandards2025. 

Key Highlights

9 in 10 employees fully recovered their salaries with assistance from TADM and the Employment Claims Tribunal

3 While the overall incidence of salary claims increased from 2.63 in 2024 to 2.84 per 1,000 employees in 2025, more than 90% of claimants fully recovered their salaries and payments at TADM and the Employment Claims Tribunal (ECT). 88% of salary claims lodged in 2025 were resolved amicably via TADM’s mediation process while the remaining 12% were referred to the ECT for adjudication.

4 For employers who did not fully pay their employees’ salaries, MOM curtailed their access to foreign manpower. Less than 1% of the salary claims lodged in 2025 involved employers who wilfully refused to make full payment for salary arrears despite having the means to do so.

5 Employers are reminded to fulfill their obligations under the Employment Act and the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, including paying employees their salaries fully and on time. Non-payment of salary is an offence, and MOM will investigate and take appropriate enforcement action which may include warnings, composition fines and prosecution. Employees who do not receive their salaries on time should come forward early and approach TADM or their respective unions for assistance and support in recovering their salaries. 

2 in 3 cases of wrongful dismissal claims were resolved amicably at TADM

6 The overall incidence of wrongful dismissal claims increased from 0.46 in 2024 to 0.57 per 1,000 employees in 2025. Of the wrongful dismissal claims lodged in 2025, 67% of cases were resolved at TADM while the remaining 33% were referred to ECT for adjudication. In 65% of the cases that were resolved at TADM, employers were found to have fulfilled their contractual or statutory obligations, or the cases were withdrawn after mediation.

Increase in employment claims closely linked to higher job turnover rates

7 While the overall incidence of employment claims and appeals has increased slightly from 3.12 in 2024 to 3.44 per 1,000 employees in 2025, the increase is more likely driven by labour market conditions amid business reorganisation and restructuring, rather than a broad-based deterioration of labour employment standards. The incidence of employment claims is closely linked to job turnover — dismissals, retrenchments, and business cessations — all of which have trended upwards in 2025.

Continued Efforts to Improve Employment Standards through Education, Dispute Resolution and Enforcement

8 Mediation at TADM continues to be effective, as reflected in the consistently high rates of resolution. MOM will continue to take a proactive, targeted, and data-driven approach to address the claims such as through maintaining a strong enforcement presence and stepping up detection of at-risk sectors and firms. MOM will also continue to educate employers and employees on their employment rights, end-of-employment obligations, and the avenues to seek assistance for employment disputes. Together with TADM and the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP), MOM remains committed to upholding employment standards through education, dispute resolution and enforcement actions.

9 With these initiatives and the close partnership with tripartite partners (the National Trades Union Congress and the Singapore National Employers Federation), we will continue to build a more progressive and harmonious workplace for both workers and employers.