Rights of part-timers protected too

• The Straits Times (24 May 2019): Rights of part-time workers

Rights of part-timers protected too
- The Straits Times, 5 June 2019

1.  Ms Huan Ai Min asked for greater protection for part-time workers, especially students who take up part-time jobs during school holidays (“Rights of part-time workers”, 24 May).
2. Statutory benefits like paid annual leave, sick leave and public holidays apply to all employees, regardless of whether the employees are on full-time, part-time or hourly-rated employment. Furthermore, if an employee is required to work on a public holiday, he would be entitled to either time-off up to a full day, or an extra day’s salary. Students working during school holidays must be given these benefits like any other employee.
3. To ensure that employers provide statutory benefits to all employees, MOM conducts proactive Workright inspections on workplaces and establishments. Enforcement action will be taken against employers who are found to have wilfully denied employees their entitlements. MOM and the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) also reach out to employers and employees to educate them on the Employment Act (EA).
4. Anyone who suspects he has been denied his employment benefits can approach the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) for advice and assistance. If there are suspected EA infringements, MOM will investigate and take necessary enforcement actions against the employer.

Then Yee Thoong (Mr)
Divisional Director
Labour Relations and Workplaces Division
Ministry of Manpower

Rights of part-time workers
- The Straits Times, 24 May 2019

1. It's encouraging to see students taking up short-term jobs in the retail or food and beverage sectors during the school holidays.
2. Most job agencies term these part-time jobs. But in reality, some workers put in more than eight hours a day, and five to six days per week - with no basic benefits.
3. Such a practice has shortchanged workers in those sectors for years. For instance, when a public holiday falls on a Sunday, even if they put in a full shift on the following Monday, which is a public holiday in lieu, it is considered a normal weekday and they are paid a weekday rate.
4. Part-time workers in these sectors who are paid hourly need greater protection and a clearer idea of what constitutes unfair practice. The Ministry of Manpower needs to step in and ensure fair employment for all.