Employee relations, Singaporean style.

Like every country, Singapore has employment laws, however, are they enforced? Do they have meaning beyond the books in which they are recorded?

I am privy to a recent conversation between an employee of a Singaporean company and her boss, who is a Permanent Resident of Singapore from mainland China.

The employee was a Caucasian woman of mature years, but still alert, attentive and diligent at her work. She was concerned that she hadn't been paid and it was already several days past the due date.

She entered her Director's office and addressed him quietly:

"Am I getting paid today?"

Her boss didn't even bother to look up at her.

"No." His word was as empty of warmth, as his unexpressive face.

"You do know that under Singaporean employment laws, you can't pay later than the 7th of the month, for the previous month's work."

"I am not paying you until next Tuesday.", he said, again, not bothering to look up from whatever preoccupied him on his desk. His voice had become rather harsh and irritated.

"That's illegal.", she said, surprised at his tack.

"I am not paying you. Now, if you don't like it, you can resign!" This time he did look at her, and his voice was filled with undisguised anger.

She was stunned. She walked out in silence.

The next day, she resigned.

Now, I wonder how frequently scenes like this play out across Singapore? My network of contacts is limited, so I only get to hear a few of Singapore's stories. That I should hear one such story, therefore, indicates that there may be many others.

Singapore is a land renowned for its stringent laws...but how stringently are those laws enforced which make a difference to the quality of life and working life of its residents? Certainly, this particular employer did not pay attention to the employment laws of the land. Nor did he respect his workers, in even the most basic fashion.

How common is such behaviour? Do you know of similar cases? Please let me know in the comments.

Thanks.

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