TL;DR – TADM Offers One-stop Holistic Support for Workers in Distress
So I had coffee with a friend last month. Over kopi peng, she shared with me how some officers invaded her office one fine day, and apparently an investigation was launched on her company. Drama much huh.
Next thing she knew, she was told that they can pack up and leave. As for the salaries owed to her and her co-workers? Likely gone. In essence, the HR department pretty much shrugged and said, “Just our luck.” She thought so, until her colleagues told her about the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM).
You see, not many know that TADM can help in instances like this and provide a one-stop holistic support for workers in distress. Did you?
Now, to find that you won’t be paid by your employer after fighting the rainy Monday mornings MRT crowd, slogging at your desk for 9 hours a day, putting up with annoying co-workers, terrible pantry coffees… That’s a whole new level of sian.
With the economy in this state, well, some of these employers could have closed shop and are thus unable to pay salaries. Those, bobian lah. But there are those employers who, for whatever ridiculous reasons, are unwilling to compensate their staff for work done. Yes, those people exist.
6537 – The number of employees who made their claims last year.
Thankfully, the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) recovered around $16 million in salaries owed to them, with about 91% of employees who filed claims fully recovering their salaries. Yes – they received the full sums of salaries owed or compensation.
Now, TADM… Who is this hero on the block?
TADM is jointly set up by the tripartite partners: the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF).
Representation has been Labour Movement’s core area of work since my grandfather’s days… So know that the Labour Movement has the workers’ back!
Well, you may have heard that such dispute mechanisms are only for those covered under the Employment Act! Means Professionals, Managers, Executives (PMEs) not eligible?
WRONG. The TADM goes beyond those who are covered under the Employment Act. Almost all employees can resolve salary claims and employment disputes at TADM. And that’s not the only way that the TADM is improving protection and support for employees when it comes to disputes with employers.
TADM Offers One-stop Holistic Support for Workers in Distress
The best part? TADM will work with partner agencies to provide more holistic support to employees.
You see, someone seeking help from the TADM to resolve a dispute could be referred to the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) or Workforce Singapore to get support in their job search. Helpless low-income workers can get even more help through referrals to Social Service Offices or Family Service Centres.
TADM aims to work with partners to provide more options to help affected person more holistically based on their individual needs.
Free basic legal advice may also be suggested, depending on the nature of the case. At the legal clinic, they will be able to go over the issue with a lawyer one-to-one for 20 minutes. TADM works with the Law Society Pro Bono Services Office to offer this service.
With the economic downturn and spillover effects from the Covid-19 pandemic, there will probably be a lot of work to keep TADM busy in the coming days – very busy. That said, we can have faith that TADM will continue to serve workers where necessary.
Watch out, heartless employers, TADM @ NTUC has got Singaporean workers’ backs!