Labour Welfare
Labour Section Hours: 9.00am to 5.00pm (Monday - Friday & Sunday)Email: labour@lanka.com.sg; Contact No: 62546773
The labour section, of the Sri Lanka High Commission was established to ensure the well being of the migrant workers to Singapore and also to promote more employment prospects for Sri Lankans to work in Singapore. The activities of the Labour section are monitored by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment.
The functions of the labour section are primarily;
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To ensure the welfare of foreign workers in Singapore.
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Promote employment opportunities for Sri Lankans.
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Regulate operations of licensed employment agencies in Singapore.
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Settlement of disputes arising out of non payment of wages.
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Looking into issues related to physical and sexual harassment.
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Holding inquiries into complaints on breach of employment contracts.
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Liaising with host government authorities such as Police, Ministry of Manpower, Immigration and Prisons.
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Visits to Prisons, Hospitals and other Institutes related to labour welfare matters.
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Attending to inquiries held at Ministry of Manpower and Courts.
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Providing counseling services.
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Attending to workers who are ill and also assisting them in the event of repatriation.
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Visiting work sites such as Old People's Homes, etc. where Sri Lankan workers are employed.
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Participating and organizing religious and other festival activities for workers.
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Verifying contracts that enable employers to recruit workers directly and contracts
signed by registered agents and employers.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE FOR DIRECT EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS
Employers who wish to employ a domestic worker on a direct employment contract have to make and application to the Ministry of Manpower and obtain an In-Principle Approval (IPA). They also have to comply with other Ministry requirements such as Insurance, Banker's Guarantee etc.
They have to produce a copy of the IPA, a copy of their Identity Card or Passport, a passport sized photograph of the prospective employee to the Labour section of the High Commission in order to sign the contract.
A fee of Singapore $80.00 is charged to the employer.
A copy of the contract document is given to the employer and this document, along with a copy of the IPA has to be sent to Sri Lanka (A fax copy is accepted) One set, to the Airline on which the worker will be traveling and one set to the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment.The prospective worker has to undergo a compulsory training course for 21 days conducted by the SLBFE free of charge, after which a certificate is awarded on successful completion of this training course. The worker has to also undergo a Medical check by a Doctor/Clinic approved by the Bureau.
However, the training program is not essential for those workers who have had previous experience working in Singapore and have proof of such employment.Workers seeking employment overseas have to make an insurance payment known as "Suraksha". This insurance payment is compulsory and the workers obtain benefits such as compensation in case of permanent disability of the employee, medical benefits given to family members, compensation made in case of accidental death etc. The employee will need to have the verified contract document in order to make this payment prior to her departure from Sri Lanka.
On arrival of the worker to Singapore, the employer has to send the worker to the High Commission to sign and complete the contract document within a period of seven days.
The contract documents are available at the High Commission.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE FOR AGENCY REGISTRATION/JOB ORDERS AND SIGNING INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTS TO RECRUIT WORKERSA licensed employment agency in Singapore who wishes to recruit workers from Sri Lanka have to initially register themselves with the High Commission. The documents required for registration are:
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Copy of Registrar of Companies certificate.
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Copy of License to Operate and Employment Agency
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Copy of Identity Card or Passport of chief signatory- Partner/Director/License of Company
A registration fee of Singapore $ 50.00 is charged, to be renewed annually.
Thereafter the employment agency is required to sign a Job Order with a Sri Lanka Licensed Employment agency, which would enable them to recruit workers to Singapore.
Along with the Job Order, a Special Power of Attorney signed by the Singapore agent, and an Agreement signed by both the Singaporean and Sri Lankan agents have to be submitted. On submission of same, the documents a, b, and c of the Sri Lankan have to be annexed. These documents have to be submitted in triplicate, one original and two sets of copies. The Job Order and the Special Power of Attorney have to be signed and sealed with the Singapore agency stamp, the Agreement has to be signed and sealed with the stamps of both Singaporean and Sri Lankan agents.
A fee of Singapore $50.00 is charged for each job order.Employment agencies are permitted to deal with any five Sri Lankan agents. One Job Order entitles them to recruit 100 workers. The new salary scale, minimum wage of S$325/- and S$350/- with day off, for inexperienced and experienced workers respectively, commencing 1st March 2008.
No other deductions of salary by Singapore agents, other than the one month charged on arrival towards their charges, commission, etc.
Deduction of agency fee (inclusive of cost of air ticket) from the wages of the worker, has to be an amount approved by the SLBFE.
The amount charged by the Sri Lanka agencies, to be mentioned by SLBFE to ensure that no overcharging or abuse of the system occurs.
After the formalities of the agreements are completed, the agents are required to register each individual employment contract at this High Commission for verification. They will have to submit the contract plus one copy, signed by the employer and the Singapore agent, copy of the IPA and IC of the employer.
A fee of Singapore $50.00 is payable by the employer for the verification of this contract.
Please note that only cash payments are accepted.
SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES
When a complaint is made to the High Commission, by either the employee or employer, the officers of the labour section talks to both parties concerned and make an attempt to solve the problem. In some instances they are requested to come to the High Commission in person.
If the employee has been recruited through an employment agency, on some occasions the agency is also asked to intervene in the matter, especially if the worker is to be transferred to a new employer.
In instances where a solution cannot be found the matter is referred to the Ministry of Manpower. In extreme situations the High Commission has to seek legal advice and in cases of physical abuse report the matter to the Police.
REPATRIATION PROCEDURES
The repatriation process is usually undertaken by the employers of the worker, or on their request by the agency concerned.
"RIGHT OF MIGRANT WORKERS"
The housekeeper agrees to serve the Employer for a period of two years. At the end of the contract period the employer shall bear the cost of return transportation of the Housekeeper to Sri Lanka.
Contract may be extended/renewed by mutual consent of both parties for another period of not more than two years with an increase of salary by a minimum of 10%. Under such terms the Housekeeper shall be allowed by the employer a paid vacation leave to be spent in Sri Lanka for a period of not less than 15 days for each contract of service with her return air ticket paid by the employer.
If the return air ticket provided by the employer is not utilized by the housekeeper at the end of two years contract, the cash payment in lieu of the cost of the return air ticket must be paid to the housekeeper.
The contract may not be cancelled before its termination without the consent of the two parties.
The housekeeper shall reside in the employer's residence and required to perform the normal chores in the employer's household. In no case shall she be required to work for other households or require her to work at his business establishment or other places of work.
The employer shall pay the housekeeper a minimum monthly salary of S$325/- in experience and S$350/- for experience worker to be paid on the last day of each month. A record of receipt of salary has to be maintained duly signed by housekeeper and employer.
The employer shall provide the housekeeper with free accommodation and free adequate meals three times a day. The employer shall also provide the housekeeper with free uniform whenever necessary.
The employer shall provide the housekeeper at least one paid holiday per month and eight hours of undisturbed sleep during night except in special cases where reasonable rest hours should be given (during working hours). If the housekeeper agrees to no off day, a sum of S$20/- must be paid in lieu of the same.
The employer shall provide the housekeeper with free medical services. In case of ailment, injury or accident arising out of and/or in the course of employment, the employer shall immediately repatriate the domestic housekeeper to Sri Lanka with transportation fare through the insurance coverage provided by the employer for the housekeeper.
It is understood that the parties shall abide by the provisions of relevant Singapore Law for the compensation, recoverable from the insurance policy if any.
At the expiry of this contract the employer and employee may with mutual consent enter into a new contract with an increase of salary by a minimum of 10%. The cost of return air ticket shall be provided by the employer or cash payment in lieu of the cost of air ticket, if the employee is not returning to home country at the end of two contract period.
In case of death the employer shall bear the expenses for repatriation of the remains of the housekeeper and her personal effects to her relatives in Sri Lanka or if the repatriation of the remains is not possible under the circumstances, the proper disposition thereof upon previous arrangements with the workers next-of-kin, or in the absence of the latter, the Sri Lanka Labour Attache/High Commission of Sri Lanka in Singapore. When appropriate policy can be activated upon the death of the housekeeper.
Working hours of the employee shall not exceed twelve staggered hours per day. Employer should provide free passage from the point of origin in Sri Lank to the site of employment and or expiration or termination of contract due to no fault of employee from site of employment back to Sri Lanka.
NEW EMERGENCY HOTLINE: 1800 6262595 TO ALL SRI LANKAN WORKERS, SINGAPORE
The Labour Section of the Sri Lankan High Commission has new telephone service to enhance the assistance provided to Sri Lankan workers in Singapore.
If you have an urgent / genuine & serious that immediate attention by the High Commission you may contact the Labour Section on the new number 24hrs, 7days a week. The Labour Section will do its best to give your needs its highest priority.
Normal enquiries should be directed in the customary way at 62544595/6/7.
Please remember this number is only for emergencies. Please do not misuse this service as you may prevent another Sri Lankan from contacting us in a genuine emergency. We assure you of our commitment to assist Sri Lankan workers in Singapore.
CONTRACT FORMS :
1. Registration form for Employment Agencies
2. Undertaking on the Recruitment of Housemaids/Housekeepers from Sri Lanka
3. Job Order for Agents
4. Special Power of Attorney for Agents (2 pages)
5. Agreement for both Agents (3 pages)
6. Employment Contract for Sri Lankan Housekeepers in Singapore (4 pages)
7. Employment Contract for General Workers
These forms could be obtained from the Labour Section of the High Commission.For further details on please refer to the web site Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) http://www.slbfe.lk
(C) Sri Lanka High Commission Singapore
Last updated on January 2009