Employment disputes filed at TADM rose in 2025, but over 90% of salary claims ended in recovery

• The Singapore Employment Standards Report 2025 shows that over nine in 10 workers who filed cases with the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) and the Employment Claims Tribunal, recovered outstanding salaries and payments.

• More than 80 per cent of overall employment claims were resolved at Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM).

• Nearly two of three workers who filed wrongful dismissal claims had cases resolved in 2025.

• Workers facing delayed salary payments should seek timely help from TADM or their unions, while NTUC members in non-unionised companies can approach TADM@NTUC for support.

More than nine in 10 workers who filed salary claims through the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) and the Employment Claims Tribunal (ECT) in 2025 recovered their outstanding salaries and other payments.

Salary claims lodged with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) edged up from 2.63 per 1,000 employees in 2024 to 2.84 in 2025.

The ministry shared these key findings in the Singapore Employment Standards Report 2025 on 24 July 2026. The report provides an annual snapshot of employment standards in Singapore by tracking employment claims, salary recovery, wrongful dismissal claims and dispute-resolution outcomes.

Total employment claims resolved at TADM remain high

The total number of employment claims resolved at TADM was more than 80 per cent despite a bigger caseload.

The overall incidence of employment claims and appeals rose from 3.12 per 1,000 employees in 2024 to 3.44 in 2025.

The ministry attributed the higher number of total claims to business reorganisations and restructuring, rather than to an overall deterioration in employment standards. It said the increase in claims was closely linked to more dismissals, retrenchments and business closures in 2025.

Salary claims: Majority of workers recovered unpaid wages through mediation

Around 88 per cent of workers who secured salary claims were supported by mediation intervention from the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management, while the remaining 12 per cent were referred to the ECT for judgment.

MOM acted against errant employers who failed to pay their employees’ salaries in full by restricting their access to foreign manpower. Less than 1 per cent of salary claims in 2025 involved employers who refused to honour full salary payments despite having the means to do so.

The ministry reminded all Singapore employers that non-payment of salary is an offence, with penalties that may include warnings, composition fines, and prosecution. Under both the Employment Act and Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, employers must pay employees in full, and on time.

The ministry also urged workers with delayed salary payments to seek timely assistance from TADM or their respective unions. NTUC members who work in non-unionised companies should approach TADM@NTUC for customised support.

Wrongful dismissal: Nearly 2 in 3 workers resolved issues in 2025

Meanwhile, nearly two in three workers who filed wrongful dismissal claims with MOM had their cases resolved in 2025, up from the previous year.

With TADM’s support, 65 per cent of resolved cases were either withdrawn after mediation or concluded with employers found to have fulfilled their contractual or statutory obligations.

The overall incidence of wrongful dismissal claims rose to 0.57 per 1,000 employees in 2025 compared to 0.46 the year before.

How MOM, TADM and NTUC support workers with employment disputes

MOM will continue to address work-related problems through maintaining a strong enforcement presence and improving detection of at-risk sectors and firms.

Efforts will continue in educating workers and employers on their respective rights, obligations, and employment assistance resources.

Have a salary or employment issue? NTUC members can approach their respective unions for help. Members employed in non-unionised companies can contact TADM@NTUC at 6213 8008 for customised support.