Singapore ministry probes S$5 pay cut for 11-second lateness

A wheelchair assistant at Singapore's Changi Airport reportedly had S$5 docked from his pay for being 11 seconds late, sparking an investigation by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). The incident came to light after the CEO of Maid Without Borders shared a payslip on LinkedIn showing the deduction, which she described as a "penalty."

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We are aware of this case and have contacted Aventa Services, the employer of the affected employee, to establish the nature and extent of the deductions.

The MOM confirmed it is investigating the case and has contacted Aventa Services, the employer of the wheelchair assistant. "If it is determined that the deduction is unauthorised or excessive, MOM will take appropriate enforcement actions accordingly," the ministry stated. Employers are only permitted to make deductions for reasons authorized under the Employment Act, and these cannot exceed the salary for the period of absence.

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If it is determined that the deduction is unauthorised or excessive, MOM will take appropriate enforcement actions accordingly.

If the 11-second delay resulted in a S$5 deduction, it implies an hourly wage of approximately S$1,636, highlighting the potential excessiveness of the penalty. The MOM emphasized that employers have a duty of care and cannot impose deductions by characterizing them as "penalties or fines." Failure to comply could lead to stern warnings or prosecution.

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His payslip literally wrote ‘11 seconds late’.

This situation also involves ground-handling company SATS, which stated it was looking into the allegations against its service partner, Aventa Services. The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has also been contacted for comment. Employees facing unauthorized or excessive deductions can file claims with the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management for assistance with salary recovery.

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All employers should have a duty of care and responsibility towards their employees. Employers may only make salary deductions for reasons authorised under the Employment Act.