I refer to the article “MOM, NTUC and SNEF develop guidelines on how employers can issue itemised payslips” (Straits Times, Jan 13).
Guidelines for payslips?
It states that “Employers can now refer to a set of guidelines on how to issue itemised payslips to employees and what information to include in them.
The tripartite guidelines – developed by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the National Trades Union Congress and the Singapore National Employers Federation – provide templates of payslips that companies may use and customise based on their own needs. According to the guidelines, the payslip should include items such as basic salary, total allowances and total deductions for each salary period.”
“No payslips” problem for a long time?
For years, a lot of people, including migrant worker NGOs have been asking for pay slips to be made mandatory, because it may be problematic when workers complain that they have not been paid or underpaid.
As to “In a press release on Monday, MOM said that the tripartite partners “agree that the provision of itemised payslips to employees is a good employment practice” as it raises employee’s awareness of their salary components and helps in resolving salary disputes.
Wait another 2 years?
MOM intends to mandate the issuance of itemised payslips within the next two year. The guidelines were developed after consultations with various stakeholders, the ministry added”
- does it not make you wonder why such a simple thing as having a pay slip needs to take years – involve so many organizations, processes, guidelines, etc?
With regard to “”We received feedback that many smaller SMEs (small and medium enterprises), especially enterprises such as ‘mom and pop’ shops and hawkers, find issuing itemised payslips challenging,” the ministry said in the release.
“The guidelines therefore aim to prepare these businesses to change their practices in a sustainable way, so that they are able to comply when we make it a legal requirement.”"
“mom and pop” problems – really?
- why can’t we make it mandatory and provide assistance to so called ‘mom and pop’ shops and hawkers – like for example what the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) has been doing so well for many years?
If something so complicated as income tax can be done – why is it so difficult for a payslip?
How many items or combination of items can there be in a payslip that requires so many templates, guidelines, changing practices in a sustainable way, etc?
As I understand it, most if not all of the complaints and salary disputes are I understand not from so called ‘mom and pop’ shops and hawkers?
If indeed I am mistaken in this regard – can the statistics be given as to how many ‘mom and pop” shops and hawkers had salary disputes and complaints, relative to the total number of complaints?
Super complicated payslip?
In respect of “The ministry is also working with the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore and SPRING Singapore to, by April 2014, provide tools such as simple payslip booklets, downloadable templates, and funding support for companies to develop customised solutions regarding the issuance of payslips”
- don’t you get the feeling that its like “much ado over nothing”? I mean after all – it’s just a simple one page payslip – can’t be so complicated that we seem to be talking about it like “rocket science”?
Labour movement – ha ha ha?
Perhaps the labour movement’s statement tops it all, as to how arguably, farcical – this issue of payslips is becoming:
“The move was welcomed by the labour movement. It issued a statement in which it said:
The Labour Movement welcomes these guidelines as it would translate to
greater transparency for workers. Providing workers with itemised payslips will
go some way to help them better understand their salary components as well as
provide a means of proper documentation.
” On the part of workers, we encourage them to keep their payslips properly
and clarify with their employers or HR personnel if they do not understand any of
the components listed in their payslips,” it added”.
Uniquely Singapore!
Leong Sze Hian
*Leong is the Past President of the Society of Financial Service Professionals, an alumnus of Harvard University, has authored 4 books, quoted over 1500 times in the media , has been host of a money radio show, a daily newspaper column, Wharton Fellow, SEACeM Fellow, columnist for Malaysiakini, executive producer of the movie Ilo Ilo (24 international awards). He has served as Honorary Consul of Jamaica and founding advisor to the Financial Planning Associations of Brunei and Indonesia. He has 3 Masters, 2 Bachelors and 13 professional qualifications.