Dear TRS,
I refer to your article about the 13th month bonus: The Coveted 13th Month 'Bonus' In Singapore
As far as I can remember, before 1997, the 13th month bonus was actually a mandatory requirement for companies.
But during the 1997 financial crisis, our government made it optional to lighten the load of employers so that they could be helped during that difficult time.
As Singapore has no real labour union and no real political opposition at that time, there was little resistance to this move at that time.
Singapore then and now, continues to be pro-business at the expense of workers.
After so many years, there are still many private companies which do not pay out 13th month bonus to their staff. 13th month bonus is to cover the extra few working days in each month, which add up to the 13th month, and so the 13th month bonus should be mandatory as we deserve it.
It seems like MOM is still reluctant to reverse the 13th month bonus back to mandatory by law as it was prior to 1997.
Again, it has shown that it will continue to sacrifice the interests of workers just to make our country more business friendly.
I think it is time for us, the employees to fight back our rights and what we deserve since we have no labour union which will fight for us.
Even now our labour chief tells us to be “cheaper, better, faster”.
Angry Employee
TRS Contributor