Regardless, including unfair clauses is unethical as they abuse the vulnerable position the workers might be in," he wrote. To be sure, experts said that the Singapore authorities have made strides in beefing up protection for workers with changes to the Employment Act, as well as the set-up of dispute management office TADM. MINISTRY OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt UNOFFICIAL VERSION UPDATED TO 31ST DECEMBER 2016. One excessive example, according to Mr Lim, is a contract that had a non-solicitation and non-poaching clause lasting five years, as well as a two-year non-compete clause. App. Confidentiality Clause in Employment Contract. These are some of the most misunderstood clauses in Malaysian employment contracts. The MOM website states that salary deductions for such liquidated damages should not be made, even if employees have given their consent. Mary checked with her national consumer association, who told her that the contract clause was unfair. HR Resources & News, 12 Aug 2020 82:37 Unfair Contract Terms CHAPTER 82:37 UNFAIR CONTRACT … Thoughts & Inspirations, 18 Aug 2020 Such clauses typically look something like: In the second situation, if case went to court, it is likely that the court would hold the clause invalid, as the amount of S$100,000 seems excessive and may be deemed to be a penalty clause. The three clauses he highlighted (and that you should avoid including in your contracts) were: Given the narrow profit margins service providers are getting, employers may then resort to passing the cost of liquidated damages to the workers. Employers who issue fixed-term contracts have traditionally relied on the provisions of Section 2(2)(b) of the Unfair Dismissals Acts. It stated that if the service level agreement between the employer and Boardwalk Inkwazi was terminated, then the employees’ employment … The employee has to pay a liquidated damage of S$100,000 to the company, should they resign and work for another company in the same industry. Courts Remain Skeptical of Employee Dispute Arbitration Clauses in Missouri. Construction is one industry that has seen more low-wage workers, usually foreigners, falling victim to such unfair clauses, added Mr Lim. Liquidated damages borne by workers “When there is an imbalance of power, the employer will be able to dictate the terms and very often, employees will just sign the contract because they don’t feel they have the opportunity to negotiate it,” said Ms Kaur. 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All Rights Reserved, Become A Member of the HRguru License Network, https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/unfair-clauses-employment-contracts-what-more-can-be-done-12052280, Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management, Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices, 5 Performance Appraisal Insights for Startups in Remote Working, Workshops On (1) How To Conduct Workplace Investigations, and (2) How To Conduct Board Of Inquiry (BOI) Effectively (Online), Employment Act Premium Masterclass (Online), NTUC calls for Fair Protection of the Singaporean Core amid rising retrenchments, Our Chief Guru’s New Advisory Appointments. MOM’s statement was in response to media queries about a blog post by Member of Parliament (MP) Zainal Sapari. Proposed measures to allow workers’ greater freedom to find new or additional work have been unveiled by Business Secretary Alok Sharma today. This prohibits an employee from claiming unfair dismissal on expiry of the fixed term set out in the contract. “Due to the challenging business environment, there are employers who may resort to underhand practices or tactics to address the problems they are facing, but to the possible detriment of the workers … (Including) unfair clauses is unethical as they abuse the vulnerable position the workers might be in,” wrote the MP. It causes a significant imbalance between the rights of the trader and consumer to the detriment of the consumer. Our legal sy… In Germany, exclusivity clauses are not used in employment contracts, and taking on an additional job (as long as it is not in competition to your first employer) is never prohibited. A contract should identify the person or the position to whom the employee must report and from whom that employee should take instructions. If you think it is blatantly unfair, then one can always go to TAFEP and TAFEP will take up the case with the employer.”. If the exclusion clause was properly drafted, in writing and signed by both parties the employer could rely on it. It is often helpful for the parties to have agreed to a number of key aspects of a particular role, and for the employer to identify the more important standards or targets that the employee is expected to meet. It also agreed to review the clause for future employees, said the ministry. Excessive compensation. HR Resources & News, 55 Siglap Road It could also include a breach of duties where an employer uses business premises for an unauthorised purpose. The context of the contract and the party’s positions are two common factors that help decide whether a term is fair or unfair. Confidentiality clauses restrict an employee from discussing or disclosing any information or knowledge which the employee may become aware of during the course of employment. However, according to the Ministry of Manpower's website, salary deductions for liquidated damages should not be made even if consent has been obtained from the employees, as it is not to the benefit of the employee, Zainal wrote. The ministry added that “clear principles and markers on when such clauses are not enforceable” have also been set by the Civil Courts. E.D. The firm involved in the example cited by MOM had heeded TAFEP’s advice to drop the demand for compensation after the latter said the clause was unreasonable. In a blogpost yesterday, NTUC Assistant Secretary-General, Zainal Sapari spoke up against the unethical clauses certain employers resort to when addressing the problems they are facing. Unfair contract terms guidance Guidance for the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 September 2008 OFT311 . If the contract is terminated by the worker within two years, the worker has to compensate the company one month’s salary in addition to the notice period. An employment agreement or contract of employment also contains various terms and conditions to which both the employer and employee are bound. FIRST SCHEDULE. In its statement, MOM said that any employee who feels that he or she has been the subject of an unreasonable employment clause in his or her contract should approach the union, TAFEP or MOM for assistance as early as possible. ED102229 (Mo. These contractual terms are typically aimed at preventing employees in senior management positions from competing with the firm after they leave, but this security agency stated in its contracts that it would take legal action against officers who join another agency within four months of resigning. “Seek clarification and discuss with the HR staff or recruiter on the clause you are not comfortable with. Mr Zainal said there is an “urgent need” for tripartite partners to provide greater clarity and guidance on fair and proper contracting practices, given how workers who are not properly advised of their legal rights are more likely to succumb to the unreasonable demands of their employers. Around 50 of such cases, with some involving a high financial penalty, had been lodged with the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) since September 2018. This page is designed to give general information about members’ rights on returning to work. A unilateral variation of employment contract isn’t automatically unfair. You can claim compensation for breach of contract in an employment tribunal or county court. He concluded: "It is sad to see employment contracts, which should benefit and protect both employers and employees by preventing potential miscommunications and missteps, being used by unscrupulous employers to take advantage of unsuspecting employees.". Temporary provision for sea carriage of passengers. With a mechanism like TADM that offers mediation services, it means that workers won’t be disadvantaged just because they don’t have lawyers to represent them,” said Mr Leong. Unfair contract terms guidance 2 CONTENTS Part Page THE GUIDANCE I Introduction 7 II Analysis of unfair terms in Schedule 2 13 Groups 1 and 2: Exclusion and limitation clauses 13 Group 3: Binding consumers while allowing the supplier to provide no service 37 … LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 4 Chap. Choice of law clauses. The Unfair Contract Terms Act prevents unreasonable attempts to restrict liability by making the offending clauses in contracts unenforceable. 19. Unfair Arbitration Clauses in Employee Contracts. SECOND SCHEDULE. Ms Amarjit Kaur, partner at Withers KhattarWong, echoed that: “The Employment Act provides basic legislative protection to employees and goes into the details for areas like overtime pay, but not everything is prescribed.”, Referring to the restraint of trade clauses as “some of the most onerous clauses” that can be found in job contracts here, she added: “A lot of it is left to the freedom of contract between the employer and employee.”. The MOM, or the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM), could also consider starting a watch-list of companies found to have unfair clauses in their employment contracts. For the former, these tend to be illegal salary deductions and clauses that exclude them from overtime pay, said Mr Ian Lim, partner and head of employment at TSMP Law. These experts added that unfair employment contracts affect not just vulnerable workers, such as those earning lower wages, but the professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) as well. How to get out of a termination clause in an employment contract: In a wrongful dismissal lawsuit, employees can strike out the termination clause from their employment contract if they can prove that the termination clause is unenforceable. THE EMPLOYEE’S DUTIES 3.1 The core of the EMPLOYEE’s duties towards the EMPLOYER is a duty to … The law applies to standard form contracts entered into or renewed on or after 12 November 2016, where: 1. it is for the supply of goods or services or the sale or grant of an interest in land 2. at least one of the parties is a small business (employs less than 20 people, including casual employees employed on a regular and systematic basis) 3. the upfront price payableunder the contract is no more than $300 000 or $1 million if the contract is for more than 12 months. Singapore 455871, Click here to subscribe to our mailing list. If the contract was terminated within one year, regardless of whether the termination was initiated by the employee or employer, the employee was liable to pay the company a penalty of $50 per calendar day from the date of the termination notice till the one-year term. Examples of the types of contract terms that may be considered unfair include: Exclusion of liability for death or personal injury. Another is the outsourced services industry, where job contracts are found with clauses that require workers to pay liquidated damages incurred by the company, according to Mr Zainal. Don't make the same mistakes. The three clauses he highlighted (and that you should avoid including in your contracts) were: 1. “Given the narrow profit margins they are getting, these service providers may then resort to passing the cost of liquidated damages to the workers,” the MP wrote in his blog post. Various clauses related to damages, arbitration, class action waivers, termination in employment contracts, construction contracts and real estate agreements are against public policy and give unfair advantage to the one party due to the unequal bargaining position. If your employer is seeking to introduce a lay-off clause into your employment contract, seek advice from Bectu right away. Thus, it is the need of the hour to implement the suggestions proposed in 103rd and 199th Law Commission Reports. While this was a clause found in the employee’s contract, it was an “unreasonable” one. 17. Don't make the same mistakes. It’s also possible for a unilateral change to be agreed … Its general pattern is that if clauses restrict liability, particularly negligence, of one party, the clause must pass the "reasonableness test" in section 11 and Schedule 2. The use of unilaterally imposed mandatory arbitration clauses in employment contracts as a condition of employment harms both the individual employee and the public interest in eradicating civil rights violations. Presently, there is a lack of guidelines on the applicability and enforceability of such clauses. This could include things like trade secrets or client information. Sections 2-7 of the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 (not including Section 6(4)) only apply to business liability. Alternatively, you may email us at contactus@hrguru.com.sg or call us at +65 6443 4328 during office hours, 9am - 6pm, to schedule an appointment. 5. 3. Read more at: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/unfair-clauses-employment-contracts-what-more-can-be-done-12052280, 24 Jul 2020 The area of law which deals with restraint of trade in employment contracts is complex. Excluding liability for poor work or work & materials. MOM said it has been in “active discussion” with tripartite partners on such issues and will ensure that unreasonable contractual clauses do not become the norm in workplaces here. Given that a restraint of trade imposes a restriction on a person’s freedom – for example, by preventing them from getting a job with a competitor – courts will often examine the wording of such clauses in minute detail. A breach of such terms or conditions shall lead to repudiation of the agreement. International supply contracts. Regardless, including unfair clauses is unethical as they abuse the vulnerable position the workers might be in," he wrote. No liability by the company/business for breaches of contract. You can only claim pay for the notice period the contract says the new employer should have given you. This will include situations where there may be a liability for breach of obligation and duties as a result of something done or said by a person whilst carry out business duties. “The most effective way of resolving such disputes is usually amicable settlements, without going to the civil courts. If they are successful in striking out the termination clause, then common law notice applies. CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT MADE AND ENTERED INTO BY AND BETWEEN: ... 2.3 Substantive and procedural fairness will entail that the EMPLOYEE will be given the opportunity to state his / her case in response to the allegations being raised and to a final decision from the EMPLOYER. Transparency is also fundamental to fairness. #02-30 Siglap Centre Whether you are an employee or an employer, it’s important to have a basic understanding about the terms of an employment contract, and what they really mean. In this scenario, you can potentially change their contract. Boost for low paid workers as government to crack down on “unfair” employment clauses. The Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 regulates clauses that exclude or limit terms implied by the common law or statute. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experiences on our website, to show you personalised content and targeted ads, to analyze our website traffic and to understand where our visitors are coming from. New government measures could see the ban of the use of exclusivity clauses in employment contracts. “In the outsourced service industry, such as cleaning and security, it is quite a standard practice for service buyers to reflect the liquidated damages payable for non-performance issues in the contract. Some also contain “catch-all phrases” like “all the above terms and conditions are subject to changes”. In essence, the contracts of employment contained a clause which provided that the employees’ employment with the employer was dependent upon the existence of the service level agreement between the employer and Boardwalk Inkwazi Shopping Centre. “Such catch-all phrases usually allow the companies to easily make changes to pay structure, work location or schedule, and benefits without having to consult all employees,” said Singapore Human Resources Institute’s (SHRI) president Low Peck Kem. But experts also urged workers to be up-to-date with local employment laws and not rush into signing a job contract. A restrictive covenant is typically a clause in a contract which prohibits an employee from competing with his ex-employer for a certain period after the employee has left the business, or prevents the ex-employee from soliciting or dealing with customers of the business by using knowledge of those customers gained during his prior employment. He further noted that if reported to TADM, employers must reimburse deductions arising from the list of liquidated damages to the employees. This was an example given by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Wednesday (Oct 30) in a statement addressing the issue of unfair clauses found in employment contracts in Singapore. However these have also been used to prevent non-critical or rank-and-file employees employees from leaving the company, or come with an excessive amount of liquidated damage payment. July 7, 2014). 21. 18. If you don’t have a right to contractual notice, you can claim ‘reasonable notice’, which is 1 week. “The law is on the workers’ side in this aspect but the only thing is that workers must take it to the courts if challenged by their employer which, unfortunately, many low-wage or vulnerable workers are not prone to doing,” added the MP. However, it is perhaps best to avoid including such clauses in your firm's employment contract. 2. Saving. “Other than intervening in such cases to help the employees, MOM will also not hesitate to take other actions, such as suspension of work pass privileges, against recalcitrant employers,” it said. Click to chat with Tommy Ng on WhatsApp or send us a message via our contact page. Employers involved in these cases were “generally … cooperative” after being told to justify the contractual clauses imposed and to remove or not enforce those that were unfair, said MOM. These typically involve non-solicitation clauses that seek to stop a worker from soliciting clients or staff away from a former employer. A term in a consumer contract is unfair if, contrary to the requirement of good faith, it causes a significant imbalance in the parties’ rights and obligations under the contract, to the detriment of the consumer. 22. This was on the back of an article by CNA titled 'TADM recovers S$29m in owed wages; resolves 85% of salary claims within 2 months.'. In the post, he noted that due to the challenging business environment, some employers may resort to underhand practices or tactics to address the problems they are facing, but to the possible detriment of the workers. Reluctant to pursue litigation The courts will be the arbiter, not the ACCC as the ombudsman proposed. Therefore, Mary contacted the seller again, referred to her contacts with legal experts in the consumer association, and managed to get her deposit refunded. Writing on the labour movement’s blog on Wednesday, Mr Zainal, who is the assistant secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), cited examples of “one-sided and unethical clauses” that take advantage of the “vulnerable position” of workers, and called for more to be done. If a contract is varied on or after 12 November 2016… Similarly, any supervisory responsibilities of the employee should be clearly identified. "Some of the worst contracts with unfair clauses come from governments," she said. Click here for more information. TL;DR – Regardless of how excited you are, always read your employment contracts before signing anything. More can also be done to protect migrant workers whose main recourse is to seek pro-bono help through charity help groups that have limited resources, suggested Mr Lim. The MP also suggested a “cooling off period”, up to five working days for example, to allow workers to rescind an employment contract they have signed without penalty. There also needs to be greater education efforts to help workers understand employment contracts. Human resource and legal experts said the unfair terms found in some job contracts can range from illegal salary deductions when performance targets are not met and penalties for contract termination to excessive non-compete or restraint of trade clauses. When an employee has a complaint about wages, discrimination, wrongful termination, or other issues, a valid arbitration agreement may require that the … Keep up to date on industry trends and latest developments and find links to useful HR resources here. For the PMETs, contractual disputes tend to involve excessive “non-compete” or restraint of trade clauses. HR Resources & News, 25 Jul 2020 Mr David Leong, managing director of PeopleWorldwide Consulting, said authorities and unions can also draw up templates of employment contracts that are in accordance with the Employment Act for companies to refer to. “While there are legitimate reasons why employers include restraint of trade clauses in employment contracts (such as to protect trade secrets and trade connections) or impose liquidated damages for specific contractual breaches (such as breaking a training bond), excessive or unreasonable use of such practices cannot be justified.” As a small business, you should check your standard form contracts to ensure that your terms do not include unfair contract terms. Bowers v. Asbury St. Louis Lex, LLC, et al., —- S.W.3d —-, No. “Sign the contract with your eyes open,” said SHRI’s Ms Low. The effect of this decision would be that an employee could, potentially, rely upon Section 3 of the Act which would give protection in three situations. Those whom the law seeks to regulate should not be allowed to exempt themselves from the enforcement of civil rights laws. The government has confirmed it intends to crack down on and potentially ban the use of non-compete clauses in employment contracts – as reported by Personnel Today on Tuesday – and announced its intention to prohibit exclusivity clauses for low-paid workers. Administrative penalties should be imposed on them, added Mr Zainal. The contract stated that the agency will take legal action if the employee was found to have worked for another company in the industry within four months of leaving the company. There is currently “no bright-line test to determine reasonableness” of these clauses, he added, given the current lack of specific guidelines in this area. Courts have held various contracts unconscionable due to the unfair and unreasonable clauses in the contracts. “While there are legitimate reasons why employers include restraint of trade clauses in employment contracts (such as to protect trade secrets and trade connections) or impose liquidated damages for specific contractual breaches (such as breaking a training bond), excessive or unreasonable use of such practices cannot be justified.”. Government to crackdown on unfair employment clauses in a boost for low paid workers by LLB political Reporter December 4, 2020 written by LLB political Reporter 4 th Dec 20 8:47 am By browsing our website, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Restraint of trade clauses in employment contracts. "Some employers have included in employment contracts certain clauses that may not be fair to the workers, perhaps to address staff attrition, recoup losses they incurred due to liquidated damages, or protect their business interest. It does not cover all circumstances and should not be treated as a definitive answer. Rank-and-file workers have not been spared, according to Mr Zainal, who raised the example of how one security agency used the restraint of trade clause on its security officers. This could include things like trade secrets or client information about members ’ rights on returning to.. Measures to allow workers ’ greater freedom to find new or additional work been! – regardless of how excited you are, always read your employment,! Be treated as a small business, you can only claim pay for the notice period the contract clause properly... Is 1 week terms or conditions shall lead to repudiation of the term! 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