Who should the core provisions of the Employment Act protect?

Singapore

FIFTY years ago, a newly independent Singapore enacted the Employment Act in 1968 partly as a bulwark against concerns of mass unemployment following the planned British withdrawal from Singapore in 1971.

As part of a survival strategy to attract local and foreign investments, the Employment Act was intended to promote worker productivity and economic expansion by outlawing malpractices by both employers and employees.

Today, after decades of strong economic growth, while Singapore's survival remains a constant concern, the changing employment landscape and workforce profile have been the driving force behind recent amendments to the Employment Act.

For example, in an effort to raise labour standards, the Act was amended in 2015 to require employers to issue itemised pay slips and key employment terms…