I raised a question in Parliament about whether the Ministry of Manpower proactively informs retrenched low-wage workers about the Short-Term Relief Fund (STRF) when employers submit retrenchment notifications or enter liquidation. I asked this question because I was concerned that many lower income workers may be unaware that this support exists during company closures.
The Acting Minister for Manpower explained that when employees file salary claims with the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM), TADM first engages employers to attempt salary recovery, a process which can take one to two months. If mediation fails and the salary cannot be recovered despite best efforts, TADM will then process STRF disbursements for eligible claimants. Those with urgent financial needs are referred to Social Service Offices.
This is the full question and answer from 4 Aug 2026:
Improving Short-Term Relief Fund Outreach To Retrenched Low-Wage Workers And Expediting Emergency Payouts After Company Closure
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Acting Minister for Manpower (a) whether the Ministry proactively informs retrenched local, low-wage workers about the Short-Term Relief Fund soon after employers submit retrenchment notifications or enter liquidation; and (b) whether it will consider an interim emergency payout within one week of company closure, given that current disbursements take one to two months after claim verification.
Ms Jasmin Lau: The Short-Term Relief Fund (STRF) provides financial relief as a last resort to eligible local lower income workers when their owed salaries, which their employers are legally obligated to pay, cannot be recovered. When employees file salary claims with the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM), TADM will first engage their employers, mediate and help to recover the owed salaries from the employers. If the salary cannot be recovered despite best efforts, TADM will process STRF disbursements for eligible claimants. The disbursement may take one to two months as TADM needs to establish that the claims are valid and the salaries owed genuinely cannot be recovered. For those with urgent financial needs, we will refer them to their respective Social Service Office for financial assistance to meet their basic needs.
Tag: salaries
Increase in NS allowance
On 22 Feb 2023, I asked the Minister for Defence in Parliament whether MINDEF had considered raising the allowances for full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) in view of inflationary pressures and increases in the cost of living. In his reply, Senior Minister of State for Defence Heng Chee How stated that NSFs receive an allowance to support their basic personal upkeep and that MINDEF regularly reviews and adjusts the allowance.
I pressed further, asking if NS allowances could be pegged to inflation, so as to minimise the lag between increases in the cost of living and adjustments in pay. I also asked for the next review of NS allowances to be brought forward in view of the high and persistent inflation Singapore is facing. SMS Heng replied that when the Government calibrates NS allowances, they certainly will have to monitor the overall price levels within the country.
Yesterday (29 May), MINDEF announced that from 1 July 2023, all national servicemen in the Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force will receive NS allowance increases of up to $200. This is welcome news for the tens of thousands of NSFs who are supporting and defending the Constitution, preserving and protecting the honour and independence of our country, upholding the law, and protecting and saving lives.
Photo by Bao Menglong on Unsplash