Rights of Freelance Workers in Singapore

Debated in Parliament on 13 Jul 2015.

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Tin Pei Ling asked for the estimated number of freelance workers in Singapore, whether there is an increasing trend, and if the government would consider including them in the Employment Act or other laws for clearer recourse if denied payment by hirers.
As of June 2014, there were 183,900 freelance workers, making up 8.7% of employed residents, down from 9.4% in 2004, indicating a slight decline over the decade.
Freelance workers are considered self-employed with no employer-employee relationship, so they are not covered by the Employment Act, but they can seek legal redress through State Courts or the Small Claims Tribunal if not paid by clients.

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Tin Pei Ling

Ms Tin Pei Ling asked the Minister for Manpower (a) what is the current estimated number of freelance workers in Singapore; (b) whether there is an increasing trend of such workers here; and (c) if the Ministry will consider including freelance workers in the

Page: 144

Employment Act or other relevant Acts for greater clarity of the recourse available to them should they be denied payment by hirers for services rendered.

Lim Swee Say

As of June 2014, there were 183,900 freelance workers, forming 8.7% of employed residents compared to 9.4% 10 years ago in 2004.

Freelance workers are persons who operate their own business or trade. This means that they are their own employers. They decide which service contracts to enter into. There is no employer-employee relationship between them and their clients. For this reason, they are not covered by the Employment Act (EA).

Freelance workers who are not paid by their clients can seek legal redress by commencing proceedings against their clients at the State Courts, which includes the Small Claims Tribunal, depending on the nature of the claim or disputed amount.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Tin Pei Ling asked for the estimated number of freelance workers in Singapore, whether there is an increasing trend, and if the government would consider including them in the Employment Act or other laws for clearer recourse if denied payment by hirers.
As of June 2014, there were 183,900 freelance workers, making up 8.7% of employed residents, down from 9.4% in 2004, indicating a slight decline over the decade.
Freelance workers are considered self-employed with no employer-employee relationship, so they are not covered by the Employment Act, but they can seek legal redress through State Courts or the Small Claims Tribunal if not paid by clients.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Rights of Freelance Workers in Singapore | PAPERCUTS

Rights of Freelance Workers in Singapore

Debated in Parliament on 13 Jul 2015.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Tin Pei Ling asked for the estimated number of freelance workers in Singapore, whether there is an increasing trend, and if the government would consider including them in the Employment Act or other laws for clearer recourse if denied payment by hirers.
As of June 2014, there were 183,900 freelance workers, making up 8.7% of employed residents, down from 9.4% in 2004, indicating a slight decline over the decade.
Freelance workers are considered self-employed with no employer-employee relationship, so they are not covered by the Employment Act, but they can seek legal redress through State Courts or the Small Claims Tribunal if not paid by clients.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

Tin Pei Ling

Page: 144

Employment Act or other relevant Acts for greater clarity of the recourse available to them should they be denied payment by hirers for services rendered.

Lim Swee Say

As of June 2014, there were 183,900 freelance workers, forming 8.7% of employed residents compared to 9.4% 10 years ago in 2004.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Tin Pei Ling asked for the estimated number of freelance workers in Singapore, whether there is an increasing trend, and if the government would consider including them in the Employment Act or other laws for clearer recourse if denied payment by hirers.
As of June 2014, there were 183,900 freelance workers, making up 8.7% of employed residents, down from 9.4% in 2004, indicating a slight decline over the decade.
Freelance workers are considered self-employed with no employer-employee relationship, so they are not covered by the Employment Act, but they can seek legal redress through State Courts or the Small Claims Tribunal if not paid by clients.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Rights of Freelance Workers in Singapore

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Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Tin Pei Ling

Lim Swee Say

Summary

Questions Identified

Rights of Freelance Workers in Singapore

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Tin Pei Ling

Lim Swee Say

Summary

Questions Identified