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Before you file

Before you file a claim, make sure you:

Tip
All applications must be filed through the Community Justice and Tribunals System (CJTS).

If you need access to computers to respond to your claim, visit the Business Centre at the State Courts, Level 2 during operating hours.

Key facts

If you are filing the claim, you are the claimant.

The other party is the respondent.

Refer to the following to find out about filing an employment claim.

Note

Lawyers are not allowed to represent parties in court for ECT matters.

When to file

Within 4 weeks after obtaining the Claim Referral Certificate from TADM.

When to serve

Within 7 working days of the date of filing of the claim.

Filing fees

  • S$30 per claim for claims amounting to S$10,000 or less.
  • S$60 per claim for claims amounting to more than S$10,000.

Filing conditions

  • You cannot make a joint claim with other parties against the same respondent.
  • You cannot file a salary-related claim and a wrongful dismissal claim together.
  • The person or company against whom the claim is made must be residing, or have a registered office or place of business, in Singapore.

How to apply

Through the Community Justice and Tribunals System (CJTS).

What you will need

You should prepare a soft copy of the following in PDF format (where applicable) before you file:

  • Your personal identification documents.
    • (For Singapore citizens or permanent residents) National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) or passport.
    • (For foreign citizens) Passport and employment pass.
    • (For company representatives) Latest ACRA profile, letter of authorisation and NRIC, passport or employment pass of representative.
  • The claim referral certificate from TADM and the latest ACRA Profile of the employer.
  • Other supporting documents for the claim (for example, employment contract pay slips, written record of key employment terms, time sheets or bank statements).
    • All supporting documents submitted must be in the English language. Otherwise, a certified translation for the documents must be provided.
  • The particulars of the respondent.
    • You will need to provide the name, personal identification number and address of the respondent.

How to file and serve

You will need to follow these steps to file and serve your claim.

Step

Result

1. File your claim

 

Your claim is filed in CJTS.

2. Serve documents on the respondent

 

The respondent is notified of your employment claim.

3. File a declaration of service (DOS)

 

Acknowledgement of service of claim to the respondent.

When: within 4 weeks of the date the Claim Referral Certificate is issued by TADM.

  1. Log in to CJTS. Under the Online Applications tab, select Claim Form and follow the instructions.
  2. Choose your preferred case management conference (CMC) date and time.
    • The earliest CMC date available is within 3 - 4 weeks from the date your claim is filed.
    • Choose the language or dialect you are comfortable with if you do not understand or speak English. The ECT will try to arrange for an interpreter of the language you have chosen for your ECT proceedings.
  3. Print a copy of the Notice of CMC. You will have to serve this document on the respondent within 7 working days after the date of filing of the claim.
When: within 7 working days of the date of filing of the claim.

You may serve the Notice of CMC on the respondent through one of the following ways:

Service method

What it is

Personal Delivery

Delivering hard copies of the documents personally to the respondent.

Registered post

(if to an individual) Sending hard copies of the documents to the respondent's last known residential or registered address in an envelope addressed to them.

(if to a business entity) Sending hard copies of the documents to the respondent's ACRA registered address in an envelope addressed to them.

Others

Delivering the documents by any means (including fax or email) as directed by the ECT.

Note

You may amend a claim if the claim has not been served on the respondent. If you have already served the claim on the respondent, you will not be able to make amendments unless you have obtained permission from the ECT.

To make an amendment to your application, select Request for Amendments under the Online Applications tab on CJTS. Upon the approval of your amendment application, you are required to serve the case management conference notice (Claim Amendment) on the Respondent. Thereafter, you are required to file the Declaration of Service and attach the evidence of such service (e.g. evidence of the service by post) to the Declaration of Service.

When: within 4 weeks of the date of filing of the claim or before the date of the first CMC, whichever is earlier

You must file a declaration of service (DOS) with proof of service after serving the Notice of CMC on the respondent.

Example
Examples of proof of service include a Singpost registered post slip or a form signed by the respondent to acknowledge that they have received the documents from you.

Log in to CJTS. Under the Online Applications tab, select Declaration of Service and follow the instructions.

For detailed instructions, refer to the CJTS user guide for filing employment disputes  (PDF, 4784 KB)

After you file

The respondent may respond to the claim you have filed against them in different ways. Refer to the following to understand what these ways are:

If the respondent does not dispute the claim, they may choose to resolve it by initiating online negotiation or mediation on CJTS.

If a settlement is reached online:

  • Parties may apply to have the agreed terms recorded as a consent order by selecting Request for Order of Tribunal in CJTS, subject to the ECT's approval.
  • You may then withdraw the claim by selecting Withdrawal Request Form in CJTS. When a claim is withdrawn, the matter will be taken as concluded and there will be no further proceedings at the ECT.

If a settlement is not reached, or if an application for a consent order is not approved by the ECT, you will have to attend the CMC as stated in the Notice of CMC.

If the respondent does not agree with the claim, they may choose to file and serve a response on you within 7 working days of being served with your claim.
If the respondent is unable to file the Response, the respondent may wish to apply for a time extension through the Online Module in the CJTS, and provide the reasons for the extension of time application.

A response sets out the respondent's defence to your claim, which they will be relying on.

If the respondent has an eligible claim against you, they may file a counterclaim.

A counterclaim can be filed only after you and the respondent have first gone through mediation at TADM in respect of the counterclaim.

Need help?

The information here is for general guidance as the courts do not provide legal advice. If you need further help, you may want to get independent legal advice.

Find out more

Resources

Refer to The Employment Claims Tribunals Guide (PDF, 2.17 MB).
Legislation associated with this topic includes:
Refer to Paragraph 142 of the State Courts Practice Directions for employmentclaims.
Go to Step-by-step guide

Step-by-step guide

Understand employment claims

File and serve an employment claim

Resolve the dispute online

Attend court

File an application, if needed

2021/07/23
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Last updated on 03 April 20242024/04/03.