By The Ledger desk · Last verified 11 October 2026
Singapore’s Employment Act covers every employee on a contract of service, local or foreign, full-time or part-time, including managers and executives. The exceptions are seafarers, domestic workers, civil servants and statutory board staff. Covered employees get paid annual leave (7 days, rising to 14) and paid sick leave (up to 14 outpatient days within 60 hospitalisation days) after three months’ service. The extra protections in Part 4 (hours, rest days and overtime at 1.5 times the hourly basic rate) apply only to workmen earning up to S$4,500 and non-workmen earning up to S$2,600 basic a month. Managers and executives fall outside Part 4.
Knowing which parts apply to you takes about two minutes, and it makes every conversation about leave or late nights much easier.
Quick facts
- Not covered: seafarers, domestic workers, civil servants, statutory board employees.
- Part 4 thresholds use basic salary, which excludes overtime, bonuses, AWS and allowances.
- Normal hours: up to 44 a week (9 a day on a 5-day week, 8 a day on a longer week).
- Overtime: at least 1.5× the hourly basic rate, capped at 72 hours a month, paid within 14 days of the salary period.
- One rest day a week, never more than 12 days apart.
- Inform your employer within 48 hours of a sick-leave absence.
Which parts of the Act apply to you?
| You are… | Core Act (leave, salary, notice) | Part 4 (hours, rest days, overtime) |
|---|---|---|
| A workman earning S$4,500 basic or less | Yes | Yes |
| A non-workman earning S$2,600 basic or less | Yes | Yes |
| A non-workman earning over S$2,600 (not a manager) | Yes | No |
| A manager or executive, any salary | Yes | No |
| Domestic worker, seafarer, civil servant | No; contract and other laws apply | No |
A workman mainly does manual labour. A manager or executive has executive or supervisory duties, such as hiring, discipline or setting policy. MOM has a self-check tool if you are unsure.
Annual leave and sick leave
| Year of service | Minimum paid annual leave |
|---|---|
| 1st | 7 days |
| 2nd | 8 days |
| 3rd to 7th | One more day each year (9 to 13 days) |
| 8th onwards | 14 days |
Leave starts after three months and is pro-rated by completed months in the first year. Paid sick leave also starts at three months and builds up:
| Months of service | Outpatient sick leave | Hospitalisation leave (includes outpatient) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 5 days | 15 days |
| 4 | 8 days | 30 days |
| 5 | 11 days | 45 days |
| 6 and after | 14 days | 60 days |
You need a medical certificate from a registered doctor or dentist. Cosmetic procedures are not covered.
How overtime pay is worked out
For a monthly-rated employee, MOM’s hourly basic rate is (12 × monthly basic salary) ÷ (52 × 44). Take Wei Ling, a non-workman on S$2,400 basic who works 10 overtime hours in a month:
- 12 × S$2,400 = S$28,800; 52 × 44 = 2,288 hours.
- Hourly basic rate: S$28,800 ÷ 2,288 = about S$12.59.
- Overtime rate: 1.5 × S$12.59 = about S$18.88 an hour.
- 10 hours = about S$188.80, due within 14 days of the month’s end.
For non-workmen, the calculation is capped at the S$2,600 salary level, which MOM puts at S$13.60 an hour. Working on a rest day at your employer’s request earns one day’s pay for up to half your normal hours, and two days’ pay for more.
The WahLiao Verdict
Check your basic salary and job role against the table, then read your contract alongside the Act: the Act sets the floor, and your contract can only be better. If you are under Part 4, log your overtime hours yourself. If you are a manager or executive, your hours and overtime depend on your contract, so negotiate those terms up front. Where pay or leave goes wrong, raise it in writing first, then go to TADM.
Questions people ask
Am I covered if I’m on probation or part-time?
Yes. Part-time, temporary and contract staff are covered; leave builds up from three months’ service, including probation.
Do managers get overtime pay?
Not under the Act, because Part 4 excludes managers and executives. Any overtime or time-off arrangement comes from the contract.
Can my employer make me do more than 72 hours’ overtime?
Only with an exemption from MOM. Without one, 72 hours a month is the limit.
What if I use all 14 outpatient days?
You can still take up to 46 more days of hospitalisation leave in that year, within the 60-day total.
Sources: Ministry of Manpower, who the Employment Act covers; Ministry of Manpower, hours of work, overtime and rest days; Ministry of Manpower, annual leave; Ministry of Manpower, sick leave. The Ledger explains; it does not advise.
Read next: Retrenched in Singapore: Notice, Retrenchment Benefits and the Jobseeker Support Scheme · CPF Contribution Rates in 2026: What You and Your Employer Pay at Every Age · Back to The Ledger
For what’s worth it this week, with the bill shown, read The WahLiao Week.
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