- Salary claims in Singapore rose to 10,801 cases in 2025, translating to 2.84 claims per 1,000 employees, up from 2.63 in 2024, marking the highest level since 2019, according to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) in their joint report released on July 24, 2026.
- Employment claims also rose, with a total of 13,083 claims and appeals lodged in 2025, equivalent to about 3.44 claims per 1,000 employees.
- Wrongful dismissal claims increased to 2,168 in 2025, up from 1,720 in 2024, with the overall rate rising from 0.46 to 0.57 per 1,000 employees.
- The increase in salary claims was primarily driven by foreign employees, whose incidence rose from 4.64 per 1,000 employees in 2024 to 5.16 in 2025.
- Construction continued to account for the largest share of salary claims lodged by foreign employees, at 46 percent.
- 92 percent of employees fully recovered their owed salaries, although this was a decrease from 94 percent in 2024.
- The total sum recovered by employees rose to S$22 million in 2025, up from S$19 million in 2024.
- The incidence of wrongful dismissal claims was higher among locals, at 0.64 claims per 1,000 local employees compared to 0.44 for foreign employees.
- Employers paid about S$2.71 million to employees in wrongful dismissal cases in 2025, an increase from S$2.14 million in 2024.
In 2025, Singapore's employment claims surged to 13,083, with salary claims reaching 10,801, translating to 2.84 claims per 1,000 employees, up from 2.63 in 2024.1235
The rise was primarily driven by foreign employees, whose salary claims increased from 4.64 to 5.16 per 1,000.
Construction accounted for 46% of these claims.6
Despite the increase, 92% of employees fully recovered their owed salaries, though this was a slight decline from 94% in 2024.
The total amount recovered rose to S$22 million, up from S$19 million the previous year.8
Wrongful dismissal claims also increased, with 2,168 cases reported, up from 1,720 in 2024.4
The rate rose from 0.46 to 0.57 per 1,000 employees, with locals experiencing a higher incidence of 0.64 claims per 1,000 compared to 0.44 for foreign employees.
Employers paid approximately S$2.71 million in wrongful dismissal cases, an increase from S$2.14 million in 2024.10
The Ministry of Manpower and TADM noted that the rise in claims is linked to job turnover due to dismissals and business restructuring, rather than a decline in employment standards.
88% of salary claims were resolved at TADM, slightly down from 90% in 2024.
For local employees, common claims included basic salary and encashment of leave, while foreign employees often claimed for overtime and holiday pay.
“The salary claims incidence rose to 2.84 per 1,000 employees in 2025, driven mainly by foreign workers whose rate increased from 4.64 to 5.16. Meanwhile, the total sum recovered hit $22 million, but the full recovery rate slipped to 92% from 94%.”
