Insights for work and life.
Employment Claims Tribunal Salary Claim: Time Limits, Fees and Steps
If your employer has not paid your salary, an Employment Claims Tribunal salary claim starts at the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM), not at the tribunal itself. You file through TADM using Singpass, pay a small non-refundable fee and upload your evidence. The time limits are strict. Once you have left your job, you generally have 6 months to file a salary claim and only 1 month for a wrongful dismissal claim.
This guide sets out the steps, limits and fees for an Employment Claims Tribunal salary claim, as published by TADM and MOM. It is general information, not legal advice. Information is accurate as at 4 November 2026. Rules and fees can change, so confirm them before you file.
How an Employment Claims Tribunal salary claim begins
MOM explains that wrongful dismissal claims are heard by the Employment Claims Tribunals (ECT), and that employees must first register the claim with TADM for mediation. You can read this on MOM’s Employment Act amendments page. The tribunals are part of the Singapore Courts’ employment claims service.
TADM’s guidance for non-union members says that, for wrongful dismissal claims, TADM assesses the case under the Tripartite Guidelines on Wrongful Dismissal. It then decides whether the case will be mediated at TADM or adjudicated at the tribunals. Union members should contact NTUC for help filing.
The statutory framework is the Employment Claims Act 2016, read with the Employment Act. Check the Act for the exact claims it covers.
Time limits you must not miss
TADM publishes these limits for non-union members:
| Type of claim | Time limit |
|---|---|
| Wrongful dismissal | Within 1 month after your last day of employment |
| Wrongful dismissal during pregnancy | Within 2 months of your child’s birth |
| Salary claim, still employed | Within 1 year after the dispute arose |
| Salary claim, you have left | Within 6 months of your last day of employment |
For a salary claim after you leave, you can only claim salary owed from the period one year before the filing date. Therefore, waiting several months can shrink what you can recover.
Claim limits and filing fees
According to TADM, non-union members can claim up to SGD 20,000 per claim, or SGD 40,000 combined for salary-related and wrongful dismissal claims. Filing fees are SGD 10 including GST for claims of SGD 10,000 or less, and SGD 20 including GST for claims above SGD 10,000.
The fee is non-refundable. Payment must be made within 3 days of filing, or the claim will be purged. Cash is not accepted.
Step-by-step filing process
- Log in with Singpass.
- Enter your company’s details, your contact details, employment dates, occupation and monthly salary.
- Upload supporting documents.
- Pay the filing fee. A claim is filed successfully only after payment is received.
- Your employer is notified so that it can respond.
- Within 3 working days of payment, TADM emails you the next steps.
If the company is in bankruptcy, judicial management or liquidation, TADM says to file with the Insolvency Office, the judicial manager or the liquidator instead.
Evidence to prepare
TADM requires written evidence. Gather these before you start:
- Your employment contract and any variation letters.
- Payslips and bank statements showing what was paid.
- CPF statements.
- The termination or resignation letter.
- Messages or emails that show the agreed pay and the dispute.
For wrongful dismissal, TADM says you must support any dispute over the reasons for dismissal with evidence. Our guides on missing payslips as salary evidence and on what to do when final salary is late explain how to build the record.
Common disputes that lead to claims
Many claims arise from deductions, unpaid notice pay or disputed final salary. Before a deduction is made, check whether proper consent exists. See our checklist on withdrawing consent to salary deductions. Employers facing a notice dispute should read about the exposure in notice period disputes.
If you are the employer
When a claim arrives, respond promptly and accurately. Pull the payroll records, the signed contract and any written consent for deductions. Do not ignore the notice. Where the facts are complicated, take advice early.
Salary claim or wrongful dismissal: which one applies?
A salary claim is about money you say is owed, such as unpaid wages, deductions or final pay. A wrongful dismissal claim is about the way your employment was ended. They run on different clocks, so identify the right one first.
Consider an employee who leaves on 31 January. TADM’s limit for a salary claim is 6 months from the last day. The limit for wrongful dismissal is only 1 month after the last day. Therefore, a worker who is unsure should file early and not wait for the longer salary deadline. This example is illustrative, so count the dates carefully and confirm them with TADM.
Mistakes that weaken a claim
- Waiting until the last week of the time limit.
- Filing without payslips or bank records, even though TADM requires written evidence.
- Missing the payment window, which leads TADM to purge the claim after 3 days.
- Filing against the wrong entity, so check the company name and UEN.
- Filing with TADM when the company is in liquidation. Use the Insolvency Office or the liquidator instead.
Frequently asked questions
Can I file while I am still employed?
Yes, for salary-related claims. TADM says to file within 1 year after the dispute arose if you are still employed.
Is the filing fee refundable?
No. TADM describes it as non-refundable, and the claim is filed only after payment.
Do I need a lawyer?
TADM’s filing guidance does not require one for the filing step. If your case is complex, you may still wish to take advice.
Next steps
A salary dispute is stressful, and the deadline pressure is real. If you want help understanding your options, contact the licensed team at Singapore Employment Agency. With your consent, we can introduce you to an independent Singapore law firm for advice. Any engagement is separate and agreed directly with that firm.
The Editorial Team, Little Big Employment Agency
${ARTICLE_ENQUIRY_HTML}
Real people. Right here in Singapore.