Challenging Unfair Termination: A Member’s Fight for Fairness

When one of our members faced sudden dismissal, it wasn’t just a job at stake, it was a question of dignity and due process. The employer first cited poor performance, but later shifted to vague accusations of “speculative activities” in the workplace.

 

Union Intervention

Recognising the inconsistencies, the union immediately took action. We stood by our member and invoked Section 35(3) of the Industrial Relations Act, which empowers trade unions to represent individuals in disputes over dismissals. Despite repeated requests, the employer failed to produce evidence to support its claims.

 

Outcome Secured

Through firm and focused negotiations, the union successfully secured a settlement of two months’ salary for our member—restoring some measure of justice and protecting their reputation.

 

Why This Case Matters

This outcome reflects our unwavering commitment to stand up for our members in times of need. No one should face dismissal without accountability and transparency.

 

Union Action in Motion

  • Advocacy backed by the Industrial

 

Relations Act

  • Demand for fair treatment and evidence-based claims.
  • A resolution that restored our member’s rights.

 

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About ESU

The Education Services Union (ESU) represents professionals in Singapore’s private education sector. Since its founding in 2006, ESU has championed fair workplace practices, supported members with training and development opportunities, and provided financial assistance such as bursaries and scholarships. Through NTUC partnerships and member benefits, ESU continues to empower educators and uplift its community.

Supporting Working Parents: A Call for Compassion

A new mother, juggling full-time work and caregiving responsibilities, reached a breaking point when her child fell seriously ill. With no available childcare options and her leave fully exhausted, she applied for unpaid leave, backed by a medical certificate, to care for her child.

Throughout her absence, she remained contactable and kept her reporting officer informed. Yet, her unpaid leave request was rejected, and her absence was deemed unauthorised. Eventually, she tendered her resignation with the intention to serve her notice period.

Union Intervention

Recognising her sincere efforts to balance work and family, the union stood firmly by her. We submitted an appeal to the relevant authorities, citing her continued communication and caregiving responsibilities.

The Outcome

A successful waiver of salary in lieu of notice, protecting her finances and dignity.

Policy Spotlight: Tripartite Guidelines on FWA Requests

This case strongly reinforces the recent Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangement Requests, which encourage employers to assess such requests fairly and reasonably, especially in caregiving contexts.

What This Case Highlights

  • Compassionate practices aren’t just ideal—they’re necessary.
  • Transparent communication deserves recognition, not penalty.
  • Unions play a vital role in ensuring fair employment outcomes.

Union Action in Motion

  • Timely advocacy and appeal support
  • Policy-aligned representation for caregiving challenges
  • Ongoing commitment to workplace compassion and fairness 
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About ESU

The Education Services Union (ESU) represents professionals in Singapore’s private education sector. Since its founding in 2006, ESU has championed fair workplace practices, supported members with training and development opportunities, and provided financial assistance such as bursaries and scholarships. Through NTUC partnerships and member benefits, ESU continues to empower educators and uplift its community.

A Landmark Step for Workers: Singapore’s Workplace Fairness Legislation

Singapore’s upcoming Workplace Fairness Legislation marks a watershed moment in protecting workers’ rights. For the first time, key principles from the Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices (TGFEP) will be legally enforceable. This means that workplace discrimination will now carry legal repercussions.

 

The WFL prohibits discrimination based on age, nationality, sex, marital status, pregnancy, caregiving duties, race, religion, language, disability, and mental health conditions. These areas make up over 95% of the complaints received by the Ministry of Manpower and TAFEP.

 

Developed by MOM, NTUC, and the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) since 2021, the legislation will be introduced in two phases. The first bill outlines protection principles, enforcement powers, and the dispute resolution process. The second bill, expected in 2025, will detail the claims process and amend the Employment Claims Act. The full legislation is expected to take effect by 2026 or 2027.

 

The timing of this legislation is significant. In 2023, age-based discrimination rose, particularly among jobseekers aged 50 and above, who made up nearly 38% of age discrimination cases. The number of workers seeking government help for discrimination more than doubled from 5.4% in 2022 to 13.1% in 2023, highlighting the need for stronger protections.

 

The WFL will also require employers to have proper grievance procedures. If an employee faces discrimination, they must raise it internally first. Unresolved cases can then proceed to TADM for mediation, and finally to the Employment Claims Tribunal (ECT). At the ECT, compensation or reinstatement may be ordered. Union members are entitled to a higher compensation cap of $30,000, compared to $20,000 for non-members.

 

This is a big win for workers. ESU stands ready to support members through the process and ensure that every worker is treated with fairness.

 

Facing workplace discrimination? Reach out to us — we’re here to help.

 

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About ESU

The Education Services Union (ESU) represents professionals in Singapore’s private education sector. Since its founding in 2006, ESU has championed fair workplace practices, supported members with training and development opportunities, and provided financial assistance such as bursaries and scholarships. Through NTUC partnerships and member benefits, ESU continues to empower educators and uplift its community.

ESU Learning Award 2025 (For Members Only)

Application Form

 

ESU Learning Award recognises the efforts of our lower-income Union members in balancing work and studies to attain tertiary-level qualification.

Applications are now open from 1 April 2025, 9am, and close on 30 April 2025, 6pm.


ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

  • The award is open to all ESU Ordinary Branch (OB) members and Directly-Serviced General Branch (DSGB) members who had completed in the past year a Diploma, Degree or Masters course.
  • Members who are currently applying, receiving or have received scholarship/ bursary award from other organisations for year 2025 are not eligible to apply for the above award.
  • Member must be a paid-up member with at least 3 months of continuous membership at the point of application and with no outstanding membership fees due.

SELECTION CRITERIA

  1. Member MUST minimally pass all subjects.
  2. Income Criteria:
    • Total Monthly Gross Household Income+ of $4,000 and below; OR
    • Per Capita Income of $1,000 and below if gross household income exceeds $4,000
+Gross income is defined as all income derived from employment/ business. Inclusive of overtime and allowances.
 

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

It is mandatory to submit all documents stated below. Documents submitted will be kept by ESU and will not be returned.

  1. Completed application form – one form per member
  2. Photocopy of the most recent academic result slips for final semester examinations for AY 2024/2025. For courses with modular result slips, please attach all modular result slips
  3. Photocopy of member’s NRIC
  4. Photocopy of Birth Certificate(s) or Identification card(s) of family members living in the same household
  5. All working member/family member must attach latest pay-slip and not CPF contribution statement
  6. Only non-working member/family member is to submit CPF contribution statement
  7. Any other relevant supporting documents

AWARD QUANTUM

Application form must be duly completed and submitted to Education Services Union with full supporting documents by:

6:00pm, Wednesday, 30th April 2025. 

 

Late submissions will not be accepted.



All applications will be considered but eligibility does not guarantee success in award. You will be informed on the outcome of your application by post & email by mid-June 2025.

Attendance for successful applicants at the award presentation ceremony is compulsory. Applicants are not allowed to nominate proxies to collect the award on their behalf. Successful applicants who absent themselves from the award ceremony would have forfeited their award(s).

The award presentation will be held on the morning of Saturday, 5th July 2025.

 

Venue and other details shall be made known to all successful applicants in due course.

ESU reserves the right to:

  • confirm with your employer(s) and relevant institutions on the documentary proof for the application;
  • request for additional supporting documents, for verification and audit purposes;
  • void application or demand for a full refund of grant awarded if information provided by applicant is found to be untrue; and
  • grant approval to the most deserving applicants
  • reject incomplete and late submission

The decision shall be final and no correspondence will be entered into before, during and after the decision is made.

Please download the documents below:

ESU Application Form – Learning Award 2025

 

Submit your application(s) by: 

 

Completed application forms with full supporting documents should be received by ESU not later than 6pm, Tuesday, 30th April 2025.

 

 

POST: 

Education Services Union

150 Changi Road #04-01,

Guthrie Building Singapore 419973

EMAIL: 

esu@ntuc.org.sg

For enquiries, please contact ESU at Tel: 6872 1148 or email: esu@ntuc.org.sg.

 


Download Application Form

ESU Bursary & Scholarship Education Award 2025

Application Form

 

ESU – U Care Bursary and Scholarship Education Awards aims to assist our lower-income union members defray the cost of their children’s school expenses.

Applications are now open from 1 April 2025, 9am, and close on 30 April 2025, 6pm.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

  • The award is open to all ESU Ordinary Branch (OB) members and Directly-Serviced General Branch (DSGB) members who have children pursuing studies in:
    1. Local Primary /Secondary School
    2. Recognized local institution (Pre-U/ JC)
  • Members whose children are currently applying, receiving or have received scholarship/ bursary award from other organisations for year 2024/2025 (except MOE Edusave Awards – ECHA, ES, ESA, EAGLES, GPA) are not eligible to apply for the above award.
  • Member must be a paid-up member with at least 3 months of continuous membership at the point of application and with no outstanding membership fees due.

SELECTION CRITERIA

  1. Child MUST minimally pass all subjects, except Primary 1 to Primary 4 and Special Needs School
  2. Income Criteria:
    • Total Monthly Gross Household Income+ of $4,000 and below; OR
    • Per Capita Income of $1,000 and below if gross household income exceeds $4,000
+Gross income is defined as all income derived from employment/ business. Inclusive of overtime and allowances.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

It is mandatory to submit all documents stated below. Documents submitted will be kept by ESU and will not be returned.

1.        Member’s Child/ Children’s Birth Certificate(s) & Student Pass / Ezlink Card
  • Birth certificate(s)
  • For birth certificate(s) not issued by Singapore, please submit Certificate of Singapore Citizenship / Re-entry Permit
  • Student Pass / Ezlink Card
2.        Member’s Child/ Children’s Result Slips
  1. Full Examination Results, Certificates and Transcripts or Slips for Academic Year 2024/2025.
  2. Certified true copies of the results and transcripts. Results slip should clearly indicate the full name of the child and school.
3.         Income Documents
    • For Member who is employed on a full-time basis:
      • Latest pay-slip
        • Pay includes irregular overtime and/or allowances, please provide last 3 months’ pay-slip to derive average monthly pay; OR
      • Employment Letter with company’s letterhead/ stamp (stating gross monthly income, including irregular overtime and/or allowances).
    • For Member who is Self-Employed, Part-timer, Casual Worker:
      • CPF Statement (Contribution History) for the past 3 months (Jan – Mar 2025); OR
      • Latest Notice of Assessment from IRAS.
    • For Member who is housewife, unemployed or retiree:
      • CPF Statement (Contribution History) for the past 3 months (Jan – Mar 2025) from the date of application; if there are no CPF contributions, a written letter from CPF board is required
    • For Working Family Member in the same household
      • Latest pay-slip; OR CPF Statement (Contribution History) for the past 3 months (Jan – Mar 2025)

AWARD QUANTUM

 

Application form must be duly completed and submitted to Education Services Union with full supporting documents by:

6:00pm, Wednesday, 30th April 2025. Late submissions will not be accepted.

All applications will be considered but eligibility does not guarantee success in award. You will be informed on the outcome of your application by post & email by mid-June 2025. No more than TWO school-going children from the same family may be awarded the award.

Attendance for successful applicants at the award presentation ceremony is compulsory. Applicants are not allowed to nominate proxies to collect the award on their behalf. Successful applicants who absent themselves from the award ceremony would have forfeited their award(s).

 

The award presentation will be held on the morning of Saturday, 5th July 2025.

Venue and other details shall be made known to all successful applicants in due course.

  

ESU reserves the right to:

  • confirm with your employer(s) and relevant institutions on the documentary proof for the application;
  • request for additional supporting documents, for verification and audit purposes;
  • void application or demand for a full refund of grant awarded if information provided by applicant is found to be untrue; and
  • grant approval to the most deserving applicants
  • reject incomplete and late submission

The decision shall be final and no correspondence will be entered into before, during and after the decision is made.

Please download the documents below:


Application Form

FAQ Sheet

Submit your application(s) by: 

 

Completed application forms with full supporting documents should be received by ESU not later than 6pm, Tuesday, 30th April 2025.

 

POST: 

Education Services Union

150 Changi Road #04-01,

Guthrie Building Singapore 419973

EMAIL: 

esu@ntuc.org.sg

For enquiries, please contact ESU at Tel: 6872 1148 or email: esu@ntuc.org.sg.5

Be Alert. Stay Protected Against Scams.

We have been informed by a few members that a scam has been going around and our members have been receiving emails/links to hand over their payment information as part of winning our recent/past giveaways.

 

We would like to emphasise: 

  • ESU will not ask you for your credit card information.
  • ALL Members are to refrain from providing payment information to unauthorised sites.

ESU is taking extra measures to protect all our members.

 

As such, we limit the use of clickable links in our emails to you. While we continue to include crucial links in our emails with you, please note that the links will only point to the following websites operated by Education Services Union:

  • esu.org.sg
  • ntuc.org.sg

If you are suspicious of a SMS/Email/Call that you have received from us, do give us a call at:

6872 1148

 

SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE: For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Hotline at 1800-722-6688. Anyone with information on such scams may call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness. All information will be kept strictly confidential.

 
Let’s keep ESU safe and protected against scammers!

Terms & Conditions for ESU MGM & NMI

The period of both initiatives shall begin on 1st September 2023 and end on 31st December 2023, all membership forms must reach Education Services Union (ESU) Office at 150 Changi Road, #04-01 Gutherie Building, Singapore 419973 either by post or in-person within the period to qualify. Please refer to ESU.org.sg for the operating hours.

 

Member – Get – Member (MGM) Incentive

 

1. To qualify for MGM Incentive, the recruiter must be an ESU Member. Union Members who are not ESU members but working within the Private Education Sector may reach out to ESU via email: ESU@ntuc.org.sg to convert their membership. Upon converting their membership – the recruiter will be eligible to participate in the MGM Initiative.

 

2. Membership forms submitted must be of a non-existing ESU Member. Membership forms of Union Members from other NTUC Affiliated Unions or non-members will qualify, however, the new member must be working in the Private Education Sector. Each eligible membership form submitted will be eligible for a S$20.00 Incentive Payout.

 

3. Incentive Payouts shall be transferred into the Recruiter’s Bank Account that is used for Membership Subscription Fee payment by 7th of the following month from the date of receipt of forms. Recruiters must submit the completed Bank Authorization Form posted on the website link of the QR code in the EDM for the payout to be processed.

 

4. Recruiters are advised to closely follow the document Instruction for Recruiter posted on the website link of the QR code in the EDM. Failure to comply accordingly could result in the submission being voided due to incomplete details.

 

New Member Incentive (NMI) Incentive

 

1. To receive the NMI Incentive, the new member must currently be a non-member or a member from another NTUC Affiliated Union working in the Private Education Sector. Each eligible new member will receive $20.00 worth of LinkPoints (2,000 LinkPoints) which will be credited automatically into the Link Card on the following month from the date of receipt (for conversion cases) or when the Link Card is issued (New members).

 

2. Individuals are reminded to complete the membership sign-up form clearly and accurately, failure to complete the form to a sufficient degree of accuracy could result in the submission being void due to incomplete details.

 

Information for both MGM & NMI Initiative

 

1. Education Services Union Executive Committee reserves the right at its sole discretion to vary, amend, add or delete this programme without prior notice. In the event that a dispute arises regarding the programme, the Executive Committee’s decision on the matter shall be final.

 

2. For clarifications or enquiries on the initiative, individuals can write in to ESU@ntuc.org.sg or contact 6872 1148 for further clarifications.

Instructions Guide: ESU Member-Get-Member

MGM & NMI Logo

An Instruction Guide: MGM Recruiter

For all members who are interested in inviting their friends/colleagues to join ESU.

Step 1: Check that you are an ESU Member

How to check if you are an ESU Member?

1) Log-into MyNTUC App

2) Click on the “Profile” icon

3) Click on “Membership & Cards”

4) Ensure “Union” is Education Services Union

5) If it is not parked under ESU, do write in to ESU to request for conversion.

Alternatively, you can write to us.

1) Write in to ESU@ntuc.org.sg to request confirmation of your membership being parked in ESU.

2) Include your Name, Partial NRIC / FIN (Last 3 Alphanumeric of NRIC / FIN) and Date of Birth (DD / MM / YYYY).

3) ESU will reply within 5 working days.

Step 2: Download & Complete Authorization Form from QR Code

Where can I find it?

1) Using the QR Code on the EDM, download the authorization form.

2) Complete the Authorization Form and return to ESU@ntuc.org.sg

3) The authorization form allows ESU to facilitate the transfer of the MGM Cash Transfer into your GIRO Account.

4) Each MGM Recruiter need only to submit 1 Authorization Form for the entire period. This form should be submitted along with the first Recruited Member’s Membership Form submitted




Download

Step 3: Include your Member No. in the new member’s application

Where do I indicate my Member No.?

Note:

Ensure that the form is returned to ESU Office (150 Changi Road, #04-01,S(419973).

ESU Member-Get-Member Scheme (MGM) & New Member Initiative (NMI)

ESU is running a membership recruitment campaign to reach out to more members. Invite your friends to sign up for ESU membership here or through the hardcopy application form today and earn $20 in cash for every member you recruit in 3 easy steps!

Follow these steps:

Click here

Have a colleague or a friend who is working in…
– Early Childhood
– Universities
– International Schools
– PEIs & Training Providers
– Student Care

Invite them to join ESU! And YOU get $20 on us!

 

*Terms and Conditions

**Subject to changes