| WHAT IS CASETRUST FOR EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES |
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New Interactive EA Directory
The Ministry of Manpower has introduced a revised Interactive EA Directory on their webpage. From the public's feedback collected, the EA directory was amended to make it more user-friendly and informative. Employers can now find EA-related information like location and retention rate of EAs.
Please refer to the following link for the new EA directory here.
Employment Agencies (Amendment) Act
There have been recent media reports on the Employment Agencies (amendment) Act. For more information, you may like to refer to the following websites.
1) Employment Agencies (Amendment) Bill
2) Public consultation on new employment agency regulatory framework
The accreditation scheme for Employment Agencies placing foreign domestic workers (FDWs) has been in place since 2002. The two accreditation bodies, CaseTrust and Association of Employment Agencies (AEAS) have been gathering feedback from employers and agencies to improve the standards of employment agencies in Singapore.
The efforts have led to the introduction of two standard contracts and a set of price advertising guidelines, jointly by CaseTrust and AEAS. The joint press statement by CaseTrust and AEAS in MS Word can be downloaded here. PDF version is available here.
List of CaseTrusted Employment Agencies (Foreign Domestic Workers) can be found here.
Standard Contracts (Revised as at 11 September 2006)
The standard contracts include:
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The Service Agreement between the Employment Agency and the Employer
A well-defined replacement policy and a fairer refund policy which will improve service standards in the industry and reduce the possibility of disputes. The agreement will require individual Employment Agencies to provide a price schedule, detailing the breakdown of fees clearly to the employer.
Download Service Agreement here.
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The Employment Contract between the Employer and the Foreign Domestic Worker
This contract is designed to help smoothen employer/employee relationships from the onset, by minimising any ambiguities on the employment terms.
Download Employment Contract here.
The standard contracts were crafted with due consideration given to the three stakeholders, namely the Employers, Foreign Domestic Workers and the Employment Agencies. The implementation of these contracts will create a level playing field resulting in greater professionalism among practitioners. If there are disputes arises on the contract, the matter will be referred to the accreditation bodies or employment agencies for mediation. If parties fail to come to term, the dispute can be brought to an alternative dispute resolution mechanism.
Note that Employment Agencies are not allowed to amend the Service Agreement or the Employment Contract without the prior approval of their accreditation body.
Price Advertising Guidelines (NEW!)
To enhance transparency, accredited Employment Agencies who wish to publish their prices would be required to include 4 key items: -
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The service fee - Services fees charged by the agency as well as any local charges
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The placement fee - Overseas recruitment costs for the foreign domestic worker
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Refund policy - Stipulate amount of refund and the timeframe for such refund based on the worst case scenario
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Replacement policy - Include at least the maximum number of replacements allowed and the maximum validity period
All employment agencies accredited by CaseTrust and AEAS are required to implement the standard contracts and adhere to the advertising guidelines by 15 September 2006. The Guidelines can be downloaded here.
Interested to be CaseTrusted Employment Agency?
Apply for CaseTrust now, to show consumers that your company is committed towards maintaining a high level of good business practice. The CaseTrust for Employment Agencies (Foreign Domestic Workers) Infokit available here.
Contact Us
For more information, please contact the CaseTrust Department.