Am I protected by Singapore's labour laws as a remote worker?

Generally, employees based in Singapore can claim protection under its labour laws regardless of where their employer is based, as Singapore's Employment Act applies equally to both foreign and local employers, and does not differentiate between remote and in-person roles.  

Q I was hired by an overseas company to work remotely for it. Am I covered by Singapore's labour laws or those of the country in which the company is based? 

A Generally, any person who works and is based in Singapore under an employment contract with an employer would be able to claim protection under Singapore's labour laws, says employment lawyer Laure de Panafieu.

Employees can do so regardless of where their employer is based, even if they work remotely, adds Ms de Panafieu, who is Asia head of employment and incentives at global law firm Linklaters.

"Singapore's Employment Act, which is the country's primary labour law, applies equally to both foreign and local employers, and does not differentiate between remote and in-person roles," she says.

However, employers and employees who expressly agree in an employment contract that the provisions of a foreign law apply because they relate to the employee's underlying work and employment relationship more than Singapore's will be bound by that agreement, she notes.