SINGAPORE: Parliament has been dissolved by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, all Members of Parliament ( MPs ) have vacated their seats, and Singaporeans will head to the polls on May 3 for the country’s 14th General Election.
What if you are working on Polling Day? Or if you are heading abroad to take advantage of the Labour Day people vacation? Does Singapore also have a state?
Here’s what you need to know ahead of the General Election:
With congress dissolved, does Singapore have a state?
Under the Singapore system, Cabinet officials do not abandon their jobs after legislature is dissolved, and continue with their duties until the first sitting of the next legislature.
A part of the last congress can also be appointed as a minister, even if parliament has been dissolved, until the first hanging of the next legislature.
May I be given a day off or pay in favor? Or is it up to an company?
Polling Day has been declared a public holiday, and should be treated in the same manner as any other common vacation.  , All people covered by the Employment Act are entitled to paid open holidays.
As May 3 falls on a Saturday, people should therefore be given a day off or pay in favor, according to the Ministry of Manpower.
” If Poll Day is a non-working day for the staff, he is entitled to either a day off or pay in terms. If an individual is required to operate on a public trip, he is entitled to an additional week pay for the day’s work, or been given a moment off”, it added.
For certain groups of employees, companies have the further option of granting day off in terms, based on a mutually agreed number of hours, for working on a public holiday.
These include workmen earning more than S$ 4, 500 ( US$ 3, 400 ) a month or non-workmen earning more than S$ 2, 600 a month. It even includes all managers and executives.
Does the Polling Day trip also apply to non-citizens, or only to Singaporeans who vote?
As the Employment Act even covers non-citizens, the Polling Day people trip may also apply to them.