Employment contracts are essential legal documents that govern the relationship between an employer and an employee. They contain important information regarding both parties’ roles and responsibilities, both during and after the term of employment. In Singapore, an employee may be subject to a permanent or fixed-term employment contract. A permanent contract refers to long-term indefinite employment, whereas a fixed-term contract refers to a specified term of employment. Both parties must understand the fundamental parts of an employment contract before signing it. Specific laws apply to diff ..read more

The Misuse of Drugs Act 1973 (MDA) is a piece of Singaporean legislation governing the use and possession of illegal drugs. Singapore is known for having some of the strictest drug laws in the world, and the Act sets out the various drug-related offences together with their penalties. For the most serious offences, the MDA provides that an offender may be given the death penalty. It is believed that, by November 2023, at least 16 people in Singapore had been executed that year. Even in less serious cases, for example, where somebody is found carrying a small amount of an illegal substance, the ..read more

A power of attorney (POA) is a document that allows someone to give authority to another person to carry out certain acts on their behalf. The person who creates the POA is known as the “donor”, and the person who is authorised to act on their behalf is known as the “donee”. A POA is a good insurance to have in place in the event you are unable to make and/or execute important decisions relating to your welfare and property. Understandably, a donor may be apprehensive about handing over the management of their financial and personal decisions to another person. However, depending on the type o ..read more

Many people in Singapore struggle with debt, meaning repayments are often challenging to manage. The Debt Repayment Scheme (DRS) was introduced by Parliament in 2009 to help ease this financial burden and minimise bankruptcies. The DRS is effectively a payment plan that provides individuals with a period within which they can settle their debt with no additional interest being charged. It provides the person who owes the money (i.e. the debtor) with a final chance to settle the debt and avoid bankruptcy. When will the Debt Repayment Scheme apply? Unlike other repayment schemes in Singapore, th ..read more

Singapore has robust anti-harassment laws. Although sexual harassment is not specifically mentioned, the Protection from Harassment Act (POHA) 2014 includes any form of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment in the workplace often involves power play between more senior and subordinate employees. It can take on many forms – from very subtle advances to blatant sexual harassment. Besides the protection in the POHA, there are specific responsibilities on employers under the Employment Act to provide a safe working environment for all employees. This article will discuss the Protection from Harassm ..read more

Outrage of modesty is a serious crime in Singapore, and conviction can lead offenders up to three years in prison, a fine, or caning, or any combination of the three options. The penalties can be even higher if the victim is a minor or the accused is a repeat offender. Yet, outrage of modesty remains a crime of concern, and according to the police crime statistics for mid-2023, the number of cases increased compared to the same period the previous year. Most cases occurred in residential premises, public transport areas, and nightspots. This article will discuss the crime of outrage of modesty ..read more

In October 2023, the Singapore High Court dealt with an appeal against sentence in a matter where a priest of the Sri Mariamman Temple pleaded guilty and was convicted on two charges of criminal breach of trust (CBT) relating to the pawning of gold jewellery belonging to the temple. Between 2016 and 2020, the appellant pawned 66 items of the temple’s gold jewellery at various pawnshops on 172 occasions. The temple suffered no loss since all the pieces were returned, but the priest obtained pawn proceeds totalling S$2,328,760. The appellant was sentenced to a total of five years and 12 months i ..read more

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to our esteemed family law practitioners, Jessica Chow and Charlene Nah, for their well-deserved recognition as Singapore Rising Stars 2023 by Asian Legal Business. Inclusion in the prestigious ALB Singapore Rising Stars 2023 list is a testament to their exceptional contributions and dedication to delivering high-quality legal services. This exclusive acknowledgment is reserved for lawyers under the age of 40 who consistently demonstrate excellence in their field, garnering praise from peers, superiors, and clients alike. Within the realm of family and d ..read more

In Singapore, we differentiate between libel and slander when discussing defamation. Libel concerns written or published defamatory statements, including emails, blogs, print media, and even images and cartoons. Slander involves spoken words. Whilst Singapore recognises the right to free speech, there are certain exceptions to protect the reputation of people and businesses. The introduction of the internet, social media, and other online platforms meant that traditional defamation laws had to be adapted to address new challenges. The definition of “publication”, for example, had to be revised ..read more

We are delighted to announce that PKWA Law Practice LLC has once again secured a position on The Straits Times’ esteemed “Singapore’s Best Law Firms” list for 2024, marking our fourth consecutive year of inclusion. This recognition, revealed on the 23rd of November 2024 in both the print and online editions of The Straits Times, showcases the most highly recommended law firms across a spectrum of legal categories. In the latest edition of this prestigious accolade, PKWA Law excelled in two key categories: Family Law and Conveyancing. This triumph is particularly noteworthy this year, given tha ..read more