The Manpower Ministry (MOM) is mulling over setting up a tribunal to handle salary disputes between workers and employers.

This move, when implemented, will allow workers an avenue to make salary claims against employers who do not pay them. Now, only workers covered by the Employment Act and professionals earning less than $4,500 a month can approach the MOM for help with salary disputes. The rest will have to make their claims in civil courts, which are expensive and takes time.

The move will potentially benefit some 2.1 million Singaporeans and permanent residents working here. The proposal was announced by Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin on Thursday at his ministry's annual work plan seminar.

The MOM has not set a date to implement the tribunal and it would be consulting unions, employers and the public in the next few months. Further details will be announced when ready, said the ministry in a statement.