This article was updated on July 14, at 1.33pm.

Employers who fail to issue itemised payslips to their workers will be fined under a law proposed by the Manpower Ministry.

The ministry tabled a Bill in Parliament yesterday to amend the Employment Act - Singapore's main labour law - to make it compulsory for employers to issue such payslips and spell out employment terms clearly to their workers.

Under the proposed changes, breaches will be considered "civil contraventions" and fines would be imposed, but the penalties do not carry the stigma of criminal punishments.

Employers may be fined up to $1,000 for each initial breach and up to $2,000 for subsequent breaches. Those who give incomplete or inaccurate payslips would be presumed to have failed to comply with the new law. The ministry said the move, if passed, will reduce labour disputes. It is planning to implement the changes in the first half of next year.

Toh Yong Chuan

Correction: A previous version of this story said that the Manpower Ministry is planning to implement the changes in the first quarter of next year. It is actually the first half of next year.