A MIGRANT worker's group has spoken out against the Manpower Ministry's plans to get all firms to issue itemised payslips in two years.

Transient Workers' Count Two (TWC2) said the two-year deadline is too long for medium and big companies and asked that these firms be given six months to comply.

"Such companies should already have the resources to issue itemised payslips," said the group.

Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin said on Monday that the ministry aimed to introduced the new ruling on payslips within two years, to "change behaviour in a sustainable way".

TWC2 added in its statement today that the ruling on compulsory itemised pay slips is also not sufficient to solve the problem of underpayment of salaries as errant bosses will find other ways to circumvent the rules.

The group said errant bosses get round the rules by paying salaries in cash which is less than the amount stated in salary slips, deducting workers' salaries to repay bogus loans and demanding that workers hand over pay as a "kickbacks" to their bosses for giving them jobs.

TWC2 suggested that MOM stop these errant practices by making it compulsory for bosses to pay salaries or give out loans through a GIRO account or with pay checks so that an audit trail can be recorded.