The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and The Law Society of Singapore organised a legal primer together this evening under the LawWorks Partnership. Under this partnership, the two partners aim to educate workers on their legal rights and heighten their knowledge on the various aspects of labour and employment related laws.
This evening’s primer on the Personal Data and Protection Act (PDPA) was attended by more than 100 participants who were keen to find out more on how employees could protect their own personal data held by employers.
The workshop saw Patrick Tay, NTUC Assistant Secretary-General & Director of the NTUC Legal Services Department and PME Unit engaging in an informal sharing session with participants. During the session, special guest speaker Samuel Seow, Managing Director of Samuel Seow Law Corporation also shared invaluable insights with participants on how their personal data can be protected and how the legislation affects both employees and employers.
At the event, a PDPA pocket guide was launched with limited copies printed for distribution to participants. The pocket guide is also available for members of the public to download on the NTUC U portal (https://www.ntuc.org.sg) and The Law Society of Singapore (http://www.lawsociety.org.sg/) portal. This pocket guide is second in a series of pocket guides launched by NTUC under the LawWorks partnership.
Mr Patrick Tay said, “This evening's workshop allows participants to raise issues that are truly personal and close to their hearts. We hope through such primers, participants will have a better understanding of their rights under the PDPA and other labour related legislation and how they can better protect and safeguard themselves in their workplaces. Majority of the participants of the legal primers which we have organised thus far are Professionals, Managers and Executives wanting to better equip themselves of their rights and responsibilities in and out of their workplaces."
So far, over 10 legal primers had been organised under the LawWorks partnership since its launch in January 2013, engaging over 1000 participants. Participants who are union members were able to attend these workshops on a complimentary basis, as one of the perks enjoyed by union members.
“One of our flagship collaborations has been the LawWorks partnership with NTUC. Since its inception, LawWorks has provided an excellent platform for both partners to provide regular legal awareness and advice to working people targeted at addressing their most pressing legal needs. The Law Society is looking forward at strengthening this collaboration through more targeted legal awareness initiatives for workers and engaging more volunteer lawyers to support the provision of key legal awareness and advice for working people in Singapore,” said spokesperson from The Law Society of Singapore, Pro Bono Services Office.
The NTUC and The Law Society of Singapore plan to organise four legal primers each year. The next legal primer is slated to take place in November 2015 focusing on workplace bullying and harassment in the workplace and the latest Protection from Harassment Act.
