35 Weeks Pregnant in Singapore And Fighting A Legal Battle Just to Get Paid
🇸🇬 Singapore wants more babies.
But are we making it safe for women to have them?
I am a contract worker in Singapore.
When I found out I was pregnant, my first emotion was joy. My second was fear.
Fear that if my workplace found out, I would lose my livelihood.
So I hid my pregnancy for as long as I could.
By the early third trimester, during a work event, I was visibly showing.
Management confronted me and asked if I was pregnant. I admitted that I was.
The next day, they asked whether I intended to take time off. I said yes. Of course I would need time to recover after giving birth and care for my newborn.
The response was that they would find someone to replace my services. One week later, I was terminated.
The following week, payment for work I had already completed became due.
Instead of paying me, I was told my money would be withheld for one to two months.
There was nothing in my contract allowing this.When I explained that I was pregnant and needed the money for medical expenses and preparing for my baby, I was told that managing my finances was my own responsibility.
I cannot describe the feeling of being heavily pregnant, suddenly facing financial uncertainty, and being told that the burden was somehow my own responsibility.
I gave seven days for the payment to be made. Instead, I was removed from the company communication channels.
I eventually had no choice but to initiate legal proceedings simply to recover payment.
I am now approaching 35 weeks pregnant and preparing to attend a legal hearing while also preparing to welcome my child into the world.
I have complied with every requirement asked of me by the court. I submitted my documents, organised my evidence, and followed the process as instructed.My fear now is that additional documents or claims may be raised at the last minute, leaving me with little time to review them or prepare a response.
The emotional burden of this is difficult to describe.At a stage in pregnancy when many women are focused on their health, their baby's arrival, and preparing for motherhood, I am spending my final weeks before childbirth gathering evidence, understanding legal procedures, and fighting to recover payment for work I have already done.
How many self-employed women, freelancers, commission-based professionals, and independent contractors have fallen through the cracks without the protections available to traditional employees under the Employment Act and without access to avenues like TADM?
Singapore's declining birth rate is often discussed in terms of baby bonuses, childcare subsidies, and financial incentives. But no amount of incentives can remove the fear women feel when pregnancy may threaten their financial security.
If Singapore truly wants to encourage people to have children, the conversation cannot stop at encouraging births. It must include whether women feel protected enough to become mothers.Because no woman should have to hide her pregnancy to protect her livelihood.
No pregnant woman should have to spend the final weeks before giving birth fighting to recover money she has already earned.
This is my story.I share this not because my story is unique. I share this because I wonder how many women in Singapore have stayed silent.
How many women have delayed having children because they fear the impact on their careers?
#Singapore #TFR #Pregnancy #WomenAtWork #WorkingMums #WomenInHealthcare #SelfEmployed #Motherhood #SGMums
Navigating pregnancy while maintaining financial and legal stability can be one of the toughest experiences for working women in Singapore—especially those like healthcare workers or freelancers who may not have comprehensive protections under the Employment Act. From personal interactions to official legal processes, the layers of uncertainty can weigh heavily on a mother-to-be. In my experience, even with the excitement of expecting a child, the looming threat of job loss or delayed payments adds significant emotional stress. Many women hesitate to disclose their pregnancy at work for fear of retaliation or discrimination, which can lead to isolation and decreased support just when they need it most. While Singapore offers various baby bonuses and subsidies to encourage childbirth, these financial perks cannot fully address the root problem: a lack of workplace security for pregnant women. For independent contractors, freelancers, and self-employed professionals, the gaps are even wider since they often fall outside traditional labor protections and dispute resolution avenues like TADM. Facing these challenges, I found that early legal advice and preparing documentation thoroughly was crucial. Filing claims through the Small Claims Tribunal provided a formal way to reclaim money owed, but it also meant managing court procedures alongside the physical and emotional demands of late pregnancy. This experience highlights the need for broader conversations—beyond incentives—about creating a safer, more supportive environment for pregnancy and motherhood in the workplace. Policies that protect maternity leave rights, prevent wrongful termination, and ensure timely payments are essential to give women the confidence to start families without fear. Ultimately, every woman deserves to focus on her health and her baby’s arrival without added financial or legal burdens. Sharing stories like this encourages awareness and action toward more inclusive labor practices for pregnant and working mothers in Singapore and beyond.
Go lodge report with Ministry of Manpower. This misalignment is not the fault of SG Government but is the fault and result of the employer who is not the Government but a different entity