HOME Runs: Sally’s Story — How HOME Helped Sally Recover $16,000 in Unpaid Overtime Wages

Introduction

What kinds of cases does HOME’s migrant worker helpdesk take on?

In 2025, HOME saw a rise in complex cases involving wrongful dismissal and salary-related disputes referred to the Employment Claims Tribunals (ECT). In these cases, HOME did not merely provide advice — it played a critical, hands-on role in guiding workers through every stage of the process.

While some workers eventually secured partial or full compensation, many struggled to even access justice due to barriers such as limited English proficiency, low digital literacy, and unfamiliarity with quasi-legal procedures. Recognising these challenges, HOME steps in to bridge the gap.

ECT cases are highly resource-intensive. Workers are required to draft witness statements, gather and organise evidence, and present arguments before a judge — all without legal representation. For migrant workers in Singapore, navigating such a complex and unfamiliar system can be overwhelming. HOME actively supports workers through this journey, ensuring they are not left to face the system alone and are able to present the strongest case possible.

The impact of HOME’s intervention is best illustrated through the story of Sally, one of many workers who successfully claimed her rightful wages with HOME’s support.

Sally’s Story

When Sally, a cleaner who has worked with her company for three years, approached HOME after her employer failed to pay her full wages, she was unsure of how to proceed. Amongst other things, her employer argued that she held a supervisory role and was therefore not entitled to overtime pay. HOME stepped in immediately to take an active and strategic role in her case.

HOME guided Sally in filing her claim with the Employment Claims Tribunals (ECT) and worked closely with her to build a strong, evidence-based case. This included proactively gathering and substantiating evidence to refute the employer’s claims. HOME reached out to Sally’s colleagues to verify her actual job scope, establishing that she did not perform supervisory duties.

HOME also provided detailed support in preparing her witness statement, including transcribing key audio recordings into admissible evidence. Beyond case preparation, HOME ensured that Sally could effectively navigate the Community Justice and Tribunals System (CJTS) by assisting with the uploading of documents, managing correspondence with the court, and meeting procedural requirements accurately and on time.

Through HOME’s sustained and hands-on support, Sally was able to confidently present her case. She was ultimately awarded $16,000 in unpaid wages — a result that underscores the critical role HOME plays in enabling migrant workers to access justice and secure their rightful entitlements.

Currently, Sally is back at her home country, and waiting to get married. The salary that recouped from her employers is instrumental in her starting a new life.

Originally published 3 June 2026