Church allowed judicial review over MOM's decision

SINGAPORE - Faith Community Baptist Church (FCBC) has succeeded in obtaining leave from the High Court to apply for judicial review over Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin's decision ordering it to pay maternity benefits to a sacked employee.

Mr Tan, then Acting Manpower Minister, had ordered the church to compensate a worker who was fired last year.

She had been terminated on grounds that she had breached the church's code of conduct in entering into a relationship with a divorced male colleague.

The minister had decided that she was "dismissed without sufficient cause", and under powers granted to him under the Employment Act, he ordered the church to compensate the woman's salary and maternity benefits.

FCBC paid the compensation ordered but sought a quashing order against Mr Tan's decision, declaring it "unconstitutional" in interfering with the church's affairs.

This article was first published on May 30, 2014.
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