Evidence and documents checklist for filing a TADM claim in Singapore
Whether you are filing a salary-related claim or a wrongful dismissal claim, the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) asks you to upload supporting documents as part of the same filing, not send them in afterwards. TADM's own guidance says the whole process takes about 20 minutes if your documents are ready beforehand, so the fastest way through this is to gather everything first. Below is exactly what TADM asks for, which of those documents actually carry weight for your situation, and what you need beyond the evidence itself just to open the case. For the wider process once you have filed, see the employment dispute process and what happens at a TADM mediation session. For the deadlines and claim amounts for each claim type, see salary claims and wrongful dismissal.
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The checklist at a glance
TADM lists the same set of "essential supporting documents to upload" whether you are filing a salary-related claim or a wrongful dismissal claim. What differs is which ones actually carry weight for your situation.
- Employment contract or key employment terms: the document TADM names first in its essential documents list.
- Salary payment records and CPF statements (where available): shows what you were actually paid.
- Termination or resignation letter: shows how and when your employment ended.
- Other documents relevant to your claim, e.g. time sheet, certification of pregnancy/estimated delivery date by a Singapore medical practitioner: TADM's own broader item covering whatever else directly supports your specific situation.
That is the complete list, word for word, under both the Wrongful Dismissal Claim and the Salary-Related Employment Claim sections of TADM's own filing page. The one requirement that does depend on your claim type sits outside this list: if you dispute the reason for your dismissal, TADM separately requires evidence of personal accounts or documents, covered below under disputing why you were dismissed.
Before the evidence: what TADM needs to open the case
Some of what TADM asks for is not evidence at all, it is just the information needed to open a case and take payment. Have this ready before you start: your Singpass login, your employer's company name, UEN, mailing address and contact number, your own contact details including email address, your employment dates, occupation and monthly salary, and a credit or debit card, or internet banking user ID and PIN, for the filing fee.
- Log in with SingpassFiling is done through TADM eServices, not on paper.
- Have your employer's details on handCompany name, UEN, mailing address and contact number.
- Confirm your own employment detailsEmployment dates, occupation and monthly salary, plus your contact email.
- Have a payment method readyCredit or debit card, or internet banking user ID and PIN, for the filing fee.
Your employment contract or key employment terms
Your employment contract, or the key employment terms your employer gave you, is one of the essential supporting documents TADM lists for both salary-related and wrongful dismissal claims. It sets out your pay, your role, and your notice terms, the baseline facts a mediator or the Employment Claims Tribunals needs to assess almost any claim. If your employer never issued a written contract, an offer letter or appointment letter that states the same terms is worth uploading in its place.
Salary payment records and CPF statements
TADM lists salary payment records and CPF statements, where available, among the essential documents for both claim types, alongside the contract. They matter most for a salary-related claim, whether it is unpaid salary, overtime, or a bonus dispute: these are what let a mediator or the tribunal work out what you were actually paid against what your contract says you are owed. Payslips, bank statements showing salary credits, and your CPF contribution history all count.
Your termination or resignation letter
TADM lists a termination or resignation letter among the essential documents for both claim types. It matters most for a wrongful dismissal claim, where it is usually the document that states the reason your employer gave for ending your employment, the reason you may be disputing. For a salary claim it still helps, because it fixes the date your employment ended, which is what starts the clock on your filing deadline.
Disputing why you were dismissed: you need more than the letter
A termination letter tells TADM what your employer says happened. If you disagree with that account, TADM's own guidance is explicit that the letter is not enough on its own: you are required to support a wrongful dismissal claim with evidence of personal accounts or documents, for example a termination letter or emails, whenever you dispute the reason given for your dismissal. In practice, that means gathering whatever written record exists of the events around your dismissal: emails, messages, performance reviews, or your own written account of what was said and when.
Situational extras: time sheets and pregnancy certification
Two documents on TADM's list only apply in specific situations. A time sheet matters if part of your claim is for unpaid overtime, since it is the record of the hours you are claiming for. Certification of pregnancy, or an estimated delivery date from a Singapore medical practitioner, applies if your claim relates to a dismissal during pregnancy or to maternity leave benefits. Beyond these two, TADM's list also has a catch-all for "other documents relevant to your claim", so anything else that directly supports the specific facts of your dispute is worth including, even if it is not named above.
The filing fee and how long it takes
Filing itself is not free. The non-refundable filing fee is $10 (inclusive of GST) per claim if you are claiming $10,000 or less, and $20 (inclusive of GST) per claim if you are claiming more than that. Payment is due within 3 days of filing, by card or internet banking, or the claim is purged and you have to refile. This fee is separate from the fee you may pay later to register a Settlement Agreement or file a Claim Referral Certificate with the Employment Claims Tribunals, which is a different step with its own fee.
TADM says you should be able to complete the filing process within 20 minutes if you have prepared your documents beforehand, and that you will get an email on the next steps within 3 working days of payment. Gathering the evidence, not the filing form itself, is the part worth doing in advance.
Missing a document?
If something on this list is not in your possession, look before you assume you cannot file. Payslips and salary records often live in your email, your bank's transaction history, or an HR self-service portal you may still have access to. A termination letter you were only handed on paper can usually be requested again from HR in writing, which has the added benefit of creating a dated email you can also use as evidence. TADM's own guidance says you are required to substantiate your claim with written documents and upload the relevant ones, it does not set out a rule for what happens if a specific item is unavailable, so the safest approach is to file with the strongest set of documents you can put together rather than wait indefinitely for a perfect one.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need every document on this list to file a TADM claim?
No. TADM's own list of essential supporting documents covers both salary claims and wrongful dismissal claims, but not every item applies to every claim. Salary payment records matter most for a money claim; correspondence and personal accounts matter most when you are disputing the reason for a dismissal. Gather what is relevant to your situation and upload it when you file.
What if I don't have a copy of my employment contract?
TADM lists your employment contract or key employment terms as an essential document, so it is worth trying to track down: check your email for the original, ask your employer or HR for a reissued copy, or look for an offer letter or appointment letter that states the same terms. TADM does not publish a rule that a missing contract blocks you from filing, but the stronger your paperwork, the easier the mediator and, if it goes that far, the Employment Claims Tribunals can assess your case.
Do I need evidence for a salary claim, or only for a wrongful dismissal claim?
Both need supporting documents, but the emphasis differs. TADM asks salary claimants for records that show what you were paid and what you are owed, such as salary payment records, CPF statements, and a time sheet if overtime is in dispute. For a wrongful dismissal claim, TADM specifically requires evidence of personal accounts or documents, such as a termination letter or emails, whenever you dispute the reason given for your dismissal.
How much does it cost to file, and do I pay before or after gathering my evidence?
The filing fee is separate from the evidence itself: $10 if your claim is $10,000 or less, and $20 if it is more, both inclusive of GST. You upload your supporting documents as part of the same filing, so it makes sense to gather your evidence first and file once, since payment is due within 3 days of filing or the claim is purged.
How long does filing actually take once I have my documents ready?
TADM says you should be able to complete the process within 20 minutes if you have prepared your documents beforehand. You will then get an email from TADM on the next steps within 3 working days of payment.
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