Court to have cognizance of trade disputes
31.  A Court shall have cognizance of a trade dispute where —
(a)all the trade unions and employers who are parties to a trade dispute jointly make a request in writing to the Registrar that the trade dispute be submitted to arbitration;
(b)a trade union or an employer who is a party to a trade dispute makes a request in writing to the Registrar that under section 50(1) of the Employment Act (Cap. 91) the trade dispute be submitted to arbitration;
(c)a trade union which or an employer who is a party to a trade dispute as to any matter arising from or connected with a transfer of employment makes a request in writing, whether before or after the transfer of employment, to the Registrar that the trade dispute be submitted to arbitration;
(d)the trade dispute relates to —
(i)the retrenchment benefit payable to an executive employee who is represented by a recognised trade union under section 30A; or
(ii)a breach of contract of employment by an executive employee who is represented by a recognised trade union under section 30A or his employer,
and the employer or the recognised trade union representing the executive employee makes a request in writing to the Registrar that the trade dispute be submitted to arbitration;
(e)the Minister by notice in the Gazette directs that the trade dispute be submitted to arbitration; or
(f)the President of Singapore by proclamation declares that by reason of special circumstances it is essential in the public interest that a trade dispute be submitted to arbitration.
[29/72; 36/95; 23/2002]