138. Any employer who without reasonable excuse, the proof whereof shall lie on him, refuses to allow an employee whose contract of service has been determined in any of the ways hereinbefore provided to leave his service shall be guilty of an offence under this Act and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both such fine and imprisonment and the whole or any portion of any fine recoverable under this section may be adjudged by the court to be paid to the employee.
Employee not answerable for debt, default or miscarriage of another
139. No employee shall be bound, in or by virtue of any contract of service under this Act, to answer for the debt, default or miscarriage of any other person.
Obstruction of employee by employer
140. Any employer or other person who in any way obstructs any employee in appearing before the Commissioner in pursuance of this Act shall be guilty of an offence under this Act and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both such fine and imprisonment.
Seats for employees engaged in retail trade or business
141.—(1) In all rooms of any premises where retail trade or business is carried on and where employees are working the employer shall provide seats behind the counter, or in such other position as may be suitable for the purpose, and such seats shall be in the proportion of not less than one seat to every three employees in each room and it shall be the duty of the employer to permit the employees to make use of such seats whenever the use thereof does not interfere with their work, and the employer shall in such manner and form as may be prescribed by regulations made by the Minister give notice informing such employees that they are intended to do so.
(2) Any person failing to comply with the provisions of this section shall be guilty of an offence under this Act and shall be liable on conviction for a first offence to a fine not exceeding fifty dollars, and for a second or subsequent offence to a fine which shall not be less than fifty dollars and shall not exceed one hundred dollars.
Punishment for obstruction
142. Any employer or other person who wilfully obstructs or impedes any entry, inspection, inquiry or investigation made under this Act or commits, with respect to such entry, inspection, inquiry or investigation, any offence described in Chapter X of the Penal Code (Cap. 119) shall be punished as provided in Chapter X of the Penal Code.
Penalties
143. Any person who is guilty of any breach or any offence under this Act for which no penalty is otherwise provided, shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both such fine and imprisonment and for a subsequent offence under the same section to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both such fine and imprisonment.
Penalty for fraudulently inducing employee to emigrate
144. Any person who by force, intoxication or ill-treatment, intimidation or fraud, or by means of false representations, induces or attempts to induce any person to enter into a contract of service to work beyond the limits of Singapore shall be guilty of an offence under this Act and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both such fine and imprisonment.
