Employment
“The team is solution-focused and combines excellent legal advice with practical and strategic advice to provide the best guidance for clients.”
The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2025
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Meet our regional team of experienced lawyers
With the proliferation of business interests in Asia and the continued growth of an international workforce, many companies are increasingly confronted with both challenges and opportunities presented by the diverse legal landscape across the ASEAN countries. Navigating the intricate web of employment laws and policies across the region requires a nuanced understanding of each jurisdiction’s unique requirements, as well as the ability to coordinate and manage these variances effectively. This legal diversity not only poses complex compliance challenges but also offers opportunities for businesses to tailor their employment strategies to leverage local advantages and foster innovative workplace solutions that can drive growth and competitiveness in the dynamic ASEAN market.
The Regional Employment Practice Group brings together a team of highly experienced and widely respected lawyers from each of our offices across the region. With deep expertise and unparalleled regional insight, our team is uniquely positioned to provide seamless support on a comprehensive range of both contentious and non-contentious employment matters throughout the various countries within our network.
Our lawyers possess extensive experience in advising multinational corporations and individuals alike on complex cross-border employment policies, designing innovative compensation plans, and representing clients in high-stakes employment disputes – whether in arbitration, in the courtroom or at mediations. Our lawyers’ in-depth understanding of local laws, combined with a strategic regional perspective, ensures that clients receive practical, effective, and forward-thinking solutions tailored to their specific needs.
Featured insights
Rajah & Tann Singapore Contributes Singapore Chapter of International Employment Lawyer's Guide to Workplace Investigations
The Guide to Workplace Investigations examines key issue that organisations need to consider when they initiate, conduct and conclude investigations in the 23 jurisdictions covered by the guide
Featured insights
Chambers and Partners Global Practice Guide: Employment 2024
Singapore Trends and Developments
Rajah & Tann Singapore contributed to the Singapore chapter of the Global Practice Guide: Employment 2024 published by Chambers and Partners. The chapter provides a snapshot of the key changes in the employment regulatory framework and legislation in Singapore thus far, and their anticipated impact on employers and employees moving forward.
Employment Legal Services
Our integrated, full spectrum Asian-focused regional employment law practice empowers clients with an unrivalled and unique edge, delivering innovative and strategic solutions tailored to their specific needs. We advise on all aspects of employment law, from non-contentious drafting, structuring, and proactive guidance, to robust representation and negotiations in contentious employment matters. Leveraging our deep expertise and forward-thinking approach, we are at the forefront of complex and high-profile employment cases, involving senior executives, whistleblowers, trade unions, and regulators, ensuring our clients receive practical, effective, and future-ready legal strategies.
Hiring & Recruitment
- Immigration
- Hiring and onboarding strategies
- Equity and inclusion
- ESG
Employee Management
- Union engagement
- Incentives and benefits
- HR policies and compliance
- Whistleblowing, grievance reporting, harassment, and discrimination
- Regulatory investigations and prosecutions
- Workplace investigations and disciplinary processes
- Data privacy and protection
- Workplace health and safety
- Workplace fairness
- Performance improvement plans and employee engagement
- Workplace and employment law training and education
- Contractors, part-time employees, and platform workers
- Global mobility
- Workforce planning
- Employment and immigration aspects of corporate transactions and restructurings
- Contentious issues including:
- Breaches of non-competition and non-solicitation restrictions, and confidentiality
- Stocks, options and compensation
- Employee misconduct and breaches of fiduciary duties
- Defending against claims and/or investigations by government or unions
Exits
- Pensions
- Retirement and Re-employment
- Resignations, terminations, and separations
- Restructuring, business reorganisations, and retrenchments
- Post-employment issues – disputes, references etc.
Regional Expertise in Asia Pacific
We have one of the largest and most highly acclaimed regional employment teams in Asia, renowned for our leadership and expertise in the field. Our team comprises top-tier specialists across 10 countries, consistently recognized for their outstanding achievements and contributions to employment law.
Our regional team consists of resident experts based in their home countries who are not only well versed in local employment laws and possess extensive on-the-ground experience, but are also deeply attuned to local culture and business practices. Our exceptional reputation is built on our ability to deliver innovative, practical solutions and to anticipate industry trends. Because of our presence in virtually every country in Asia, we deliver truly seamless, integrated, and comprehensive support to multinational clients. Whether our clients have operations in a single jurisdiction or across multiple countries, we coordinate closely to ensure consistent, high-quality service and tailored solutions that address both local requirements and cross-border challenges. This regional reach and collaborative approach empower us to provide unparalleled value and peace of mind to clients wherever they are situated in Asia.
The team has been described as “having a good sense of industry developments” and “being diligent, very professional, and going the extra mile” for the clients.
International Connection
Our Singapore and Thailand offices are member firms of lus Laboris, which is consistently recognised as the leading legal service provider in employment, immigration, and pensions law with a worldwide coverage of over 50 countries and over 1,500 lawyers.
Jonathan Yuen, our Singapore Head of Employment was also appointed in 2022 to the global editorial board of International Employment Lawyer, as the sole Singapore representative, joining the ranks of top ranked global employment lawyers.
Landmark Employment Cases Across the Region
Related Links
Recognition
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National Elite (Singapore)IEL Elite (2025)
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5-Star Rating – Employment LawThe Straits Times Singapore’s Best Law Firms (2025)
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Bands 1 & 2 - Employment (Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam)Chambers Asia-Pacific (2025)
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Tiers 1 & 2 - Labour and Employment (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam)The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2025)
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Tiers 1 & 2 - Labour & Employment (Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand)Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific (2025)
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Outstanding - Labour & Employment (Indonesia, Singapore)Asialaw (2024-25)
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Highly Recommended - Labour & Employment (Philippines, Vietnam)Asialaw (2024-25)
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Recommended - Labour & Employment (Thailand)Asialaw (2024-25)
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Ranked - Employment & Industrial Relations (Malaysia)Chambers Asia-Pacific (2025)
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Ranked - Employment (Philippines, Thailand)Chambers Asia-Pacific (2025)
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Ranked - Labour and Employment (Malaysia)Asialaw (2024-25)
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Ranked - Labour and Employment (Malaysia, Vietnam)Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific (2025)
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"Christopher & Lee Ong provide competent, reliable and efficient support. Their experienced and seasoned counsel are readily available to connect with and quick to follow up on instructions."Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025 (Malaysia)
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"Assegaf Hamzah & Partners is a top-tier Indonesian commercial law firm with an eminent professional reputation."Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025 (Indonesia)
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"Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio are well-versed in providing exhaustive legal opinions, advice and pleadings."Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025 (Philippines)
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"Rajah & Tann is our company's go-to firm for Vietnam legal matters. The team offers very experienced local counsel with in-depth knowledge experience of local employment law."Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025 (Vietnam)
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"I marvel at the breadth of the firm's legal specialties. There appears to be no matter that they can't handle."Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025 (Singapore)
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"C&G Law is very dependable and they are always available to address our concerns. They have been very responsive and proactive and their team is well-staffed and well-trained. Their client service is outstanding."The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025 (Philippines)
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"Their commitment to excellence is evident in every interaction we've had with them. Their legal advice is not only timely but also highly accurate and tailored to our specific needs. R&T demonstrates a deep understanding of our industry and business goals, offering advice that is both legally sound and commercially practical."The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025 (Singapore)
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"Very efficient to identify the real intention of the client and to understand the scope of work."The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025 (Thailand)
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"With a strong dispute resolution department, the group represents clients across a broad range of sectors on a variety of labour-related claims. The group also has considerable expertise with reviewing employment contracts and agreements, as well as with general regulatory and commercial advisory and assistance."The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025 (Vietnam)
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"We are immensely grateful for the exceptional services provided by Muhamad Kamal Fikri and his dispute resolution team. Their expertise and strategic approach are crucial in resolving issues with unions and ensuring the successful completion of divestment exercises."The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2025) (Indonesia)
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"The team is accessible, highly knowledgeable and pragmatic in their approach to resolving matters."The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2025) (Malaysia)
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"The team is solution-focused and combines excellent legal advice with practical and strategic advice to provide the best guidance for clients."The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2025) (Singapore)
The team is solution-focused and combines excellent legal advice with practical and strategic advice to provide the best guidance for clients."
Our Employment Team
Consultant, Christopher & Lee Ong
