How Time and Attendance Software Supports Compliance with Singapore’s Work Hours Policies

Running a business in Singapore means juggling a lot of moving parts, and making sure your team’s work hours are properly tracked is one of them. It might seem simple at first, especially if you only have a handful of employees. But as the team grows, so does the complexity. Suddenly, you’re dealing with overtime limits, rest day entitlements, public holidays, and monthly payroll calculations that seem to take longer than they should.

That’s why more and more SMEs are turning to time and attendance software, not just to make life easier, but to stay on the right side of Singapore’s work hour regulations.

What the Law Actually Says

In Singapore, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has very clear rules on work hours, especially for employees covered under Part IV of the Employment Act. These are usually non-managerial staff earning under SGD 2,600 a month or workmen with monthly basic salaries under SGD 4,500.

The short version? Employees can work up to 8 hours a day, or 44 hours per week. Anything beyond that is considered overtime, and it must be paid at 1.5 times the hourly rate. Overtime is also capped at 72 hours a month. On top of that, employees must get at least one rest day per week and a proper break if they’re working more than six hours straight.

It sounds manageable on paper. But if you’re running a growing team, especially with rotating shifts, remote staff, or part-timers, keeping tabs on all of this manually can quickly become a full-time job on its own.

Why Manual Tracking Just Doesn’t Cut It Anymore

Back in the day, many businesses relied on punch cards, Excel sheets, or even handwritten logbooks to track employee hours. And while that might still work for a small shop or café with fixed hours, it gets tricky when schedules vary or staff work across locations.

The problem isn’t just about efficiency — it’s also about accuracy and risk. Missed overtime calculations, forgotten rest days, or inconsistent records could lead to underpayment, disputes, or worse, penalties from MOM. In a worst-case scenario, a simple spreadsheet error could turn into a costly compliance issue.

This is exactly where time attendance software like Million comes in.

What Time and Attendance Software Actually Does

At its core, the software takes care of the nitty-gritty of logging hours, tracking attendance, and calculating time worked — but in a way that’s automatic, reliable, and transparent. Employees clock in and out using digital methods like mobile apps, biometric devices, or web-based portals, depending on what works best for your business.

The system then compiles the data in real time, calculating how long each person worked, when they started, when they ended, whether they took a break, and how much overtime (if any) they clocked.

What used to take hours every week — collecting records, checking timesheets, calculating OT — is now done in minutes. And more importantly, it’s accurate and consistent every time.

Staying Within the Legal Limits

The most helpful part of using this kind of software? It helps ensure your business doesn’t accidentally breach MOM’s regulations. The system can be configured to reflect local rules, so if someone is about to exceed the 44-hour work week or the 72-hour monthly overtime cap, the software can alert you in advance.

Some platforms even flag when an employee has worked too many consecutive hours without a proper break or rest day. It’s like having an extra pair of eyes on your schedule at all times — without adding to your admin team.

A More Transparent Way to Work

Another benefit businesses often don’t expect is the transparency it brings to the workplace. When employees can see their own logged hours, they feel more in control — and more confident that they’re being paid fairly for the time they’ve worked.

It also makes handling disputes easier. If someone has a question about their hours, you can pull up the exact data — timestamps and all — to resolve things quickly and calmly. This alone can help reduce tension between staff and management.

It’s Not Just About Clocking In

Good time and attendance systems often go beyond basic hour tracking. Many link up with leave management tools, so you can schedule time off, track paid leave, or plan shift coverage without juggling separate systems. Some even integrate with payroll software, making end-of-month salary calculations faster and smoother.

And with remote work and flexible arrangements becoming more common, especially in SMEs that need to stay agile, having a cloud-based solution means your team can clock in from anywhere, while you stay updated in real time.

Why Singapore SMEs Are Making the Shift

Compliance is the obvious reason. But that’s just the start. Businesses in Singapore are moving to automated systems because they make their operations smarter, leaner, and more reliable.

Instead of spending hours checking rosters and chasing timesheets, HR teams can focus on bigger-picture tasks. Business owners can breathe easier knowing their records are up to scratch if MOM ever comes knocking. And employees feel more confident knowing their time and efforts are being tracked fairly.

In a highly regulated and fast-paced environment like Singapore, that peace of mind is worth more than you might think.

Final Thoughts

Time and attendance software isn’t a flashy trend or just another business app. It’s becoming a fundamental tool for any SME that wants to stay compliant, save time, and run more efficiently.

When you replace messy spreadsheets and manual logbooks with an automated system that just works — day in, day out — you’re not only protecting your business legally. You’re building a stronger, more organised foundation for your team to grow.

So if you’re still spending hours calculating overtime or second-guessing your rostering, maybe it’s time to let technology handle it for you — and finally tick compliance off your worry list.