无视小额索偿庭执行令？新加坡政府提供3种途径保障索赔人权益

2025年4月8日，新加坡律政部兼内政部政务部长穆仁理在国会口头答复武吉班让单选区议员连荣华有关协助索赔人向无视小额索偿法庭执行令的零售商追讨赔偿的问题。

以下内容为新加坡眼根据国会英文资料翻译整理：

连荣华（武吉班让单选区议员）提问律政部长：

（一）对于无视并拒绝遵守小额索偿法庭（SCT）执行令的零售商，律政部能否为索赔人提供追讨协助？

（二）小额索偿法庭是否具备直接执行裁决的权限？

穆仁里（律政部兼内政部政务部长，代表律政部长）：议长先生，小额索偿法庭的裁决与其他法庭命令具有同等法律效力，需通过国家法院系统执行。自2021年《法庭规则》修订后，执行令申请流程已简化，索赔人现仅需向地方法院提交单一申请即可启动执行程序。

针对索赔人的具体需求，政府提供以下支持措施：

法律援助：经济困难者可向法律援助局（LAB）申请法律咨询与援助，资格条件详见律政部官网的“LAB电子服务门户”；司法指导：国家法院内设的社区司法中心（Community Justice Centre）可为不熟悉程序的当事人提供指引；公益法律服务：律政部支持的律师公会公益服务新加坡法律义务办事处（Pro Bono SG）等机构提供个案协助，详情可参考律政部官网“公众可获取的法律支持资源”专页(Legal Support Resources Available to Members of the Public)。

此外，正如律政部第二部长在今年初国会供应委员会的辩论中提到的那样，律政部正在与利益相关者合作，进一步改革民事裁决（含小额索偿令）执的执行机制，包括特别法庭命令的执行。

议长：有请连荣华议员。

连荣华（武吉班让区）：感谢政务部长答复。他提供了很多资料，我必须说，其中有些资料我可能不知道。我相信许多新加坡人可能不知道还有许多其他途径可以寻找。

我在接见选民时遇到一宗案例：事主虽获小额法庭裁决胜诉，但零售商拒不履行赔偿，事主被告知需另行寻求法律途径，这显然违背小额法庭设立的初衷。建议政府加强对手无寸铁的长者等弱势群体的执行协助，确保其权益切实落地。

穆仁理（律政部兼内政部政务部长，代表律政部长）：议长先生，我完全理解连议员反映的个案困境。正如我在答复中所说，我们有多项援助措施，问题可能在于市民的意识。现有援助渠道的关键在于提高公众认知度，望议员协助向选民宣传这些资源，确保其获得所需支持。

以下是英文质询内容：

ASSISTING CLAIMANTS TO SEEK RECOURSE FROM RETAILERS WHO IGNORE ENFORCEMENT ORDERS OF SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL

17Mr Liang Eng Hwaasked the Minister for Law (a) whether the Ministry can provide assistance to claimants to seek recourse from retailers who ignore and refuse to comply with the enforcement order of the Small Claims Tribunal (SCT); and (b) whether the SCT has the means to carry out enforcement actions.

The Minister of State for Law (Mr Murali Pillai) (for the Minister for Law): Sir, orders of the Small Claims Tribunal (SCT) are like any other Court orders and are enforced through the State Courts. The process of applying for enforcement orders has been simplified with the introduction of the revised Rules of Court in 2021. It is now only necessary to file a single application for an enforcement order in the District Court.

Claimants who wish to enforce an order of the SCT also have the following means of assistance. Individuals with limited means may apply for legal advice and legal aid from the Legal Aid Bureau (LAB). More information on the eligibility criteria can be found at the LAB E-Services Portal on the Ministry of Law’s (MinLaw's) website. Parties who are unclear about the process can also seek advice from the Community Justice Centre, which is located on-site at the State Courts.

There are also legal clinics, like those organised by the Law Society Pro Bono SG and supported by MinLaw, which provide assistance and advice in specific cases. More information on legal assistance can be found on MinLaw’s website link to “Legal Support Resources Available to Members of the Public”.

MinLaw is working with stakeholders on further changes to make the enforcement of civil judgments, including SCT orders, as was mentioned by the hon Second Minister for Law at the Committee of Supply debates earlier this year.

Mr Speaker: Mr Liang Eng Hwa.

Mr Liang Eng Hwa (Bukit Panjang): Sir, I thank the Minister of State for the reply, which provided a lot of information, some of which I must say I may not be aware of. I am sure many Singaporeans may not be aware that there are so many other avenues that they can look for.

I had a case in my Meet-the-People Session, which I had sent to MinLaw as well, where the claimant got an order from SCT for the retailer to pay up, but the retailer just refused to pay. She felt helpless and was told that she had to go and seek legal advice, which defeats the purpose of why we have the SCT for small claims. So, whether can there be more of this hand-holding, especially for the seniors, to be able to ultimately get their claims back, which is what the whole effort is all about.

Mr Murali Pillai: Sir, I completely appreciate the hon Member Mr Liang's views on behalf of his resident. As mentioned in my answer, there are a number of help measures and the issue perhaps is awareness. We seek his cooperation to bring to the attention of the resident these avenues and hopefully, through this, she will get the assistance that she needs.