TSMP’s latest High Court pro bono win has attracted strong media coverage across publications including The Straits Times, Mothership, The Online Citizen and The Independent News, underscoring both the legal significance of the decision and the firm’s advocacy for vulnerable workers.

Central to the coverage was the successful representation of Indian national and migrant worker Gena Hulash Ram by Partner Melvin Chan, who leads the firm’s pro bono work, and Senior Associate Amelia Tan. Their efforts resulted in the High Court overturning a lower tribunal decision and reinstating Ram’s full claim of $5,711.11 in unpaid overtime wages against his former employer, Lim Joo Huat Enterprise.

Across the various reports, the case was framed as an important clarification of employment law, with the Court affirming that fixed monthly allowances cannot be used to offset or cap overtime payments. The coverage also consistently highlighted the pro bono nature of Ram’s representation by Melvin and Amelia, with Mothership and The Online Citizen further amplifying the firm’s perspective through Melvin’s remarks, first carried by The Straits Times, on the importance of supporting workers who may otherwise struggle to pursue legitimate claims.

The High Court’s commendation of pro bono counsel added further weight to the coverage, reinforcing the role of legal representation in advancing access to justice. Justice Philip Jeyaretnam’s observation that acting pro bono for those who would otherwise be unable to afford representation “exemplifies the best traditions of the Bar” stands as a powerful endorsement of the team’s work and the firm’s professional standards.