Singapore legislation
Section 44
Section 44
Preferential claim in case of apprenticeship and in respect of passage money
(1)
Where at the time of the presentation of the bankruptcy petition any person is apprenticed or is an articled clerk to the bankrupt, the adjudication of bankruptcy shall, if either the bankrupt or apprentice or clerk gives notice in writing to the Official Assignee to that effect, be a complete discharge of the indenture of apprenticeship or articles of agreement.
(2)
If any money has been paid by or on behalf of the apprentice or clerk to the bankrupt as a fee, the Official Assignee may, on the application of the apprentice or clerk or of some person on his behalf, pay such sum as the Official Assignee, subject to an appeal to the court, thinks reasonable out of the bankrupt’s property to or for the use of the apprentice or clerk, regard being had to the amount paid by him or on his behalf and to the time during which he served with the bankrupt under the indenture or articles before the commencement of the bankruptcy and to the other circumstances of the case.
(3)
Where it appears expedient to the Official Assignee he may, on the application of any apprentice or articled clerk to the bankrupt, or of some person on his behalf, instead of acting under subsection (1) or (2), transfer the indenture of apprenticeship or articles of agreement to some other person.
(4)
Where at the date of the receiving order any person is in the employment of the bankrupt who came to Singapore for the purpose of entering into such employment either —
under any contract to serve the bankrupt for a period of not less than one year, which period has not elapsed 3 months before the date of the order; or
under a contract either absolutely or conditionally that the person shall be provided with a passage to another country on the determination of his employment,and that person has not obtained other employment and is desirous of leaving Singapore, the court may, if it seems just and expedient under all the circumstances of the case, direct the Official Assignee to provide for that person such passage as he is entitled to under the contract, or if he is not so entitled then a suitable passage to the country from where he came for the purpose of entering into such employment, or in either case any other not more costly passage which that person may desire.