Week 39, 2026 (21–27 SEP 2026)

This Week's Specials

the pineapple tarts — the signals worth acting on

01WED · ○ NEWS

MAS proposes amendments to Payment Services Act 2019 for stablecoin regulation.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore is consulting on changes to the Payment Services Act 2019 to establish a regulatory framework for stablecoin issuers. The proposed rules will define qualification criteria for regulation and mandate safeguards for user protection and value stability.

Why it mattersLawyers advising digital asset issuers must monitor these developments to ensure future compliance with new stability and protection mandates.

SLW READ SOURCE ↗

02FRI · ○ NEWS

Companies with over 200 employees must employ a certified HR professional by July 2028.

Effective July 1, 2028, Singaporean companies with more than 200 employees are required to have at least one IHRP-certified HR professional or an internationally recognized equivalent on staff. This mandate follows recommendations from the Tripartite Workgroup to standardize HR quality and manage AI integration and workforce transformation.

Why it mattersLawyers should advise corporate clients with large workforces to ensure they have the necessary certified personnel in place by the deadline to avoid non-compliance.

SLW READ SOURCE ↗

03FRI · ○ NEWS

New legislative framework enhances information exchange and disruption powers to combat scams.

The Scams (Countermeasures) and Other Matters Bill has been passed to facilitate information sharing between the Singapore Police Force and service providers. It increases the government's legal authority to target scams on online platforms and empowers the Police to disrupt the supply of scam accounts.

Why it mattersLawyers advising service providers and online platforms should be aware of expanded obligations regarding information exchange and government disruption powers.

SLW READ SOURCE ↗

04FRI · ○ NEWS

Online Safety Commission begins enforcing mandatory takedown orders under OSRAA.

The newly established Online Safety Commission (OSC) is utilizing the Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act (OSRAA) to issue mandatory takedown orders for online harms, including doxing and harassment. This allows the regulator to bypass platform delays to provide direct relief to victims.

Why it mattersLawyers should advise corporate clients that non-compliance with OSC orders can result in fines up to $500,000 or access-blocking orders.

SLW READ SOURCE ↗

05FRI · ⬡ JUDGMENT

SICC in [2026] SGHC(I) 22 formulates three-part test for scrutinising non-voting administrative convenience classes in schemes of arrangement.

The SICC established that courts must scrutinise non-voting administrative convenience classes even absent creditor disagreement, applying a three-factor test: (1) substantiated gains in efficacy, feasibility or convenience; (2) prejudice to class members and affected outsiders; and (3) absence of gerrymandering or abuse of cram-down mechanisms. The court drew on US jurisprudence under § 1122(b) of the US Bankruptcy Code but emphasised that Singapore law requires this judicial scrutiny in all cases. The court expressly left open whether an impaired non-voting administrative convenience class could be sanctioned.

Why it mattersPractitioners structuring schemes of arrangement must now rigorously justify non-voting administrative convenience classes against this three-part framework, even where creditors do not object.

JUDICIARY READ JUDGMENT ↗

06SAT · ⬡ JUDGMENT

Court of Appeal holds in [2026] SGCA(I) 5 that transnational issue estoppel applies to bar state immunity defences to arbitration enforcement where foreign courts have already upheld tribunal jurisdiction.

The Court of Appeal rejected Russia's attempt to relitigate jurisdictional issues in Singapore enforcement proceedings after Dutch appellate courts had upheld the tribunal's jurisdiction under the Energy Charter Treaty. The court held that state immunity under sections 3 and 11 of the State Immunity Act 1979 does not displace transnational issue estoppel, and that a state's commitment to dispute resolution procedures should be treated no differently from other jurisdictional issues for estoppel purposes.

Why it mattersThis confirms that foreign judgments upholding arbitral jurisdiction can bind states in Singapore enforcement proceedings, narrowing the scope for states to relitigate immunity and jurisdictional objections across multiple jurisdictions.

JUDICIARY READ JUDGMENT ↗

07SAT · ○ NEWS

Digital Infrastructure Bill introduced to regulate data centres and cloud services.

The proposed Bill introduces two new licensing regimes aimed at enhancing the security and resilience of major data centre facility services and cloud computing services. Additionally, the legislation seeks to mandate and improve the environmental sustainability of data centre operations within Singapore.

Why it mattersLawyers advising data centre operators and cloud service providers will need to track these new licensing requirements and sustainability obligations.

SLW READ SOURCE ↗

08SUN · ○ NEWS

EU AI Act establishes risk-based regulatory framework for AI systems.

The European Union has implemented a risk-based approach to AI regulation that prohibits systems deemed to pose an 'unacceptable' risk. Additionally, 'high-risk' AI tools are subject to mandatory transparency and logging obligations.

Why it mattersSingapore-based firms operating in the EU must ensure their AI tools comply with these strict transparency and risk-classification mandates.

SLW READ SOURCE ↗

the week's batch
cooled & sorted

★ THE WEEKLY BAKE ★

The Week in Days

This Week's Specials

MAS proposes amendments to Payment Services Act 2019 for stablecoin regulation.

Companies with over 200 employees must employ a certified HR professional by July 2028.

New legislative framework enhances information exchange and disruption powers to combat scams.

Online Safety Commission begins enforcing mandatory takedown orders under OSRAA.

SICC in [2026] SGHC(I) 22 formulates three-part test for scrutinising non-voting administrative convenience classes in schemes of arrangement.

Court of Appeal holds in [2026] SGCA(I) 5 that transnational issue estoppel applies to bar state immunity defences to arbitration enforcement where foreign courts have already upheld tribunal jurisdiction.

Digital Infrastructure Bill introduced to regulate data centres and cloud services.

EU AI Act establishes risk-based regulatory framework for AI systems.

What Rose to the Top

the week's batchcooled & sorted

★ THE WEEKLY BAKE ★

The Week in Days

This Week's Specials

MAS proposes amendments to Payment Services Act 2019 for stablecoin regulation.

Companies with over 200 employees must employ a certified HR professional by July 2028.

New legislative framework enhances information exchange and disruption powers to combat scams.

Online Safety Commission begins enforcing mandatory takedown orders under OSRAA.

SICC in [2026] SGHC(I) 22 formulates three-part test for scrutinising non-voting administrative convenience classes in schemes of arrangement.

Court of Appeal holds in [2026] SGCA(I) 5 that transnational issue estoppel applies to bar state immunity defences to arbitration enforcement where foreign courts have already upheld tribunal jurisdiction.

Digital Infrastructure Bill introduced to regulate data centres and cloud services.

EU AI Act establishes risk-based regulatory framework for AI systems.

What Rose to the Top

the week's batch
cooled & sorted