Employment & labour — Topics

3 Nov 2020

Workfare Special Payment and Workfare Income Supplement for Those Holding Multiple Jobs

Miss Cheryl Chan inquired if workers with multiple jobs, each earning under $2,000, could be eligible for the Workfare Special Payment 2020 and future Workfare Income Supplement.
The Deputy Prime Minister clarified that Workfare schemes are targeted at lower-wage workers in the bottom 20%, with eligibility assessed based on total income from all employment sources to ensure fair distribution of support.
He noted that during this challenging period, additional support is provided through one-off payments, and those needing further help can approach MSF Social Service Offices.

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3 Nov 2020

Data on Profile of Private Hire Car Drivers

As of August 2020, there were 97,000 taxi driver's vocational licence holders, with 32,000 registered as active taxi drivers that month, while 52,000 private hire car driver's vocational licence (PDVL) holders existed, with 43,000 completing at least one private hire car trip in the same period.
Approximately 95% of PDVL holders are Singaporeans and the rest are permanent residents, with 85% aged above 30.
A new policy effective 15 September 2020 requires new PDVL applicants to be Singapore citizens at least 30 years old, though existing PDVL holders are not affected if they continue to renew their licences.

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3 Nov 2020

Data on Jobs Support Scheme Beneficiaries

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked for statistics on Jobs Support Scheme (JSS) beneficiaries by income, race, education, and gender, but the government replied that it does not track such detailed breakdowns and that beneficiary profiles likely mirror the local workforce.
Gerald Giam requested data on total JSS funds disbursed and workers helped, broken down by industry; the Second Minister for Finance provided figures showing about $16.5 billion disbursed across tiers, benefiting around 2.24 million employees, with Tier 1 (e.g., aviation, tourism) receiving $2.2 billion for 223,000 workers, Tier 2 (e.g., retail, food services) $1.9 billion for 317,000 workers, and other sectors $12.4 billion for 1.7 million workers.
Giam criticized the lack of means-testing for companies receiving JSS, suggesting redirecting funds to individuals in need, but the minister defended the scheme as broad-based wage support crucial for retaining jobs and indicated ongoing reviews for more targeted approaches.

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3 Nov 2020

Impact of National Wages Council 's 2020 Wage Cut Advisory on Salaries

The Minister for Manpower emphasized that the National Wages Council's guidelines are principles-based to allow flexibility, as overly prescriptive rules could be unsuitable given varying impacts across sectors and firms, and highlighted six key principles for wage adjustments, including management taking deeper cuts and restoring wages when possible.
Foo Mee Har expressed concerns that the guidelines are too broad and could lead to widespread or unfair wage cuts, urging the government to consider transparent indicators for wage adjustments and a Workfare special payment to cushion the impact on lower-wage workers.
The Minister responded that the NWC deliberately avoided sector-specific guidelines due to intra-sector variations and that the principles already incorporate factors like company performance and government support, while assuring that the government will continue to support lower-wage workers through measures like Workfare in future budgets.

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3 Nov 2020

Singaporeans Earning $1,300 or Less a Month on Take-home Basis

The Ministry of Manpower reported that about 30,000 full-time Singaporean employees and 22,000 self-employed persons earn less than $1,300 per month, with the figure including CPF and Workfare contributions in line with international Labour Organization definitions.
Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) has supported nearly 890,000 low-wage workers since 2007, with payouts averaging $1,560 annually and maximums up to $3,600, targeting older and lower-skilled workers to encourage employment and CPF savings.
Debates highlighted differing views on the $1,300 benchmark, with the Workers’ Party clarifying their proposed minimum wage is a gross figure (including CPF), while the government emphasized holistic support through WIS, Skills Support, and other schemes for low-income households.
Questions were raised about extending WIS eligibility to younger sole breadwinners and increasing payout amounts, with the government noting current age criteria focus on older workers and highlighting complementary social support schemes.

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2 Nov 2020

Disbursement of $55 Million to Arts Sector since Its Announcement in March 2020

Edwin Tong reported that of the $55 million announced in March 2020, the funds have been disbursed through several grant schemes including the ACRP Operating Grant, Capability Development Scheme for the Arts, and Digitalisation Fund, generating over 10,000 work and training opportunities and supporting nearly 1,200 digitalization projects.
The initiatives also provided rental waivers and venue hire subsidies to help arts organizations manage costs, with the ACRP Operating Grant expected to benefit over 300 organizations.
No specific timeline was provided for the disbursement of the remaining funds, but the minister outlined the overall goal to safeguard livelihoods, retain talent, and position the sector for post-COVID recovery.

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2 Nov 2020

Profile, Training and Certification of Employees Working for Managing Agents of Management Corporation Strata Titles

Mohd Fahmi Aliman asked the Minister for National Development for a breakdown of employees working for managing agents of Management Corporations Strata Titles (MCSTs) by residential status and occupations, and whether there are mandatory training or certifications required for these employees.
The Minister, Desmond Lee, provided a summary table of employment data from firms providing managing agent services to MCSTs, noting these firms may also service non-MCST clients and offer non-managing agent services.
To enhance professionalism, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) collaborated with property and strata manager associations to develop voluntary accreditation schemes for firms and individuals, with training programs guided by a BCA competency framework implemented since July this year.

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2 Nov 2020

Letter of Consent Applications by Unique Applicants from Long Term Visit Pass Holders in Each of Last Five Years

Ms Carrie Tan queried the Minister for Manpower about the number of unique Long Term Visit Pass holders who applied for Letters of Consent in each of the last five years.
Prior to December 2018, LTVP and LTVP+ holders needed employers to apply for Letters of Consent for them to work.
From December 2018, eligible spouses and unmarried children of Singaporeans or PRs received Pre-Approved LOCs, allowing them to work with employer notification to MOM.
The Ministry provided a yearly breakdown of unique applicants for the period in question.
The response highlighted the policy shift to simplify work authorization for certain LTVP holders.

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2 Nov 2020

Number of Jobseekers Who Sought Assistance at SGUnited Jobs and Skills Centres since Inception and Their Success Rate and Profile

Since the launch of the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Centres, about 6,000 jobseekers were advised by Career Ambassadors across the 24 centres by end-September.
From January to September this year, approximately 51,700 jobseekers received career matching services through various channels, including the centres and other career hubs.
Since April 2020, 33,100 jobseekers were successfully placed into jobs, traineeships, attachments, or training opportunities, with most placements in non-PMET roles.
A detailed breakdown by highest education level and age group of those placed is not available, but placements are reported by occupational profile.
Efforts continue to expand opportunities and increase job placements for local jobseekers.

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2 Nov 2020

Review of CPF Basic Retirement Sum Requirements in Light of Economic Crisis Caused by COVID-19 Pandemic

Gerald Giam questioned whether the CPF Basic Retirement Sum (BRS) requirements for those turning 55 in 2021 or later should be reviewed due to the COVID-19 economic crisis affecting CPF contributions.
Mrs Josephine Teo explained that the BRS is based on long-term expenditure needs of lower-middle retiree households and is not adjusted for short-term fluctuations, while emphasizing government support for employment and cash flow during the pandemic.
The government has provided various measures like the Jobs Support Scheme, COVID-19 Support Grant, and mortgage relief to help Singaporeans during the crisis, and will continue reviewing the BRS with long-term retirement needs in mind.

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2 Nov 2020

Working with Employers to Inform Laid-off and At-risk Workers of Job Search Avenues and Government Support Schemes

Miss Rachel Ong asked if the Government will collaborate with employers to inform laid-off or at-risk workers, especially mature ones who may not be internet-savvy or English-literate, about job search avenues and support schemes.
Mrs Josephine Teo explained that employers with 10 or more staff must notify MOM if five or more are retrenched within six months, and a Taskforce proactively reaches out to affected workers with employment assistance, information kits, and career coaching.
Additional support for mature workers includes multilingual collaterals and career coaches conversant in vernacular languages or dialects at career centres and SGUnited Jobs and Skills Centres.
The Taskforce, with MOM’s support, is committed to helping every retrenched jobseeker access jobs, traineeships, attachments, and training under the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package.

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2 Nov 2020

Ratio of Foreign Recipients of Tuition Grants, Scholarships and Full-paying Students in Autonomous Universities and Their Income and Residency Status Post-Graduation

The Minister reported that international students receiving tuition grants only, a combination of tuition grants and scholarships, and those who are full-fee paying make up about 60%, 25%, and 15% of the intake respectively.
Recipients of tuition grants and scholarships have median starting salaries comparable to the overall undergraduate average, while salaries for full-fee paying students are not specifically tracked.
About 75% of scholarship holders and 60% of tuition grant recipients from the 2012–2014 cohorts secured permanent residency, with 10–15% becoming citizens within five years, whereas no data is tracked for full-fee paying students.

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2 Nov 2020

Securing Medical and Accident Protection for Ride Hailing and Delivery Drivers

The Minister for Transport outlined existing industry and regulatory measures, such as insurance coverage for medical, accident, and prolonged medical leave, and mandatory third-party liability insurance for food delivery riders.
He highlighted tripartite and SkillsFuture initiatives, including training programs, career transition portals, and Medisave contribution schemes, to support drivers' skill development and retirement planning.
The new Point-to-Point Transport framework prevents platform exclusivity, allowing drivers to work across multiple platforms while maintaining incentives for innovation and service quality.

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2 Nov 2020

Development of E-sports and Gaming Industries in Singapore

There are approximately 190 game development and publishing companies operating in Singapore, including local players like SEA Group and multinationals such as Ubisoft.
The industry is expected to require about 2,700 info-communications and media professionals over the next two years to support growth in roles such as Software Programmer, Games Producer, and Project Manager.
Initiatives like DigiPen (Singapore) and IMDA's partnerships with companies are being used to train local talent for e-sports and gaming jobs, including plans to develop 500 Data/Business Analysts, Engineers, and other professionals with SEA Group.

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2 Nov 2020

Proportion of Nursing Positions in Total Traineeships and Jobs Created

The healthcare sector will create up to 7,500 jobs and 1,600 traineeships by the end of 2021, with about 1,800 of the job positions designated for nurses.
Nursing roles can be filled by fresh graduates, individuals in Professional Conversion Programmes (PCPs), or former nurses returning to practice, with PCPs for mid-career entrants taking approximately two years to complete.
The remaining job opportunities are primarily in support care, administrative, and ancillary roles, with onboarding training varying from one to six months depending on the position.

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2 Nov 2020

Employment Dispute Cases Due to Abuse of the System by Foreign Workers

From 2017 to 2019, about 5,000 foreign work pass holders per year filed salary claims with the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management, with disputed cases referred to the Ministry of Manpower for investigation.
In 2019, the Ministry identified eight cases where foreign workers behaved irresponsibly during salary claim processes, such as making false claims, leading to their work passes being cancelled and permanent bans from working in Singapore.
Over the same period, the Ministry took legal action against eight foreign workers for making false work injury claims, resulting in prosecutions, warnings, and permanent bans from working in Singapore.
The Ministry emphasizes that both employers and workers must act responsibly and maintain good communication to prevent disputes, and it will continue to monitor the situation and take appropriate action against false allegations by either party.

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2 Nov 2020

Affordable and Comprehensive Insurance Coverage for Foreign Workers

Leon Perera proposed mandating more comprehensive insurance for migrant workers and providing subsidies to help employers afford it.
The Ministry of Manpower requires employers to provide at least $15,000 annual medical coverage, with 95% of bills falling below this amount in recent years.
The Ministry is developing an insurance program to help manage large medical expenses while balancing coverage and cost without relying on tax-funded subsidies.

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2 Nov 2020

Investigations into Complaints that Retrenchments Do Not Adequately Comply with Advisories to Retain Strong Singapore Core

The Ministry of Manpower investigates complaints by reviewing workforce profiles before and after retrenchment, assessing changes in citizen, permanent resident, and non-local shares, and evaluating the objectivity and application of selection criteria.
The Government can intervene by withholding financial support or suspending work pass privileges for non-compliant employers, and employees who are wrongfully dismissed due to discrimination may seek compensation or reinstatement under the Employment Act.
Permanent residents are considered part of the resident workforce but are distinct from citizens; the advisory emphasizes retaining a strong Singapore Core, which primarily refers to citizens, though both citizens and permanent residents are included in MOM's assessments.

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2 Nov 2020

Managing Demand in Construction Sector Caused by Project Delays

Liang Eng Hwa asked about the current state of construction demand, project delays, capacity recovery, and whether there is enough capacity to meet backlogged demand.
Desmond Lee responded that construction demand is projected to be lower this year, but recovery is expected in 2021 with support from public sector projects and government measures like the Jobs Support Scheme and foreign worker levy waivers.
The government is working with industry groups to help migrant workers stay employed and is selectively allowing more work pass holders to return, while also studying ways to facilitate more entry with public health safeguards.
Efforts are ongoing to support the sector through the pandemic and encourage transformation to reduce reliance on low-cost manpower.

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2 Nov 2020

Impact of National Wages Council 2020/2021 Guidelines on CPF Contributions on Local Employees

Chua Kheng Wee Louis questioned the potential disproportionate impact on local employees if employers' CPF contributions were reduced, as suggested by the National Wages Council 2020/2021 supplementary guidelines.
Josephine Teo explained that the National Wages Council encouraged employers and employees to collaborate to minimize retrenchments rather than bluntly cutting CPF contributions across the board.
She noted that a blanket reduction in CPF contributions fails to account for the varying circumstances of individual companies and employees, including the complexities of implementing and restoring such cuts.
Teo emphasized that since CPF contributions are only for local workers, cutting them would place the cost reduction burden solely on local employees, rather than applying it to all workers in a firm.
The debate highlighted that the tripartite consensus aimed to avoid disproportionate impacts on local employees by favoring targeted measures over broad CPF reductions.

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