Employment & labour — Topics

26 Mar 2020

Additional Support Measures in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

The Deputy Prime Minister announced a $55 billion Resilience Budget to combat COVID-19's medical, economic, and social impacts, with $17 billion drawn from Past Reserves for exceptional circumstances.
The budget prioritizes saving jobs and livelihoods through enhanced wage support schemes, cash assistance for households, and new initiatives like the Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme and SGUnited traineeships.
It includes targeted support for hard-hit sectors like aviation and tourism, along with broad measures like property tax rebates and rental waivers to help businesses with cash flow and costs.
The plan also builds economic resilience through investments in R&D, digitalization support for companies, and skills upgrading for workers to prepare for recovery.
Political office holders, including the President and Speaker, will take a three-month pay cut in solidarity with Singaporeans during the crisis.

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25 Mar 2020

Breakdown by Gender and Current Employment Status of Singaporeans Eligible for Budget 2020 Matched Retirement Savings Scheme and Average and Median Balances in CPF Accounts

About 435,000 Singaporeans aged 55 to 70 are eligible for the Matched Retirement Savings Scheme (MRSS), which aims to help those who have not met the CPF Basic Retirement Sum save more for retirement.
Roughly half are active CPF contributors, with slightly more women than men; among them, women have lower average and median CPF balances ($108,000 and $90,000) compared to men ($146,000 and $133,000).
About one-third are inactive contributors, likely caregivers, with 2.5 times as many women as men; women in this group have lower average and median balances ($60,000 and $39,000) than men ($96,000 and $63,000).
Around 20% are self-employed persons (SEPs), with twice as many men as women; women SEPs have lower average and median balances ($72,000 and $48,000) compared to men ($113,000 and $88,000).

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25 Mar 2020

Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Amendment) Bill

The Bill amends Singapore's maritime law to align with 2018 international amendments, ensuring seafarers held captive due to piracy or armed robbery continue to receive wages and entitlements until release, repatriation, or death.
It provides a statutory basis for financial security providers to acquire a seafarer's rights against the shipowner after paying out claims for liabilities like repatriation costs.
The amendments address concerns about rising piracy incidents in the Singapore Strait by enhancing employment protections for seafarers and reinforcing Singapore's commitment to maritime labour standards.
The Minister confirmed that existing measures, including reporting requirements and penalties for false reports, are in place to prevent misuse and ensure accountability from shipowners.
The government will study proposals for post-release support programmes for abducted seafarers and noted that protections extend to Singaporean seafarers on non-Singapore flagged ships through international maritime conventions.

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6 Mar 2020

Measures to Ensure Public Healthcare Sector has Sufficient Psychologists and Statistics on Patients who received Support from Psychologists

The Ministry of Health has implemented measures such as scholarships and competitive salary reviews to attract and retain psychologists, resulting in an average annual growth of 7% in the public healthcare sector from 2017 to 2019.
Public healthcare institutions provide holistic care that includes both medication and psychotherapy, with treatment plans tailored after assessing each patient’s psychiatric and psycho-social needs.
The number of patients receiving support from psychologists at inpatient wards, outpatient clinics, and polyclinics was approximately 20,200 in 2016, 21,600 in 2017, and 22,300 in 2018.
Community intervention teams support GPs and service providers with allied health services like psycho-therapeutic interventions, counselling, and psycho-education.
MOH will continue collaborating with public hospitals and community service providers to ensure timely and holistic mental healthcare support.

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5 Mar 2020

Requiring Association Support for Companies' Applications to Recruit Process, Construction and Maintenance Work Permit Holders

Zainal Sapari questioned the requirement for the Association of Process Industries (ASPRI) to support companies applying to recruit PCM work permit holders.
Josephine Teo explained that ASPRI verifies the business nature of PCM contractors to ensure only qualified contractors access foreign workers, leveraging its specialist knowledge of the sector.
Contractors submit work pass applications directly to MOM after ASPRI’s verification, with no further involvement from the association in the application process.

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4 Mar 2020

Number of Foreign Domestic Workers Repatriated Back to Their Home Countries before Finishing a Two-Year Contract

About 20% of foreign domestic workers in Singapore, or around 49,000 annually over the last three years, were repatriated before finishing their two-year contracts.
The top reasons for repatriation were family exigencies back home, employer dissatisfaction with the worker's suitability, and the worker's own wish to stop working in Singapore.
Approximately 20% of those repatriated returned to work as foreign domestic workers in Singapore within six months.

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4 Mar 2020

Consideration to Incentivise Fathers to Take Government-Paid Paternity Leave

Louis Ng asked the Government to consider incentivising fathers to take Government-Paid Paternity Leave by providing additional leave usable by either parent once the father has fully consumed his entitlement.
The Prime Minister's representative noted that paternity leave take-up has risen from 25% to 53% but emphasised that workplace support, not additional leave, is key to increasing utilisation, and balancing employer manpower concerns is essential.
The Government promotes supportive workplace norms through tripartite standards on flexible work arrangements and unpaid leave, supported by grants, to help parents manage work and family responsibilities.

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4 Mar 2020

Delinking Childcare Subsidies from Mother's Employment Status

Ms Anthea Ong asked why childcare subsidies are linked to the mother's employment status and whether this criteria will be delinked.
Minister Desmond Lee explained that higher subsidies are provided to working mothers to support their labour market participation, while all parents receive basic subsidies regardless of employment status.
The Minister noted flexibility for non-working mothers needing childcare, with additional support for low-income families and alternative kindergarten subsidies not tied to the mother’s employment.
Ms Ong questioned why the criteria specify only the mother’s employment and not the father’s, to which the Minister responded that the subsidy aims to encourage mothers to return to work.
The debate highlighted ongoing considerations for childcare subsidy eligibility, with potential updates to be announced at the Committee of Supply.

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3 Mar 2020

Consideration for Government-Paid Paternity Leave to be Taken in Shorter Duration

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked if the Government-Paid Paternity Leave can be taken in shorter durations such as half-days or hours.
Desmond Lee responded that the two weeks of paternity leave can already be taken flexibly in durations shorter than one day with mutual agreement between employers and employees.
The Government encourages flexible work arrangements and unpaid leave for care needs to support parents beyond leave provisions.
Authorities will continue working with tripartite partners to promote family-friendly workplace practices.

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3 Mar 2020

Salaries of Work Permit Holders since 1990, 2000 and 2019

Minister Teo stated that the median monthly salary of work permit holders (excluding domestic workers) increased by 2.2% annually from 2005 to 2019 in nominal terms, noting pre-2005 data is not directly comparable due to inclusion of higher-skilled workers.
She explained that wages reflect labor market demand and supply and do not necessarily correlate with industry profitability, citing a decline in the Marine Shipyard sector’s net operating surplus of 3.2% annually from 2005 to 2018.
Conversely, the Construction sector saw its net operating surplus grow by 9.3% annually from 2005 to 2017, as both sectors heavily rely on work permit holders.

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3 Mar 2020

Committee of Supply – Head S (Ministry of Manpower)

The Ministry of Manpower announced a comprehensive SkillsFuture Mid-Career Support Package, including enhanced salary support for employers hiring workers aged 40 and above and a new training support scheme for self-employed persons to address reskilling and job security.
Fair hiring practices were strengthened, with the Fair Consideration Framework expanded to cover higher salary thresholds and increased penalties for discriminatory employers, while a new Senior Worker Support Package was introduced to support older workers with wage offsets and grants.
Flexible work arrangements and work-life harmony were emphasized, with the government adopting a "Make It Easy" and "Make It Known" approach to encourage adoption, including sector-specific guides and a Tripartite Advisory on mental well-being at workplaces.

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3 Mar 2020

Committee of Supply – Head Q (Ministry of Communications and Information)

Parliament debated digitalisation's impact on Singapore's economy, workforce, and society, with MPs raising concerns about data constraints, talent shortages, and the need to support SMEs and mid-career workers in transitioning to a digital future.
Key discussions focused on cybersecurity, data protection, and the ethical use of technologies like facial recognition and AI, with calls for stronger regulations and public education to safeguard digital spaces and combat online falsehoods.
Ministers highlighted government initiatives such as the SMEs Go Digital programme, TeSA for skills training, and the nationwide parcel locker network, while emphasising efforts to ensure digital inclusion for low-income households and seniors.

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2 Mar 2020

Number of Work Permit Holders Not Issued with Key Employment Terms from 2016 to 2019

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked for the number of work permit holders not issued with Key Employment Terms (KETs) from 2016 to 2019 and whether the Ministry would collect such data.
Mrs Josephine Teo stated that employers are legally required to issue KETs within 14 days of employment, with penalties for non-compliance, and that a 2019 survey showed 98% of employees received written KETs.
She added that work permit holders’ salaries and statutory benefits are protected even without KETs, and enforcement mechanisms like the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management and Employment Claims Tribunals penalize non-compliant employers.
The Ministry continues to strengthen enforcement and education through mass media, WorkRight initiatives, and targeted outreach to ensure legislative compliance.

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2 Mar 2020

Requirement for Employers to Declare Reasons for Salary Reduction from Amount Stated in In-principle Approval Letter

Louis Ng asked if employers should declare reasons for salary reductions from the In-Principle Approval letter amount when notifying MOM and workers.
Josephine Teo stated that employers must prove they obtained the worker's written agreement and notified MOM, or face reinstatement of the original salary, repayment of any shortfall, and a fine up to $10,000 per worker.
She noted that workers can refuse consent and seek help from MOM and the Migrant Workers’ Centre if terminated for refusal.
Teo explained that requiring reason declaration is redundant and could mislead workers into thinking the reduction is valid without consent.
The current system focuses on ensuring agreement and accountability rather than adding a declaration requirement.

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2 Mar 2020

Conduct Study on Why Fathers are not Taking Their Paternity Leave

The Government has conducted a study on barriers to fathers taking paternity leave, finding workplace support as the key factor influencing take-up, with concerns about career impact and coverage of duties.
Paternity leave take-up in Singapore has risen from 25% in 2013 to 53% recently, with 84% in the public sector, though workplace norms, similar to other East Asian societies, still affect rates.
A whole-of-society effort is needed to support fathers, with ongoing collaboration with employers and community partners like the Centre for Fathering to promote paternal involvement.

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2 Mar 2020

Committee of Supply – Head V (Ministry of Trade and Industry)

Several MPs emphasized the need to diversify Singapore’s economy beyond traditional markets and sectors, urging support for SMEs, deep-tech startups, and new growth clusters like agri-tech, while enhancing market connectivity and reducing over-reliance on China, especially amid COVID-19 disruptions.
Concerns were raised about workforce transformation, with calls for stronger mid-career reskilling, employer incentives, and a push for local hiring targets to ensure job resilience and reduce dependency on foreign talent, while leveraging programs like SkillsFuture and the Capability Transfer Programme.
MPs highlighted challenges in business support accessibility, including simplifying grant applications, increasing visibility of SME Centres, and improving enterprise development through differentiated support, digitalisation for heartland businesses, and better evaluation of policy effectiveness and sustainability considerations.

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28 Feb 2020

Plans for Allied Educators in Schools for Learning and Classroom Support

The Ministry of Education employs around 2,000 Allied Educators in schools, including School Counsellors, Student Welfare Officers, AEDs in Learning and Behavioural Support, and AEDs in Teaching and Learning, and has grown some roles by over 30% in the past five years.
MOE is focusing on expanding roles like School Counsellors and AEDs in Learning and Behavioural Support to meet growing student needs, while facilitating AEDs in Teaching and Learning to transition to specialised roles through sponsored training.
The government aims to reshape the Allied Educator workforce by reducing reliance on AEDs in Teaching and Learning for generic classroom support and encouraging their movement into other positions, with assurances of continued professional development.

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27 Feb 2020

Debate on Annual Budget Statement

The debate centered on supporting Singaporeans and businesses through the COVID-19 crisis, with members praising the Unity Budget's timely, expansive measures like the Stabilisation and Support Package and Care and Support Package to protect jobs and livelihoods.
Several speakers highlighted the need for enhanced support for vulnerable groups, including caregivers, persons with disabilities, and low-income families, with suggestions for more robust data, flexible work arrangements, and inclusive community initiatives.
Fiscal sustainability and long-term planning were emphasized, with calls for careful management of reserves and consideration of new revenue sources like wealth taxes, while also addressing climate change through investments like the Coastal and Flood Protection Fund.

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27 Feb 2020

Extending Mandatory Time-frame for When Government-Paid Paternity Leave can be Consumed to 24 Months

Louis Ng asked whether the government would extend the consumption period for government-paid paternity leave from 12 to 24 months after childbirth.
The Minister for Manpower replied that there are no plans to extend the period, as paternity leave is meant to support care in the infant’s early months, aligning with international practices where leave is typically consumed within a year.
The Minister noted that paternity leave utilisation in Singapore is about 53%, higher than in some countries like Denmark (70%) and South Korea (3%), but workplace norms still affect take-up rates.
Louis Ng suggested allowing fathers to take paternity leave anytime within 12 months without needing a continuous block or employer consent to increase uptake.
The Minister indicated that workplace support and flexible work arrangements are being encouraged, and further discussions on parenthood policies will be held during the Committee of Supply.

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26 Feb 2020

Update on Possibility of Disallowing Downward Revisions from Salary Indicated in In-principle Approval Letter of Foreign Workers

Louis Ng asked for an update on disallowing downward salary revisions from the IPA letter for foreign workers.
MOM retained flexibility for employers to renegotiate salaries after consultation with stakeholders, arguing that disallowing cuts could force termination or hinder cost-saving measures during downturns.
MOM enforces protections by penalizing employers who reduce salaries without worker consent, requiring them to cover salary shortfalls and imposing fines up to $10,000 per worker.

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