Employment & labour

• Survey method unchanged; new “secured employment” category adds detail on job offers and business ventures.
• MOE notes dip in full-time permanent employment for some courses in 2025, with factors discussed in prior reply.

• About eight in ten nursing graduates enter the profession, with seven in ten retained after five years.
• Nursing intake has increased but has limits; retention, mid-career recruits, and foreign nurses will help meet 2030 targets.

• Valerie Lee asked about guidelines for auxiliary police officers’ safety during long traffic shifts at junctions amid manpower constraints.
• K Shanmugam said police issue directives requiring measures like limited deployment hours and sufficient rest for officers’ safety and well-being.

• MNC headquarters in Singapore increased, with more professionals employed, indicating stable job opportunities for youths.
• Government plans to retain MNCs by enhancing governance, workforce skills, and global connectivity to create good jobs.
• No data collected on Singaporean youths relocating overseas due to MNC relocations.

• 46% of civil servants used parent-care leave from 2023-2025, averaging 1.74 days.
• Leave expanded to family care in 2025, covering more relatives due to caregiving demands.
• Average and median days taken were 1.74 and two days respectively.

• Patrick Tay asked about job security risks in fuel-exposed sectors due to Iran war and fuel price surge.
• The minister referred to a prior statement on the Middle East situation’s impact on Singapore.

• Singapore investigates labour trafficking and illegal work practices, conducting surprise checks to protect migrant workers.
• MOM partners with NGOs to raise awareness and allows workers to report violations while seeking alternative employment.

• Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim queried if teacher salary hikes link to extra duties and workload.
• Desmond Lee confirmed the 2-9% increase is not tied to additional duties and is market-competitive.

• Government sets up Workgroup for Marriage and Parenthood Reset, exploring support across all stages.
• Considering subsidised co-living for singles and addressing motherhood penalty with fair workplace laws.
• Will explore mandating companies to disclose parental leave policies and usage rates for transparency.

• Liang Eng Hwa asked about job requests and placements for 2025 graduates.
• WSG and e2i received 2,000 requests; 1,500 found jobs with assistance.
• The Government does not track local versus overseas university origins.

• Pritam Singh questioned the decline in graduate full-time employment from 79.4% to 74.4% in 2025.
• The Minister referred to a prior official response detailing factors and measures for weaker employment outcomes.

• Preschools shifted to a five-day week, with daily hours set by employment contracts. Some operators slightly increased daily hours to complete work.
• The ministry acknowledged concerns but noted stakeholder support for the change, citing improved educator well-being. A sector-wide review will be convened to enhance work processes and career sustainability.

• Platform workers faced 84.6 injuries per 100,000, mostly delivery riders, with road safety a key concern.
• Ministry convening workgroup to study risks, focusing on two-wheeled vehicles and safer work practices.
• Incentive structures reviewed to avoid unsafe behaviors while protecting workers’ incomes, via industry principles.

• Parliament debates establishing a single Skills and Workforce Development Agency.
• This agency replaces SkillsFuture and Workforce Singapore to streamline workforce development.
• Bill aims to consolidate training and employment support under one roof.

• The Senior Parliamentary Secretary clarified that Career Conversion Programmes provide salary support to employers.
• This addresses a specific parliamentary question about labour market demand and retrenchments for professionals.

• Labour market mismatch arises as tech demand grows while some PMET roles are automated, leaving skills gaps.
• Government supports reskilling via programmes placing workers into tech roles, with vacancies outpacing retrenchments.
• Agencies collaborate with industry to design relevant training for displaced professionals.

• Government and unions provide job matching, career coaching, and financial aid for affected platform workers.
• Platform operators must collaborate with associations on transparency and worker communication during transitions.
• Structured support across agencies helps redeploy workers and reduce income disruption.

• Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked about the quantum, ROI methodology, cost per job, and cost-effectiveness reviews of tax incentives for foreign firms over five years.
• Gan Kim Yong noted incentives are tied to economic outcomes like job creation, with 15,700 new jobs projected, two-thirds paying above $5,000 monthly, mostly for locals.
• The government uses a multi-pronged approach, including grants for local firms to create quality jobs and higher wages.

The Deputy Prime Minister will represent Singapore at the US public hearings. The Ministry is reinforcing Singapore’s legal frameworks to counter forced labour and will guide companies on the 15 April 2026 submission deadline. Responses are detailed in the 7 April 2026 Parliament Sitting replies.

• Assoc Prof Kenneth Goh questioned if Deliveroo's exit reduced platform workers' operator choice and affected their bargaining power, earnings, or conditions.
• Minister Tan See Leng responded that workers can still use 17 operators and noted industry principles developed in 2025 to address fair earnings, with associations able to raise concerns directly.