Employment & labour — Topics

5 Aug 2019

Job-readiness Training at Day Activity Centres

Intan Azura Mokhtar asked about enhancing job-readiness training at Day Activity Centres (DACs) for adults with special needs, including collaboration with ITEs and securing full weekly placements from Monday to Friday.
The Minister of State outlined existing support, including DACs, Sheltered Workshops, MOM’s Adapt and Grow initiatives, and wage credits for employers, while committing to ongoing improvements through the Enabling Masterplan.
Parents have reported difficulties securing full-time placements at DACs, prompting a call for better coordination between DACs and Sheltered Workshops to cover all weekdays.
The Minister confirmed that DACs and Sheltered Workshops are open Monday to Friday for eligible participants and urged reporting specific cases to address any placement gaps.
An integrated approach across MSF, MOE, and MOM is being pursued under the Enabling Masterplan to align education and training from preschool to work-readiness, with workgroups focusing on early intervention and employment opportunities.

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5 Aug 2019

Singapore’s Abstention from Vote on International Labour Organization's Convention on Workplace Violence and Harassment

Singapore abstained from voting on the ILO Convention 190 due to concerns over provisions like including domestic violence in workplace risk assessments, which it views as overreach, while supporting the non-binding accompanying Recommendation.
The government emphasized that Singapore only ratifies treaties aligned with its interests and laws, citing improvements already in place such as Tripartite Guidelines and TAFEP for handling workplace harassment, without needing the Convention.
Within Singapore's tripartite delegation, employers voted against the Convention, unions supported it in solidarity, and the government abstained, reflecting differing views while maintaining coordinated positions.

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8 Jul 2019

Proportion of Workforce Given One-year, Two-year and Three-year Re-employment Contracts at Point of Retirement

Over 90% of private-sector local employees eligible for re-employment at age 62 are offered continued work, with two-thirds on open-ended contracts and one-third on new contracts, of which about one-third are for more than one year.
Re-employment rates remain consistently high at over 90% for eligible workers aged 63 to 67.
Since 2013, over 1,800 companies have used the WorkPro Job Redesign Grant to support job redesign for about 20,000 senior workers.
More than 10,000 companies, covering 87% of local employees aged 50 and over, report implementing age-friendly practices, including job redesign.

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8 Jul 2019

Outreach Efforts to Freelancers and Self-employed Persons below 35 to Create Awareness about Career Opportunities and Progression

The Ministry of Manpower outlines multiple existing efforts to engage younger freelancers and self-employed persons, including education and career guidance in schools, portals like MySkillsFuture and MyCareersFuture, and sector-specific training support and subsidies.
Initiatives such as the Freelancers Fairs by the National Trades Union Congress and industry frameworks like the Skills Framework for Media provide targeted information and funding to help self-employed persons acquire skills and explore career pathways.
The government encourages all individuals, including those below 35, to utilize these resources to learn about career opportunities and progression options available to them.

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8 Jul 2019

Breakdown of Median Monthly Income of Employed Residents in Last Five Years

Assoc Prof Walter Theseira requested a breakdown of median monthly income for employed residents over the past five years by marital status, gender, age group, and by number of children, gender, and age group.
Mrs Josephine Teo provided tables showing that married males earned more than single males across all age groups, while single females aged 30 and above earned more than married females of the same age group, with women generally earning more than men among singles but men earning more among those married.
For women with children, those aged 30 and above with two children tended to earn more than those with one or three or more children, though data for males on children was not collected and comparisons to those with no children are complicated by marital status.
The Minister noted that data alone cannot establish causal impacts of marital status or children on income, as these factors are influenced by income, education, generational differences, and occupational or work-hour preferences.
The debate highlighted the complexity of interpreting income data due to unmeasured variables like occupation and caregiving responsibilities, emphasizing that trends do not imply direct causation.

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8 Jul 2019

Recruitment of Tourists as Volunteers to Care for Dogs by Pet Boarding Services

Melvin Yong inquired about the number of cases where tourists were recruited as volunteers by pet boarding services in exchange for accommodation and meals, and whether actions were taken against them and the companies.
Josephine Teo stated that it is illegal for tourists to work without a valid work pass, regardless of the form of remuneration, and noted only one case has been reported in the past year, with an ongoing investigation.
Under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, foreigners working illegally can face fines up to $20,000, imprisonment up to two years, or both, while employers hiring them can be fined up to $30,000, imprisoned up to one year, or both.

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8 Jul 2019

Fatality and Injury Rates for Working at Heights in Past Five Years

Fatal and non-fatal injury rates for working at heights declined from 2014 to 2018, with fatal injuries falling from 0.3 to 0.2 per 100,000 workers and non-fatal injuries from 23 to 19 per 100,000 workers.
Construction is the sector most prone to falls from height risks, followed by marine and manufacturing.
The Ministry of Manpower has focused on sustained enforcement and engagement, including inspections and outreach programmes like the "Target Zero Falls" Campaign.
The Workplace Safety and Health Council offers free consultancy services and safety compliance assistance visits to help companies prevent falls from height.
Over 150 companies pledged support in the "Target Zero Falls" Campaign, conducting "Safety Time Outs" to review work-at-heights activities.

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8 Jul 2019

Factors for Improvement in Gender Pay Gap in Past Decade

The employment rate of women in prime-working ages has increased, with better education leading to higher wages compared to older women.
Women have exited lower-skilled industries more rapidly than men, contributing to improved pay equality.
Greater availability of flexible work arrangements has allowed more women to remain employed and advance their careers.

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8 Jul 2019

Penalties for Foreign Domestic Workers Who Give False Information or Accuse Employers Wrongly

The Minister for Manpower stated that under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, giving false information or making false accusations is punishable by up to two years' imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $20,000, with guilty FDWs also banned from employment in Singapore.
From 2016 to 2018, MOM investigated and took action against 25 FDWs for false information or false accusations, resulting in eight being jailed or fined, two receiving composition fines, and 15 given warnings.
All 25 FDWs involved were repatriated and permanently banned from working in Singapore.

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8 Jul 2019

Number of Commercial Divers Who Had Suffered Accidents and Death on Job in Past Five Years

From 2014 to 2018, there were 20 non-fatal and three fatal workplace accidents involving commercial divers in Singapore.
The Ministry of Manpower stepped up inspections at Anchorage Waters in 2018, taking enforcement action against 10 companies for safety lapses.
The Workplace Safety and Health Council is updating the commercial diving training curriculum and engaging companies to ensure proper training for divers.

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8 Jul 2019

Sufficient Workers Involved in Preventive Maintenance of MRT Lines

The Minister confirmed that over 50% of staff at rail operators, numbering more than 4,000, are dedicated to maintenance and engineering, which has led to MRT reliability comparable to Taipei Metro and Hong Kong MTR.
To support the expanding network, the government is working with operators and unions to upskill existing workers and attract new talent, ensuring staffing levels remain sufficient for both current and new lines.
Initiatives like the $12.5 million Public Transport Manpower Development Fund provide training grants and study awards to develop and retain skilled technical workers for the rail industry.
Collaborations with Workforce Singapore and SkillsFuture Singapore include a Skills Framework and Professional Conversion Programmes to enhance career pathways and enable mid-career transitions into rail maintenance.
The Ministry plans to continue engaging stakeholders to deepen and widen efforts in building a sustainable pipeline of skilled workers for preventive maintenance.

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8 Jul 2019

Number and Types of Complaints Against Maid Agencies

The Ministry of Manpower received an average of about 500 complaints annually from 2016 to 2018 regarding employment agencies placing foreign domestic workers, with the top three complaints being disputes over contractual terms, service lapses such as unresponsiveness, and dissatisfaction with the quality of the workers.
The Employment Agencies Act imposes license conditions and standards, including disclosure of terms and mediation of disputes through third parties, and the Ministry took action against an average of 135 agencies yearly, including suspensions and revocations.
The Ministry engages agency associations and provides an online directory with ratings to help employers make informed choices, while the Trustmark Grading Scheme is under consideration due to concerns about costs being passed to employers.

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8 Jul 2019

Work Injury Insurance for Food Delivery Riders

The Ministry of Manpower collaborates with food delivery companies, transport authorities, and the Workplace Safety and Health Council to promote safe riding practices among delivery riders through campaigns and guides.
Employed delivery riders are covered by work injury compensation insurance as required by law, while self-employed riders are not legally required to be insured by companies due to their independent work arrangements.
The Workplace Safety and Health Council encourages food delivery companies to provide personal accident insurance for all riders, including self-employed ones, with major operators already doing so.
An updated safe riding guide will be published to highlight insurance coverage as a good industry practice and clarify that self-employed riders can claim against motor insurance if injured by another vehicle.

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8 Jul 2019

Payment of CPF Contributions by Companies that Employ Interns from Private Universities

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong questioned why employers must pay CPF contributions for interns from private universities but not for those from public universities.
Mrs Josephine Teo explained that CPF contributions are generally mandatory for all local employees, including interns, but exemptions are given for interns in MOE-subsidized programs to prioritize internship opportunities aligned with national objectives.
The exemption applies to both public and private institutions if the intern’s program is subsidized by MOE and the training is institution-approved, with details available on the MOE website.
Employers may voluntarily choose to make CPF contributions even if not required.

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8 Jul 2019

Participation Rate in Flexi-Work Arrangements and Impact on Staff Morale, Productivity and Turnover

Based on a 2018 MOM survey, over 90% of employees in Singapore work in companies that provide some form of work flexibility, a rate that compares favorably to OECD countries.
Studies and MOM findings indicate that flexible work arrangements contribute to better employee engagement, reduced turnover, and increased productivity, with a notable impact on staff retention.
The Tripartite Standard on FWAs has been adopted by around 1,600 employers covering about 410,000 staff, and the government supports such initiatives through grants and implementation guides.

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8 Jul 2019

Take-up Rate by Employers for MINDEF's Direct Reimbursement Claims System

The Direct Reimbursement Scheme, which allows employers to be reimbursed by MINDEF for salaries paid during NS training, currently has a 45% take-up rate among employers, having increased by 7 percentage points over the past three years.
MINDEF is enhancing the scheme to address challenges and improve the take-up rate, such as integrating the Make-up Pay e-Service with CorpPass to simplify the claims process for employers.
Employers are encouraged to register for the scheme via the NS Portal to streamline their make-up pay processes for national servicemen employees.

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8 Jul 2019

Efforts at Encouraging Companies to be More Inclusive to Individuals with Autism

The Government provides up to 16% wage subsidy through the Special Employment Credit for employers hiring persons with disabilities, including those with autism, with an additional 6% for those above age 67.
The Open Door Programme offers job placement and support services for persons with disabilities and their employers, while the Career Trial allows for job fit assessments with training allowances during the trial period.
A tripartite Workgroup led by the Ministry of Social and Family Development, the Autism Resource Centre, and other partners is exploring ways to better support persons with disabilities in gaining employment amid economic changes.

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8 Jul 2019

Impact of Protracted US-China Trade War on Job Prospects for Recent Graduates

Mrs Josephine Teo acknowledged that the US-China trade war has created economic uncertainties but noted that the labour market remained stable in early 2019, with youth employment rates high at around 70% and unemployment within historical norms.
She highlighted that government agencies are monitoring the situation and are prepared to enhance employment support through initiatives like Adapt & Grow, MySkillsFuture, and the Career Starter Programme to assist recent graduates.
Singaporean youths were advised to use available career guidance resources, explore different sectors, and consider work-study pathways like the SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programme to build relevant skills and remain adaptable.
The Minister encouraged job seekers to approach services like WSG's Careers Connect or NTUC's e2i for coaching, workshops, and job matching, emphasizing the importance of being open, agile, and relevant in the job market.

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8 May 2019

Legal Protection for Casual Workers

Anthea Ong proposed a study on legal protections for casual workers in other jurisdictions to develop a new framework, citing their rising numbers in Singapore.
The Minister of State for Manpower responded that casual workers constitute a small and declining share of the workforce and are already covered by existing employment laws, with self-employed persons receiving separate support through tripartite initiatives.
Ong raised concerns about a third category of "dependent workers" like Grab drivers, and the Minister cautioned against creating new worker categories to prevent misclassification and reduced protections, while highlighting existing enforcement against errant employers.
Patrick Tay highlighted misclassification issues and called for stronger enforcement, and the Minister detailed that investigations into misclassification have led to employers rectifying payments and facing penalties, ensuring workers receive their due rights.

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8 May 2019

Companies with Measures to Deal with Workplace Harassment

Assoc Prof Walter Theseira asked the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to monitor whether employers have adopted measures from the Tripartite Advisory on Managing Workplace Harassment, including policies and training, but the Senior Parliamentary Secretary replied that MOM does not track implementation, though it assesses employers' actions when complaints arise.
MOM and TAFEP provide resources like sample policies and training, and the new TAFEP centre offers support for reporting harassment, with potential referral to police or courts for criminal cases, while working with tripartite partners to update advisories and expand outreach.
Patrick Tay suggested reviewing the advisory after recent legal amendments, and the Senior Parliamentary Secretary committed to keeping it current and engaging employers, noting that over 960 employers have adopted the Tripartite Standard on grievance handling.

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