Employment & labour — Topics

14 Jan 2019

Review Qualifying Income and Other Criteria for Workfare Income Supplement Scheme

The Minister of State for Manpower confirmed that the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) scheme is under regular review, with the qualifying income ceiling last revised in 2017, and that the review will consider recent income increases before announcing updates.
The government highlighted that WIS is part of a broader support framework, with most recipients also receiving additional aid like U-Save rebates, GST vouchers, and medical subsidies, and emphasized a focus on skills upgrading and employment progression over a "living wage" approach.
Officials noted that real wages at the 20th percentile grew faster than the median from 2012 to 2017, and that many WIS recipients own their homes, contrasting with global norms for low-income workers.
Concerns about workers in informal employment were acknowledged, with the government prioritizing their transition to formal work for stability and CPF savings, while directing them to existing support like Social Service Offices and other schemes.
The Minister indicated openness to exploring studies on informal workers but stressed the challenges in assessing their income and the long-term goal of integrating them into the formal workforce for better support and career advancement.

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14 Jan 2019

Progress of Efforts to Uplift Private Security Industry

The government is uplifting the private security industry through the Security Industry Transformation Map, which shifts the model to integrate skilled manpower and technology, with initiatives like outcome-based contracts, digital adoption funding, and enhanced Progressive Wage Model to improve wages and career prospects.
Efforts include removing the overtime exemption by January 2021 to reduce excessive hours, introducing a new Specialist Diploma in Security Consultancy, and enhancing regulations to compound certain conduct breaches with fines, taking a calibrated approach to penalties rather than immediate prosecution.
The government encourages security agencies to move towards shorter shifts where possible, but assessments are case-by-case for incidents like responding to assistance requests, balancing security post duties with prompt response to emergencies.

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20 Nov 2018

Average and Median Starting Monthly Salaries for ITE, Polytechnic and University Graduates

The Minister for Manpower provided median gross monthly starting salaries for ITE, polytechnic, and university graduates from 2008 to 2012 based on the Graduate Employment Survey, but did not provide average salaries or salaries five years after graduation.
Data on salaries five years after graduation is not tracked by the Graduate Employment Survey; instead, median gross monthly income for residents aged 25-29 with various post-secondary qualifications is available from the Ministry of Manpower's Comprehensive Labour Force Survey for 2013–2017.
The Ministry of Manpower and the Ministry of Education are exploring ways to track graduates' salaries by cohort over a longer period to provide more insights into their employment and income outcomes.

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20 Nov 2018

Proposal to Review Retirement Age for Police Officers

Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry asked whether there are plans to review the retirement age of 55 for police officers, noting that modern policing requires more experience and knowledge.
Minister K Shanmugam stated that the retirement age for Home Affairs Uniformed Service officers was raised from 50 to 55 five years ago and will be periodically reviewed as general retirement ages increase and Singaporeans live longer.
The Ministry of Home Affairs may offer extensions of service to officers reaching age 55, and for those not re-employed, it has structures to help them find new employment.

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20 Nov 2018

Effectiveness of Efforts to Attract and Retain Singaporean Medical Students Studying Abroad to Work in Singapore

MOH has increased local medical school intakes by 40% since 2012, making them the primary source of doctors, which is expected to reduce reliance on overseas-trained Singaporeans.
Over 200 overseas-trained Singaporean doctors return annually, a doubling since 2010, with over 90% remaining in practice and 80% staying in the public sector for five years or more.
The government is enhancing retention through improved work environments, technology to streamline workloads, and more career development and training opportunities for doctors.
Retention efforts also extend to other healthcare professionals like nurses, with increased salaries, autonomy, and training opportunities, alongside higher intakes in local nursing courses.
MOH will continue to review manpower strategies based on future healthcare needs to ensure adequate supplies of medical staff.

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20 Nov 2018

Impact of Foreign Student Holiday Work Passes on Jobs and Internships for Singaporean Graduates and Undergraduates

The Work Holiday Programme allows up to 2,000 foreign students and young graduates from nine countries to work and holiday in Singapore for up to six months, with an average of 2,800 passes issued annually from 2015 to 2017.
The Ministry of Manpower does not track the specific jobs or industries of work holiday pass holders, and some may not work at all.
The programme has not affected job or internship opportunities for Singaporean graduates, with nine in 10 graduates employed within six months of graduation, similar to before the programme began.
Internship participation rates have remained stable for polytechnics and increased for autonomous universities, with high percentages of students completing internships and many overseas placements available.

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20 Nov 2018

Lowering CPF Payout Age

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah proposed lowering the CPF payout age to match the retirement age and allowing early withdrawals for members who must retire early.
The Minister for Manpower, Mrs Josephine Teo, stated there are no plans to lower the CPF Payout Eligibility Age, which is currently 65, as it was raised to account for longer lifespans and ensure adequate retirement savings.
She highlighted that over 98% of workers reaching retirement age are offered re-employment, and early CPF withdrawals are only considered for valid medical grounds or on a case-by-case basis after assessing retirement adequacy.
For those not re-employed, the government provides job assistance programs and social support, including ComCare, to help members find new work or manage financial difficulties instead of depleting retirement savings early.
The response emphasized that further depleting CPF savings through early withdrawals is not in the member's interest, and support systems are in place to help members return to work or access assistance.

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20 Nov 2018

Employment (Amendment) Bill

Denise Phua supports the Bill but urges stronger protections for gig economy workers, outsourced employees, baby boomer seniors, low-skilled elderly, and persons with disabilities, calling for legislative and tripartite measures to create a more inclusive workforce.
Gan Thiam Poh welcomes the amendments, particularly the increased overtime pay threshold, but suggests gradually removing all salary caps for overtime to enhance productivity and work-life balance.
Minister Josephine Teo explains the Bill balances worker protections with business flexibility, addresses concerns on gig workers, wrongful dismissal, leave entitlements, and notes tripartite consensus on enhancements while committing to future reviews.

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20 Nov 2018

Employment (Amendment) Bill

The Employment (Amendment) Bill extends core protections of the Employment Act to all employees, including managers and executives earning above S$4,500, covering an additional 430,000 workers with provisions such as paid annual leave, sick leave, and protection against wrongful dismissal.
Part IV protections are expanded by raising the salary threshold for non-workmen to S$2,600, benefiting an additional 100,000 employees with rights to rest days, overtime pay, and regulated working hours.
The employment dispute resolution framework is enhanced by transferring wrongful dismissal claims to the Employment Claims Tribunals for a one-stop service and introducing tripartite guidelines on wrongful dismissal.
Other amendments include allowing deductions only with written consent, clarifying medical leave recognition from all registered doctors, and empowering the Minister to regulate undesirable employment practices.
The changes, effective from 1 April 2019, aim to balance worker protection with business flexibility through tripartite consultation.

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19 Nov 2018

Median and Average Monthly Income of Single Unwed Parents

The debate focused on the median and average monthly income of single unwed parents over five years, broken down by age groups of below 35, 35 to 36, and 36 years and above.
Desmond Lee provided figures for citizen mothers with non-marital births, noting the data is calculated by dividing annual income by 12, and observed that younger mothers often have lower incomes due to part-time work or limited employment periods.
The discussion highlighted income disparities across age groups, with implications for understanding the financial challenges faced by single unwed parents in Singapore.

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19 Nov 2018

Applications for Work Injury Compensation (Workers' Fund)

Mr Melvin Yong asked the Minister for Manpower about the number of applications and beneficiaries of the Work Injury Compensation (Workers' Fund) and plans to increase awareness, with the Minister responding that since 2005, 51 applications were received and about $1 million paid out in 34 cases to assist employees or their dependants not compensated by employers.
The Workers' Fund was initially targeted at those in financial hardship but its eligibility was broadened in 2017 to assist all affected employees and their families regardless of financial situation.
The Ministry of Manpower informs eligible employees or their dependants about the Fund when they are not compensated for work injuries to ensure awareness and access to assistance.

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19 Nov 2018

Pipeline of Skilled Local Car Mechanics to Support Hybrid/Electric and AVs Using Automation Technology

There are about 15,000 car mechanics in Singapore and the Singapore Motor Workshop Association is leading efforts to upskill them for hybrid, electric, and autonomous vehicles by establishing a centralized training academy.
The association is enhancing local EV diagnostic and repair capabilities through training by German specialists and overseas attachment programs, with funding support from Workforce Singapore.
The Land Transport Authority is conducting autonomous vehicle trials to understand maintenance needs and inform long-term manpower development plans, as AV technology is still nascent.

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19 Nov 2018

Civil Service Salary Structure Review

Leon Perera asked about the frequency of Civil Service salary reviews, the last review date, and Management Executive pay scales from 2010 to 2017.
The Prime Minister's office stated the Civil Service reviews salaries annually to keep pace with the market but has not made major adjustments recently.
The last substantive change was in 2015, when the Management Executive Scheme was extended to create equal career opportunities for degree and non-degree holders.
New Executive officers on the Management Executive Scheme start at around $3,100 monthly, while senior Superscale officers start from about $11,000.

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19 Nov 2018

Protecting Rights of Self-employed Such As Hawkers and Private Hire Drivers

Assoc Prof Walter Theseira questioned the Minister for Manpower about protections for self-employed persons such as hawkers and private hire drivers, particularly regarding contract conditions that impose minimum hours and whether such contracts could create an employment relationship under the Employment Act.
Mrs Josephine Teo explained that self-employed persons can choose contracts and negotiate terms, with the Tripartite Standard on Contracting with Self-Employed Persons launched to encourage written agreements and fair practices, while unions and associations can help advance their interests.
The Ministry of Manpower assesses whether someone is an employee or self-employed based on multiple factors like control over hours, use of equipment, and compliance with procedures, and encourages misclassified individuals to seek a determination from MOM.
Surveys show self-employment remains stable at 8-10% of the resident workforce, with most valuing flexibility, but support is available for those preferring employment through job matching and career services.

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19 Nov 2018

Effectiveness of Progressive Wage Model Versus Minimum Wage Model for Needs of Low-wage Workers

Mrs Josephine Teo highlighted that the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) provides a clear wage progression ladder tied to skills and productivity, with over 70,000 workers in cleaning, security, and landscaping sectors benefiting from higher real wage growth than the median.
She emphasized that PWM is part of a broader wage support system including Workfare Income Supplement, which has disbursed $5.5 billion to about 830,000 low-wage workers, complementing PWM to uplift incomes without mandating a minimum wage.
The Minister noted that tripartite partners regularly review and enhance PWMs across sectors to align with industry transformation goals, such as recent updates in cleaning, security, and lift maintenance sectors.

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19 Nov 2018

Companies that Have Taken Up Managing Onsite Vehicular Safety (MOVeS) Programme

The Ministry of Manpower reported that in 2017, 80 workplaces piloted the MOVeS programme, increasing to 120 in 2018, with some companies declining participation due to perceived in-house expertise in vehicular safety.
Companies that do not take up the programme remain subject to Ministry of Manpower inspections and are accountable under the Workplace Safety and Health Act in case of accidents.
To boost participation, the Ministry plans to collaborate with the Workplace Safety and Health Council and trade associations like the Singapore Contractors Association Limited and Singapore Logistics Association to promote the programme.

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19 Nov 2018

Take-up Rate for Adoption Leave

Murali Pillai asked about the take-up rate for adoption leave following the July 2017 legislative changes that grant adoptive mothers 12 weeks of leave.
Desmond Lee reported that from July to December 2017, 67 mothers applied to adopt children under 12 months, with 24 taking adoption leave.
The take-up rate may rise as adoptive mothers can flexibly take leave until the child turns 12 months old.
Not all adoptive mothers require leave, as some are not employed.

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19 Nov 2018

Employment Rate for Differently-abled Persons in Last Three Years

The Ministry reported that over 8,600 persons with disabilities were employed in 2017, a nearly 9% increase from 2015, with more accurate data expected from the 2020 population census.
Initiatives like the School-to-Work Transition programme support persons with disabilities in securing employment, and the government collaborates with employers to create inclusive workplaces.
The legislative process already allows for stakeholder consultation and parliamentary scrutiny of Bills, making a separate governmental body unnecessary to address matters affecting differently-abled groups.

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19 Nov 2018

Ensuring New Opportunities and Job Roles from Automation will be Equally Distributed to All Workers

The Minister outlined government initiatives such as Adapt and Grow, Professional Conversion Programmes, and SkillsFuture to support workers affected by automation through career coaching, job matching, and heavily subsidised training.
Over 11,600 individuals have been placed in new jobs since 2016 via these programmes, with training participation rising from 35% in 2015 to 48% in 2017 among the resident labour force.
The government partners private companies and sector agencies to develop targeted reskilling programmes, such as in banking and data analytics, to help workers transition to new roles before retrenchment.

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19 Nov 2018

Complaints against Employers for Overinflating Employees’ Salaries

Over the past five years, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) received an average of around 8,300 annual salary claims from employees who received less than their rightful pay, with over half being foreign workers, more than 80% rank-and-file employees, and fewer than 10% above 60 years old.
Since 2017, the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) and Employment Claims Tribunals (ECT) have helped about 90% of employees with salary claims recover their salaries in full, with around 80% of cases settled amicably through mediation.
MOM has taken enforcement action against employers for falsely declaring inflated salaries to gain foreign work pass privileges, with about 70 employers dealt with annually since 2013 under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, facing penalties such as imprisonment, fines, and warnings.

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