3,252 debates and bills about employment & labour
Pritam Singh asked if the government will direct businesses to review work-from-home plans due to rising global energy costs. The Minister for Manpower responded that no such plans exist, with further details on fuel to be provided in upcoming ministerial statements.
The government maintains current penalties for non-compliance with retrenchment notifications, citing high compliance rates and administrative penalties of $1,000-$2,000.
Cai Yinzhou questioned why graduates from aquaculture programs aren't tracked into sea-based farming and proposed a mechanism like those in healthcare and teaching. Grace Fu responded that SFA focuses on farm productivity, not graduate tracking, but collaborates with IHLs on curricula and projects manpower needs based on industry developments.
A Member asked about employees struggling to recover unpaid salaries via court enforcement; the Minister reported 94% fully recovered wages through TADM and ECT, with mechanisms like court-enforceable settlements, TADM assistance, and penalties for errant employers, including fines and imprisonment.
The Minister acknowledged a decline in full-time permanent employment for 2025 graduates, attributing it to post-pandemic normalization and cautious hiring. He highlighted support measures like enhanced career services and the GRIT traineeships, stressing that current conditions are temporary and graduates remain resilient.
Melvin Yong urged stronger support for injured workers' return to work, citing international models for early intervention, SME support, and new pathways. The government agreed, citing pilots and announcing a 2026 Alliance to crowdsource solutions.
The Bill amends the Central Provident Fund Act 1953, presented by Minister of State for Manpower Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash. It was read the first time and scheduled for a second reading in the next parliamentary sitting.
Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik questioned whether the WSQ modules under the Progressive Wage Model for security officers include training for recognizing and responding to persons with special needs. K Shanmugam responded that WSQ modules focus on skills like threat detection and incident management, essential for security duties. Currently, there is no training for special needs recognition included in the modules. The Government plans to review training requirements in consultation with the industry to enhance the effectiveness of security officers.
Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked about the number of late salary payments for public sector employees in 2025 and the recourse available for affected employees. Chan Chun Sing responded that there were no late payments for most employees, with only 35 cases due to administrative delays affecting new public officers, representing 0.02% of the workforce. Late payments might occur due to system errors, but affected employees would be paid in the subsequent payroll and informed of the situation. Employees can address issues with their human resource department for resolution, while the Public Service Division monitors payroll systems to ensure timely payments.
Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat raised concerns about the impact of spousal employment difficulties on the attrition of foreign academics and researchers at Singapore's autonomous universities. Desmond Lee stated that the universities aim to attract top talent and confirmed that foreign spouses have access to various work passes, including Employment Pass and S Pass. He mentioned that spouses on Dependant's Pass can work with a Letter of Consent, and that the universities provide support for spouses in finding employment, including job openings and guidance on work pass requirements.
He Ting Ru asked about the social service sector's progress toward meeting the manpower needs for an additional 2,000 professionals by 2029 and the potential impact of increased qualifying salaries for S Pass and Employment Pass holders. Masagos Zulkifli confirmed the sector is on track, supported by initiatives like scholarships, training sponsorships, competitive salary reviews, and campaigns to promote social service careers. He added that the salary increase for pass holders is not expected to significantly affect manpower growth in the sector.
Charlene Chen raised concerns about early detection mechanisms for wage or CPF payment defaults in the student care sector, the timeline for relief fund disbursement, and safeguards for employees facing abrupt insolvency. Tan See Leng responded that the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and CPF Board have data-sharing processes to detect arrears across sectors. Employees experiencing payment issues are encouraged to seek assistance from MOM or related organizations, and the Short-Term Relief Fund can provide aid to eligible workers, typically disbursed within one to two months after claim verification. Various agencies offer job matching services and training for displaced workers, and the government will continue to review support measures for affected employees.
Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat questioned the Ministry of Manpower about the processes for notifying them of traffic accidents involving workers that do not result in work injury compensation claims and whether such incidents are classified as workplace accidents. Tan See Leng clarified that the Ministry's workplace injury statistics do not include accidents occurring when employees are not on duty, such as during transportation to work. However, employers must report all injuries from traffic accidents involving workers commuting or using company transport, which triggers an automatic compensation claim process to protect workers' livelihoods.
Nadia Ahmad Samdin asked about how the expansion of sustainability standards under the Green Mark scheme aligns with workforce capabilities and integration into core built environment roles. Chee Hong Tat explained that the Green Mark Certification scheme, introduced in 2005, has seen over 2,500 certified projects, highlighting the growing expertise of built environment professionals. The Skills Framework for Built Environment includes sustainability as a core competency for key professionals, and the Building and Construction Authority collaborates with training providers to ensure courses reflect the latest standards. Singapore Polytechnic has updated its curriculum to align with the Green Mark scheme's requirements.
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