Employment & labour — Topics

8 May 2017

Defining Domestic Workers' Duties and Job Scopes

The Ministry of Manpower stated that domestic workers' duties are defined in law as household and domestic tasks, but detailed listings for every household are impractical due to varying needs, though some employers assign caregiving roles like child or elder care.
Ministers highlighted that employers should ensure domestic workers receive specialized training for caregiving tasks, with support from the Ministry of Health and training grants available to improve skills for such duties.
The reference channel system only allows employers to leave contact details for references, not to post comments, and both prospective employers and domestic workers can communicate directly during hiring.

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8 May 2017

Scope and Frequency of Safety Inspections on MRT Train Operators

The Ministry of Manpower conducts approximately 16,000 inspections annually using a targeted, risk-based approach, focusing on high-risk workplaces like MRT operations, with most being surprise inspections except for pre-arranged ones to avoid disrupting train services.
Inspections involve a three-step process: site walk-throughs, discussions with staff, and review of safety protocols, with findings shared confidentially with companies and industry stakeholders to promote broader safety improvements.
Following a March 2016 incident, MOM increased the scope of inspections for MRT train operators to include safety operating procedures, conducting six in-depth inspections in 2016 to address lapses and enhance safety standards.

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8 May 2017

Mandating Hours of Work and Rest for Drivers

Joan Pereira asked if the Ministry of Manpower would mandate drivers' work and rest hours based on ILO recommendations, such as a maximum of nine hours daily and breaks after four hours of driving.
The Minister of State replied that current regulations require employers to ensure worker safety under the Workplace Safety and Health Act, with guidelines including limiting shifts to 12 hours and recommending breaks every two hours, though no hard mandates are in place.
The Minister highlighted a decline in work-related traffic accidents among drivers but acknowledged one death is still too many, emphasizing continued efforts to improve safety measures.
Joan Pereira followed up by asking if Singapore could mandate technology to enhance driver safety, given smart city investments and innovations.
The Minister responded that authorities are trialing technology like tachographs to monitor driving behavior and will decide on mandating such tools after assessing the trial's outcomes.

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4 Apr 2017

Aspirations of Singapore Women

The debate highlighted the ongoing need to address gender stereotypes and discrimination in Singapore, including workplace inequality, under-representation of women in leadership roles, and the disproportionate burden of caregiving on women.
Members proposed concrete measures to support women, such as promoting flexible work arrangements, enhancing financial literacy and retirement adequacy, and providing targeted support for women returning to the workforce.
The discussion also touched on the need for societal mindset shifts, including encouraging shared caregiving responsibilities between men and women and challenging traditional gender roles from a young age.

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4 Apr 2017

Increasing Numbers of Foreign Domestic, Healthcare and Childcare Workers

Gan Thiam Poh asked whether the government would allow more foreign domestic, healthcare, and childcare workers to meet the needs of an ageing population and rising fertility rates.
The Minister of State replied that the priority is to develop a local pipeline through expanded training programmes and conversion schemes, while foreign workers fill current gaps in these sectors.
The government has lowered the FDW levy and provided grants to support families needing domestic help, while encouraging training for foreign workers to improve care quality.
Gan Thiam Poh requested a review of manpower needs considering future demographic trends, particularly by 2030 when one in four Singaporeans will be aged 65 and above.
The Minister of State confirmed that the Ministry of Manpower will continuously review and adjust manpower policies in coordination with other ministries to meet projected needs.

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4 Apr 2017

Pervasiveness of Adapt and Grow Initiative in Healthcare Sector

Ms K Thanaletchimi asked about the pervasiveness of the Adapt and Grow initiative in the healthcare sector, and the Minister for Health, Mr Gan Kim Yong, responded that in 2016, about 300 jobseekers were placed into healthcare through this initiative, complemented by recruitment fairs that hired about 400 mid-career locals.
The Minister outlined enhancements to the Professional Conversion Programme and other schemes to support mid-career Singaporeans in becoming nurses, administrators, and support care staff, including increased funding for training and new scholarships for nursing studies.
The government will work with partners like MOM, WSG, e2i, healthcare employers, and unions to reach out to mid-career job seekers and facilitate their transition into the healthcare sector.
Ms Thanaletchimi sought clarification on the Attach and Train programme's pervasiveness across all healthcare institutions, including the long-term care sector, and the Minister agreed to work with unions and employers to expand the programme.
The overall response emphasizes collaboration and multiple initiatives to make the Adapt and Grow and related programmes more pervasive in the healthcare sector.

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4 Apr 2017

Success Rate of Professional Conversion Programme

The Healthcare Professional Conversion Programme (PCP) has admitted over 400 Singaporeans since 2009, with 82% of those enrolled between 2009 and 2011 completing training and being successfully placed into healthcare jobs.
Among those successfully placed, 92% remained in their roles after the minimum service period, indicating strong retention.
Public healthcare institutions also support non-clinical staff in converting to clinical roles, with 54 scholarships or sponsorships provided over the last three years.
Over 750 enrolled nurses have advanced to become registered nurses through polytechnic programmes in the last three years, showing upward mobility within the sector.
The PCP is largely standardised based on professional modules but includes institution-specific on-the-job training, with some variations across organisations.

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3 Apr 2017

New Jobs Created for University Degree Holders

Leon Perera asked about the proportion of new jobs created in each of the last five years requiring a university degree.
The Ministry of Manpower explained that it does not collect data on new jobs by qualification requirements, as this may not reflect job quality or responsibilities.
The Ministry encourages companies to focus on skills and competencies rather than academic qualifications, aligning with the Committee on the Future Economy's recommendations.

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3 Apr 2017

Inspections Conducted on Accommodation for Foreign Workers

From 2014 to 2016, the Ministry of Manpower conducted nearly 4,000 foreign worker housing inspections, with the annual number increasing from 700 to 1,800 to cover both large dormitories and suspected poor-condition housing.
Most infringements involved private residential units housing multiple workers, while larger purpose-built and factory-converted dormitories were generally in better condition; the number of public complaints about housing fell from about 600 in 2014 to 500 in 2016.
For about 4,000 employers and dormitory operators found in violation, MOM issued warnings, composition fines, or prosecuted them, and required immediate rectification such as housing improvements or relocation of workers to approved accommodation.

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3 Apr 2017

Employers' Attitudes towards Hiring of Older Workers

A 2016 survey found that about 70% of employers are willing to redesign job scopes for older workers, and the employment rate for residents aged 55-64 has steadily increased, with Singapore ranking highly among OECD countries, including stable retention in the IT sector.
Over the past three years, the Ministry of Manpower and TAFEP received fewer than 80 annual age discrimination complaints, with IT sector cases making up about 7% of these, and investigations led to actions like work pass curtailment for errant employers.
The government engages employers through TAFEP campaigns and initiatives like the Career Support Programme and Professional Conversion Programmes, which offer wage support to encourage hiring of older workers, while also urging older workers to upskill through schemes like SkillsFuture.

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3 Apr 2017

Non-compliance with Approved Operating Procedures at SMRT

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh asked why SMRT's non-compliance with approved operating procedures from 2002 until the fatal March 2016 accident went undetected and uncorrected, and whether the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) had inspected SMRT for workplace safety during that period.
MOM stated that it conducted 10 workplace safety inspections at SMRT train depots between 2002 and 2015, focusing on high-risk areas like work-at-height activities, and that a proactive, risk-based approach is used to target sectors with high accident likelihood or severe consequences.
Following the 2016 accident, MOM's investigation found SMRT employees failed to follow established procedures, and the Ministry noted internal safety checks by SMRT were ineffective, leading to a $400,000 fine—the highest ever for a Workplace Safety and Health violation.
MOM emphasized that both employers and workers share responsibility for safety, and collective ownership is needed to ensure workers return home safely every day.

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3 Apr 2017

Extension of No-pay Infant Care Leave to Public Healthcare Institutions

K Thanaletchimi asked whether the new four-week no-pay infant care leave for public sector employees would be extended to public healthcare institutions and the timeline for any rollout.
Gan Kim Yong explained that a three-year pilot starting July 2017 will test the leave for Government Ministries and Statutory Boards, but public healthcare institutions are excluded as they are separate entities.
The government will assess the pilot's feasibility for future extension to other organizations and encourages public healthcare institutions to discuss the arrangement with unions.

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3 Apr 2017

Aspirations of Singapore Women

The debate emphasized the need to support Singaporean women in balancing careers and family, with proposals for more flexible work arrangements, better childcare and eldercare support, and expanded access to fertility treatments like ART subsidies and social egg freezing.
Speakers highlighted systemic barriers such as workplace inflexibility, the double burden of caregiving, and the challenges for women re-entering the workforce, suggesting enhanced SkillsFuture programmes, mentorship, and fair employment practices to address these issues.
There was a call for societal and policy shifts, including encouraging men to share domestic responsibilities, reviewing the education system to reduce parental stress, and providing targeted support for single parents and homemakers to achieve financial independence.

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3 Apr 2017

Aspirations of Singapore Women

The motion affirms Singapore women’s contributions and calls for whole-of-society support to help them balance family and career while preparing for the future economy.
It proposes creating more caregiving capacity by expanding childcare and eldercare facilities, extending operating hours, and developing a SkillsFuture package with training, job matching, and financial support for back-to-work women.
It advocates providing more options through flexible work arrangements with industry standards and recognition for employers, as well as supporting women’s entrepreneurship.
It aims to remove barriers by challenging stereotypes, setting targets for female board representation, addressing unconscious bias, and ensuring fair pay and career progression.
It emphasises being future-ready by building digital fluency and STEM skills for women, leveraging technology to enable flexibility and close gender gaps in the digital economy.

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3 Apr 2017

Regular Information Collection and Publication of Freelance and Contract Work Data

Leon Perera asked the Ministry for Manpower to regularly collect and publish data on freelancers and contract workers who seek permanent employment.
The Minister confirmed that data on freelancers’ percentages and their preference for permanent work is already collected and published annually, but no such data is collected for contract workers as both employment types offer flexibility and legal protections.
The Minister explained that workers preferring permanent roles can use the Adapt and Grow initiatives for support, and there are no plans to collect additional data on contract workers’ preferences for permanent jobs.

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3 Apr 2017

Temporary Jobs for Hawkers and Their Assistants when Hawker Centres Close for Renovation and Repair

Assoc Prof Randolph Tan inquired about schemes for temporary job placement or training for hawkers and their assistants during hawker centre closures for repairs and renovation.
The Minister responded that stallholders receive rental remissions during closures and can access training grants through SkillsFuture Singapore or seek job assistance via Workforce Singapore's career centres and Jobs Bank.
A one-stop Information and Service Centre for hawkers will be established later this year to provide details on training courses and support services.

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8 Mar 2017

Annual Breakdown of New Jobs Created from 2011 to 2016

Leon Perera asked for an annual breakdown from 2011 to 2016 of new jobs created and net new jobs across MNCs, SMEs, GLCs, and the public service.
Lim Swee Say provided net employment change data for SMEs, non-SMEs, and public service from 2011 to 2016 but noted that gross job creation data is unavailable.
The response did not include GLC-specific data or separate figures for MNCs.

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6 Mar 2017

Committee of Supply − Head S (Ministry of Manpower)

Patrick Tay proposed a review of Singapore's labor laws—including the Employment Act, Industrial Relations Act, Employment Claims Act, and Trade Unions Act—to better cover professionals, managers, executives, and technicians (PMETs), freelancers, and workers affected by economic restructuring, suggesting changes such as removing salary caps for coverage and allowing freelancers to join unions.
MPs raised concerns about job mismatches, long-term unemployment, and the impact of technological disruption on workers, urging enhancements to Adapt and Grow initiatives like Professional Conversion Programmes and Career Support Programme, and introducing new schemes like Attach and Train and extended work trials to support workers in transitioning to new roles.
The Ministry of Manpower highlighted measures to strengthen the Singaporean core, including tightening foreign manpower policies, expanding the Lean Enterprise Development Scheme for SMEs, and launching the Human Capital Partnership program, while emphasizing the need for tripartite collaboration to ensure fair employment practices and progressive workplaces.

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3 Mar 2017

Applications by Fathers for Full Paternity Leave

Seah Kian Peng asked how many eligible fathers applied for full paid paternity leave in 2016 and the percentage of applications from the Civil Service, noting a decline in Civil Service uptake compared to previous years.
The Parliamentary Secretary replied that about 11,300 fathers applied for the leave in 2016, with 16% of applications from the Civil Service, and clarified that take-up rates are expected to rise as deadlines for claims extend.
Seah expressed concern about the lower application numbers and asked if employers are discouraging leave, prompting the Parliamentary Secretary to highlight the increasing trend in take-up rates and the Civil Service's high eligibility rate of 91.4% applying.
The Parliamentary Secretary emphasized government and community efforts to promote active fathering and family-friendly workplaces, viewing the upward trend as encouraging for family development.

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1 Mar 2017

Debate on Annual Budget Statement

The debate focused on long-term economic transformation, urging support for industry shifts and workforce upskilling to adapt to global disruptions, while calling for proactive assistance to vulnerable groups like retrenched workers and low-income families.
Speakers highlighted challenges in eldercare, advocating for technology-driven solutions, community volunteering, and policy changes to help seniors age independently and reduce future healthcare costs.
Concerns were raised about healthcare affordability and potential overconsumption due to insurance coverage, suggesting better cost control, patient education, and systemic reforms to ensure sustainability.
The importance of public trust and empathetic communication was emphasized, with calls for more inclusive policies and community engagement to support the working poor and prevent social inequality.
Fiscal prudence was discussed, including suggestions for progressive revenue measures like property tax adjustments, to address aging population costs without overburdening lower-income households.

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