Employment & labour — Topics

9 Jan 2017

Retirement and Re-employment (Amendment) Bill

The Bill raises the re-employment age from 65 to 67, allows employers to transfer re-employment obligations to another employer with the employee's consent, and removes the option for employers to cut wages at age 60.
Ministers and MPs generally support the Bill as a timely step to address ageing demographics and provide more job security for older workers, while acknowledging the need for tripartite collaboration to ensure effective implementation and address potential issues like ageism and contract insecurity.
Concerns raised include the adequacy of safeguards for employees, the burden on businesses, the need for continuous skills upgrading, and the importance of linking retirement age policies to life expectancy and CPF payout ages to better support older workers.

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9 Jan 2017

Number of Workers who Secure Jobs at Government-supported Job Fairs

Over the past 10 years, government-supported career services, including job fairs, helped over 160,000 jobseekers secure employment, with an annual average of about 16,000 placements, ranging from a high of over 24,000 in 2009 to a low of about 13,000 in 2008.
In the last three years, job placements were 17,500 in 2014, 16,600 in 2015, and 14,900 in the first nine months of 2016, with no specific tracking for placements solely from job fairs due to their multifaceted purposes.
The government does not track specific job fair outcomes as these events aim to encourage broader jobseeker engagement, including passive jobseekers and community outreach, rather than just direct job matching.

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9 Jan 2017

Impact of Softer Economy on Employment of Recent Graduates and Older Workers

The Minister for Manpower reported that while the Singapore economy is projected to grow modestly, the Ministry does not forecast unemployment rates, though short-term fluctuations are expected; recent graduates from autonomous universities have a consistent employment rate of about 90% within six months, and older workers (aged 55-64) have seen a high employment rate of 67.3%, though unemployment among residents aged 50 and above has slightly increased by 0.2% over two years.
The government is providing extra support for older workers through measures like the Special Employment Credit, raising the re-employment age to 67, and the Adapt and Grow initiative, which has helped place over 11,000 workers with 39% being aged 50 and above in the first nine months of 2016.
Dr Lim Wee Kiak highlighted concerns from constituents about older workers facing job loss, underemployment, and potential exploitation by employers under government schemes, and questioned the success rates and tracking of placement programs like Place and Train, WDA, and e2i.
The Minister responded that Workforce Singapore and e2i track each jobseeker individually, with about 65% of those needing extra help finding jobs within the same calendar year, and special attention is given to long-term unemployed through programs like Professional Conversion Programme and Career Support Programme, with ongoing efforts to enhance the Adapt and Grow initiatives.

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10 Nov 2016

Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Amendment) Bill

The Bill amends Singapore’s merchant shipping laws to implement recent International Labour Organization (MLC) amendments, requiring shipowners to provide insurance or financial security for seafarers’ repatriation, unpaid wages (up to four months), and compensation for death or long-term disability.
Parliamentarians broadly support the Bill, highlighting its role in protecting seafarers from abandonment and exploitation, though some raise concerns about enforcement, direct access to financial security, and the need for penalties against irresponsible shipowners.
The Senior Minister of State clarified that seafarers can directly access insurance funds for repatriation and wages, even if ships are arrested, and that the Maritime and Port Authority will inspect vessels and enforce compliance, including taking action against non-compliant shipowners.

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9 Nov 2016

Benefits from Productivity and Innovation Credit and Capability Development Grant

Over the last three years, the Productivity and Innovation Credit (PIC) and Capability Development Grant (CDG) schemes have supported an average of 80,000 and 700 enterprises annually, respectively, benefiting millions of workers in Singapore.
The government, industry, and unions collaborate to share productivity gains with workers, such as through the Inclusive Growth Programme that co-funds projects and requires companies to share gains via higher wages.
The Ministry is working with tripartite partners to ensure equitable sharing of productivity benefits, with examples like NTUC partnerships enabling allowances or payments for workers.

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9 Nov 2016

Re-employment of Women beyond Age 62

The Minister of State reported that over 98% of local employees, including women, were offered re-employment at ages 62 and 65 in 2015, with government measures like raising the re-employment age to 67 and providing wage offsets and workplace support to aid older workers.
Nominated MP K Thanaletchimi sought targeted strategies to extend employment for older women, emphasizing the need for sufficient savings and interim measures before the re-employment age increase.
The Minister responded with a gender-neutral tripartite approach, highlighting outreach programs for older female workers and ongoing support like Special Employment Credit and age-friendly workplace initiatives.
The debate underscored the importance of collaborative efforts between the government, unions, and employers to sustain and improve re-employment opportunities for older workers.

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8 Nov 2016

Industry Information on Recruitment Plans of Employers for Future Jobs

The Ministry of Manpower, through Industry Transformation Maps and skills frameworks, provides forecasts on future job growth and skill requirements across major sectors like Retail and Precision Engineering, with this information to be integrated into the National Jobs Bank.
While company-level employment forecasts three years ahead are challenging, industry-level forecasts are actively developed and published to guide Singaporeans in career planning and training decisions.
The government employs both Place and Train programs for job seekers and Train and Place initiatives for employed workers to ensure they are prepared for future jobs, with ongoing collaboration with economic agencies to align investments and workforce development.

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8 Nov 2016

Success Rates of Government Career Assistance Schemes

The Adapt and Grow initiative helped 6,400 PMETs find jobs in the first three quarters, with specific support through the Career Support Programme, Professional Conversion Programme, and P-Max Programme yielding hundreds to thousands of placements.
The government is expanding the Professional Conversion Programme to cover over 50 sectors by year-end and expects to support more than 1,000 PMETs annually, while the Career Support Programme provides wage subsidies for a year to address expectation gaps.
Ministers acknowledged challenges in job and skills mismatches and emphasized tripartite collaboration to refine programs, increase employer participation, and track outcomes such as sector coverage and retention rates.

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8 Nov 2016

Encouraging Employers and Employees to Shift to Portable Medical Benefits

The Minister highlighted that while 90% of employers offer medical benefits, only 4% provide portable benefits, with the government promoting MediShield Life as a universal, portable platform for all Singaporeans.
Discussions revealed employers prefer non-portable schemes for cost-effectiveness and employee retention, while employees may lack awareness or prefer schemes with no co-payment, prompting tripartite efforts to encourage a longer-term perspective.
Members of Parliament called for increased incentives, better education, and possibly legislation to mandate portability, especially for outpatient coverage and to protect those with pre-existing conditions, while the Minister emphasized leveraging MediShield Life as the primary solution.

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7 Nov 2016

Review of Courses Subsidised by WDA and SkillsFuture

Member of Parliament Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked whether the Ministry will expand subsidised courses to include more professional qualifications like CIA or CISA, and how frequently WDA reviews course relevance.
Minister Ong Ye Kung responded that SkillsFuture Singapore takes an inclusive approach based on work relevance but requires cooperation from training providers to handle administrative tasks.
SSG has already included the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants-CIA Challenge Exam Prep Course and will continue working with providers to add more professional courses to the SkillsFuture Credit directory.

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7 Nov 2016

Mental Health Declaration for Job Applications

The debate centered on whether employers, particularly the Public Service, should require job applicants to declare any history of mental illness.
Assoc Prof Daniel Goh asked if the Government should lead by example by removing such declarations for non-sensitive Public Service positions.
The Government's position, as stated by Lim Swee Say, is that job applications should only ask for information relevant to assessing suitability, and Public Service declarations do not disqualify candidates.
The Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices emphasize merit-based recruitment, considering skills, qualifications, experience, and personal attributes over medical history.

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7 Nov 2016

Government Assistance to Small and Micro Businesses on Staff Hire

The Government offers a one-stop Lean Enterprise Development Scheme (LEDS) to help SMEs transform, upgrade, and meet manpower needs by developing new capabilities and becoming more manpower-lean.
Various agencies provide specific support, such as Workforce Singapore’s P-Max and Career Support Programme, e2i’s Place-and-Train schemes, SkillsFuture Earn and Learn for graduates, and SPRING’s SME Talent Programme for internships.
SMEs can access assistance through career fairs and 12 SME Centres to recruit staff and transition to more efficient operations.

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7 Nov 2016

Recourse for Employers of Errant Foreign Domestic Workers

Sylvia Lim asked about recourse for employers when a foreign domestic worker abandons the work agreement and owes money to the employer.
Lim Swee Say explained that personal loans are often given by employers to help workers pay placement fees, and employment agencies must state refund policies in contracts.
If a worker terminates employment early, employers should check their contract with the agency to see if they can get a full or partial refund.
Some agencies do not require loans for placement fees, so employers can choose these agencies to avoid refund issues.
The response highlights the importance of understanding agency contracts and selecting arrangements that suit employer preferences.

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7 Nov 2016

Publicity of Workplace Safety Practices by Premises Owners

Premises owners must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure workplace safety, including conducting risk assessments for independent contractors under the Workplace Safety and Health Act.
Service buyers are encouraged to adopt the bizSAFE programme and procure services from certified contractors to enhance safety for independent contractors.
The Ministry of Manpower and WSH Council conduct year-round awareness campaigns, provide free resources, and collaborate with partners like NTUC to educate independent contractors on safety practices.
Independent contractors are responsible for enhancing their own safety capabilities through accredited training and adhering to safe work practices.
Tripartite partners continue to work together to create safer workplaces for all workers, including independent contractors.

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7 Nov 2016

Mandatory Insurance Coverage for Contract Workers

Ms Chia Yong Yong asked if there are plans to mandate insurance coverage for contract workers, including health, personal accident, and life insurance, to be purchased by companies hiring them.
Lim Swee Say explained that contract workers are classified under contracts of service (employees) or contracts for service (self-employed), with different statutory benefits applying to each.
Employees under contracts of service are entitled to medical benefits via MediSave contributions and work injury compensation, but there is no mandatory insurance requirement for self-employed individuals under contracts for service.
Self-employed persons are required to contribute to their CPF MediSave accounts if their annual net trade income exceeds $6,000, which can be used for health insurance premiums.
Contract workers under contracts of service can contact the Ministry of Manpower if they are not receiving statutory benefits they are entitled to.

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7 Nov 2016

Wage Differential of Ex-offender Placed in a Job through SCORE

Leon Perera asked about the wage differential for ex-offenders placed by SCORE and the number of white-collar jobs matched, with data requested for the last five years.
K Shanmugam replied that in 2015, the median salary for ex-offenders was about 10% lower than the median for similar occupations in the market.
He noted that of 2,157 inmates assisted by SCORE in 2015, only 1% (30 individuals) were matched to white-collar jobs, a figure consistent over the past five years.
The Minister emphasized that employer support is crucial for fair employment and reintegration of ex-offenders into society.

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7 Nov 2016

Retirement and Re-employment (Amendment) Bill

The Retirement and Re-employment (Amendment) Bill was introduced to amend the Retirement and Re-employment Act, with the Minister of State for Manpower presenting the first reading.
The bill was approved for a second reading at the next parliamentary sitting and ordered to be printed for further legislative consideration.
The debate focused on updating the existing framework to enhance retirement and re-employment protections, though no substantive policy details were provided in the initial speech.

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7 Nov 2016

Clarification by Minister of State for Education

The Minister of State for Education clarified that the overall teacher resignation rate is between 4% and 5%.
There is no significant difference in resignation rates between those who entered teaching as a first career versus a mid-career switch.
Teachers on the Diploma in Education or Teaching Award programmes have a slightly higher resignation rate, while those on BA/BSc programmes or as scholars have a slightly lower rate.
The Minister apologized for needing to revisit the Member's question to provide this breakdown.

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7 Nov 2016

Part-time Work for Work Permit Holders

Louis Ng asked whether Work Permit holders could be allowed part-time work to address Singapore's labour shortage, suggesting regulation instead of a blanket ban to prevent exploitation.
The Minister of State for Manpower replied that part-time work is prohibited for Work Permit holders to ensure they focus on full-time jobs, avoid exploitation, reduce foreign manpower demand, and prevent increased competition with locals for freelance or part-time roles.
Louis Ng acknowledged that part-time work might already occur unofficially and proposed starting with a pilot in specific industries to test feasibility before wider implementation.
The Minister of State reiterated the priority of protecting local workers and foreign workers from exploitation, noting some flexibility exists within the same company, such as redeploying Work Permit holders across departments in the services sector.

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7 Nov 2016

Retrenchment Numbers and Trends

The Ministry of Manpower reported that retrenchment numbers for the first three quarters of this year were 11,890, higher than the 8,590 in the same period last year, with the full-year figure expected to be higher due to economic slowdown and restructuring.
The Minister addressed concerns about "disguised retrenchments," stating that while the Employment Act mandates retrenchment benefits only for employees with over two years of service, most companies do pay benefits, and the Ministry is investigating a small number of appeals.
The Ministry is strengthening support for retrenched workers through initiatives like Adapt and Grow, which has helped over 3,000 workers this year, with nearly 2,000 securing new jobs, and is exploring a stronger retrenchment reporting framework to reach workers earlier.
The Minister confirmed that the Ministry is conducting a survey on changing employment norms, including the "gig economy," to understand implications for worker welfare, skills upgrading, and retirement planning.
The public sector is committed to fair employment practices and tripartite guidelines, ensuring responsible restructuring in consultation with unions, with no evidence of rising irresponsible retrenchment practices.

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