Employment & labour — Topics

7 Nov 2016

Retention of Qualified Teachers in Schools

The Ministry of Education reports that training a teacher costs about $23,000, teachers stay on average for 11 years, and the annual resignation rate is low at 2–3%, with family considerations and career change being the main reasons for leaving, while workload is not commonly cited.
MOE supports retention through competitive salaries with periodic increases, career advancement opportunities, and professional development programs, and is increasing allied educators to reduce administrative burdens.
Teacher satisfaction surveys show concerns about workload and administrative overheads, but also a sense of declining societal respect, which does not deter most from viewing teaching as a meaningful profession.

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10 Oct 2016

Utilisation and Top-up of SkillsFuture Credits

Pritam Singh asked about the number of Singaporeans who have used their SkillsFuture credits, the total amount utilised, the possibility of a top-up due to rising unemployment and skills deficits, and the basis for deciding on a top-up.
Ong Ye Kung reported that from January to August 2016, over 80,000 Singaporeans had utilised their credits, with approved claims amounting to $22.5 million.
Ong Ye Kung stated that the government will periodically top up the SkillsFuture Credit, considering factors like utilisation rates and fiscal position, but emphasised that more funds are dedicated to subsidising course fees to support reskilling and upskilling.
Ong Ye Kung noted that rising unemployment cannot be addressed solely through SkillsFuture Credit top-ups, and highlighted other initiatives such as those under MOM's Adapt and Grow and training programmes by MOE and SkillsFuture Singapore.

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10 Oct 2016

Raising Awareness amongst Foreign Workers on Hygiene and Work Practices

The Ministry of Manpower provides foreign workers with a Handy Guide in their native language upon arrival, covering hygiene, work practices, rights, and responsibilities, and reinforces these messages through newsletters, roadshows, and Foreign Worker Ambassadors.
MOM conducts regular inspections of dormitories and requires operators to maintain cleanliness, taking enforcement action against errant operators if poor conditions compromise workers' well-being.
The public is urged to report specific dormitories with serious littering issues to MOM for action.

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10 Oct 2016

Review of Quantum of Penalties and Compensation for Workplace Incidents

Christopher de Souza questioned if penalties for workplace safety and compensation for work injuries should be reviewed to enhance safety.
The Ministry of Manpower stated that maximum penalties under the Workplace Safety and Health Act were raised in 2006 and courts have imposed increasing fines, with the highest at $220,000, so no further increase is needed now.
Compensation limits under the Work Injury Compensation Act were reviewed in 2015 and increased by 20-30% from 2016 to align with rising incomes and healthcare costs.

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10 Oct 2016

Civil Servants in Part-time and Job-sharing Arrangements

The number of civil servants in part-time work arrangements rose from 1,415 in 2011 to 2,019 in 2015, with no data collected on job-sharing.
Ministries and Statutory Boards offer flexible work options like staggered hours, telecommuting, and part-time work for eligible officers, including mothers and caregivers.
Additional support for mothers and caregivers includes various leave provisions such as parent-care, childcare, maternity, and paternity leave.

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10 Oct 2016

Grounds for Dismissal of SMRT Employees for 22 March Fatal Train Incident

Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap asked the Ministry of Manpower whether it had sought the full grounds for dismissal of the two SMRT employees sacked over the fatal 22 March 2016 train incident and what those grounds were.
The Minister for Manpower, Lim Swee Say, stated that two SMRT trainees were killed in the incident and that SMRT dismissed a train driver and an Assistant Engineer on 13 September, with the union filing appeals to SMRT and later to MOM.
MOM has requested the grounds of dismissal from SMRT and will facilitate conciliation between the parties, and if unsuccessful, will conduct an inquiry to determine if there was just cause for dismissal.
The National Transport Workers' Union is assisting the two dismissed employees and is helping to secure new employment for them.

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10 Oct 2016

Foreigners Caught Working Illegally in Singapore

Between 2014 and August 2016, around 3,000 foreigners were caught working illegally in Singapore, with numbers declining from about 1,300 in 2014 to 550 in the first eight months of 2016.
The top three nationalities of illegal workers are China, Bangladesh, and India, while the main sectors are construction, food and beverage, and other services, with common occupations including construction workers, cleaners, and stall assistants.
The Ministry of Manpower employs a multi-pronged strategy involving public education, proactive inspections and response to tip-offs, and enhanced penalties such as minimum fines and imprisonment for employers hiring illegal workers.
Foreigners found working illegally are barred from future employment in Singapore, and the overall strategy has contributed to the steady decline in illegal work cases.
All foreigners working in Singapore must hold a valid work pass, and non-compliance breaches the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.

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10 Oct 2016

Abuse Cases Involving Foreign Domestic Helpers Abuse

Kok Heng Leun requested statistics from the Minister for Manpower on the number of abused and abusive foreign domestic helpers from 2014 to 2015, and how many had insufficient monthly days off.
The Ministry of Manpower reported that police investigated about 30 cases annually where FDWs were victims and about 40 cases where FDWs were suspected of abusing those in their care, with some resulting in prosecution or warnings.
The Ministry does not track rest days given to FDWs who are offenders, but employers are required to provide weekly rest days or compensation under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Regulations.
FDWs facing difficulties can seek help through the MOM helpline and NGOs like the Centre for Domestic Employees.

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10 Oct 2016

Strengthening Singaporean Core in "Triple Weak" Companies

The Ministry of Manpower is scrutinising about 250 firms, including those previously identified as "triple weak," to ensure fair employment practices and strengthen the Singaporean core, with close to 300 Employment Pass applications rejected from these firms.
A two-pronged approach is used: firms showing significant improvements are removed from closer scrutiny, while those making partial progress continue to face enhanced checks on their Employment Pass applications.
The Ministry is launching a Human Capital Partnership Programme to recognise and support firms with exemplary fair and progressive human capital practices, aiming to encourage more companies to follow suit.
The measures include encouraging firms to participate in career fairs, training programmes, and in-house knowledge transfer initiatives to benefit Singaporean staff.

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10 Oct 2016

Bogus Jobs for Work Pass Applications

The Minister for Manpower outlined that employers who bring in foreign workers without genuine employment intentions or hire workers released for self-employment are illegal, and MOM addresses both supply and demand sides with proactive checks, enforcement operations, and employer education.
Enhanced penalties under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act include imprisonment, fines, and caning for severe cases, with examples like a 40-month jail sentence for setting up shell companies to obtain work passes illegally.
MOM continues a holistic approach to deter and prosecute syndicates and unscrupulous employers, including debarment from hiring foreign workers and severe enforcement actions.

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10 Oct 2016

Employers' Obligations to Offer Insurance and Medical Coverage for Female Employees in Response to Zika Virus Threat

Ms K Thanaletchimi questioned whether the Government would raise awareness of employers' obligations to provide medical coverage, paid leave, and insurance for female employees amid the Zika virus threat.
Minister Lim Swee Say confirmed that advisories have been issued for past health crises like H1N1 and MERS-CoV, outlining employer obligations in pre-travel checks, precautions during travel, and paid sick leave and medical coverage for infected employees.
The Minister noted that these obligations also apply to local Zika transmission, with MOM recently issuing advisories to employers and dormitory operators on measures to limit spread and manage pregnant or suspected infected employees.
MOM is collaborating with relevant agencies to enhance checks at worksites and dormitories, emphasizing that workers, employers, and dormitory operators must all contribute to minimizing local Zika transmission.

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10 Oct 2016

Employment Rate of Graduates of Special Education Schools

The Acting Minister for Education reported that about 300 students graduate from Special Education (SPED) schools annually, with diverse readiness for work; roughly one-third enter regular employment, half go to sheltered workshops or day activity centres, and 10% pursue further studies.
MOE has implemented a vocational education framework and certification pathways through institutions like Metta School and Delta Senior School to equip SPED students with life skills and work habits for employment or further training.
A School-to-Work Transition Programme, developed with MSF and SG Enable, supports students in their final school year and up to one year after graduation with job placement, customised training, and internships to prepare them for employment.
SG Enable offers employment assistance, training, and internship opportunities for persons with disabilities, while employers can access funding for job redesign and workplace modifications through the Open Door Programme and benefit from the Special Employment Credit when hiring them.

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10 Oct 2016

Improving Employment Opportunities for Recent Graduates

Sun Xueling asked whether recent graduates can access university resources for internships and if there is a central database for internship opportunities.
Ong Ye Kung highlighted that Institutes of Higher Learning promote internships for undergraduates, with some universities requiring them for graduation, but internships are not facilitated for graduates.
Ong Ye Kung noted that universities provide career services like counselling, networking events, and workshops to support fresh graduates in finding employment.

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10 Oct 2016

Professional Skills Training Elements in SkillsFuture Courses

Miss Cheryl Chan asked about the percentage of SkillsFuture courses with professional skills training, whether courses can be customized for different industries, and if a tailored package for women returning to the workforce will be considered.
Ong Ye Kung stated that over 15,000 skills-based courses are listed, covering 50 training areas, and are professionally useful for vocational needs, with continuous efforts to expand offerings.
He noted that effective guidance, not lack of courses, is key for groups like women returning to work, who may need support in language, IT, and sector-specific skills.

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10 Oct 2016

Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Amendment) Bill

The bill aims to amend the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) Act 2014 and make a related amendment to the Work Injury Compensation Act.
The amendment was presented by the Senior Minister of State for Transport, Mrs Josephine Teo, and read for the first time in Parliament.
The bill is scheduled for its second reading on the next available sitting of Parliament and will be printed for further deliberation.

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10 Oct 2016

Dealing with Higher Unemployment Rate

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) reported that local employment growth has slowed sharply due to demographic shifts like ageing and lower birth rates, while unemployment rose slightly to 3% in June 2016, with PMETs constituting 70% of local retrenchments.
To address job mismatches and support displaced workers, MOM has expanded initiatives like Adapt and Grow, Professional Conversion Programmes (PCPs), and the Career Support Programme (CSP), achieving over 13,000 job placements in the first eight months of 2016.
MOM emphasized a balanced approach to foreign manpower, reducing inflows by over two-thirds since 2011 while enhancing fair consideration for locals through the Fair Consideration Framework and targeting “triple weak” employers.
Future plans include transforming the National Jobs Bank into a vibrant online marketplace and leveraging Skills Frameworks to provide career guidance, but mandatory job advertising and reporting requirements are not being implemented.
Ministers and MPs highlighted ongoing challenges for mature PMETs, SME transformation, and the need for productivity gains to sustain growth without over-reliance on foreign labour, urging tripartite collaboration to navigate economic transitions.

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10 Oct 2016

Impact of Decline in Private Investments on Job Creation and Business Competitiveness

The government is addressing falling private investments and firm closures by launching targeted support measures like the Working Capital Loan for SMEs and the Enterprise Development Fund, while shifting focus to productivity-driven growth and industry transformation maps to sustain competitiveness.
Discussions highlighted uneven economic performance, with resilient sectors like information technology and healthcare offsetting weaknesses in manufacturing and services, and efforts to manage business costs through lower utilities and rental rates while encouraging innovation and overseas expansion.
There is emphasis on aligning job creation with manpower readiness through SkillsFuture and industry partnerships, addressing skills mismatches, and ensuring Singaporeans are equipped for new roles despite declining foreign manufacturing investments and sector-specific challenges.

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13 Sep 2016

Reasons Given by Teachers for Quitting Teaching Service or Not Renewing Contracts

Teachers who resign cite childcare, other family considerations, and a desire for a change of job as their top three reasons, while those taking no-pay leave do so mainly for childcare, accompanying a spouse overseas, and other private matters.
The Ministry clarified that education officers are generally appointed on permanent service, not contracts, so departures are through resignation rather than non-renewal of contracts.
The data shared pertains to resignation reasons and no-pay leave, with no specific figures provided in the debate.

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13 Sep 2016

Statistics on Teachers not Renewing Teaching Contracts and on No-pay Leave

The Acting Minister for Education clarified that teachers in Singapore are appointed on permanent service rather than fixed-term contracts, so departures are handled through resignation, not contract non-renewal.
The annual resignation rate for education officers has remained low at approximately 3% in recent years.
About 2% of education officers have been on no-pay leave in the past few years, with an average duration of around two years for those who returned from such leave.

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13 Sep 2016

Interest Payment on CPF Amount Owed to Members under Full Savings Vesting (FSV) Bonus Scheme

Mr Zainal Sapari asked if the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) will pay interest on CPF amounts owed to servicemen under the Full Savings Vesting Bonus scheme, as noted in the Auditor-General's Report for FY2015/16.
MINDEF is working with the CPF Board to credit the outstanding CPF amounts to affected servicemen.
The credited amount will include interest that could have been earned if CPF contributions had been made on time, in line with CPF guidelines.
This addresses the shortfall highlighted in the Auditor-General's Report regarding the FSV Bonus scheme.
The action ensures compliance with CPF rules and rectifies the issue for servicemen.

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