Employment & labour — Topics

7 Jul 2014

Median Salary of Graduate and Diploma Teachers in MOE Kindergartens and Primary Schools

Ms Lee Li Lian asked for the median salaries of graduate and diploma-holding teachers in MOE kindergartens and primary schools.
Heng Swee Keat explained that MOE regularly reviews teacher salaries against market benchmarks to ensure competitiveness, with annual increments and promotions based on performance and potential.
He noted that diploma-holding teachers can progress to senior roles with appropriate remuneration, and that MOE Kindergarten teachers are paid based on qualifications, experience, and market rates since the kindergartens started in 2014.

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7 Jul 2014

Pre-employment Grants Awarded to Medical and Dental Students

Since its inception in July 2010 and extension to dental students in February 2012, $18 million in pre-employment grants (PEGs) has been reimbursed to medical and dental students.
A total of 438 medical students and 11 dental students have been offered PEGs as of the end of FY2013.
Of the medical students offered, 416 accepted, 3 declined, and 19 are still considering; among dental students, 9 accepted and 2 declined.
The PEG scheme was introduced by public healthcare clusters to attract more Singaporean medical and dental students from overseas to supplement the local pipeline of healthcare professionals.

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7 Jul 2014

Payment and Protection of Freelancers in Film and Television Industry

The Media Development Authority (MDA) worked with the Association of Independent Producers (AIPRO) to establish a Code of Industry Best Practices in July 2012, which initially focused on payment terms and contracts for freelancers and will later include workplace insurance.
Since 2007, MDA has received only two reported cases of non-payment from funded projects, which spurred the creation of the Code, and no new cases have been reported since.
Freelancers can report non-payment or late payment directly to MDA via its website feedback channel, and MDA may withhold new project funding from companies found guilty of misconduct.
AIPRO is expanding the Code to cover dispute resolution, training members to handle disputes with help from the Singapore Mediation Centre, in addition to existing channels like the Small Claims Tribunal.
The Code has been adopted by industry players such as MediaCorp for Public Service Broadcast content, benefiting both AIPRO members and non-members.

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7 Jul 2014

Home Team Officers Offered Re-employment after Retirement

David Ong inquired about the number of Home Team officers offered re-employment contracts upon retirement in the last three years.
Teo Chee Hean responded that around 60% of retiring officers were re-employed annually from 2011 to 2013, averaging 14 senior and 90 junior officers per year.
The retirement age for Home Affairs Uniformed Service Officers was extended to 55 years, with potential re-employment up to age 60 based on organisational needs and officer criteria.

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7 Jul 2014

Freelance Instructors Offering Co-curricular Activities in Schools (Impact of move to register such instructors)

Freelance instructors are concerned about registering with the Ministry of Education (MOE) in time to bid for school contracts for co-curricular and enrichment activities.
MOE introduced the registration policy with a nine-month lead time from March 2014, starting January 2015, to allow instructors to comply.
Sports instructors must attend a workshop on coaching standards by end of 2015, with provisional registration available for those unable to attend immediately.
MOE is communicating registration requirements through partnerships with agencies like Sports Singapore and the National Arts Council.
The policy aims to support schools in procuring suitable instructors while ensuring instructors have sufficient time to meet registration needs.

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26 May 2014

Debate on President's Address

Supporters of the President’s Address highlighted progress on social policies like the Pioneer Generation Package and housing cooling measures, while urging continued focus on retirement adequacy, CPF reforms, and stronger safety nets for vulnerable groups, including the middle class and PMEs.
Debates emphasized the need for economic restructuring, productivity growth, and support for SMEs through technology adoption and skills training, with calls for fair employment practices to prioritize local workers and address wage stagnation.
Concerns were raised about political discourse, with some advocating for constructive politics and institution-building, while others questioned government actions and called for greater transparency and accountability in policy implementation.

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16 May 2014

Prime Minister's Office (National Population and Talent Division)

The National Population and Talent Division aims for a sustainable population with Singaporeans at its core, focusing on supporting seniors, marriages, parenthood, and integrating new citizens while managing foreign workforce growth.
The government will provide more opportunities and quality care for seniors to keep them active, support families through marriage and parenthood initiatives, and engage overseas Singaporeans to maintain their connection to Singapore.
New citizens and foreign spouses are welcomed to prevent population shrinking and improve age balance, with efforts to help them integrate into society while maintaining a balanced approach to foreign workforce growth.
Companies will receive help to raise productivity and restructure during the transition to slower foreign workforce growth, while ensuring Singaporeans are fairly considered for jobs and skills upgrading is supported.
The government will plan the city ahead of demand, promote mutual understanding between Singaporeans and foreigners, and review policies regularly to adapt to changing needs and environments for a distinctive home for future generations.

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16 May 2014

Ministry of Trade and Industry

MTI will promote sustainable economic growth and create good jobs by leveraging Singapore’s strengths, including its open business environment and skilled workforce, while navigating a competitive global landscape.
The ministry will support research, innovation, and industrial transformation to grow advanced manufacturing and exportable services, with agencies like EDB and A*STAR applying R&D to enhance competitiveness.
Singapore will expand its international network through trade agreements and platforms like WTO, ASEAN, and APEC to reinforce its position as a Global Asia Hub.
MTI will invest over $300 million in SME restructuring and productivity programs, focusing on upstream interventions and sector-wide improvements to drive economic transformation.
The ministry will partner with MOM, MOE, and industries to develop career pathways, training programs, and global-ready talent to meet the aspirations of young Singaporeans entering the job market.

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16 May 2014

Ministry of Manpower

The Ministry of Manpower aims to boost productivity, real incomes, and job quality through a pragmatic balance of local and foreign workforce policies, supported by tripartite collaboration and a focus on lifelong learning via the CET Masterplan.
Key initiatives include enforcing the Fair Consideration Framework to ensure Singaporeans are fairly considered for jobs, expanding training support for SMEs, and using the Jobs Bank for better job matching.
Efforts will focus on uplifting low-wage workers through the Progressive Wage Model, protecting their rights, and reviewing policies for older workers, including a potential extension of the re-employment age to 67.

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14 Apr 2014

Applying the Progressive Wage Model to Benefit More Low-wage Workers

Gerald Giam asked how the Government plans to raise wages for the 110,000 local low-wage workers in industries beyond cleaning, security, and landscaping, noting that the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) currently only covers about 80,000 workers in these three sectors.
The Minister highlighted that raising incomes requires a holistic effort, including maintaining a healthy economy, a tight labour market to keep unemployment low and wages rising, and enhancing Workfare to supplement incomes for over 400,000 Singaporean workers.
The Government supports PWM as a targeted legislative measure for specific sectors with labour market issues, but for other sectors, it prefers NTUC’s efforts to work with employers on progressive wage structures and career pathways.
Additional support for low-income earners includes housing, medical, and education subsidies, alongside measures like raising the full-time equivalent salary to $1,000 to ensure meaningful employment.
The approach emphasizes sustainability through productivity improvements and sector-specific interventions rather than a one-size-fits-all mandate.

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14 Apr 2014

Help with Fees of Detailed Medical Reports for Low-income Workers Claiming Work Injury Compensation or Reimbursement

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef raised concerns about low-income workers struggling to afford fees for detailed medical reports needed to claim work injury compensation or reimbursement.
The Acting Minister for Manpower explained that under the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA), employers are required to cover medical expenses, including report fees, up to $30,000 or one year from the accident date, and workers can seek reimbursement if they pay upfront.
Low-income workers can apply for financial assistance through the Special Relief Fund administered by the Singapore Labour Foundation, which provides up to $5,000 in temporary relief for eligible industrial accident victims.
Workers are advised to contact the Ministry of Manpower if employers fail to compensate them, as the Ministry will take firm action against errant employers.

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14 Apr 2014

Key Principles on Information Sharing in Collective Bargaining

The Acting Minister for Manpower outlined that key principles on information sharing between management and unions in unionised companies are guided by the Code of Industrial Relations Practices formulated by Tripartite Partners.
These principles include having regular platforms for open and honest sharing of relevant information, with clear agreements on what information can be shared and how it may be used during negotiations.
The Minister noted that most management and unions already observe these principles, holding regular dialogues that facilitate constructive negotiation, build trust, and strengthen labour-management relations.

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14 Apr 2014

Reviewing Job Structure for Taxi Drivers

Tan Su Shan questioned whether the Ministry of Transport will collaborate with taxi operators to restructure taxi drivers' jobs to enable employer CPF contributions.
Lui Tuck Yew explained that taxi drivers currently prefer self-employment, making them responsible for their own CPF contributions.
A Drive-and-Save Scheme was introduced in 2011 where taxi companies co-contribute $15 to drivers' Medisave accounts if the drivers contribute at least $15 themselves.

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14 Apr 2014

Expansion of Target Medical and Nursing Intakes

Chen Show Mao asked the Minister for Health about plans, constraints, and steps to expand medical and nursing intakes beyond the current targets of 500 and 2,750 respectively.
Gan Kim Yong stated that MOH regularly reviews healthcare manpower needs, has increased medical intakes by 80% over the past decade, and projects a rise to 500 doctors annually, with nursing intakes set to increase to 2,750.
The Minister highlighted constraints such as demographic changes and disease trends, and outlined steps including enhancing healthcare career attractiveness, professional development, and outreach efforts to attract more Singaporeans to the sector.

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14 Apr 2014

Update on Compulsory Weekly Rest Day for Foreign Domestic Workers

The Ministry of Manpower reported that 37% of new foreign domestic workers in 2013 received a weekly rest day, a significant increase from 13% in a 2010 survey, with 61% receiving at least a monthly rest day.
The Ministry emphasized that the weekly rest day is compulsory for FDWs with permits issued or renewed after January 2013, and compensation must be provided if the rest day is forfeited by mutual agreement.
Dispute resolution involves employment agencies as initial facilitators, with the Ministry of Manpower serving as an adjudicator if necessary, though concerns were raised about the potential power imbalance between employers and FDWs.
By January 2015, all FDWs will be under new contracts enforcing the weekly rest day requirement, supported by public education campaigns and programs to ensure compliance and mutual understanding.

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14 Apr 2014

Free Movement of Professionals under ASEAN Economic Community Goal

Mr Yee Jenn Jong asked about the status of negotiations on free movement of professionals under the ASEAN Economic Community and safeguards for Singapore PMETs, to which the Second Minister replied that Singapore's commitments under the ASEAN Agreement on the Movement of Natural Persons are limited to intra-corporate transferees with specific criteria and duration, and subject to Singapore’s Employment Pass regime and the Fair Consideration Framework.
The Minister highlighted that allowing selected skilled labour from ASEAN helps fill skill gaps without compromising local job opportunities, while also facilitating Singaporean PMEs to gain regional experience, with the government continuing to support job readiness through education and training programs.
In a supplementary question, Mr Yee expressed concern about potential violations of bilateral trade pacts due to loosely worded agreements, to which the Minister assured that officials are careful in wording agreements and are clear about Singapore's obligations.

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14 Apr 2014

Complaints Filed Against Employers

Over the past three years, the Ministry of Manpower assisted thousands of workers with complaints, including approximately 7,000 non-domestic work permit holders in 2013—down from about 14,000 annually in 2011–2012—and fewer than 500 foreign domestic workers, with local worker cases slightly increasing to about 3,800 in 2013.
The ministry substantiated a portion of these complaints, but specific numbers for local and foreign workers were not detailed, though overall cases represented a small fraction of the respective workforces (under 1% for non-domestic workers and 0.2% for domestic workers in 2013).
The Ministry has taken action against workers who make invalid complaints, including about 100 workers over the past three years for false declarations, while emphasizing assistance for legitimate claims and zero tolerance for system abuse.

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14 Apr 2014

Recruitment of Bus Drivers for the Bus Services Enhancement Programme

Mr Teo Siong Seng asked whether the public transport operators will recruit local or foreign drivers for the 450 new buses under the Bus Service Enhancement Programme.
The Minister for Transport responded that both local and foreign drivers will be hired, mirroring the approach taken for the initial 550 buses.
The operators will prioritize local recruitment through measures such as a Place-and-Train programme and progressive wage structures.

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7 Mar 2014

Committee of Supply – Head S (Ministry of Manpower)

Parliament debated manpower challenges, with MPs highlighting concerns over the mismatch between rising graduate numbers and quality job creation, the need to retrain PMETs for future jobs, and ensuring fair employment practices amid tighter foreign worker policies.
The government outlined its focus on productivity-driven growth, supporting lifelong learning through CET, expanding the Progressive Wage Model to sectors like cleaning and security, and enhancing the Fair Consideration Framework to ensure local workers are considered for jobs.
Key initiatives discussed included promoting flexible work arrangements, improving workplace safety, supporting older and low-wage workers, and strengthening tripartite partnerships to address manpower issues and retirement adequacy.

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5 Mar 2014

Progressive Wage Model for Other Sectors

R Dhinakaran asked whether the Progressive Wage Model would be extended to sectors beyond cleaning and security and, if so, which sectors and the timeline for rollout.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary confirmed the model is currently targeted at low-wage sectors like cleaning and security due to their vulnerability to cheap-sourcing and stagnant wages.
The government plans to provide more details on extending the Progressive Wage Model to other sectors during the upcoming Ministry of Manpower Committee of Supply debates.

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