Employment & labour — Topics

14 Nov 2012

Percentage of Public Service Employees on Flexible Work Arrangements

Foo Mee Har asked for the current percentage of public service employees on flexible work arrangements, reduced-hour work weeks, and work-from-home arrangements, broken down by seniority and work areas.
Teo Chee Hean explained that flexibility in the public service includes flexi-place (telecommuting), flexi-time (staggered hours), and flexi-load (part-time work).
About 80% of public agencies have telecommuting schemes, with 18% of surveyed public officers telecommuting at least monthly, while almost all agencies offer staggered work hours under flexi-time.
All public agencies offer part-time employment under flexi-load, with 1.4% of Division I officers and 0.6% of non-Division I officers working part-time as of end-2011.

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14 Nov 2012

Breach of Employer CPF Contribution Rules

From January to September of the referenced year, about 2,700 employers (2% of active employers) failed to pay or underpaid CPF for roughly 6,600 employees, with an average of 3,000 employers paying late each month.
Non-compliance is higher in the cleaning, F&B, retail, and security sectors, with most errant employers being small companies (10 or fewer employees) and affected workers tending to be lower-income.
Reasons for non-compliance include employer ignorance (e.g., misconceptions about part-time or casual employees) or willful cost-cutting, prompting strict enforcement with heavy fines, court convictions, and mandatory repayment with interest.
Authorities have strengthened compliance through the WorkRight programme, combining education and a tenfold increase in inspections (from 500 to 5,000 annually), while encouraging employees to report violations confidentially.

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14 Nov 2012

Setting Income Criteria for S Passes and Employment Passes

The Acting Minister for Manpower explained that income criteria for S Pass and Employment Passes are regularly adjusted to keep pace with local wage progression and ensure foreign workers do not unfairly compete with Singaporeans, particularly fresh graduates.
The government has tightened qualifying salaries and criteria for Employment Pass holders to maintain a level playing field while supporting business growth and global competitiveness through foreign talent.
Efforts are focused on enhancing the skills of local graduates through a robust education and lifelong training system, along with career support services, to improve their employment and wage outcomes amid competition.

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14 Nov 2012

Sexual Harassment Recourse in Workplace Safety Guidelines for Healthcare Industry

Ms Faizah Jamal proposed that the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council's guidelines for the healthcare industry explicitly include sexual harassment and sexual abuse, and that these guidelines be extended to all industries.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary noted that the WSH Council's CultureSAFE programme addresses psychosocial risks, including harassment, and that existing healthcare guidelines already cover violence and workplace harassment, which can encompass sexual harassment.
The Ministry of Manpower will consult stakeholders to incorporate psychosocial risk recommendations into additional WSH guidelines, ensuring they are meaningful to the relevant industries.

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14 Nov 2012

Cleaning Fee Hikes at Hawker Centres

Baey Yam Keng questioned the justification, protection for hawkers, procurement process, and impact on cleaners' pay regarding cleaning fee hikes at nine hawker centres.
The Second Minister explained that the fee increase is due to higher costs like manpower, and phasing the hikes was agreed with hawkers to mitigate impact, while the procurement ensures cleaning companies meet accreditation standards for workers' benefits.
Seah Kian Peng asked about fee increase clarity, future fees, service improvements, and the Tray Return scheme's effect, with the Minister noting contract provisions, industry changes, and hopes for better standards and efficiency.
Lim Biow Chuan suggested centralizing cleaning contracts for cost savings and support, and the Minister considered balancing economies of scale with autonomy for hawkers.

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12 Nov 2012

Number of Singaporeans Employed by the Casinos in Singapore

Png Eng Huat asked how many Singaporeans are directly employed by the two casinos and whether the government or casinos set a target percentage for local hires in their bids.
Tan Chuan-Jin stated the Integrated Resorts directly employ over 22,000 staff, about 70% locals, with Marina Bay Sands having 60% Singaporeans and Resorts World Sentosa 75%.
RWS also employs Singaporeans in 80% of professional, managerial, and executive positions, with both casinos subject to national foreign manpower policies.
The government does not set separate company-level local employment targets but agencies continue to monitor and support the recruitment and training of Singaporeans for these jobs.

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12 Nov 2012

Workers in Singapore Earning Less Than $1,000 Per Month

Gerald Giam asked the Ministry for Manpower how many workers earn less than $1,000 per month for full-time work or less than $5.25 per hour for part-time or daily-rated work, with a breakdown by Singaporeans, permanent residents, and work pass holders.
Tan Chuan-Jin responded that in June 20118, about 110,000 full-time employed residents (6% of the workforce) earned under $1,000 monthly, with nearly 10,000 being permanent residents and the rest citizens.
The Ministry cannot provide data for work pass holders or hourly wages for part-time workers, as this information is not collected in annual Labour Force Surveys.

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12 Nov 2012

Women Returning to Work

The Ministry for Manpower does not set specific targets for returning working mothers to the workforce, but focuses on reducing barriers for economically inactive individuals, including mothers, to re-enter employment.
Flexible work arrangements and incentives like the Work-Life Works! Fund and Flexi-Works! scheme are promoted to help employers support work-life balance and recruit economically inactive persons.
Programs such as the Workfare Income Supplement and Workfare Training Support are available to assist low-wage workers, with training and upskilling emphasized to maintain employability for all Singaporeans.

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12 Nov 2012

Update on Relocation of Foreign Workers Living in Vicinity of Jalan Bunga Rampai, Pereira Road and Little Road

The Acting Minister for Manpower explained that employers are fined or jailed under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act for housing foreign workers in unacceptable conditions.
A multi-agency operation in July 2012 checked over 250 foreign workers in MacPherson, relocating 152 from unacceptable housing to approved dormitories.
The Government will continue strict enforcement to ensure employers provide acceptable accommodation for foreign workers.

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12 Nov 2012

Foreign Worker Levies Collected and Workfare Income Supplement Disbursed

Gan Thiam Poh asked about the amounts of foreign worker levies collected and Workfare Income Supplement disbursed over the past two years, and whether the levies funded the WIS for Singaporean workers.
Tan Chuan-Jin stated that foreign worker levies collected were S$2.5 billion in FY2011 and S$1.9 billion in FY2010, and these are not ring-fenced but go into the Consolidated Fund.
The Workfare Income Supplement disbursed about S$400 million each for work years 2010 and 2011 to support older low-wage workers.
All government revenue, including foreign worker levies, funds general expenditures such as the WIS scheme, but the levies are not specifically allocated to WIS.

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12 Nov 2012

Employment for People with Disabilities

About 3% of Singapore's resident population has a disability, with varying degrees of severity, and there is no definitive data on their full-time and part-time employment numbers.
The Open Door Fund has supported 220 companies and 650 persons with disabilities since 2007, disbursing $3.2 million, while the Special Employment Credit has benefited about 1,200 employers and nearly 2,000 persons with disabilities.
The government supports job training through SPED schools, vocational education, and Centres of Training and Integration, though specific figures on beneficiaries over the past five years are not provided.
Efforts to improve public transport accessibility include creating barrier-free routes in MRT/LRT stations, making bus shelters barrier-free, and aiming for 100% wheelchair-accessible buses by 2020, with 54% currently meeting this standard.
Financial assistance for taxi costs is available through the Wheelchair-Accessible Taxi Grant, LTA Cares Fund, and Trailblazer-Chan Chiew Ping Special Schools Fund for persons with disabilities who are working or studying.

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12 Nov 2012

Measures to Tighten S Pass Numbers

The government tightened Employment Pass (EP) criteria in January 2012, leading to 7,800 existing and new EP holders downgrading to S Passes in the first half of 2012, with further downgrades expected as renewals are assessed under the stricter framework.
S Pass numbers increased by 14,200 in the first half of 2012, but excluding downgrades, underlying growth was 6,400, similar to the previous year, with construction showing strong growth due to ongoing projects.
Measures to moderate S Pass numbers include reducing the Dependency Ratio Ceiling (DRC) from July 2012 and scheduled levy increases until July 2013, aimed at encouraging productivity and reducing reliance on foreign labour while allowing companies time to adjust.

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12 Nov 2012

Contravention of Overtime Work Limits

Alex Yam asked about the number of companies applying for and contravening overtime exemptions, and whether such exemptions disadvantage low-wage workers, to which the Acting Minister for Manpower responded with statistics showing average applications and approvals from 2008-2011, noted enforcement actions against 260 employers, and explained the criteria for granting exemptions to protect worker welfare.
The Minister acknowledged that overtime pay is integral to low-wage workers' incomes and stated that the Ministry is working with stakeholders to uplift wages and reduce excessive overtime, particularly in sectors like security, as part of the Employment Act review.
During supplementary questions, the Minister confirmed ongoing consultations with unions and employers on overtime regulations, highlighted plans to address contract workers' overtime protections in the second part of the Employment Act review, and noted no current plans to enhance penalties for violations but emphasized serious enforcement to prevent exploitation.

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12 Nov 2012

Employment Rights of Low-wage Contract Workers

The Ministry of Manpower highlighted that the Employment Act already protects all workers, including contract workers, with basic rights like salary payment and protection against unfair dismissal, though some benefits may be limited by contract duration.
Officials noted ongoing reviews of the Employment Act with tripartite partners to consider better protections for low-wage contract workers, such as recognition of service years and improved benefits, with details expected later.
The government encourages employers to convert suitable contract workers to permanent staff to enhance job security and is updating tripartite advisory guidelines to ensure fair treatment in outsourced services.
Updates were requested on the National Wages Council’s recommendation for a $50 salary increment for low-wage workers, with progress being monitored in both unionized and non-unionized sectors.
Suggestions were made to reduce probation periods or extend contract rights during probation for low-wage workers, which are under consideration as part of the Employment Act review.

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12 Nov 2012

Efforts to Ramp up Manpower for Eldercare Facilities

The government plans to recruit and train 1,200 Senior Care Associates, 300 Social Service Professionals, 350 nurses, and 1,300 support staff for eldercare facilities by 2015, using Workforce Skills Qualification frameworks and funding for diplomas to ensure competitive salaries.
To address future demands beyond 2015, initiatives include upskilling workers, deploying assisted technology, and engaging retirees and homemakers in part-time roles to boost productivity and manpower.
Efforts are underway to expand Senior Group Homes for assisted living, with one opened and another planned, alongside exploring integrated eldercare and childcare facilities to support inter-generational bonding.
The Ministry will monitor eldercare service demand and utilization, with ongoing reviews under the Ministerial Committee on Ageing to address emerging needs.

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16 Oct 2012

Acceptance Rate of National Wages Council's Wage Increase Recommendation

The Acting Minister for Manpower reported that the National Wages Council’s $50 wage increase recommendation for low-wage workers is being tracked, with early employer feedback indicating general support, though full adoption data will be available next year, and Division 4 civil servants received a $60 increase.
The Minister affirmed compliance with International Labour Organization Convention No 94, stating public contractors must meet local labor standards and are subject to audits, while noting a follow-up question on pre-tender contract clauses would be addressed separately.
Members raised additional concerns about industry wage benchmarking, immediate support for low-wage workers, and using government procurement to improve wages, with the Minister highlighting measures like Workfare, sector-specific accreditation for cleaning and security, and long-term education investments.

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16 Oct 2012

Future Jobs for Professionals, Managers and Executives (PMEs)

The government aims to create future PME jobs by attracting high-value industries, restructuring existing sectors, and maintaining a diversified economy, with PME employment expected to grow to 40% by 2030.
To equip PMEs with relevant skills, Singapore emphasizes pre-employment education aligned with industry needs and provides strong continuing education and training (CET) support through programs like STEP and CaliberLink.
The government offers various initiatives to assist mature PMEs, including subsidized training, part-time degree subsidies, and career support services, while recognizing that career progression is not solely dependent on paper qualifications.
The Acting Minister is open to exploring further suggestions, such as a national PME capability fund and a taskforce for unemployed PMEs, to enhance support for PME career resilience and employability.

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16 Oct 2012

Government Support for Pre-school Educators

The Minister outlined current government support for pre-school educators, including fee subsidies for parents, grants for non-profit operators, and extensive training subsidies up to 90% of course fees, alongside absentee payroll support and scholarships to attract and retain talent.
Members raised concerns about teacher pay, training costs, career progression, and the profession's low image, suggesting direct allowances to avoid increasing operators' costs, fee support for new entrants, and initiatives to enhance the sector's professional standing.
The Minister acknowledged these suggestions, noting ongoing efforts like the Workforce Skills Qualifications system and a Implementation Committee to strengthen career development, while highlighting challenges such as small operators limiting career advancement and the need to tap mid-career switchers.
Discussion included questions on how recurrent grants for Anchor Operators are used and whether they cause teacher flow from other operators, with the Minister explaining grants cover operating costs and quality standards, but not having exact data on migration patterns.
The Minister emphasized that improving the profession's image involves recognizing educators as professionals, not "nannies," and encouraged public respect and appreciation, alongside considering more ways to enhance attractiveness and retention.

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15 Oct 2012

Under-employment of Fresh Graduates from Local Tertiary Institutions

The Acting Minister for Manpower defined under-employment into two types: time-related under-employment, which is low at 1.5% for local graduates aged 20-29, and non time-related under-employment, which is subjective and difficult to measure.
To address under-employment, various career guidance resources are available, including the Education and Career Guidance portal, career services at tertiary institutions, and support from Community Development Councils and the Employment and Employability Institute.
The Ministry of Manpower disseminates labour market information to help fresh graduates make informed career choices and maximize their employment opportunities.

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15 Oct 2012

Building, Architecture and Engineering Graduates

Over the past three years, local universities produced more than 1,100 graduates in building, architecture, civil engineering, and related fields, with an estimated half entering the construction industry.
The government is collaborating with industry partners and offering scholarships, such as the BCA-Industry Built Environment Scholarship, to attract local talent into construction and other strategic sectors.
Initiatives like Learning Journeys, career fairs, and internships are being used to reach out to students and encourage participation in the construction industry.
Support for Continuing Education and Training is available through schemes like the Workforce Training and Upgrading Scheme and Skills Development Fund, with courses provided by organizations like the BCA Academy.

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