Employment & labour — Topics

4 Nov 2025

Long-term Support and Compensation Available for Teachers Injured or Disabled during Classroom Incidents

Sylvia Lim inquired about the government's support for teachers who suffer long-term injuries or disabilities from classroom incidents.
Desmond Lee outlined that teachers can choose between coverage under the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA) or the Civil Service's work injury provisions for medical expenses.
Teachers covered under WICA are eligible for additional paid injury leave for up to one year and can use yearly medical benefits for long-term treatments beyond WICA limits.
In cases of permanent incapacity, teachers can claim lump sum compensation under WICA, with revised compensation limits ranging from $116,000 to $346,000 for total permanent incapacity.
Partial permanent incapacity compensation is prorated based on the teacher's income and age.

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4 Nov 2025

Eligibility Assessment of Participants under SkillsFuture Mid-Career Training Allowance Scheme

Mr. Chua Kheng Wee Louis inquired about the consideration of short-term or part-time work in the eligibility assessment for the SkillsFuture Mid-Career Training Allowance, especially for those retrenched or transitioning careers.
Minister Desmond Lee confirmed that the allowance is based on the latest 12 months of earned income data from government records.
Income from short-term or part-time work that is recorded by the government will be included in the calculation of the Training Allowance.

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4 Nov 2025

Strengthening Engineering Talent Pipelines through Aligning with Emerging Industries and Public Sector Hiring

There is a concern about declining interest in traditional engineering disciplines despite national infrastructure needs, prompting questions about curriculum alignment and public sector hiring.
The Ministry of Education collaborates with economic agencies to align higher education engineering programs with industry demand, with nearly 30% of graduates from engineering courses in recent years.
Challenges in the Built Environment sector include talent shortages, poor work experiences, and competitive salary issues, leading to recommendations for improved outreach, internships, and career development practices.
Initiatives such as career fairs and access to salary information aim to inform students about engineering and STEM job opportunities.
The Public Service is actively recruiting engineering talent and has introduced scholarships to support students pursuing engineering disciplines, with a steady increase in the number of science, technology, and engineering officers.

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4 Nov 2025

Effectiveness of SkillsFuture-funded Programmes on Job-related Outcomes and Expanding List of Approved Certifications on MySkillsFuture Portal

The effectiveness of SkillsFuture-funded programmes in achieving job-related outcomes is monitored by the Ministry of Education and SkillsFuture Singapore through various studies and surveys.
Employment outcomes and participant assessments of these programmes are published on the MySkillsFuture portal to assist learners in their training choices.
Singaporeans can use their SkillsFuture Credit to offset fees for approved certifications, with around 360 certifications currently listed on the portal.
International certifications not registered with SkillsFuture Singapore are not included in the approved list, but individuals can request reimbursement for examination fees for such certifications.

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4 Nov 2025

Improving Work-life Balance and Mental Well-being of Educators in View of OECD Teaching and Learning International Survey 2024 Findings

Members of Parliament raised concerns about the work-life balance and mental well-being of educators, citing findings from the OECD Teaching and Learning International Survey 2024 that indicate teachers work an average of 47.3 hours per week.
Questions were posed regarding the Ministry of Education's assessment of teachers' work-life balance compared to other public service sectors and the impact of sustained long working hours on teachers' mental health and family life.
There were inquiries about how well-being data influences staffing, performance evaluation, and retention policies, as well as the potential implementation of protected rest-time policies for educators.
The Minister for Education indicated that these issues have been addressed in previous discussions and reports regarding teachers' stress levels and support for their mental well-being.

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4 Nov 2025

Slowdown on Hiring of New Nursing Degree Graduates and/or Early-Career Nurses at Restructured Hospitals

Patrick Tay raised concerns about a potential slowdown in hiring new nursing degree and diploma holders, as well as early-career nurses in restructured hospitals since 2025.
Ong Ye Kung responded that there is still strong hiring interest for local nurses in the public healthcare system, with hiring numbers comparable to previous years.
Ong noted that some applicants have specific preferences for work locations and shift patterns, which may not align with the needs of hiring institutions.
He encouraged nursing graduates to be more flexible with their work conditions to enhance their experience.

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4 Nov 2025

Post-graduation Employment Rates of ITE Graduates with Special Educational Needs

Mr. Cai Yinzhou inquired about the post-graduation employment rates of ITE graduates with special educational needs over the past five years, specifically within six months, one year, and two years after graduation.
Minister Desmond Lee reported that employment rates for fresh ITE graduates with special educational needs have remained stable, with approximately 80% employed six months post-graduation, similar to their peers without special needs.
About 70% of employed graduates, both with and without special educational needs, found jobs related to their course of study.
The ITE has expanded its internship and employment support programs to assist students with special educational needs in gaining workplace skills and job placements.
The Government will continue to monitor employment outcomes for ITE graduates and provide additional support as necessary.

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4 Nov 2025

Enforcing Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990 to Curb Illegal Freelance Work in Creative Sector

Edward Chia Bing Hui raised concerns about illegal freelance work in Singapore's creative sector and questioned the enforcement of the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is actively monitoring illegal freelancing and will investigate complaints, particularly those involving foreign freelancers advertising on social media.
MOM collaborates with stakeholders like the Visual, Audio, Creative Content Professionals Association (VICPA) to educate on work pass requirements and promote the hiring of local professionals.
The Ministry also partners with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority to share information on suspected illegal foreign freelancers and prevent their entry into Singapore.

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4 Nov 2025

Programmes to Maintain Employment Stability and Attract MNC Investments amidst Staff Cut Announcements

The debate focused on the government's response to recent staff cut announcements by foreign firms in Singapore and measures to maintain employment stability and attract multinational investments.
Minister Tan See Leng highlighted that overall retrenchments remain within historical ranges, with job growth in sectors like financial services and professional services.
The government has established various support programs for affected workers, including career matching services, retraining initiatives, and financial assistance for lower- and middle-income retrenched individuals.
The Taskforce for Responsible Retrenchment and Employment Facilitation plays a key role in helping retrenched workers transition to new job roles in growth areas.
The government's pro-business environment, skilled workforce, and strong infrastructure are emphasized as factors in attracting and retaining foreign investments.

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4 Nov 2025

Update on whether Two-day Work-from-home Arrangement Remains as Default Policy in Civil Service

Ms. Poh Li San inquired about the status of the two-day work-from-home arrangement as the default policy in the Civil Service, noting that many companies in Singapore do not offer teleworking options.
Chan Chun Sing, representing the Prime Minister, clarified that teleworking is not the default arrangement for all public officers, as many roles require physical presence.
Approximately half of public officers do not utilize the work-from-home option due to the nature of their jobs, which include frontline services and teaching.
Flexible work arrangements (FWAs) are available, but they are not guaranteed and must align with operational needs.
The government aims to provide a variety of FWAs to support public officers while maintaining the effectiveness of public service operations.

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4 Nov 2025

Mental and Emotional Well-being Support for Educators in Special Education Schools

The Minister for Education acknowledged the challenges faced by educators in special education schools and emphasized the importance of their mental and emotional well-being.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) collaborates with Social Service Agencies to enhance support for SPED teachers, including initiatives shared in a previous parliamentary session.
MOE has established SPED Communities of Practice to foster peer support and professional collaboration among teachers.
Efforts are being made to manage teacher workload sustainably, including recruitment initiatives and exploring digital solutions to reduce administrative tasks.
Many SPED schools have implemented dedicated well-being committees to provide practical support for teachers in managing stress and promoting self-care.

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4 Nov 2025

Addressing Needs of Workers who Care for Elderly Parents and Young Children and Proposal for "Sandwich Generation Leave"

Ms. Valerie Lee inquired about studies assessing the needs of workers caring for both elderly parents and young children, and proposed a "Sandwich Generation Leave" for such families.
Minister Tan See Leng responded that while the government conducts studies on caregivers, they do not specifically focus on those balancing care for both young children and elderly parents.
He noted the impracticality of introducing multiple leave types for diverse caregiving needs but mentioned enhancements to parental leave and voluntary caregiving leave by some employers.
The government has also introduced guidelines to facilitate flexible work arrangements to help working caregivers manage their responsibilities.

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4 Nov 2025

Data to Support Move towards Skills-based Hiring in Civil Service

Ms. Eileen Chong Pei Shan inquired about the percentage of public service jobs since January 2024 that waive formal academic qualifications and utilize skills-based assessments for hiring.
The Public Service has adopted a competency-based framework to guide recruitment, emphasizing the specification of skills and competencies in job advertisements.
There is no tracking of job postings that include or exclude formal academic requirements, as some specialized roles necessitate specific qualifications.
Recruiters are encouraged to evaluate candidates holistically, considering skills, competencies, and work experience, regardless of formal academic qualifications.

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4 Nov 2025

Collecting Sector-specific Data on Employee Stress, Burnout, Anxiety and Depression

Dr. Wan Rizal proposed that the Ministry for Manpower should establish a process to collect data on employee stress, burnout, anxiety, and depression by sector and occupation.
The Ministry of Manpower currently gathers insights on workplace mental health through anonymized data from the voluntary iWorkHealth tool.
Efforts are being made to encourage more employers to participate in iWorkHealth to enhance data collection.
The Ministry of Manpower is collaborating with the Ministry of Health to improve the collection and analysis of mental health data at sectoral and occupational levels.

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4 Nov 2025

Data on Employers who Voluntarily Adopt National Wages Council 2024/2025 Guidelines

Mr. Fadli Fawzi inquired about the tracking of employers adopting the National Wages Council 2024/2025 Guidelines, specifically regarding wage increases for lower-wage workers.
The Minister for Manpower, Tan See Leng, confirmed that the Ministry monitors this adoption through the Survey on Annual Wage Changes.
The adoption rate for the 2024/2025 Guidelines will be included in the Ministry's forthcoming annual report on wage practices for lower-wage employees.

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4 Nov 2025

Findings from Crane Incident at HDB Worksite in Sin Ming on 10 October 2025

The debate focused on a crane incident at an HDB worksite in Sin Ming on 10 October 2025, where a worker was injured by a falling crane boom during dismantling operations.
Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng stated that investigations are ongoing, and the Ministry cannot yet disclose the root cause of the incident.
Current regulations require that dismantling of mobile cranes be conducted by approved contractors and under proper supervision, with guidance available through safety codes of practice.
The Ministry of Manpower plans to review existing safety requirements based on the investigation's findings to enhance worker protection in similar operations.

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4 Nov 2025

Complaints of Employers Failing to Pay Workers Minimum Salaries Stipulated by Progressive Wage Model

The Ministry of Manpower received fewer than 20 validated complaints in the first half of 2025 regarding employers not paying minimum salaries under the Progressive Wage Model.
This number of complaints is similar to the same period in 2024, indicating a consistent trend.
The Ministry plans to enhance awareness of the Progressive Wage Model among employees and promote the use of the Progressive Wage Portal for wage verification.
Employees are encouraged to address discrepancies with their employers or seek assistance from the Ministry.

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4 Nov 2025

Unfair Contractual Terms in Career Conversion Programmes that Require Trainees to Pay Compensation for Termination

Miss Rachel Ong raised concerns about unfair contractual terms in Career Conversion Programmes, specifically regarding liquidated damages for employer-initiated terminations and the need for regulatory safeguards.
She proposed the establishment of clear guidelines on prohibited contractual terms, ensuring trainees are informed and have access to advice on the fairness of these terms.
Minister Tan See Leng affirmed the government's commitment to protecting trainees' interests and stated that companies must not recover more than their actual training costs, excluding government subsidies.
Companies engaging in unfair practices may face suspension from the Career Conversion Programmes, and trainees can seek assistance from unions or relevant government bodies if they encounter unreasonable clauses.

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4 Nov 2025

Support for Smaller Firms to Achieve Workplace Safety and Health Accreditation

Mr. Melvin Yong Yik Chye inquired about the number of SMEs benefiting from the WSH Advocate Programme and sought additional support for smaller firms to achieve WSH accreditation.
The Minister for Manpower, Tan See Leng, reported that 37 WSH Advocates have helped nearly 2,900 SMEs improve their safety capabilities through the programme.
The government employs a multi-faceted strategy to assist SMEs in obtaining WSH accreditation, including subsidized training programs and grants for adopting safety technology.
Initiatives like StartSAFE and partnerships with SME Centres are designed to help SMEs identify and manage workplace safety risks effectively.
The Ministry of Manpower will continue to promote these support measures and assess their impact on SMEs.

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4 Nov 2025

Professionalising Skilled Trades

The debate focused on the professionalisation of skilled trades, emphasizing the need for structured career pathways, formal training, and certifications to enhance recognition and support for tradespeople.
The Ministry of Manpower is collaborating with skilled trades associations to develop initiatives like apprenticeship programs aimed at skill development and career progression for tradespeople.
There are currently no specific wage growth targets set for the professionalisation initiative, but wages will be monitored to ensure they align with service quality.
Existing regulations require licensed tradespersons for certain tasks, and relevant agencies will enforce these regulations to ensure compliance.

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