Employment & labour

He Ting Ru asked the Prime Minister about the proportion of the 30% increase in non-resident population expected from 2021 to 2025 that is temporary and the reasons behind the increase. Gan Kim Yong responded that Work Permit Holders (WPHs) constitute 60% of this increase, primarily from the construction sector for public housing and infrastructure projects. Additionally, there is a notable rise in migrant domestic workers to meet increased caregiving demands. The increase is partly due to post-COVID-19 recovery, with easing travel restrictions leading to a return of economic activity and a need to fill positions that were vacant during the pandemic.

Poh Li San raised a question about measures to support caregivers, particularly frontline workers, in taking time off for medical appointments with their parents. Tan See Leng responded that flexible work arrangements (FWAs) are available to assist all employees, including frontline workers, with caregiving responsibilities. The government and tripartite partners introduced the Tripartite Guidelines on FWA Requests to help employees request FWAs formally while considering business grounds. Additionally, employees can utilize statutory annual leave or voluntary employer provisions like caregiver leave to meet their needs.

Pritam Singh asked the Minister for Manpower about the oversight of developing industry-wide principles regarding payment and incentive schemes between Platform Operators and Platform Worker Associations. Tan See Leng responded that the Platform Workers Trilateral Group supports bilateral discussions between platform work associations and platform operators due to the uniqueness of each operator's business model. The National Trades Union Congress, platform work associations, and major platform operators have established a set of three industry-wide principles for payment and incentive schemes, which were announced on 11 September 2025, focusing on fair earnings and visibility of changes.

He Ting Ru questioned the Minister for Manpower about surveys on why Singaporeans and permanent residents hire foreign domestic workers, future demand projections for these workers, and the possibility of releasing survey findings. Tan See Leng responded that the Ministry of Manpower conducts periodic surveys on Migrant Domestic Workers and their employers, with the most recent one in 2021, and the findings are available on their website. There is an increasing demand for domestic workers to care for seniors due to the ageing population, and the government will continue to monitor trends and adjust policies as necessary.

Yeo Wan Ling asked the Minister for Manpower about the proportions of resident and non-resident workers performing shift work, the top sectors for shift work, and average rest hours for those sectors. Tan See Leng reported that 9.4% of full-time employees were on shift work in 2022, with a decline to 6.5% in 2024, noting that 2023 data is not available and specific data on residency and rest hours do not exist. The top five sectors with the highest shift work proportions in 2024 are accommodation, petroleum, chemical and pharmaceutical products, electronic products, air transport and supporting services, and security and investigation.

Gho Sze Kee raised concerns about job market uncertainties and challenges for recent graduates, asking if the foreign manpower mix would be reviewed to improve local opportunities, especially for entry and mid-level PMET positions. Minister Tan See Leng affirmed that the Ministry of Manpower regularly reviews foreign workforce policies to ensure they complement the local workforce and provide job access for Singaporeans. Updates include adjustments to Employment Pass and S Pass salaries to match local wage growth, while balancing talent access for businesses to maintain competitiveness. The Ministry will continue to invest in the local workforce and assess policies holistically to adapt to market conditions.

Mariam Jaafar asked the Minister for Manpower about the employment status of CPF members aged 65 to 67 and the possibility of raising the Dependants' Protection Scheme (DPS) age limit beyond 65 years. The Minister reported that 33% of CPF members in this age group are employed and stated that the government is reviewing the DPS for relevance and sustainability. While there are concerns regarding potential premium increases if the age limit is raised, the Minister indicated openness to considerations based on actuarial studies and the growing workforce of seniors. Jaafar also inquired about why some members fail to pay premiums, with the Minister noting that many lapsed members are older and no longer working, and suggested exploring targeted support options for them.

Dr. Hamid Razak asked the Minister for Manpower about the number of migrant domestic workers (MDWs) in Singapore seeking treatment for mental health issues and any legal challenges they face in doing so from 2021 to 2025. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary reported that fewer than 20 MDWs sought such assistance annually between 2022 and 2024, and no legal issues were encountered during this process. MDWs' access to medical treatment, including mental health, is protected under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, which mandates employer coverage of medical expenses. Hamid Razak expressed concerns regarding feedback about MDWs citing mental health issues for secondary employment and suggested that mental health assessments be considered as part of pre-employment evaluations in the future, to which Shawn Huang responded that MDWs are currently required to declare any mental health conditions during pre-employment medical exams.

Yeo Wan Ling and Ang Wei Neng raised concerns about safeguarding the livelihoods of Singaporean taxi and private hire drivers in light of potential increases in cross-border taxi services from Malaysia. Sun Xueling addressed the ongoing illegal point-to-point (P2P) services and outlined the Land Transport Authority’s enforcement efforts against such activities while exploring enhancements to the Cross Border Taxi Scheme for greater convenience. The Ministry of Transport is considering using technology to ensure fair competition and to track cross-border vehicles effectively, and they aim to consult with industry associations to establish reasonable fare structures. There are plans for more designated drop-off points on both sides, but measures will be implemented to prevent illegal services and fare undercutting between licensed vehicles. Additionally, the Ministry is exploring ways to crack down on illegal services offered through apps and chat groups.

• The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is enhancing measures for the early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of Occupational Diseases (ODs).
• The number of workplaces under the proactive health surveillance program will increase from 1,200 in 2020 to 3,500 by 2025.
• Updated guidelines for the diagnosis and management of ODs will provide better support for healthcare professionals.
• All occupational infectious diseases and work-related musculoskeletal disorders will be classified as reportable and compensable ODs starting December 2025.
• MOM is collaborating with various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health and industry partners, to improve OD management.

• The Minister for Manpower reported that 72.5% of private companies now offer at least one type of flexible work arrangement (FWA) for employees, an increase from 68.0% in 2023.
• The government has introduced the Tripartite Guidelines on FWA Requests to facilitate the process for employees to request flexible work arrangements.
• Employers are legally required to provide paid maternity, paternity, childcare leave, and some offer additional voluntary caregiving leave, with 36.1% providing paid family care leave and 34.0% offering paid child sick leave.
• The government encourages discussions between employers and employees regarding caregiving-related leave and FWAs, rather than establishing a formal recognition system for primary caregivers.
• Ongoing reviews of support for caregivers in the workplace will continue to ensure their needs are met.

• The Minister for Manpower outlined that all first-time migrant domestic workers (MDWs) must complete a Settling-In Programme (SIP) that includes safety training for high-risk tasks before starting work.
• The SIP training is conducted in the MDWs' native languages and is regularly updated, with the latest review occurring in May 2025.
• New employers of MDWs are required to attend an Employers' Orientation Programme that highlights their responsibilities for ensuring a safe work environment.
• Employers must sign a safety agreement with MDWs, committing to comply with safety regulations, particularly regarding cleaning high-rise windows.
• Employment agencies also provide pre-employment training for MDWs on safety practices related to common household tasks.

• Elysa Chen inquired about government support for stay-at-home mothers regarding retirement adequacy and workforce reintegration.
• Minister Tan See Leng highlighted existing initiatives like the HerCareer program and Career Conversion Programmes to assist stay-at-home mothers in returning to work.
• The government offers measures to enhance retirement savings for stay-at-home mothers, including the Matched Retirement Savings Scheme and Silver Support Scheme.
• Ongoing reviews of support measures for caregivers, including stay-at-home mothers, will be conducted to ensure their needs are met throughout life stages.

• Dr. Choo Pei Ling inquired about measures to enhance worker transport safety in light of vehicle-related workplace deaths.
• Minister Tan See Leng highlighted that work-related vehicular incidents include both public road accidents and workplace accidents involving vehicles.
• Employers are mandated by the Workplace Safety and Health Act to ensure vehicle safety, with guidelines provided by the WSH Council for traffic management and vehicle operation.
• The Ministry of Manpower promotes the use of technology, such as cameras and sensors, to prevent vehicular incidents and offers funding support for SMEs to adopt these solutions.
• The Ministry of Transport is also involved in improving worker transportation safety through strategies that reduce the need for transport and promote safer alternatives.

• Patrick Tay questioned the Minister for Manpower about the current 75th percentile gross monthly income for full-time employed residents and proposed raising the Jobseeker Support Scheme's income ceiling to better support involuntarily unemployed Singaporeans.
• The Minister, Tan See Leng, stated that in 2024, the 75th percentile gross monthly income is approximately $8,100 excluding employer CPF contributions and $9,300 including them.
• The Jobseeker Support Scheme currently targets individuals who earned up to $5,000 gross monthly income, which is slightly above the median income of $4,900.
• The Ministry of Manpower plans to review the scheme's effectiveness and consider extending support to higher-earning individuals in the future.

• The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) provides lump-sum compensation of up to $225,000 to the next of kin of workers who die from work-related incidents under the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA), with plans to increase this limit to $269,000 in November 2025.
• Employers who do not comply with WICA compensation requirements can face fines or imprisonment, and the MOM offers assistance through the Workers' Fund if employers are unable to provide compensation.
• Families of workplace death victims can access various support services, including financial assistance, legal advice, and psychological support, depending on their specific needs and circumstances.

• Dr. Wan Rizal inquired about the safety incidents involving migrant domestic workers (MDWs), enforcement actions against employers or agencies, and insurance claim statistics over the past five years.
• The Minister for Manpower, Tan See Leng, reported an average of 35 safety incidents per year from 2020 to 2024, including falls and unsafe practices, with enforcement actions taken against all involved employers and three agencies for non-compliance.
• Mandatory orientation programs for first-time employers and MDWs cover essential safety practices, including training on safe window cleaning and fall prevention.
• Employment agencies are required to explain safety requirements and ensure safety agreements are signed before MDWs are deployed.
• The Ministry of Manpower does not track insurance claim statistics or average payouts for MDWs.

• Teachers in Singapore have reported an average of 53 working hours per week over the past five years, with approximately 14 hours dedicated to classroom instruction.
• The remaining hours are spent on essential activities such as lesson preparation, co-curricular activities, and professional development.
• The Ministry of Education has implemented initiatives to reduce administrative workload, including the use of technology and dedicated administrative staff in schools.
• Administrative work for teachers has decreased from five hours per week in 2021 to four hours per week currently.
• The Ministry plans to continue streamlining processes and utilizing technology, including artificial intelligence, to further assist teachers in managing their workload.

• Patrick Tay raised concerns about the need to improve the staff-to-children ratio in MOE-run kindergartens and government-supported preschools to better support educators and parents.
• Masagos Zulkifli emphasized that current staff-to-children ratios are minimum requirements aimed at ensuring children's safety and well-being, and many institutions operate with more staff than required.
• The Ministry of Social and Family Development is implementing various measures to enhance the well-being of early childhood educators, including changes to operational requirements and professional development opportunities.
• Initiatives such as designating holidays for educators and appointing relief staff are part of efforts to improve working conditions and support educators' personal and professional needs.

• Mr. Darryl David inquired about the last salary review for allied health professionals, key findings, and follow-up actions taken by the government.
• Minister Ong Ye Kung confirmed that the last salary review for allied health professionals was implemented in July 2025, resulting in salary increases of up to 7%.
• The Ministry of Health will regularly monitor the remuneration packages of healthcare workers to maintain market competitiveness.