Employment & labour

Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Manpower about collaboration with the Traffic Police to verify the work permit status of foreign delivery drivers during licence inspections, as well as data on illegal work permits for 2024. Tan See Leng responded that the Police refer cases of foreign drivers without valid work passes to the Ministry of Manpower for investigation. From January to December 2024, the Ministry received approximately 90 complaints regarding illegal foreign delivery drivers, leading to enforcement actions against 30 individuals, while the rest were found unsubstantiated.

Tan Wu Meng questioned the Minister for Education about reports of school bus attendants being required to use mobile apps for their duties without reimbursement for mobile phone costs or data usage. Shawn Huang Wei Zhong responded that the Ministry of Education has not mandated any school bus attendant to use mobile applications but offered a voluntary trial of a web-based attendance app to school bus drivers and attendants. The Ministry acknowledges that operators may have their preferred attendance methods and considerations regarding mobile phone costs.

• The Budget 2025 aims to support all Singaporeans amid rising costs of living and economic uncertainties, while emphasizing the importance of long-term growth and resilience.
• The government plans to enhance social safety nets for vulnerable groups, including lower-wage workers, seniors, and persons with disabilities, through initiatives like the Workfare Income Supplement and enhanced CDC Vouchers.
• There is a call for improving job security and conditions for workers, focusing on upskilling and transitioning support for mid-career professionals and those facing job disruptions.
• The emphasis is also on fostering partnerships between businesses, unions, and the government to ensure fair job opportunities and facilitate transition to sectors in need of talent, such as technology and sustainability.
• Discussions around the need for structural reforms to address income inequality and rising costs for average citizens were highlighted, advocating for policies that uplift the middle class and provide fair access to opportunities.

• An average of 338 work-related musculoskeletal disorders have been reported annually from 2020 to the first half of 2024, primarily consisting of back injuries (91%).
• Most disorders are caused by acute conditions, while some result from prolonged ergonomic issues, with reporting responsibilities divided among employers and medical practitioners.
• The Ministry of Manpower is implementing interventions to protect vulnerable groups, including seniors and persons with disabilities, by promoting ergonomic practices and providing training.
• Employers are encouraged to adopt ergonomic solutions and technologies to mitigate risks, with support available through guidelines, training programs, and grants for healthier workplace practices.

• The number of participants in the ITE Work-Study Diploma programme has increased significantly from about 100 in 2018 to approximately 1,300 in 2024.
• The termination rate for WSDip trainees is low, averaging around 5%, with reasons primarily related to misconduct or poor performance.
• Trainees who believe they were wrongfully dismissed can file claims, and ITE mediates between employers and trainees before termination.
• ITE assists terminated trainees in finding new employment with other participating companies, with about 30% successfully securing new positions.
• Trainees unable to find alternative employment must withdraw from the programme.

• Singapore's partnership with Coldplay for the music video "Man In The Moon" is part of a strategy by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to enhance the country's global appeal as a tourist destination.
• The collaboration has generated significant online engagement, with over 12 million views and substantial social media interactions shortly after the video's release.
• The project provided job opportunities for over 100 local talents, facilitating skill transfer and development within the local production industry.
• STB plans to pursue more collaborations with international artists to further promote Singapore as a vibrant location for creative projects.

• Louis Ng Kok Kwang proposed that the Government consider reimbursing Government-Paid Paternity Leave based on the average gross monthly salary prior to the leave.
• He also suggested including certain incentive payments and allowances in the reimbursement calculation, which are currently excluded.
• Indranee Rajah, speaking for the Prime Minister, explained that the Government-Paid Paternity Leave is designed to provide income support to working parents during their leave.
• The reimbursement is based on the gross rate of pay, which does not include variable components like overtime, incentive payments, or allowances for specific expenses.
• The Government sees no need to adjust the reimbursement calculation based on prior months' salary averages.

• Dennis Tan Lip Fong inquired about the comparison of nurses' salaries and benefits in Singapore with those in countries like Australia, as well as studies on factors influencing nurses' departure from Singapore.
• Minister Ong Ye Kung responded that nurses in Singapore earn comparable salaries to those in Australia and New Zealand after tax adjustments, and highlighted upcoming salary enhancements and a new retention scheme for nurses.
• Ong noted that the reasons for nurses leaving Singapore are varied and not solely related to salary, with a focus on personal considerations, and emphasized the importance of training opportunities and societal respect for the nursing profession.
• The attrition rate for nurses in Singapore has returned to single digits, indicating a stable workforce.

• The Budget 2025 debate highlighted significant government initiatives aimed at addressing the rising cost of living, with various vouchers and support schemes introduced to assist families, particularly those with children and seniors.
• Concerns were raised about the effectiveness of these measures, with some parliamentarians arguing that ad hoc financial assistance does not address the structural economic issues facing Singaporeans, such as stagnant wages and high living costs.
• The debate also focused on the need for long-term strategies to enhance job security and economic resilience, particularly in light of technological disruptions and an ageing population.
• Several speakers emphasized the importance of fiscal prudence and questioned the necessity of recent tax increases, given the government's projected budget surpluses.
• There was a call for a more inclusive approach to policy-making, with suggestions for better tracking of social outcomes and the establishment of a dashboard to measure the effectiveness of government initiatives in improving the quality of life for all Singaporeans.

• The Ministry of Transport is prioritizing the safety of workers transported on lorries and is actively seeking stakeholder feedback to improve safety measures and consider a potential ban on this practice.
• The government is implementing a multi-pronged approach, including reducing the need for lorry transport by co-locating worker dormitories and encouraging the use of buses instead of lorries.
• While some stakeholders suggest banning lorry transport, the government argues that this is impractical for many small and medium enterprises due to operational challenges and a shortage of bus drivers.
• Recent safety measures include requirements for dual-role drivers, vehicle buddies, and mandatory rain covers for lorries, which took effect on January 1, 2023.
• The government is committed to ongoing collaboration with NGOs and industry associations to enhance worker safety while balancing the operational needs of businesses.

• Ms. See Jinli Jean urged the Minister for Manpower to consider making workforce training outcomes a requirement for business grants managed by government agencies to help workers adapt to technological changes.
• Minister Tan See Leng responded that government grants already require businesses to commit to specific workforce outcomes, particularly for those linked to workforce transformation.
• Examples of grants that require commitments to worker outcomes include the Company Training Committee Grant and Enterprise Singapore’s Enterprise Development Grant, which focus on aspects like wage increments and training for existing staff.

• Ms. See Jinli Jean inquired about the training participation rates and employer-sponsored training data across different industries and company sizes in Singapore.
• Minister Tan See Leng provided statistics on the proportion of employed resident trainees receiving employer-sponsored training and shared median and average training days for various worker categories.
• The data includes own account workers, small enterprises, medium enterprises, and large enterprises, but further breakdown by industry was not possible due to insufficient observations.

• Louis Ng Kok Kwang inquired about the number of food-related complaints received through the Forward Assurance and Support Team and the FWMOMCare mobile app over the past five years.
• The Ministry of Manpower began tracking food-related complaints in 2022, averaging 35 complaints per year through various channels.
• Most complaints were resolved through engagement without further investigation, with only one case resulting in a warning and no prosecutions under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.
• Complaints related to food safety and hygiene are referred to the Singapore Food Agency for further investigation.

• Patrick Tay Teck Guan inquired about the workforce size and demographics of caregivers providing services through online platforms, as well as their income statistics.
• The Minister for Manpower, Tan See Leng, reported that fewer than 1,000 freelance personal care workers are expected in 2024, out of approximately 201,000 total own account workers.
• The survey indicated that these freelance caregivers typically do not utilize online matching platforms, with no reported usage in 2024.

• Patrick Tay Teck Guan inquired about the number of Singaporean workers engaging in part-time jobs alongside full-time employment from 2020 to 2024 and whether the Ministry for Manpower tracks this data.
• Minister Tan See Leng provided statistics showing that the number of full-time employed residents with multiple jobs was 48,900 in 2020, peaking at 60,000 in 2021, and fluctuating in subsequent years.
• In 2024, 56,000 full-time employed residents held multiple jobs, representing 2.7% of the total full-time employed population.

• Over 1,500 ex-offenders have benefited from the Uplifting Employment Credit (UEC) since its implementation in April 2023.
• The projected target of 3,000 beneficiaries annually is based on initial data and not a fixed target, as actual numbers depend on yearly inmate releases.
• The Ministry of Manpower plans to continue raising awareness of the UEC through Yellow Ribbon Singapore.
• Further details regarding the future of the UEC will be provided during the Budget and Committee of Supply 2025 discussions.

• Louis Ng Kok Kwang inquired about the annual median and average monthly income of single unwed parents in different age groups for 2023.
• The Minister for Social and Family Development, Masagos Zulkifli, reported that the average monthly income for working citizen mothers with non-marital births was $2,500 for those below 35 years and $8,000 for those aged 35 and above.
• The median income was $1,000 for those below 35 years and $5,400 for those aged 35 and above, with lower incomes for younger parents attributed to part-time work or limited employment.
• Wage data for the specific age group of 35 to 36 years was not provided due to a small population size.

• There has been a net increase of 746 food and beverage (F&B) businesses from 2022 to 2023, indicating growth in the sector despite some closures.
• The median income for full-time employed residents in the F&B sector rose by 4.6% during the same period, reflecting positive wage progression.
• The Progressive Wage Model (PWM) was introduced in March 2023 to enhance local wages through skills development and productivity improvements.
• Companies in the F&B sector are now required to provide mandatory training under the Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) framework to support worker skill development.
• There is a call for a sectoral skills accreditation framework to help workers advance in their careers and wages amidst industry churn.

• Mr. Liang Eng Hwa raised concerns about the trend of fresh graduates being employed in contract jobs instead of permanent positions.
• He inquired whether the Ministry of Education tracks the number of fresh graduates in contract roles and if there is a growing trend in this area.
• Minister Chan Chun Sing responded that the Graduate Employment Survey does not specifically track contract employment for fresh graduates, as it classifies contracts of one year or more as permanent employment.
• He noted that from 2018 to 2023, approximately 80% of employed fresh graduates secured full-time permanent jobs.

• Ms. Carrie Tan proposed the development of transformation and funding schemes for neighbourhood shops to create employment opportunities for persons with special needs and disabilities.
• The Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Mr. Eric Chua, highlighted existing government support for inclusive hiring through programs like the Open Door Programme and the Inclusive Business Programme, which offer job matching and financial incentives for businesses.
• Ms. Tan emphasized the potential of the 712 minimarts under HDB leases to provide local employment for persons with disabilities and requested a more systematic approach to facilitate this.
• Mr. Chua acknowledged the need for a coordinated plan to promote inclusive employment and expressed willingness to explore scaling up current initiatives with local businesses and community associations.