Employment & labour

• The debate focused on the need to enhance the matching of training to industry skills and improve placement outcomes, particularly in light of rising unemployment among non-trainees.
• Ms. See Jinli Jean raised concerns about unemployed individuals lacking clarity on which skills to develop and questioned the government's strategies to promote skills-based hiring among employers.
• The Minister of State for Education, Ms. Gan Siow Huang, highlighted resources available through the Jobs-Skills Portal and career centers to assist individuals in identifying relevant skills and career options.
• The government is encouraging employers to adopt skills-based hiring practices to widen the talent pool and improve workforce development, supported by initiatives like Career Health SG.
• There is an acknowledgment of the need for better outreach to unemployed individuals and collaboration with various stakeholders to promote skills-first hiring across different sectors.

• Mr. Gan Thiam Poh raised a question about increasing training opportunities in artificial intelligence for Singaporean PMETs to enhance their skills and competitiveness.
• The Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information, Mr. Tan Kiat How, referenced previous parliamentary discussions on the government's training initiatives for workers in AI.
• The government plans to provide updates on its training efforts in AI during the upcoming MDDI Committee of Supply debate.

• Ms. Carrie Tan raised concerns about the impact of the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) on local micro businesses and inquired about tailored training programs and potential exemptions to alleviate their costs.
• The Senior Minister of State for Manpower, Mr. Zaqy Mohamad, acknowledged the challenges faced by businesses due to rising costs and highlighted government initiatives like the Workfare Skills Support and Progressive Wage Credit Scheme to support wage increases and training.
• Mr. Zaqy emphasized the importance of transforming business models and improving productivity, mentioning available grants and support for micro businesses to adapt to the PWM.
• Ms. Tan sought clarification on whether micro businesses were consulted in the design of training programs and requested an extension of credit subsidies to aid their transformation.
• Mr. Zaqy assured that the government engages with micro businesses through Industry Transformation Maps and offers various schemes to support their workforce and operational costs.

Gerald Giam Yean Song queried the Minister for Manpower about the investigation of inflated job titles used to avoid overtime payment, safeguards against this practice, studies on the impact of overtime non-compliance on worker burnout, and potential enforcement measures. Tan See Leng responded that misclassification for avoiding overtime is rare, with around 45 claims per year, of which 30% are validated. The Ministry conducts outreach and inspections to ensure compliance with employment laws, referring non-compliant employers for training or enforcement actions. Currently, no studies on the link between non-compliance and burnout have been conducted, but legislative safeguards exist to protect workers' well-being and manage fatigue.

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim questioned the Minister for Manpower about the proportion of full-time residents with only seven days of annual leave from the lowest wage group, the sectors where these workers are prevalent, and the percentage employed by larger companies. Minister Tan See Leng explained that the Employment Act mandates a minimum of seven days of annual leave for employees in their first year, increasing with tenure. In 2023, 18,800 full-time residents aged 25 to 64 received the minimum annual leave, representing about 1.1% of this demographic. Due to the small size of this group, detailed estimates by income, industry, and company revenue are not available.

Chua Kheng Wee Louis proposed that the Government consider requiring paid allowances for social work graduate interns or providing subsidies to social service agencies for this purpose. Masagos Zulkifli B M M stated that while higher education institutions recommend allowance ranges for internships, organizations have the discretion to set the amounts. The Ministry of Social and Family Development encourages social service agencies to provide allowances to interns to enhance their learning experience and develop a talent pipeline for the sector. Efforts will continue to improve support for students during internships.

Jean See inquired about the take-up and retention rates for work-study diplomas and degrees since 2021, as well as the possibility of increasing grant support for structured training costs. Chan Chun Sing reported a steady increase in enrolment for SkillsFuture Work-Study Programmes, with enrolment rising from 500 in 2021 to 1,300 in 2024 for diploma programmes, and from 300 in 2021 to 800 in 2023 for degree programmes. Approximately 70% of graduates from these programmes remain with the employers who trained them. Employers can receive grants of up to $15,000 for each eligible trainee, and the Ministry will continue to assess the effectiveness of these incentives.

Leong Mun Wai asked about the proportion of Yale-NUS College faculty hired before the closure announcement in 2021 who will take positions at the National University of Singapore. Chan Chun Sing responded that all faculty members from Yale-NUS hired before August 2021 were offered positions at NUS, with about 40% having accepted the offer so far, and the proportion may increase as some faculty members continue to evaluate their options.

Jean See inquired whether reduced fluency in mother tongue languages affects hiring and promotion opportunities for Singaporeans in overseas firms. Gan Kim Yong replied that there is no data linking mother tongue fluency to these opportunities, as hiring decisions depend on various factors, including relevant skills. The Ministry collaborates with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Manpower to ensure that education programs equip Singaporeans with market-ready skills. Additionally, the Ministry of Education provides support for learning mother tongue languages, and SkillsFuture Singapore offers language training programs for Singaporeans.

Jamus Lim questioned the Prime Minister on the job creation and tax revenue generated by the increase in family offices from 2020 to 2024. Gan Kim Yong responded, focusing on Single Family Offices (SFOs) with Monetary Authority of Singapore tax incentives, which must meet specific requirements. SFOs contribute to the growth of the asset management sector and related services, employing approximately 2,200 locals. Further details on job projections and fiscal contributions were not specified.

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked about the outcomes and status of retention schemes for Work Permit Holders in the construction, marine shipyard, and process sectors. Tan See Leng explained that the retention scheme introduced in September 2021 helped 842 workers find new employment but was discontinued in June 2022 after the pandemic due to sufficient existing measures for worker retention. Workers can transfer employers more easily now, either at contract end or with consent during employment. The government is also considering recommendations to review policies related to the employment duration and age of Work Permit holders to further support businesses in retaining skilled workers.

Gerald Giam Yean Song asked about the rationale behind limiting the ITE Progression Award (IPA) to graduates pursuing eligible diplomas from 2024, and how this aligns with lifelong learning and workforce development. Chan Chun Sing explained that the IPA addresses the wage gap between ITE graduates and diploma holders, providing financial support to encourage upskilling. Eligible graduates enrolled in diplomas as of March 2024 will still receive support, while those who graduated before 2024 have alternative schemes available for further upskilling. The IPA is part of broader government efforts to promote lifelong learning and enhance employability for ITE graduates.

Neil Parekh Nimil Rajnikant asked about the current status and effectiveness of the Overseas Networks and Expertise (ONE) Pass since its inception. The Minister for Manpower reported that approximately 3,000 ONE Passes were issued in 2024, with one-sixth being new entrants and the majority being from conversions of existing work passes. The top sectors for employment of ONE Pass holders include financial services, information and communications, and professional services, with ongoing efforts to engage global talent and enhance awareness of the program. Gerald Giam inquired about measures to assess skills transfer and economic impact of the ONE Pass, and the Minister indicated that while there are no formal requirements for reporting professional activities, the ministry aims to foster collaboration and mentorship opportunities for local professionals.

• Ms. See Jinli Jean inquired about the Ministry of Manpower's plans to track the impact of the Platform Workers Act on working hours and earnings of full-time ride-hail drivers and delivery workers.
• Minister Tan See Leng confirmed that the Ministry monitors median incomes of platform workers and publishes this data in the annual Labour Force report.
• The Ministry is collaborating with relevant agencies and platform work associations to assess the impact of the new Act.
• The Ministry does not specifically track daily average working hours due to the flexible nature of platform work but is open to considering suggestions for monitoring.

• Approximately 3,000 ONE Passes were issued in 2024, with about 16% being new entrants.
• The primary sectors employing ONE Pass holders include financial and insurance services, information and communication, and professional services.
• The conversion of existing Work Pass holders to ONE Pass is aimed at retaining talent in Singapore.
• The ONE Pass can be revoked for inactivity without justification or legal non-compliance, with only one revocation occurring to date due to a drink driving conviction.

• Mr. Patrick Tay Teck Guan inquired about the annual number of psychological or mental health injury claims under the Work Injury Compensation Act 2019 and their success rates.
• The Minister for Manpower, Tan See Leng, reported that from 2020 to 2024, there were 23 claims for mental disorders, averaging 4.6 claims per year.
• Out of the 23 claims, 12 were successful, six were rejected or withdrawn, and the remaining claims are still being processed.

• The Ministry for Social and Family Development is working towards a target of over 26,500 early childhood educators by 2025, having already increased the number from over 18,000 in 2018 to over 25,000 currently.
• The workforce in the early childhood education sector is growing at a healthy pace, with stable attrition rates reported.
• Strategies to improve recruitment and retention include raising salaries in government-supported preschools and implementing initiatives aimed at enhancing educators' well-being.

• Ms. See Jinli Jean proposed that the Ministry for Social and Family Development (MSF) adopt an integrated marketing approach to engage employers in inclusive hiring practices for persons with disabilities.
• The MSF, in collaboration with SG Enable, is committed to promoting inclusive hiring and providing support to employers through various programs and initiatives.
• Key initiatives include the Enabling Mark accreditation, the Open Door Programme for job matching and support, and wage offsets for employers hiring persons with disabilities.
• SG Enable plans to focus on six target sectors with potential for inclusive hiring and will identify champions to share best practices among employers.
• The overall goal is to establish inclusive hiring as a norm in Singapore and enhance employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.

• The debate focused on improving employment and further education rates for special education school graduates in Singapore.
• The Ministry of Education (MOE) supports students with special educational needs (SEN) through tailored transition plans and guidance from counselors and teachers.
• Approximately 7,000 students with SEN are currently enrolled in Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), with initiatives like the SG Enable IHL Internship Programme facilitating their transition to the workforce.
• MOE collaborates with SG Enable to enhance vocational education and provide employment support, including job redesign incentives for employers.
• There is a call for employers to adopt an inclusive mindset to better integrate young Singaporeans with SEN into the workforce.

• The unemployment rate of fresh polytechnic graduates has increased by five percentage points in 2024, attributed to various factors including economic conditions and sector-specific downturns, particularly in technology and engineering fields.
• Graduates are facing pressure to find fulfilling careers, which may lead to rejecting job offers due to concerns over work-life balance and salary expectations.
• The Ministry of Education plans to address these issues by ensuring polytechnic curricula remain relevant to industry needs and providing career guidance, including resume writing and interview skills training.
• There is a need for ongoing monitoring of employment trends and graduate outcomes, with a focus on aligning graduates' expectations with job market realities.
• The polytechnics will continue to collaborate with industry partners to enhance internship opportunities and equip students with in-demand skills.