Employment & labour

• Police are investigating the migrant workers and their employers for organizing and participating in unlawful public assemblies under the Public Order Act 2009.
• The Ministry of Manpower confirmed that the workers were not owed salaries and had no wellbeing concerns.
• MOM is also investigating the employer for illegally deploying workers and abetting illegal acts under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, with appropriate actions to follow if warranted.

• Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim proposed broadening tax relief for Parent Relief and Parent Relief (Disability) to include dependants above 50 years old or with annual income not exceeding $5,000 to encourage seniors to stay active in the workforce.
• Lawrence Wong explained that Parent Relief aims to promote filial piety and support taxpayers caring for parents, grandparents, and in-laws, noting that Budget 2024 increased the income threshold for such reliefs from $4,000 to $8,000 starting in the 2025 Year of Assessment.
• Wong highlighted other government schemes supporting senior employment, including the Senior Employment Credit, Part-Time Re-Employment Grant, SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme, and Career Conversion Programmes.

• The Government recognizes the growing importance of flexible work arrangements in supporting an ageing population, working caregivers, and workforce participation, while also noting environmental benefits from reduced commuting.
• The Public Service is committed to implementing flexible work arrangements, with agencies expected to have procedures in place by year-end to review formal requests in line with tripartite guidelines.
• The Government has not mentioned conducting specific cost-benefit studies on working from home, but emphasizes that flexible work has not hindered the Public Service's ability to deliver effective outcomes as shown in recent reviews.

• Hany Soh questioned the Ministry for Manpower about reports of irresponsible and unfair retrenchment and the support for affected employees.
• Tan See Leng stated that TAFEP received a few complaints about retrenchment practices but found no evidence of irresponsible or unfair retrenchment after engaging employers.
• The Ministry highlighted its comprehensive support ecosystem for retrenched workers, including skills development, employment facilitation, career coaching, and the upcoming SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support Scheme.

• Patrick Tay asked if the Ministry of Manpower checks salary ranges on the MyCareersFuture portal for accuracy.
• The Ministry does not conduct checks on salary ranges for job advertisements on MyCareersFuture or other portals.
• Companies have the flexibility to set their own salary ranges for job listings.
• Hirers are responsible for providing fair and accurate job descriptions and salary information.

• Sylvia Lim asked the Minister for Manpower about the status of the anti-discrimination legislation announced at the National Day Rally 2021.
• The Minister for Manpower, Tan See Leng, responded that the Workplace Fairness Bill will be tabled in Parliament this month.
• The debate highlighted the government's commitment to introducing legislation to address workplace discrimination.
• The exchange confirmed that the legislative process is moving forward as planned since the initial announcement.
• The focus remains on ensuring fair treatment in the workplace through new legal measures.

• The government has implemented various reskilling programmes for mid-career workers, including the Career Conversion Programmes, Mid-Career Pathways Programme, and SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme, which have supported thousands of individuals with positive employment and salary outcomes.
• Enhancements have been made to these programmes, such as expanding eligibility and increasing salary support, and new initiatives like the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme will provide temporary financial aid to displaced workers.
• To address AI and automation impacts, the government launched Jobs Transformation Maps to guide workers on emerging opportunities, with plans to introduce new maps including one on generative AI in finance, while encouraging workers and employers to actively participate in reskilling and job redesign.

• Melvin Yong inquired how the Early Childhood Development Agency would prevent wage reductions for educators following the removal of mandatory Saturday services starting January 2025.
• Masagos Zulkifli emphasized that transitioning to a five-day work week aims to enhance educators' well-being and career sustainability without compromising their wages.
• The minister clarified that educators' monthly working hours and wages must stay as per current contracts unless both parties mutually agree to changes.
• The debate highlighted the importance of maintaining fair compensation while improving work conditions for early childhood educators.
• Both speakers acknowledged the need to balance policy changes with the financial security of educators.

• Patrick Tay urged the implementation of the “3Ps” framework—Prevent, Protect, and Partner—to create respectful workplaces for educators, advocating for clear communication protocols, stronger punitive measures against harassment, and enhanced partnerships with parents and unions.
• The Ministry of State for Education acknowledged the challenges faced by teachers and affirmed commitments to support their well-being, including enforcing zero-tolerance policies against harassment and providing resources like counselling and parent-teacher guidelines.
• Both speakers emphasized the critical role of school leadership and tripartite efforts, including unions, in fostering a supportive environment, and highlighted the need to recognize and address the emotional labor and gendered aspects of teaching.

Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked about the impact of the raised minimum salary threshold of $22,500 on the number of Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) holders. Tan See Leng confirmed that PEP applications approved in the past 12 months have dropped by approximately 50%, from over 3,200 to 1,400 following the threshold increase.

Leong Mun Wai asked about recourse for workers facing employment discrimination due to tattoos under the Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices. Tan See Leng confirmed that affected workers can seek advice and assistance from the Tripartite Alliance. Employers must adhere to fair employment practices, hiring based on merit, but can consider genuine occupational requirements affecting job performance related to tattoos.

Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked about the percentage and number of Diploma in Nursing graduates from 2019 to 2024 who do not register as nurses, considering those enlisting for National Service or furthering their studies. Ong Ye Kung responded that the Singapore Nursing Board does not track data on graduates from Institutes of Higher Learning who do not register as nurses. However, the 2022 Graduate Employment Survey indicated that around 90% of nursing graduates who were in full-time permanent employment within six months of graduation were practicing nursing.

Yip Hon Weng asked about the growth potential of the Single Family Office (SFO) sector in Singapore and the strategies in place to equip the local workforce with necessary skills. Gan Kim Yong responded that the SFO sector is expected to grow, attributing Singapore's reputation in asset management. Collaborations between several organizations have led to the development of skills maps and over 60 relevant training courses to meet the talent needs of the sector. As of December 31, 2023, more than 1,700 locals were employed by SFOs benefiting from tax incentives, and SFOs also support local service providers in various ancillary services.

Christopher de Souza asked about support measures for pharmacists and allied healthcare workers due to the industry's demanding nature. Ong Ye Kung reported a 20% increase in registered pharmacists and a 25% increase in allied healthcare professionals from 2019 to 2023. Efforts are being made to innovate and streamline processes, including the National Central Fill Pharmacy system that redesigns supply chain roles. The National One-Rehab Framework has been developed for better care delivery and rehabilitation outcomes. The Ministry will also focus on enhancing career attractiveness and opportunities for professional development in the healthcare sector.

Lim Biow Chuan asked the Minister for Manpower about tracking the number of graduates unable to find jobs within six months of graduation and about job opportunity trends for new graduates over the past three years. The Minister of State for Manpower, Gan Siow Huang, stated that the employment rate for fresh graduates has remained high and stable, with approximately 90% employed within six months, similar to pre-COVID-19 levels. Lim requested absolute figures for graduates not finding jobs, but Gan explained that the percentage of unemployed graduates has consistently been around 10% over the last three years. She also noted that while specific job role statistics for fresh graduates aren't available, the job vacancy to unemployed persons ratio remains stable, suggesting continued job availability for new graduates.

Melvin Yong Yik Chye raised concerns about workplace safety measures related to erratic weather conditions affecting outdoor workers and sought details on compliance and management strategies from the Ministry of Manpower. The Senior Minister of State for Manpower, Zaqy Mohamad, explained that the Ministry focuses on providing guidelines for risk assessments during various weather conditions but does not impose strict stop-work orders due to the diverse nature of worksite situations. Training and advisory materials regarding adverse weather are issued to employers, who are responsible for implementing safety measures tailored to their specific conditions. Both Melvin Yong and Joan Pereira proposed enhancing industry-specific best practices and feedback mechanisms for foreign workers to improve safety in adverse weather.

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Health about schemes to encourage administrative and support healthcare workers to build careers in the public sector. The Minister of State for Health, Rahayu Mahzam, explained that the Ministry is actively working to retain staff by offering competitive salaries, career development, and safe working environments, and has introduced new roles like Care Support Associate and Patient Service Associate. Ng suggested extending the ANGEL programme, a financial retention scheme for nurses, to administrative staff, but Mahzam stated that different healthcare roles require tailored approaches and that the needs of all healthcare workers are considered in their retention strategies. The Ministry will continue to review salaries and seek various methods to attract and retain healthcare workers, ensuring they have career progression opportunities.

Jamus Lim requested data on the percentage of Singapore residents earning over $12,500 working in foreign-owned firms from 2019 to 2024, as well as a sectoral breakdown of these figures. Tan See Leng responded that approximately 60% of residents earning above $12,500 are employed by foreign-owned firms. The majority, about 88%, work in the Services sector, with Financial and Insurance Services at 30%, Wholesale and Retail Trade at 18%, and Professional Services at 17%, maintaining stable proportions since 2019.

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked about the ability of workers on Special Passes to hold Singpass accounts and access the Ministry of Manpower's eServices portal for checking claims. Tan See Leng responded that migrant workers with Special Passes can access Singpass accounts and use the EmPOWER platform for tracking salary and work injury claims. However, stateless persons with Special Passes do not have Singpass accounts. Workers without Singpass accounts can seek assistance from their case officers.

Gerald Giam Yean Song raised questions about the employment of persons with disabilities in the public and private sectors, including their hiring ratios and best practices among public agencies. Masagos Zulkifli B M M responded that, as of December 2023, the ratio of persons with disabilities is approximately one in 420 for public officers and one in 240 for private sector employees, with comparisons being difficult due to differing job types. Seven public agencies have achieved the Enabling Mark for inclusive hiring practices since 2019, and SG Enable is facilitating sharing of best practices through networking sessions. The Open Door Programme supports both public and private sector employers in hiring and accommodating persons with disabilities, offering job redesign assistance and grants for training workshops.