Employment & labour — Topics

7 May 2024

Extending Award for Nurses' Grace, Excellence and Loyalty Scheme to Encourage Retention of Nurses

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked if the ANGEL scheme, which aims to retain nurses in public healthcare, could be extended to nurses in private hospitals.
The Ministry of Health has no plans to extend the scheme to the private sector, as it is specifically designed for public and publicly-funded healthcare institutions.
Private hospitals are encouraged to create their own self-funded retention schemes, as they operate on commercial principles and have their own remuneration practices.

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7 May 2024

Progress of Work by National Wellness Committee for Junior Doctors

Louis Ng asked whether the National Wellness Committee for Junior Doctors has finalized recommendations, what they are, and if any have been implemented.
The committee has finalized recommendations including clearer work hour guidelines, enhanced career guidance, and a safer, more supportive environment for junior doctors.
Recommendations are being progressively implemented, with Chief Wellness Officers appointed and career pathways expanded.
Pilots to improve junior doctors' work hours have been successful and will be rolled out to more departments.

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7 May 2024

False Declarations of Addresses for Migrant Workers

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Manpower about reports of false address declarations by migrant workers, inspection frequency and timelines, and penalties imposed on employers and employees.
The Foreign Worker Tenant Enquiry Service (FWTES) was introduced in 2018, and complaints about misused addresses have dropped from an average of 730 per year (2019–2021) to 130 per year (2022–2023).
Annually, around 1,140 migrant workers and 480 employers receive warnings, while about 70 employers are fined or prosecuted for false address declarations or failing to update addresses, with some facing work pass revocation, employment bans, or debarment from hiring migrant workers.

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7 May 2024

Ensuring Compliance with Enhanced Measures to Protect Workers from Risk of Heat Stress

The Ministry of Manpower conducts targeted inspections of high-risk workplaces and has found three employers breaching the mandatory 10-minute rest break rule, issuing fines and requiring compliance.
Employers are required to implement on-site measures such as rescheduling work, providing shade, ensuring hydration, and training workers to recognize heat stress symptoms.
MOM and the Workplace Safety and Health Council recommend using technologies like WBGT meters, real-time monitors, and wearables to improve compliance and protect workers from heat stress.

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7 May 2024

Companies with More Than 30% of Foreign PMETs and Those with More Than 20% of PMETs of a Single Foreign Nationality

Leong Mun Wai asked for the annual percentage of companies with over 30% foreign PMETs and over 20% of PMETs from a single foreign nationality since 2014.
Tan See Leng explained that statistics distinguish small firms (fewer than 25 PMETs) from larger firms due to fluctuations in small firms, with most EP holders in larger firms.
Over the past decade, about 20% of larger firms had over 30% foreign PMETs, while about 10% had over 20% of PMETs from a single foreign nationality.
For small firms, averages were 20% for high foreign PMET share and 20% for single-nationality dominance, with 2023 figures rising to 28% and 30% respectively.
The Ministry of Manpower introduced a points-based assessment framework to ensure workforce diversity and will continue monitoring and adjusting policies.

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7 May 2024

Rise in Resident Employment Attributable to Non-residents Becoming Residents

Leong Mun Wai inquired about the percentage of the 2023 resident employment increase attributable to non-residents becoming residents and why such data is not collected.
Tan See Leng criticized the question as unproductive and detrimental to social cohesion, noting the topic had been previously debated.
The Ministry of Manpower does not collect data on the prior residency status of workers in employment change calculations, as the source data from CPF administrative records lacks this information.
The ministry directs the public to its published labour market statistics for broader insights into resident employment outcomes, including employment and unemployment rates and wage growth.

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7 May 2024

Monitoring Adoption of Flexible Work Arrangement Guidelines by Healthcare Institutions

The Ministry of Health acknowledges that while flexible work arrangements (FWAs) are more challenging in roster-based healthcare roles due to patient care continuity, part-time or fixed shift requests are considered sympathetically based on organizational and patient needs.
For office-based healthcare roles, there is greater flexibility, and the Ministry appreciates the value of FWAs in contingency planning, as seen during the COVID-19 response.
The Ministry supports FWAs by considering staff requests objectively, but specific measures for tracking effectiveness, overcoming manpower limits, and incentivizing alternative solutions like job-sharing are not detailed in the response.

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7 May 2024

Complaints Received on Indirect Discrimination and Denial of Reasonable Accommodations at Workplaces

Mr Chong Kee Hiong asked about the number of complaints on indirect discrimination and denial of reasonable accommodations received by the Ministry for Manpower over the last five years and whether these would be included in discrimination legislation.
Minister Tan See Leng reported that TAFEP received eight complaints of indirect discrimination from 2019 to 2023, representing about 0.5% of total discrimination complaints, and no complaints on denial of reasonable accommodations.
The Tripartite Committee on Workplace Fairness recommended against including indirect discrimination and reasonable accommodations in legislation due to potential wide legal obligations, uncertainty, and litigation risks.
Protections will remain through the Workplace Fairness Legislation working with Tripartite Guidelines, and an advisory on reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be released by tripartite partners.
Employees facing such issues can approach TAFEP for advice and assistance.

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7 May 2024

Supporting Breastfeeding Mothers at Workplaces

Mr. Louis Ng highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by breastfeeding mothers at work, such as inadequate lactation rooms and discriminatory remarks, and proposed amending the Code on Accessibility to require one lactation room per 2,500 square meters and mandating essential facilities in these rooms.
The Government, represented by Minister Indranee Rajah, acknowledged the need for better workplace support for breastfeeding mothers and confirmed that a review of the Code is underway, with plans to consider lower GFA thresholds and more mandatory facilities, while also promoting flexible solutions like lactation pods.
During the debate, there was a call to increase the co-funding under the Accessibility Fund to 80% immediately to assist building owners, with the Minister noting that the funding level would be assessed after the Code review but emphasizing the availability of current support for lactation pods.

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7 May 2024

Support for Employers and Employees Affected by Requirement for Companies to Fairly Consider Flexi-work Requests

The Ministry of Manpower introduced the Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangement Requests, effective 1 December 2024, requiring employers to fairly consider formal FWA requests based on business grounds, with a two-month decision timeframe and internal dispute resolution through TAFEP and unions for unresolved cases.
To support implementation, TAFEP and IHRP will provide resources, briefings, and training, especially for SMEs, with grants available for adoption costs; the government emphasizes that FWAs are not solely work-from-home and aim to balance productivity, business needs, and employee well-being.
Concerns about reduced competitiveness, offshoring, and impact on mid-career PMETs were addressed by noting that global trends in remote work exist regardless, and the focus is on upskilling workers to maintain Singapore's edge, with FWAs seen as a tool to attract talent and optimize the local workforce.

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3 Apr 2024

Data on Complaints Received of and Investigations on Job Listings and Companies on MyCareersFuture

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for Manpower for data on complaints, investigations, substantiations, and penalties related to alleged discrepancies in job listings on MyCareersFuture.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) does not specifically track complaints based on perceptions of discrepancies between job listings and hiring experiences.
MOM and TAFEP received 446 complaints involving nationality-based discrimination in the past three years.
MOM took enforcement action against 34 companies for selecting foreign candidates without considering applicants via MyCareersFuture, including warnings, corrective courses, and debarment from hiring foreign workers.

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3 Apr 2024

Data on Successful New Employment Pass Applicants since 1 September 2023

About 10% of successful Employment Pass applicants since 1 September 2023 were exempted from the COMPASS eligibility criteria, mainly due to high salary, intra-corporate transferee status, or short-term roles.
Less than 10% of approved applications scored zero points for diversity (over 25% of the candidate’s nationality among PMETs), while about 20% scored zero points for qualifications (no declared degree-equivalent credentials), though the actual proportion without degrees is lower.
Approximately 30% of approved applications received 10 default points for diversity and local employment support because the hiring company had fewer than 25 employees, though these firms still needed to meet the overall 40-point threshold.

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3 Apr 2024

Impact of Tourism Development Fund on Worker Training and Job Placement and Projected Number of Jobs Created

Ms See Jinli Jean queried the Ministry for Trade and Industry on worker training, job placement, and job projections under the Tourism Development Fund (TDF) for 2022-2023.
Minister Gan Kim Yong reported that since 2020, over 900 workers from Hotels, MICE, Attractions, Travel Agencies, and Cruise sectors were trained via TDF in areas like sustainability and events management.
The recent TDF top-up will increase training opportunities in leadership, technology, sustainability, and partnership building, alongside other initiatives like Career Conversion Programmes and SkillsFuture support.

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3 Apr 2024

Review of Minimum Annual Leave Entitlement of Seven Days under Employment Act

Louis Ng questioned the Ministry for Manpower on when a review of the minimum seven-day annual leave entitlement would occur and what factors would be considered, emphasizing the potential for increased leave to improve worker well-being and productivity.
The Senior Minister of State for Manpower responded that over 90% of full-time resident employees already exceed the minimum leave, and while leave entitlements support work-life balance, they must be balanced against business costs, with no current plans to review the seven-day minimum.
During the debate, concerns were raised that increasing annual leave might raise business costs due to operational backfilling, but it was also noted that a more rested workforce could enhance productivity, with the Ministry advocating for holistic approaches like flexible work arrangements and skills training instead of solely increasing leave.
The discussion highlighted the specific challenges faced by lower-income workers who have limited flexibility and leave entitlements, with the Ministry assuring continued support for this group through various measures.

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3 Apr 2024

Differences in Employment and Salary Outcomes for Graduates from Different University Courses

The Minister of State explained that arts, design, and media (ADM) graduates have stable employment but lower starting salaries compared to peers in sectors like engineering and business, due to market demand and a higher proportion of freelancers, while the government supports this through initiatives like the Our SG Arts Plan and partnerships with agencies like Dsg and IMDA.
Health sciences graduates saw a 6% salary increase in 2023, higher than the average, and the Ministry of Health works with healthcare clusters to review salaries and provide funding support to ensure competitiveness, with a focus on community care sectors and salary guidelines.
Nominated MP See Jinli Jean asked about integrating arts graduates into growth industries like tourism and entertainment, and bridging health sciences graduates with opportunities from Healthier SG, to which the Minister replied that ADM graduates already work in diverse fields like PR and marketing, and MOE will collaborate with MOH to update curricula and skills frameworks for better opportunities.

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3 Apr 2024

Disability Sector Representatives in Tripartite Committee on Workplace Fairness

Miss Rachel Ong questioned whether the Tripartite Committee on Workplace Fairness would include representatives from the disability sector or SG Enable, and asked what steps would ensure the voices of persons with disabilities are heard.
The Senior Minister of State for Manpower replied that the Committee had already completed its work and issued final recommendations in August 2023.
He assured that the Committee had consulted widely, including with SG Enable and disability community groups, to inform its recommendations.
The Committee recommended prohibiting workplace discrimination based on disability and supporting employers who hire persons with disabilities.
It also recommended issuing a Tripartite Advisory on reasonable accommodations, with tripartite partners continuing to engage disability groups during its development.

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3 Apr 2024

Encouraging Prospective Tertiary Students to Pursue Careers in Special Needs Education

The Ministry of Education (MOE) is working with social service agencies to recruit and retain Special Education (SPED) educators, including through partnerships with Institutes of Higher Learning and the Journeys of Excellence Package to enhance professionalism and career progression.
MOE is enhancing training, such as the Diploma in Special Education (DISE), and increasing funding to SPED schools from 2024 to 2026 to raise salaries for teachers and aides to maintain competitiveness.
MOE will explore alternative pathways, such as conversion programmes, to attract professionals from other fields into SPED, in collaboration with social service agencies.

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2 Apr 2024

Number of Working Years Required to Recover Cost from Recipients of Government Tuition Grants for Polytechnic and University Studies

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for Education for the estimated number of years a Tuition Grant recipient for polytechnics or universities must work and pay taxes to recover the grant's cost.
Minister Chan Chun Sing explained that the Tuition Grant Scheme supports international students by covering part of their school fees, with recipients paying higher fees than Singaporeans and contributing to the learning environment.
In return for the grant, recipients are bonded to work in Singapore for three years after graduation, contributing to the economy, with some becoming Permanent Residents or naturalized citizens.
Those who leave Singapore still contribute through global networks formed from friendships and economic links.
The minister noted that the contributions of Tuition Grant recipients are both qualitative and quantitative.

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2 Apr 2024

Data on Employment of Civil Servants According to Different Age Groups

Patrick Tay Teck Guan requested data on the age distribution of permanent full-time civil servants in Ministries and Statutory Boards as of 31 December 2023, broken down into under 40, 40-49, 50-59, and 60 years and above.
He also asked for the number of re-employed civil servants past their retirement age in Ministries and Statutory Boards as of the same date.
Chan Chun Sing, representing the Prime Minister, provided the age breakdown as 47% under 40, 29% aged 40-49, 17% aged 50-59, and 7% aged 60 and above, with similar proportions across Ministries and Statutory Boards.
The response noted that about 1% of officers are on part-time work or short-term contracts, and approximately 2,300 and 3,400 re-employed officers over 63 are working full-time in Ministries and Statutory Boards respectively.

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2 Apr 2024

Data on Workforce Size and Demographics in Insurance Industry

The number of insurance agents in Singapore declined from 15,205 in 2021 to 13,934 in 2023 for life and composite insurance, and from 4,105 to 3,777 for general insurance over the same period.
For life and composite agents, the majority are aged 40 and below, with an even gender split and about 90% being Singapore citizens, mostly permanent residents.
Authorities do not track full-time versus part-time status or academic qualifications, but all agents must meet minimum education requirements.

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