Employment & labour — Topics

22 Nov 2023

Data on Involuntarily Unemployed and Financial Impact of Unemployment Support Scheme on Taxpayer

Yip Hon Weng asked the Ministry for Manpower for accurate data on involuntarily unemployed individuals, the definition of a sufficient payout under the SkillsFuture unemployment support scheme, its estimated financial impact, funding sources, and potential tax implications.
The Minister for Manpower, Tan See Leng, responded that the ministry is still studying the parameters of the scheme and will announce more details later.

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22 Nov 2023

Allowing Disabled Persons to Work as Private Hire Drivers

Hazel Poa asked whether cars registered under the Disabled Persons Scheme could be used as private hire cars to allow disabled persons to earn a living as drivers.
The Minister for Transport responded that all private hire cars require COE and ARF payments, with an exemption only for cars used by disabled persons for commuting to and from work.
The exemption does not extend to using such cars as private hire vehicles, meaning they cannot be used for earning income as PHC drivers.

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22 Nov 2023

Considerations for Placing Cap on Private Hire Fares

Gan Thiam Poh proposed a fare cap on private hire cars to make them an attractive alternative to car ownership.
Chee Hong Tat, representing the Minister for Transport, explained that private hire fares are dynamically priced based on demand and supply, and capping them would distort market signals.
The Ministry argued that capping fares would reduce driver incomes, leading to fewer drivers during high demand and making it harder for commuters to secure rides.

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22 Nov 2023

Number and Profile of Skilled Tradesmen Working in Singapore and Future Demand

The Ministry for Manpower provided data on skilled tradesmen in Singapore, including the total number of residents (53,000) and non-residents (133,000) employed as craftsmen and related trades workers, along with their median and average salaries, ages, and breakdowns by residency status.
Demand for skilled trades workers varies by trade, with essential services like plumbing and electrical work always in demand, while the nature of jobs will evolve with technology; various training programmes exist to develop a local pipeline for these trades.
The government is collaborating with industry partners and educational institutions to professionalize skilled trades, offering clearer career progression paths, and will announce new initiatives as part of Forward Singapore to attract and develop local talent.

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22 Nov 2023

Construction Companies Transporting Workers in Rear Decks of bizSAFE Level 3-certified Lorries and Risk Management Audits Carried Out

Miss Rachel Ong asked whether the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has data on construction companies transporting workers in the rear decks of bizSAFE Level 3-certified lorries, if risk management audits for bizSAFE certification incorporate checks on the new legal requirements effective 1 January 2023, and whether companies certified before that date will be re-audited.
MOM does not collect specific data on the percentage of such companies but noted that over 50% of construction companies are at least bizSAFE Level 3-certified, with renewal required every three years.
The bizSAFE audit focuses on risk management systems and may or may not include lorry transport risks depending on the company's activities, while MOM conducts inspections to ensure compliance with legal requirements introduced from 1 January 2023, such as appointing a "Vehicle Buddy" and ensuring dual-role drivers take rest breaks.
Additional safety requirements from the Land Transport Authority and the Inter-Agency Advisory on Safe Transport of Workers are also applicable, but bizSAFE audits do not mandate re-audits for companies certified before 1 January 2023 solely to check new requirements.

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22 Nov 2023

Sufficiency of Manpower at Child Protection Service

Mr Louis Ng questioned whether there is sufficient manpower at the Child Protection Service (CPS) and if there are plans to increase the number of Child Protection Officers (CPOs).
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary confirmed that the number of CPOs has increased and more are being hired, but hiring faces challenges due to retirements, recruitment difficulties, and the need for extensive training.
Mr Ng raised concerns about the average caseload of 40 cases per CPO and asked for an ideal caseload target and a specific target number for CPOs.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary acknowledged that a caseload of 40 is "a tad high" and efforts are underway to reduce it, but he declined to commit to a specific numerical target due to the varying complexity of cases.
Both sides agreed on the need for more support and better working conditions for CPOs, but the Ministry emphasized maintaining high standards over simply increasing headcount.

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22 Nov 2023

Employers with Insufficient Insurance Coverage for Migrant Domestic Workers' Medical and Hospitalisation Bills

Employers of migrant domestic workers must purchase medical insurance, with recent enhancements raising the annual claim limit to $60,000 to cover nearly all hospitalisation bills, and those facing financial difficulties are advised to seek assistance from medical social workers at public healthcare institutions.
A parliamentary question raised concerns about insufficient insurance coverage and financial support for employers, with the Minister of State noting that about 95% of bills were covered under the previous $15,000 limit and the new higher limit covers about 99% of bills.
An MP suggested allowing employers to use MediSave for their domestic workers' medical bills and including financial counselling in orientation programmes, but the Minister clarified that MediSave is reserved for Singaporeans and permanent residents, and the current orientation focuses on core responsibilities without expanding to financial planning.

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22 Nov 2023

Job Openings for Fresh Graduates and Impact of Decline in Firms' Intention to Hire

The Minister for Manpower stated there is no specific data on job openings for fresh graduates due to fair employment guidelines, but overall graduate employment remains strong with about 90% employed within six months, mostly in full-time roles.
While hiring sentiment has weakened and job vacancies have declined, the labour market remains tight, with over 87,900 vacancies and support available through career coaches and government agencies for job-seeking graduates.
Underemployment among fresh graduates is low at 1.9%, and various upskilling programmes like Work-Study initiatives and TechSkills Accelerator are offered to aid their career progression.

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7 Nov 2023

Interim Support for Employees Unable to Work for Extended Periods Due to Mental Illness

Keith Chua inquired about interim financial support and disability allowance options for employees unable to work due to extended mental illness.
Tan See Leng responded that individuals can apply for ComCare Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance, providing temporary cash and medical bill support, and access employment support agencies for customized job placement and training.
The National Council of Social Service has developed a Mental Health Toolkit for Employers to guide inclusive workplace practices, including supervisor training and adjustments to support employees with mental health conditions.

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7 Nov 2023

Code of Practice Governing Acceptable Advertisements for Maid Agencies

Melvin Yong asked the Ministry of Manpower to consider legislating or issuing a code of practice for maid agency advertisements to ensure sensitivity toward foreign domestic helpers and prevent consumer confusion.
The Ministry of Manpower stated it takes a serious view of insensitive advertisements by employment agencies and has existing guidelines and advisories on acceptable advertising practices for migrant domestic workers.
The Ministry indicated it will investigate all cases of insensitive advertising and may take enforcement action against non-compliant employment agencies.

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7 Nov 2023

Employment of Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) and LTVP+ Holders with Letter of Consent

Gerald Giam Yean Song inquired whether LTVP/LTVP+ holders with Letter of Consent are subject to dependency ratio ceilings in companies and whether the Ministry would educate employers on this to facilitate their employment.
Tan See Leng clarified that such holders are not subject to foreign worker quotas, noting that this information is publicly available on the Ministry of Manpower's website.
The response emphasized that no active education campaign is planned as the details are already accessible to employers.

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7 Nov 2023

Employees Disallowed Taking Medical Leave Granted by Non-company Approved Panel of Doctors

The Ministry of Manpower has not received any formal complaints or feedback regarding employers refusing to recognize medical certificates from non-company-approved doctors since the Employment Act was amended in April 2019.
Ground feedback from tripartite partners indicates that employers are generally complying with the law and accepting MCs from all registered medical practitioners and dentists.
Employees who face issues with medical leave should first use their company's internal grievance channels and may approach their union, MOM, or the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management for assistance.

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7 Nov 2023

Re-entry of Retrenched Residents into Workforce

Leong Mun Wai asked for data on the re-entry rate of retrenched residents and the proportion who found jobs paying at least 80% of their last wage in the same sector from 2000 to 2012.
Tan See Leng stated that re-entry rates within six months post-retrenchment are published on the MOM website and industry re-entry data is in annual reports.
The data shows around two-thirds of retrenched residents re-entered a different industry since 2009.
A 2021 MOM study found retrenched residents who re-entered the same industry were more likely to receive similar or higher wages than those who switched sectors.
The ministry noted that wage data for the specific time series requested is not available, but employer preference for industry-specific experience influences wage outcomes.

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7 Nov 2023

Checks on Foreigners Working Illegally as Food Delivery Riders

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked about routine checks, penalties for platforms, stricter penalties for abettors, and the number of cases of illegal food delivery by foreigners apprehended to date.
Minister Tan See Leng stated that the Ministry of Manpower relies mainly on complaints to detect illegal foreign food delivery riders, with 163 complaints received from 2018 to 18 October 2023, leading to enforcement actions against 10 foreigners.
Platforms or parties that abet illegal employment face penalties including a fine of up to $20,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both, under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.

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7 Nov 2023

Measures to Discourage Dependency on Unemployment Support

Yip Hon Weng asked about specific measures to discourage dependency on unemployment support, prevent excessive claims from people with other income, and require active job seeking, drawing on insights from the COVID-19 recovery grant.
The Ministry of Manpower is still studying the parameters for the unemployment support scheme under the expanded SkillsFuture programme and will provide more details once finalized.
The debate highlighted concerns about dependency and misuse but no concrete measures were confirmed yet, as the scheme is still under planning.

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7 Nov 2023

Priority Given to Owed Employees' Wages during Winding Up of Companies

The Government acknowledges the importance of prioritizing employees' wage claims during a company's winding up, placing them above other unsecured debts except for winding-up costs and expenses.
The current $13,000 cap on owed wages under the 2020 Order is scheduled for review as part of regular policy assessments.
No immediate commitment was made to increase the priority of wage claims, but the Ministry of Manpower will consider adjustments during reviews.
The Minister emphasized that wage claims already have a high priority status in the insolvency framework.
The response indicates ongoing evaluation rather than a proposal for specific legislative changes.

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7 Nov 2023

Flexible Work Arrangements for Lower-wage Frontline and Blue-collar Workers to Grant Time-off for Caregiving and Skills Training

The Tripartite Workgroup is developing guidelines for flexible work arrangements (FWAs) that will consider the needs of lower-wage frontline and blue-collar workers, including options like flexible-shift scheduling for caregiving or upskilling, without being overly prescriptive to preserve business and worker needs.
The guidelines will require employers to fairly assess FWA requests and manage employees on FWAs in line with fair employment practices, aiming to balance business productivity with worker support.
Employers who adopt FWAs are recognized through existing schemes like the Tripartite Standard and Awards, and the Workgroup will explore ways to profile and promote best practices for progressive FWA implementation.

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7 Nov 2023

Assistance for Staff Recently Laid Off by Regional Food Delivery Platform

The Ministry of Manpower, together with tripartite partners like unions and Workforce Singapore, provides career matching services and information kits to workers laid off by the regional food delivery platform.
The Taskforce for Responsible Retrenchment and Employment Facilitation reaches out to affected workers to offer employment facilitation, training, and guidance on Government financial assistance schemes for living expenses, housing, and school fees.
For unionised workers, employers are expected to notify the union beforehand and collaborate on employment support, training, and retrenchment benefits.

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7 Nov 2023

Rights of Singaporeans Employed by Employers of Record

Leong Mun Wai asked for the number of Employers of Record (EORs) operating in Singapore, how many Singaporeans they employ, and whether those workers are considered independent contractors or entitled to Employment Act benefits.
Tan See Leng stated that the Ministry of Manpower does not track the number of EORs or Singaporeans employed by them.
Tan clarified that workers under an EOR are considered employees if there is a contract of service and are entitled to Employment Act benefits, even if they work for the EOR’s client.
Workers who feel their entitlements are not being met can seek assistance from the Ministry of Manpower.

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7 Nov 2023

Adequacy of Dormitories for Number of Migrant Workers in Construction Sector

Gan Thiam Poh questioned if the current dormitory supply is sufficient for migrant workers in the construction sector.
Tan See Leng noted strong dormitory demand due to increased hiring post-COVID, with CMP sector workers at 120% of 2019 levels.
The government is working to increase dormitory beds and using temporary quarters for large projects.
Employers are urged to adopt productivity measures and secure housing before bringing workers into Singapore.
Since September 2023, employers in CMP sectors must provide proof of accommodation before importing workers.

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