Employment & labour — Topics

7 Nov 2023

State of Mental Health as Consideration when Granting Work Passes to Foreigners

Ms He Ting Ru asked if mental health considerations should influence work pass approvals for foreign professionals who lack quota or salary qualifications but can offer mental health services in Singapore.
The Ministry of Manpower noted it already provides flexible work passes for sectors with urgent needs like healthcare, requiring foreign professionals to meet Singapore’s practice standards.
Beyond hiring, efforts are underway to strengthen community mental health support through frontline personnel, volunteers, and enhanced competencies of existing providers.
A Tiered Care Model has been introduced under the National Mental Health and Well-being Strategy to organize services across health and social sectors based on severity of needs.
These measures aim to lay the foundation for strategic enhancements to Singapore’s mental health ecosystem and improve access to care.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

7 Nov 2023

Manpower Crunch for Critical Healthcare Roles Such As Radiographers and Pharmacists

Melvin Yong asked if there is a manpower crunch for critical healthcare roles like radiographers and pharmacists, the reasons for it, and how the Ministry plans to address it.
Ong Ye Kung confirmed a healthcare capacity crunch, including manpower shortages for pharmacists and allied health professionals, driven by an ageing population and higher post-COVID patient load.
The Ministry is tackling the shortage through multiple measures such as expanding local training, offering recruitment incentives, keeping pay competitive, creating upgrading pathways, and using foreign manpower.
Additional steps include redesigning healthcare roles to be more meaningful and improving staff well-being with a zero-tolerance policy on harassment.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

7 Nov 2023

Impact of Price Increases on Real Wage Growth

Members of Parliament raised concerns about real wage growth in Singapore amid rising costs, asking for current rates, future forecasts, comparisons with past years, and support measures for businesses and vulnerable workers.
The Senior Minister of State for Manpower responded that real median income grew 9.4% from 2017 to 2022 but declined by 4.5% year-on-year in the first half of 2023 due to high inflation, with the government implementing a $1.1 billion Cost of Living Support Package and initiatives like the Progressive Wage Model and National Wages Council guidelines.
Lower-wage workers experienced stronger real income growth of 15.4% from 2017 to 2022, supported by expanded Progressive Wage Model coverage, co-funded wage increases, and enhanced Workfare schemes, while businesses are encouraged to boost productivity through industry transformation and job redesign programs.
Wage growth is expected to moderate in 2024, with certain sectors like travel and labour-intensive services facing persistent challenges, and the government plans to continue supporting workers through upskilling, career conversion programs, and future initiatives to improve job matching and long-term career planning.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

6 Nov 2023

Proportion of Persons with Disabilities in Workforce in Firms with Fewer Than 25 Employees

Mr Ong Hua Han asked the Minister for Manpower for the proportion of persons with disabilities employed by firms with fewer than 25 employees for each year from 2020 to 2022.
The Minister for Manpower, Tan See Leng, provided the requested information in an appended table.
The figures are presented as two-year moving averages to smooth year-on-year fluctuations due to the small number of persons with disabilities surveyed.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

6 Nov 2023

Feedback or Requests Received by Forward Assurance and Support Team Officers

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Manpower for data over the past five years on substantiated cases of illegal employment, criminal kickbacks, false salary declarations, failure to refund agency fees, and illegal deployment reported to Forward Assurance and Support Team officers.
From 2020 to 2022, substantiated cases averaged about 180 per year for illegal employment, 60 for kickbacks, 65 for false salary declarations, 35 for illegal deployment, and three for failing to refund agency fees.
The number of substantiated cases across all five categories has been declining since 2020.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

6 Nov 2023

Profile of Each Major Group Outlined in Singapore Standard Occupational Classification 2020

Patrick Tay requested detailed demographic and employment statistics for each major occupational group in the manufacturing sector, including age, education, local/foreign worker proportions, salary, and vacancies over five years.
The Minister for Manpower stated that data on occupation numbers, percentages, age distribution, and vacancies are available in annual Labour Force and quarterly Labour Market reports on MOM's website.
Additional requested data on education levels, worker proportions, and salary ranges were provided in tables appended to the response.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

6 Nov 2023

Full-time Workers Without Any Wage Increase for Past 10 Years

MP Gan Thiam Poh inquired about the number of full-time workers in different monthly wage brackets who had no wage increase over the past decade.
Minister Tan See Leng explained that wage statistics come from a snapshot survey, which cannot track individuals over time.
Therefore, the specific data on workers with no wage increase over 10 years is not available.
The government relies on the Comprehensive Labour Force Survey for wage information, but it has limitations for longitudinal analysis.
This highlights a gap in tracking long-term wage progression for full-time workers in Singapore.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

6 Nov 2023

Manufacturing Sector's Projected Share of GDP and Labour Force in Coming Decade

Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked the Ministry of Trade and Industry for projections on the manufacturing sector's share of GDP and the labour force over the next 10 years.
Gan Kim Yong responded that manufacturing currently accounts for about 22% of Singapore's GDP and 13% of total employment.
The Ministry aims to maintain manufacturing's share of GDP at around 20% in the coming decade.
The Ministry also plans to continue creating good manufacturing jobs for Singaporeans, focusing on employment within the sector.
The debate centers on sustaining the manufacturing sector's economic contribution and employment opportunities over the next 10 years.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

6 Nov 2023

Attrition Rate of Paramedics in SCDF Between 2016 and 2022

Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked for the yearly attrition rates of paramedic officers and specialists in SCDF from 2016 to 2022, and whether there are plans to increase their salaries to match public healthcare sector increases.
K Shanmugam provided Table 1 showing the attrition rates for both paramedic officers and specialists over the specified period.
He explained that SCDF paramedics are part of the Home Affairs Uniformed Services, which undergoes regular compensation reviews, with the latest in January 2023 resulting in salary adjustments of 3% to 8%.
The Home Team remuneration package includes strategic payments at career milestones since 2019, ensuring market competitiveness.
The Minister did not explicitly state whether there are future plans to align paramedic salaries with public healthcare sector increases beyond the 2023 review.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

6 Nov 2023

Expanding Eligible Age Groups and Amounts for Workfare Income Supplement Scheme

Mr Gan Thiam Poh questioned if the Government will expand the Workfare Income Supplement scheme to cover more age groups and increase payment amounts.
The Ministry of Manpower highlighted recent enhancements, including extending Workfare to workers aged 30–34 and raising maximum annual payments to $4,200, while noting that workers below 30 are excluded due to their potential for future wage growth.
The Government announced further Workfare enhancements to be detailed in next year’s Budget, alongside a $1.1 billion Cost-of-Living Support Package to alleviate inflation and GST impacts for lower- and middle-income households.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

6 Nov 2023

Encouraging Companies to Enrol in IMDA's AI Verify Foundation to Uphold Responsible and Ethical Use of AI

Ms See Jinli Jean asked about plans to enroll AI-driven companies in IMDA's AI Verify Foundation and proposed a consumer reporting channel and tripartism approach for AI use in the workplace.
Mrs Josephine Teo stated that Singapore supports responsible AI development, noting that IMDA has introduced guidelines and tools like the Model AI Governance Framework and the voluntary AI Verify testing framework.
She explained that AI Verify can support union engagement on AI impacting workers, and that existing agencies like MOM and TAFEP already handle reports on AI-related employment issues, while financial concerns go to the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

6 Nov 2023

Wrongful Dismissal Complaints Filed against Firms with Fewer Than 25 Employees

From 2020 to 2022, an average of about 380 wrongful dismissal complaints were filed annually with the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) from employees of firms with fewer than 25 employees.
Approximately 6% of these small firms received more than one complaint during the three-year period.
Employees can approach TADM for help with wrongful dismissal regardless of the size of their employer's workforce.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

6 Nov 2023

Monitoring Learning and Industry Relevance Outcomes of Continuing Education and Training Programmes

The Ministry of Education (MOE) and SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) monitor CET programme outcomes through a mix of methods, including programme-specific surveys and econometric studies.
Key metrics include wage and employment outcomes, such as the Work-Study Programme Outcomes Survey which shows over 90% employment within six months and higher median salaries.
A broader impact assessment is also conducted, with the Training Quality and Outcomes Measures (TRAQOM) survey indicating that over nine in ten trainees reported improved job performance.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

6 Nov 2023

Applications for Job Redesign Grant and Training Grant under Open Door Programme

In 2020 to 2022, about 90 firms per year received support through the ODP Training Grant and 20 firms per year through the Job Redesign Grant, with all grant applications during this period being successful.
Specific projects supported by the Job Redesign Grant include installing screen readers for visually impaired employees, providing audio assistive devices for those who are deaf, using tablets with visual guides for employees with autism, and making physical workplace adjustments like ramps and sliding doors for wheelchair users.
The ODP has supported the employment of about 500 persons with disabilities per year on average from 2020 to 2022 through grants, job placement, and post-placement support.
SG Enable engages employers directly and through trade associations to promote inclusive hiring and encourages more firms to use ODP support, with the government welcoming further employer participation.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

6 Nov 2023

Preparatory Work and Training to Equip Companies to Implement Flexible Work Arrangements

The Tripartite Workgroup is currently deliberating the scope of the upcoming Flexible Work Arrangements Guidelines and consulting with employees, HR professionals, and employers, including SMEs.
Existing initiatives, such as workshops by the Singapore National Employers Federation and a playbook for hybrid workplaces, are being built upon to promote the effective use of FWAs.
Employers have stressed the need to balance employee requests with business operational constraints, and SMEs have cited challenges like limited HR resources and manpower.
The Workgroup will consider this feedback to design guidelines that support both employers and HR practitioners in implementing FWAs.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

4 Oct 2023

International Labour Organization's Committee of Experts on Application of Conventions and Recommendations' Request for Information on Submissions to Parliament

Ms He Ting Ru questioned the Minister for Manpower on whether the Government had complied with the ILO Committee of Experts’ 2023 direct request for information on its parliamentary submissions regarding specific conventions, including the Forced Labour (Supplementary Measures) Recommendation.
The Minister for Manpower responded that the Ministry is currently studying the ILO’s direct request and will provide a response in due course.
The debate centered on Singapore’s engagement with international labour standards and its obligation to report on legislative actions to the ILO.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

4 Oct 2023

Increasing Awareness of Adequate Retirement Planning amongst Employees Following Recent NTU and Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy Study

The Ministry of Manpower is supporting retirement adequacy through economic competitiveness, job creation, and uplifting lower-wage workers via Workfare and Progressive Wage moves, with projections showing improved CPF retirement sums for future cohorts.
The government is increasing the statutory retirement and re-employment ages to 65 and 70 by 2030 to allow seniors to work longer and strengthen their retirement savings.
Agencies like CPF Board and MoneySENSE conduct outreach including personalized retirement planning services, social media campaigns, and community events to educate members on retirement planning.
The Institute of Financial Literacy partners with employers to deliver workplace financial literacy programs, offering free clinics and workshops on topics like CPF savings and estate planning.
Retirement planning is emphasized as a personal responsibility, supported by government and agency initiatives to provide resources and guidance for employees, especially older workers.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

4 Oct 2023

Paid Annual Leave Provided to Employees of Differing Salary Levels

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked for the average paid annual leave days over the past five years for workers in four salary brackets: up to $1,000, $1,000–$2,000, $2,000–$5,000, and above $5,000 per month.
Tan See Leng responded by presenting a table showing the average paid annual leave days for full-time resident employees aged 25 to 64.
The data provided addresses the query but does not break down the leave days specifically by the salary brackets requested.
The response highlights a focus on full-time resident employees, potentially excluding other worker categories.
The debate underscores the importance of understanding leave entitlements across different income levels for equitable labor policies.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

4 Oct 2023

Areas of Discrimination Not Covered under Upcoming Workplace Fairness Legislation

The new Workplace Fairness Legislation will not cover discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, political affiliation, or other less common characteristics, but such areas remain protected under the Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices (TGFEP).
To encourage reporting, the legislation will protect employee identities and prohibit retaliation, while unions and TAFEP will provide advice; employees can also approach the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) for mediation to mend relationships and address concerns about career jeopardy.
TADM will focus on mediation and education to resolve disputes, aiming for harmonious workplaces and offering remedies like reinstatement or apologies, while the tripartite partners will strengthen education and publish guides to clarify what constitutes discrimination.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

4 Oct 2023

Recruitment, Deployment and Retention of Staff to Run ComLink Programme

Ms Mariam Jaafar asked about the number of staff deployed for the ComLink programme and measures to improve their recruitment and retention.
As of September 2023, about 110 staff are running ComLink across Social Service Offices, supported by 1,400 volunteers and community partners.
Turnover among ComLink staff is similar to other MSF roles, and recruitment is steady through open platforms, career fairs, and internal Public Service transfers.
The Ministry continues to support staff in their work with ComLink families to aid retention.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source