Employment & labour — Topics

19 Sep 2023

Plans to Include Platform Workers in Workplace Fairness Legislation

Hazel Poa asked whether platform workers will be included in workplace fairness legislation.
Tan See Leng stated that discrimination against platform workers breaches existing tripartite guidelines and that more clarity will be added through additional guidelines.
Platform workers facing discrimination can seek help from the Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices.
The current proposed legislation covers employment relationships, and the government will consider including platform workers in the future.

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19 Sep 2023

Persons with Disabilities Employed by Small and Medium Enterprises

Ong Hua Han asked for data on persons with disabilities employed by small enterprises with fewer than 25 employees under the Enabling Employment Credit, including numbers from 2020 to 2022, average employment length, and disability group breakdown.
Tan See Leng stated that about 3,000 persons with disabilities were supported annually in 2021 and 2022 by enterprises with fewer than 25 employees under the EEC, representing one-third of all EEC-supported individuals.
The majority of these employees had intellectual or sensory impairments, with others including physical disabilities and autism.
The Ministry does not track the average length of employment for these employees.
The EEC was introduced in 2021, so 2020 data was not available under this scheme.

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19 Sep 2023

Formal Channels of Support for Employees Seeking Help on Workplace Discrimination

The upcoming Workplace Fairness Legislation will require employers to establish confidential grievance handling processes and prohibit retaliation against employees who report discrimination, including wrongful dismissal and harassment.
The Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices will collaborate with unions and industry partners to educate employees on available support channels and the new legal protections.
The Ministry aims to address common barriers like fear of marginalization and career repercussions by ensuring confidentiality and anti-retaliation measures are embedded in company procedures.

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19 Sep 2023

Staff-to-children Ratio, Salaries and Working Conditions of Educators of Preschools Operated by MOE, Anchor Operators and Private Operators

Member Hazel Poa queried the average staff-to-children ratios, average salaries of early childhood educators, and improvements to salaries and working conditions since October 2022 across MOE, anchor, and private preschool operators.
The Minister responded that the questions had already been addressed in a previous parliamentary reply on 18 September 2023 regarding an investigation into alleged mistreatment at a preschool chain.
The reply directed members to the official report for detailed information on the topics raised in the query.

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19 Sep 2023

Effects of Industrial Light & Magic's Decision to End Singapore Operations

Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked about the expiry dates of tax incentives for Industrial Light & Magic and the number of Singaporean and non-Singaporean staff to be made redundant.
Minister Gan Kim Yong stated that the company was not awarded any tax incentives.
The closure is expected to affect over 300 employees, with about two-thirds being locals.
The Economic Development Board and Workforce Singapore are assisting affected employees in finding new job opportunities.
The response clarified that no tax incentive schemes are involved in this case.

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19 Sep 2023

Training and Other Measures to Address Workload, Stress Management and Mental Well-being Issues for Staff at Preschools and Childcare Centres

The debate was initiated by Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim, who asked the Minister for Social and Family Development about mandatory training or other measures by ECDA to address workload, stress management, and mental well-being for preschool and childcare staff.
The Minister’s response referred to a prior reply given on 18 September 2023, directing attention to the Official Report on investigations into alleged mistreatment at a preschool chain for relevant information.
The exchange highlighted a focus on staff well-being within early childhood settings, but specific details on new or existing measures were not elaborated in the provided excerpts.
The response indicated that the matter had been previously addressed in Parliament, suggesting ongoing government attention to staff welfare in preschools.
No new policy announcements or concrete measures were presented in this debate segment, as it primarily served as a follow-up reference to earlier discussions.

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19 Sep 2023

Expanding Definition of Disability to Include Those with Certifiable Mental Health Conditions

The MP asked when the definition of disability for access to programmes like Open Door will be expanded to include those with certifiable mental health conditions, to align with the workplace fairness legislation.
The Minister explained that both disability and mental health conditions are protected characteristics in the upcoming workplace fairness legislation due to being common forms of workplace discrimination.
The Minister noted that persons with disabilities and those with mental health conditions receive different types of employment support tailored to their distinct needs.
The Minister stated that support for mental health conditions focuses on recovery and coping, with MOH leading a comprehensive approach involving early detection, intervention, and expanded community services.
The Minister highlighted that employment assistance for mental health conditions is available through specific organizations like the Job Club under IMH, SAMH, and SACS, which provide job placement and training.

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19 Sep 2023

Loss of Pay for Middle-rank and Senior Civil Servants Interdicted from Duty while Assisting with Investigations

Civil servants interdicted from duty during CPIB or SPF investigations are placed on half-pay, with a monthly cap of $8,500.
If found innocent, the withheld half-pay is restored; if found guilty and dismissed, the withheld pay is forfeited.
The half-pay received during interdiction is not recovered, and these rules apply uniformly across all civil service ranks.

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19 Sep 2023

Measures to Build Up Pipeline of Singaporeans to Take Up Jobs on Non-Traditional Sources Occupation List

The Ministry explained that not every occupation can have a local pipeline due to ageing demographics and education levels, and selected nine NTS occupations after consulting sector agencies on S Pass holder impacts, manpower shortages, low local take-up, and low automatability.
To protect existing Singaporean workers in these jobs, a strict quota with an 8% sub-Dependency Ratio Ceiling and a $2,000 minimum monthly salary was implemented to prevent over-reliance and cheap sourcing of NTS workers.
The NTS Occupation List will be reviewed every three years and amended if employers can hire sufficient locals or if automation and job redesign reduce manpower needs, with ongoing monitoring through tripartite partners and sector agencies.
Fair employment practices require employers to consider all candidates and pay fairly, with the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices available to assist workers facing unfair treatment.
The Minister noted that some Singaporeans already work in these occupations, but their prospects will be safeguarded through the measures above, and the list will be rolled back when local supply is sufficient.

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19 Sep 2023

Gender Pay Gap for Finance-related Roles and Steps to Close the Gap

The gender pay gap in Singapore’s finance and insurance sector narrowed from 27.1% in 2012 to 15.6% in 2022, with the gap partly due to more men in higher-paying roles like managing directors and fund managers.
The government is addressing the gap by promoting work-life balance through flexible work arrangements and enhanced parental leave schemes to share caregiving responsibilities.
New workplace fairness legislation will strengthen protections against sex, pregnancy, and caregiving discrimination, while mentorship programs like the Advancing Women in Finance Mentoring Programme support women’s career advancement.
Tripartite partners and agencies continue to build a supportive ecosystem to help women enter, remain, and progress in the finance workforce.

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19 Sep 2023

Keeping Workplaces Safe Beyond the Heightened Safety Period

Melvin Yong highlighted a spike in workplace fatalities after the Heightened Safety Period (HSP) ended and proposed four "SAFE" suggestions: design workplaces for safety, require dedicated WSH professionals, increase financial penalties, and tighten enforcement.
Senior Minister Zaqy Mohamad acknowledged post-HSP fatalities but noted that the 12-month fatality rate remains close to the 2028 target, and affirmed that most HSP measures—including personal accountability for senior management—are retained.
The government has introduced new measures like the Safe Accountability, Focus and Empowerment (SAFE) framework, expanded the Demerit Points System, and enhanced reporting tools such as SnapSAFE to sustain workplace safety culture beyond the HSP.

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19 Sep 2023

Child Development Co-Savings (Amendment) Bill

The Child Development Co-Savings (Amendment) Bill proposes extending Government-Paid Paternity Leave from two to four weeks and introducing a Shared Parental Leave scheme allowing parents to share up to eight weeks of maternity leave to better support modern family dynamics and promote shared parenting.
Speakers highlighted the benefits of increased paternity leave for father-child bonding, gender equality, and parental well-being, citing international examples and studies, while also noting concerns from SMEs about operational disruptions and the need for government support.
The Minister of State clarified that the enhancements are voluntary initially, with plans to make them mandatory after consultations, and outlined existing support for gig workers and the self-employed through cash benefits, alongside efforts to address potential misuse and stigma around leave-taking.
Discussions emphasized the importance of fostering a family-friendly workplace culture through awareness campaigns, flexible work arrangements, and collaboration with tripartite partners to balance family support with business needs.
The Bill was passed with broad support, reflecting a commitment to evolving family policies, while acknowledging ongoing reviews to assess impacts on businesses and ensure equitable access to benefits for all working parents.

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18 Sep 2023

Workers Reaching Re-employment Age Limit of 68 and Exiting Workforce in Next Three Years

Mr Keith Chua asked the Minister for Manpower for the number of workers reaching the re-employment age limit of 68 and likely to exit the workforce over the next three years.
The Minister, Tan See Leng, responded that 73,000 resident employees will reach the statutory re-employment age of 68 in the next three years.
He noted that not all of these workers will exit the workforce upon turning 68, as employment rates for residents nearing or past re-employment age have risen.
The employment rate for residents aged 70 and above increased from 15.8% in 2017 to 21.1% in 2022.
This indicates a growing trend of older workers continuing employment beyond the re-employment age limit.

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18 Sep 2023

Change in Wage Level of Workers at Tenth Percentile in Last 10 Years and Their Profile

The real gross monthly income of workers at the 10th percentile grew by 47.9% (annualised 4%) from 2012 to 2022.
The occupations of these workers are detailed in Table 1, with examples including service and sales workers, cleaners, and elementary occupations.
The age profile shows a higher concentration of older workers, while the education profile indicates that many have secondary or lower qualifications.
The government has implemented policies like Progressive Wages and the Workfare Income Supplement to support lower-wage workers.
These measures aim to uplift the wages and skills of workers at the 10th percentile over time.

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18 Sep 2023

Extension of Earn and Save Bonus Component of Majulah Package to Self-employed Seniors

Murali Pillai asked whether the Earn and Save Bonus will be extended to self-employed seniors and how false claims will be prevented.
Tan See Leng confirmed that details on eligibility are being finalised by the Ministry of Manpower and Ministry of Finance.
The government will announce more information on the Majulah Package in Budget 2024.

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18 Sep 2023

Workers Reaching Current Retirement Age of 63 in Next Three Years

In the next three years, 103,000 resident employees are expected to reach the statutory retirement age of 63, and employers are required to offer them re-employment if they have been with their current employer for at least two years before turning 63.
Surveys show that about 98% of these workers wish to continue working and are medically fit with satisfactory work performance, indicating a high re-employment eligibility rate.
The government is monitoring re-employment trends as Singapore transitions to a higher retirement age, ensuring both worker readiness and employer compliance with re-employment obligations.

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18 Sep 2023

Data Related to Safe Transportation of Workers on Back of Lorries

Miss Rachel Ong questioned whether data on worker transport safety, such as accident and fatality statistics, is included in Workplace Safety and Health assessments and bizSAFE renewal criteria, and if not, why and whether it could be incorporated.
The Minister for Manpower responded that such data helps employers conduct risk assessments but is not sufficient on its own; comprehensive risk management must follow the Risk Management Code of Practice, which covers hazard identification and risk minimization.
The Minister noted that bizSAFE renewal involves auditing a company's risk management, including whether they consider relevant data like safe transport information in their risk assessments.

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18 Sep 2023

Applications to Open Door Programme and Enabling Employment Credit Providing Employment-related Support to Persons with Disabilities

The Ministry of Manpower reported that all applications to the Open Door Programme from January 2022 to August 2023 were successful, with around 500 persons with disabilities placed into jobs annually from 2020 to 2022.
The Enabling Employment Credit, which is automatically disbursed, supported about 10,300 persons with disabilities in 2022, an increase from 9,700 in 2021.
Both schemes have been enhanced, with the Open Door Programme improved in 2020 for better training support and the Enabling Employment Credit enhanced in 2023 to strengthen wage support, particularly for those not working for at least six months prior to hire.
The average employment rate for persons with disabilities aged 15 to 64 rose from 29% in 2020-2021 to 31.4% in 2021-2022, and the government will continue reviewing employment support schemes to ensure effectiveness under the Enabling Masterplan 2030.

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18 Sep 2023

Policies to Allow and Enable Persons with Disabilities to Work from Home

Christopher de Souza proposed policies to enable persons with disabilities to work from home, including rights, software and hardware support, and digital literacy training.
Tan See Leng emphasized that flexible work arrangements should be voluntary to avoid affecting employability, but committed to a Tripartite Advisory for workplace accommodations.
Support for remote work includes assistance from SG Enable, a grant covering up to 90% of telecommuting setup costs, and subsidised digital literacy programs.

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18 Sep 2023

Invocation of Sections 59(2) and 59(4) of CPF Act 1953 by Employers to Obtain Past Employment Information of Job Applicants

Patrick Tay asked the Minister for Manpower how many times sections 59(2) and 59(4) of the CPF Act were invoked by prospective employers from 2018 to 2022 to obtain past employment information of job applicants.
The Minister responded that from 2018 to 2022, these sections were not invoked by prospective employers in either the public or private sectors.

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