Employment & labour — Topics

2 Aug 2023

Plans to Introduce Mandatory Mental Health Awareness and Training Programmes for Employers and Managers

Wan Rizal asked the Ministry of Manpower about plans to introduce mandatory mental health awareness and training for employers and managers, and the challenges of such an approach.
The Ministry stated there are no current plans for mandatory programmes, citing the diverse needs of businesses and the lack of a one-size-fits-all solution for mental health support.
Instead, the Ministry encourages workplaces to appoint Mental Well-being Champions, offers free or subsidised training, and provides guidance through the Tripartite Advisory on Mental Well-being.
The Ministry also emphasised the shared responsibility of workers, families, and colleagues in supporting mental well-being alongside employer efforts.

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2 Aug 2023

Progress on Consultation for Transporting Migrant Workers by Buses or Other Modes of Transport

The government acknowledges the safety concerns of transporting migrant workers on lorries and has introduced measures such as mandatory front cabin occupancy, canopies, higher railings, and stricter licensing to improve safety, resulting in a reduction in fatalities and injuries.
While recognizing the impracticality of an immediate ban due to operational constraints for SMEs, which could affect projects and livelihoods, the government emphasizes a collaborative approach with industry associations, NGOs, and unions to find workable solutions.
An interagency group already engages stakeholders to address challenges, and suggestions for a new work group with broader representation are being considered to explore timelines and subsidies for safer transport alternatives.

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6 Jul 2023

Provision of Time-off and Leave Benefits by Companies Adopting Tripartite Standard on Work-Life Harmony

Louis Ng asked for the number and percentage of companies that provided specific leave and time-off benefits beyond statutory requirements over the past two years, including childcare, time-off for parents, pregnancy-related leave, maternity and paternity leave, as well as eldercare and family care leave.
Tan See Leng explained that the Tripartite Standard on Work-Life Harmony recognizes employers with progressive practices but does not prescribe specific benefits, allowing firms to decide based on evolving needs.
The Tripartite Alliance does not track the specific types of flexible work arrangements or enhanced leave benefits provided by adopters of the standard.
Employers have the prerogative to determine what leave benefits to offer, and no detailed statistics are collected on the specific provisions mentioned in the question.

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6 Jul 2023

Incidents of Abuse of Workers in Public Healthcare Sector

Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Health about studies on the under-reporting of abuse incidents in public healthcare and the assessment of actual incidence rates.
Ong Ye Kung cited a 2022 Ministry of Health survey of 3,000 healthcare workers, which found that 24% reported abuse incidents.
The Ministry emphasized its zero-tolerance policy towards abuse of healthcare workers in response to the query.

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6 Jul 2023

Review Migrant Domestic Worker Hiring Policies to Allow Diverse Care Arrangements such as Private Co-Living Care Format

Carrie Tan asked the Ministry of Manpower to review migrant domestic worker hiring policies to allow diverse eldercare arrangements like private co-living care and to share the concerns and data behind current restrictions.
The Minister of State explained that migrant domestic workers are protected under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act and their deployment is limited to non-commercial domestic services to ensure their well-being, with other eldercare options already available through various ministries.
Carrie Tan pressed for openness to new regulatory frameworks that balance care needs with affordability and viability, and the Minister of State affirmed that the Ministry is working with health authorities to develop new eldercare models.

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5 Jul 2023

Employees Making Restitution for Damage or Loss of Property Caused at Workplace by External Individuals

Dr Tan Wu Meng inquired about data on employees being asked to compensate for workplace property damage or theft by external individuals when not contractually required, and the outcomes of such cases.
The Ministry for Manpower does not track such cases but noted that the Employment Act limits salary deductions for employee fault to 25% of one month’s salary, requiring an inquiry and employee input before any deduction.
Employees can seek help from the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management, and the Ministry investigates complaints and enforces rules against unauthorized or excessive deductions.

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5 Jul 2023

Requirement for Employment Claims Tribunal to Issue Public Written Judgments by Default

Ms He Ting Ru proposed that the Employment Claims Tribunal should, by default, publish written judgments with sensitive personal details redacted to guide employment law and protect workers and businesses.
The Ministry of Manpower currently can apply for the ECT to publish judgments deemed useful as references for employers, employees, and mediators.
The Ministry indicated it will consider making judgment publication the default as part of the ongoing workplace fairness legislation review.

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5 Jul 2023

Feasibility of Hospital-provided Accommodation at Concessionary Rates for Healthcare Workers

Dr Tan Wu Meng asked if the Ministry of Health has studied providing hospital accommodation at concessionary rates for healthcare workers who need affordable housing near their workplace.
The Ministry explained that healthcare workers have flexibility to choose accommodation, with foreign workers receiving a housing allowance to offset costs.
MOH Holdings is exploring hostel-type accommodation to assist new foreign healthcare workers upon arrival before they transition to market housing.

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5 Jul 2023

Rise in Resident Employment in First Quarter 2023

Leong Mun Wai queried the Manpower Minister about the 2,800 rise in resident employment in Q1 2023, specifically the share attributable to non-residents becoming residents and the breakdown between full-time permanent and part-time roles.
Tan See Leng responded that the quarterly labour market reports do not collect data on the net change in resident employment by prior residency status or by full-time and part-time roles.

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5 Jul 2023

Reviewing Background Screening Companies Responsible for Verifying Qualifications of Employment Pass Applicants

The Ministry of Manpower will require employers to verify diploma-level and above qualifications for Employment Pass applications from September 2023, using listed screening companies or government/institution portals.
Twelve background screening companies were selected through a panel review based on criteria including scale, cost, speed, accuracy, customer support, and data protection, and will undergo regular audits.
For conflicting verification results, MOM will investigate discrepancies by reviewing the companies’ processes and communications with institutions to ensure accuracy.
MOM has implemented measures to aid employers, such as listing the companies on its website, requiring them to disclose service details, enforcing declared processing times, and working with associations for employer education.
Companies that fail to meet MOM’s standards will be removed from the list to maintain quality and reliability in the verification process.

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5 Jul 2023

Non-Singaporean Tamil Language Teachers Employed in Schools and Language Centres

Leong Mun Wai asked whether MOE has data on the number of non-Singaporean Tamil Language teachers employed and if schools would consider hiring more from abroad due to a local shortage.
Chan Chun Sing stated that as of December 2022, MOE employed 24 Tamil Language teachers who are Work Pass holders.
MOE prioritizes hiring local teachers but recruits foreign teachers for Tamil Language when local applicants are limited, selecting them based on track record and potential to assimilate.

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5 Jul 2023

Transportation of Workers on Back of Lorries

Louis Ng argues that transporting workers on the back of lorries is unsafe, citing fatal accidents, and demands a ban with a roadmap, interim bus pilots, and designated drivers, contrasting it with higher safety standards for schoolchildren and soldiers.
Senior Minister of State Amy Khor agrees on safety concerns but opposes an immediate ban, citing practical constraints like insufficient buses, driver shortages, and operational challenges for SMEs, while outlining ongoing measures to improve safety.
Ng presses for a specific timeline for a ban, comparing it to climate goals, and questions why the government discounts advice from lorry suppliers who deem the practice unsafe.
Khor responds that transitioning will require industry collaboration and time, noting current measures are in place and safety improvements are already seen in fatality and injury statistics.
The debate highlights tension between urgent safety demands and gradual policy implementation, with both sides acknowledging the need to protect workers while managing economic and logistical realities.

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5 Jul 2023

Mandating Caregiving Leave for Private Sector Companies

Leon Perera asked whether the Government would consider mandating caregiving leave for private sector companies, citing limited adoption and growing eldercare needs.
The Minister of State for Manpower highlighted existing statutory leave for parents and children, noted some companies voluntarily provide eldercare leave, and emphasized promoting flexible work arrangements through tripartite standards.
Perera followed up by urging the Government to consider mandating elderly or parent care leave or flexible work arrangements, especially for larger companies, given the aging population and low private-sector take-up.
The Minister responded that the Government takes a practical approach balancing employee caregiving needs with business costs, and reiterated the importance of flexible work arrangements in supporting caregivers.

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5 Jul 2023

Notice to Government for Grab Holdings' Recent Decision to Cut 1,000 Jobs

Saktiandi Supaat asked the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) when it became aware of Grab’s decision to cut 1,000 jobs, the proportion held by Singaporeans, and whether it is helping displaced workers transition to new roles.
The Senior Minister of State for Manpower responded that MOM was informed on 20 June 2023 and is working with agencies and NTUC to provide career coaching and employment facilitation for affected workers.
The Minister clarified that the workforce profile before and after the retrenchment remains largely similar, but declined to give exact figures on Singaporean workers impacted.
He noted that while the tech sector faces softness, job vacancies in infocomm remain high, and MOM is focusing on supporting displaced workers through existing schemes and partnerships.
MOM emphasized maintaining a cautiously optimistic outlook on the tech sector while preparing for potential slowdowns and leveraging current demand for tech skills across the economy.

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5 Jul 2023

Local Students from International Baccalaureate Diploma and Integrated Programmes Admitted to Nursing Diploma or Degree Courses

Over the past three years, 10 students from the IB Diploma and Integrated Programmes were admitted to NUS’s nursing degree, while five entered nursing diploma programmes at Nanyang Polytechnic and Ngee Ann Polytechnic.
The Ministry encourages students from these educational routes to apply for nursing programmes using their Year 4 or Year 6 grades, and promotes holistic assessment by institutes of higher learning.
In response to low enrolment numbers, the government is tracking admissions, working with schools and healthcare institutions, and reviewing remuneration and work environments to attract more students to the nursing profession.

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4 Jul 2023

Training for Organisations and Non-disabled Employees to Work with Persons with Disabilities

Miss Rachel Ong asked for data on organisations and non-disabled employees trained to work with persons with disabilities since 2015, the percentage of such organisations sending staff for training, and comparative data on employment tenure for persons with disabilities in trained versus untrained organisations.
Masagos Zulkifli B M M noted that SG Enable’s Enabling Academy trained over 7,100 non-disabled employees from more than 320 organisations over the past five years through Disability Awareness Talks and HIRE Workshops.
About 2% of the nearly 6,600 organisations that received the Enabling Employment Credit in 2022 had employees attend these training programmes in the past five years.
The Ministry indicated that such training may not be a key factor in hiring or retaining employees with disabilities, and instead emphasised supporting employers in providing necessary support to employees with disabilities.
The debate highlighted the Ministry’s focus on practical employer support over mandatory training programmes for improving disability inclusion in workplaces.

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4 Jul 2023

Expected Impact of Proposed Workplace Fairness Legislation on Employer-employee and Workplace Relationships

Members asked how the proposed Workplace Fairness Legislation will avoid making harmonious workplaces more litigious and how it will support employees in claims and protect them from victimization.
They also asked for an impact assessment on employer-employee relationships and how to contain negative effects like baseless legal actions.
The Minister referred to a prior parliamentary reply on 3 July 2023 for details on the legislation’s progress, impact, and support measures.

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4 Jul 2023

Mandating Increase in Accommodation Allowances for Foreign Healthcare Workers Given Recent Rental Rate Increase

Dennis Tan asked if the Ministry of Health will mandate or recommend higher accommodation allowances for foreign healthcare workers due to rising rental costs.
Ong Ye Kung responded that public healthcare and community care organisations provide housing allowances, but the ministry does not mandate specific amounts.
The Ministry of Health continues to monitor housing allowances as part of the salary package for foreign healthcare workers.
MOH Holdings is studying the feasibility of providing hostel-type accommodation for new foreign healthcare workers upon their arrival in Singapore.

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4 Jul 2023

Study on Adequacy of Ventilation in Migrant Workers' Dormitory Rooms

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked whether the Ministry has studied ventilation adequacy in migrant worker dormitories using CO2 readings and if so, what the results were, or if not, whether such studies would be conducted.
In 2021, the National Environment Agency and Ministry of Manpower conducted a study using CO2 measurements and found almost all readings in dormitory common areas were below 1,100 parts per million, indicating adequate ventilation.
Dormitory operators are required by law to ensure adequate ventilation, with the 1,100 ppm threshold based on Singapore and international standards for indoor air quality.

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4 Jul 2023

Review of Employment Act Given Rise in Median Wages

Patrick Tay Teck Guan inquired about a review of the Employment Act, noting it has not been updated since 2018, and considering the rise in median wages and changes in work nature, workforce, and workplaces.
Tan See Leng responded that the government regularly reviews the Employment Act with tripartite partners like SNEF and NTUC, and will consult them for the next review to keep it current.
The response emphasized the commitment to maintaining the Act's relevance through ongoing tripartite collaboration.

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