Employment & labour — Topics

9 May 2023

Companies Adopting Tripartite Standard on Work-Life Harmony in Past Two Years

Louis Ng asked the Minister for Manpower for the number of companies that adopted the Tripartite Standard on Work-Life Harmony in each of the past two years.
The Tripartite Standard on Work-Life Harmony was launched in April 2021, with adoption rising from 500 companies by end-2021 to 1,200 by end-2022.
These 1,200 companies cover approximately 317,000 employees, and adoption is encouraged to help employers attract and retain talent.

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9 May 2023

Provision of Fertility Leave to Public Servants

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked whether the Government will provide fertility leave to public servants, the timeline for implementation, and the reasons if not.
Chan Chun Sing replied that public officers can already use existing leave provisions like sick or hospitalisation leave for fertility procedures, and may request flexible work arrangements.
He stated that the Government will study the idea of fertility leave but must consider the operational impact of additional leave on the Public Service.

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9 May 2023

Data of Non-residents by Age, Employment Status, Profession and Income

Leong Mun Wai requested a yearly breakdown since 2000 of Singapore's non-residents by age, employment status, profession, and income.
Indranee Rajah, for the Prime Minister, stated that from 2000 to 2022, 92% of non-residents were aged 15–64, 5% were 0–14, and 3% were 65+, with 80% employed and 20% dependents or students.
The proportion of professionals, managers, executives, and technicians (PMETs) among employed non-residents rose from 15% in 2002 to 27% in 2022, mirroring trends in the resident workforce.
Median salaries for work pass holders (EP, S Pass, Work Permit) increased over the years, reflecting efforts to improve foreign workforce complementarity, with S Pass data unavailable before its 2004 introduction.

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9 May 2023

Payment Rates for Work Permit Holders Asked to Work on Rest Days

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) does not track the number of Work Permit holders asked to work on rest days or the payment rates they receive, but compensation rules require one day’s basic pay if the worker requests the work and two days’ if the employer requests it.
From 2020 to 2022, the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management handled about 535 annual claims from Work Permit holders regarding rest day pay issues, with 95% resolved through mediation and the rest referred to the Employment Claims Tribunals.
MOM investigated an average of 68 complaints per year about rest day pay, mainly due to administrative errors or financial difficulties, and took an educational approach for most cases, with stern enforcement in about 7% of cases involving severe breaches.

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9 May 2023

Cases of Migrant Worker Dormitory Operators Falling Short of Expectations for Food Storage and Drop-off

Louis Ng asked the Ministry of Manpower about the number of dormitory operators found with inadequate food storage and drop-off points over the past five years.
The Ministry reported that in the past two years, nine operators were found not protecting food from contamination until collection.
All operators complied immediately with MOM's instructions to improve, such as providing sheltered drop-off points, and no enforcement action was needed.
Dormitory residents can report food issues to MOM via the Forward Assurance and Support Team or the FWMOMCare app, and MOM will follow up with operators or employers.
MOM noted that in serious or recalcitrant cases, it has and will take appropriate enforcement action.

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9 May 2023

Justification for Employers Only Accepting Medical Certificates Issued by Polyclinics

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked about the justification for employers only accepting medical certificates from polyclinics and whether there are guidelines on this requirement.
The Ministry of Manpower clarified that the Employment Act requires employers to accept medical certificates from any registered medical or dental practitioner for paid sick leave, not just polyclinics.
There are no separate guidelines for employers since this is clearly stated in law and on the Ministry’s website, and it is covered in educational efforts like the WorkRight initiative.

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9 May 2023

Supporting Healthcare

Multiple speakers argued that healthcare requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society effort, extending beyond the Ministry of Health to include education, workforce policies, and cross-ministry collaboration to address long-term challenges such as ageing, chronic diseases, and pandemic preparedness.
They highlighted systemic issues including healthcare worker shortages, burnout, and the need for better support such as competitive pay, flexible work arrangements, and improved shift management, while also calling for stronger respect and protection from public abuse.
The debates emphasized the importance of preventive health, education at all levels, and empowering patients through better health literacy, digital tools, and accessible information to navigate the healthcare system and manage chronic conditions.
Proposals included enhancing financial sustainability by reviewing healthcare financing, drug procurement, and insurance models to reduce costs for Singaporeans, while ensuring equitable support for vulnerable groups such as migrant workers, the elderly, and those with special needs.

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9 May 2023

Use of Mattresses in Migrant Worker Dormitories

The Ministry of Manpower clarified that it does not prohibit the use of mattresses in migrant worker dormitories and requires operators to provide beds with a bed frame and mattress or bed board.
The ministry conducted 19 proactive investigations between 2018 and 2022 on mattress-related issues but found no cases of prohibition, with issues mainly due to workers’ personal preferences or unoccupied beds.
A member of parliament highlighted that some dormitories he visited lacked mattresses and reported a misconception among workers that MOM prohibits them, prompting a call for clearer awareness.
The ministry advised workers to contact Assurance, Care and Engagement officers or use the FWMOMCare app to report any prohibitions and ensure their rights are upheld.

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8 May 2023

Progress of Initiatives to Improve Female Labour Force Participation Rate

The Ministry of Manpower reported that the female labour force participation rate for women aged 25 to 64 increased from 74.8% in 2018 to 78.6% in 2021, which is higher than in Canada and the United Kingdom.
Key initiatives to improve female participation include promoting flexible work arrangements, with 91% of employers offering at least one formal FWA in 2021, up from 53% in 2018, and plans to introduce Tripartite Guidelines on FWAs by 2024 to make requesting flexible arrangements a workplace norm.
Support for women returning to work includes programmes by Workforce Singapore and NTUC’s e2i, which placed over 83,000 women jobseekers in the last three years, and the launch of the herCareer initiative in June 2022 to assist women re-entering the workforce.
Measures to support caregivers include doubling preschool capacity since 2012 to over 200,000 places, enhanced preschool subsidies, additional tax relief for working mothers, and expanded caregiving options for those caring for elderly family members.
The Tripartite Committee on Workplace Fairness will strengthen protections against discrimination based on sex, require employers to implement grievance handling processes, and legislate protections against retaliation for reporting workplace discrimination and harassment.

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8 May 2023

Data on Average Recruitment Fees Paid by Low-wage Migrant Workers

Leon Perera asked the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) whether it collects data on the average recruitment fees paid by low-wage migrant workers, and if so, to provide the average fees from Bangladesh, India, China, and the Philippines, as well as a comparison with fees in other major migrant-receiving countries.
MOM replied that it does not track average recruitment fees because most fees are incurred in the workers' home countries and are difficult to ascertain.
Based on ad hoc interviews in 2019, MOM noted that migrant workers typically pay between S$2,000 and S$10,000 in fees to work in Singapore, varying with home country economic conditions and intermediary involvement.
MOM stated it does not collect data on recruitment fees paid by migrant workers in other countries.
The debate highlighted that while some fee ranges are known, systematic data collection is limited due to the decentralized nature of recruitment processes.

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8 May 2023

Plans to Mitigate Effects of Shortage Occupation List on Reliance on Foreign Labour

Ms Hazel Poa asked the Minister for Manpower how the ministry plans to prevent the Shortage Occupation List from entrenching reliance on foreign labour or depressing wages for Singaporeans, and for how long such occupations are expected to remain on the list.
The Minister for Manpower explained that the Shortage Occupation List aims to complement local talent development by allowing companies to access foreign professionals for shortage occupations, with criteria including industry plans to train locals.
He stated that salaries for these occupations are competitive and will not depress wages for Singaporeans, as foreign professionals must meet the Employment Pass qualifying salary benchmarked against the top one-third of local professionals.
The Shortage Occupation List will be reviewed every three years to reassess shortages and whether commitments to develop the local pipeline have been achieved.

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8 May 2023

Directive Requiring Asymptomatic Healthcare Workers Tested Positive for COVID-19 to Return to Work

Miss Cheng Li Hui questioned whether the Ministry of Health has issued any directive or is aware of hospitals internally requiring asymptomatic COVID-19 positive healthcare workers to return to work.
Ong Ye Kung stated that with COVID-19 now endemic, it is treated like other infectious diseases, and unwell healthcare workers should take sick leave.
Ong Ye Kung explained that asymptomatic positive healthcare workers are not legally required to self-isolate and may work from home or return to on-site work with precautions like redeployment to non-patient facing areas.

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8 May 2023

Plans to Lower Qualifying Age for SkillsFuture Mid-career Enhanced Subsidy

Gerald Giam asked if the government plans to lower the qualifying age for the SkillsFuture Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy from 40 to 35 to support younger Singaporeans in career transitions.
Chan Chun Sing stated the government's priority is to assist those aged 40 and above with up to 90% subsidies for reskilling and upskilling.
He noted younger Singaporeans, including those in their 30s, can still receive up to 70% subsidies and use their SkillsFuture Credit to minimize cash outlay for career changes.

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8 May 2023

Days of Childcare Leave to be Granted

Christopher de Souza proposed that childcare leave be granted in proportion to the number of children, with additional days for parents of three or more.
The Prime Minister's office highlighted recent enhancements to parental leave, including doubling paternity leave and unpaid infant care leave to support bonding and caregiving.
Any further enhancements must balance parental needs with employer manpower constraints, emphasizing the importance of family-friendly work environments beyond legislated leave.
Tripartite initiatives promote flexible work arrangements and unpaid leave for caregiving, with new guidelines to require fair consideration of employee requests.
The government will continue collaborating with partners to support working parents through sustainable workplace practices.

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8 May 2023

Transportation of Workers in Rear Decks of Lorries

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked when the Ministry first knew that key authorised lorry suppliers agree it is ideal for lorries not to carry passengers in their rear decks and how this information factored into policy.
Minister S Iswaran confirmed the Ministry shares concerns for worker safety and acknowledged that while it is ideal to avoid carrying passengers in rear decks, practical and operational considerations exist, with varied international practices.
Singapore adopts a multi-pronged approach through a working committee engaging stakeholders to study safety measures, such as requiring rain covers and limiting driver hours to 12 per day.
The Government continues to explore further measures to enhance safety for workers transported in lorries.

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8 May 2023

Plans to Ensure Sufficient Singaporean Bus Drivers for All Categories of Passengers

The Government acknowledges that the reopening of the economy has increased demand for bus drivers, leading to manpower tightness for some operators.
Initiatives such as wage increases, flexible work arrangements, and sign-on bonuses are being implemented to attract and retain local bus drivers.
The Government is complementing local drivers with foreign drivers and providing targeted support, including additional foreign worker quotas on a time-limited basis for public and school bus operators.

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8 May 2023

Number of Hours Worked by Immigration Officers Per Shift at Woodlands and Tuas Checkpoints

The four-day shift cycle for ICA officers at Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints involves two 12-hour shifts followed by two rest days, allowing for up to 42 hours of work per week without overtime.
Overtime is required during peak periods like school holidays and long weekends, with officers at Tuas and Woodlands checkpoints averaging nine and twelve hours of overtime per month respectively from 2018 to 2022.
The shift cycle was introduced at Tuas Checkpoint in April 2021 and at Woodlands Checkpoint in August 2021.

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8 May 2023

Effectiveness of Extended Heightened Safety Period in Reducing Workplace Accidents and Injuries

Melvin Yong asked whether the extended Heightened Safety Period (HSP) has been effective in reducing workplace accidents and if there are plans to extend it beyond May 2023.
The Minister confirmed the HSP was introduced in September 2022 to address rising workplace fatalities, with increased penalties and accountability for senior management.
The Minister stated the HSP measures have helped reduce workplace fatalities and more details on its impact will be shared at the National Workplace Safety and Health Campaign on 23 May 2023.

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8 May 2023

Differentiating CareersFinder to Fulfil Workers' Needs and Improve Jobseekers' Experience

The Minister explained that career health involves awareness of labour market opportunities, proactive career planning, and resilience, with ITMs, JTMs, and CareersFinder as key tools to support workers' advancement and employability.
CareersFinder will be introduced as an add-on to MyCareersFuture in Q3 2023 and later on MySkillsFuture, using data to recommend jobs and training, complementing existing portals for a more seamless user experience.
Partnerships with private entities are planned to enhance CareersFinder, allowing them to use its algorithm for job matching and develop additional services to better serve jobseekers.

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8 May 2023

Key Performance Indicators Tracked for Effectiveness of Courses in Upskilling Workers for Shortage Occupation List

Minister Chan Chun Sing highlighted that SkillsFuture Singapore tracks employment rates within six months for disrupted workers, with 64% of those under 40 and 56% of those aged 40 and above securing jobs after completing training programmes such as SGUnited Skills and Pathway Programmes.
The Ministry monitors the time taken to find employment through post-training surveys and labour market data, and uses this to refine programmes like the SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme, which targets sectors with good hiring opportunities.
Effectiveness of upskilling courses is assessed by working closely with industry partners and sector agencies, using job postings and labour market data to identify skills gaps, including those on the Shortage Occupation List, to ensure programmes meet evolving workforce needs.

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