Employment & labour — Topics

8 May 2023

Replicating Parts of Korean Employment Permit Scheme in Recruitment of Low-wage Bangladeshi Migrant Workers

Leon Perera asked if the Ministry of Manpower would study replicating parts of South Korea's Employment Permit Scheme to regulate recruitment of low-wage Bangladeshi migrant workers and reduce exploitation and high fees.
Manpower Minister Tan See Leng said the Korean scheme was previously deemed unsuitable for Singapore due to higher worker volumes and long waiting times in Korea.
MOM acknowledges the issue of high recruitment fees in workers' home countries but lacks jurisdiction to regulate them, though it has limited fees charged by agencies in Singapore.
The ministry is exploring alternatives, such as facilitating direct recruitment channels for returning workers to reduce reliance on intermediaries and lower fees, though this is still in early consideration.

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8 May 2023

Timeline for Introduction of Anti-discrimination Law

Sylvia Lim asked about the unresolved issues and timeline for the draft anti-discrimination law announced in 2021, including when it would be available for public review.
Tan See Leng responded that the Tripartite Committee on Workplace Fairness released interim recommendations in February and is reviewing public feedback.
The Committee aims to release its final recommendations in the second half of this year, with legislation drafting to follow.
The government targets having the draft law ready for the second half of 2024.

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8 May 2023

Factors Considered in Drawing up COMPASS Shortage Occupation List

The Ministry of Manpower and Ministry of Trade and Industry evaluate occupations for the Shortage Occupation List based on strategic economic importance, labour shortage indicators from job vacancy and application data, and sector commitment to developing local talent pipelines, with sector agencies setting and reviewing local training and employment commitments.
The Shortage Occupation List is reviewed regularly, with annual adjustments and a full reset every three years, to respond to labour market changes, avoid entrenched dependencies on foreign workers, and ensure local graduates are not disadvantaged, with monitoring of local graduate outcomes and wage trends.
Ministries collaborate with sector agencies, the Ministry of Education, and institutions of higher learning to align course offerings with industry needs, provide broad career guidance, and encourage continuous upskilling, though detailed list sharing for career guidance is balanced against the accelerating pace of change in the job market.

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8 May 2023

Impact of Recent Realignment of Roles and Salaries in Social Service Sector

The Ministry of Social and Family Development reviewed and realigned job roles and salaries in the social service sector, merging certain roles and adjusting pay ranges to ensure competitiveness, with no salary reductions for current staff and some roles seeing increases.
The review considered economic factors and skills frameworks but did not involve unions, leading to concerns about potential impacts on healthcare support staff and calls for a tripartite approach in future reviews.
The Ministry works with the Ministry of Education to attract students into the sector and reviews salary guidelines annually, but funding for administrative roles like CEOs and IT positions remains a challenge, relying on multiple stakeholders.
The National Council of Social Service supports agencies in implementing salary guidelines, though not all agencies may meet the new ranges, and the Ministry does not have specific data on compliance rates.

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21 Apr 2023

Retrenchment Benefits Per Year of Service for Each Retrenched Worker Broken Down by Industry and Unionised and Non-unionised Companies

Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked for the median and average retrenchment benefit per year of service over the last five years, broken down by industry and by unionised and non-unionised companies.
Minister Tan See Leng stated that eligibility requires at least two years of service, and the prevailing norm is between two weeks and one month of salary per year of service, depending on company finances and industry norms.
Based on retrenchment notifications from April 2020 to March 2023, about 90% of eligible employees received retrenchment benefits, with 90% receiving at least two weeks' salary per year of service.
The overall median retrenchment benefit paid was one month of salary per year of service, but it varies significantly across industries.
For employees in unionised companies, the median benefit was one month of salary per year of service, compared to 0.8 months for those in non-unionised companies.

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21 Apr 2023

Number of Companies Adopting Tripartite Standard on Unpaid Leave for Unexpected Care Needs in Past Five Years

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Manpower for the number of companies adopting the Tripartite Standard on Unpaid Leave for Unexpected Care Needs each year over the past five years.
The Minister for Manpower, Tan See Leng, responded that the number of adopter companies increased from 2018 to 2022.
The increase covered about 430,000 workers in 2022.
A detailed table was provided but the specific yearly figures were not listed in the speeches.

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21 Apr 2023

Assessed Quantity and Nature of Labour Shortage for 27 Occupations under Shortage Occupation List

The Ministry of Manpower and Ministry of Trade and Industry assess labour shortages for the Shortage Occupation List using three criteria: importance to economic priorities, degree and nature of shortage, and sector commitment to developing local workforce.
Shortage assessments rely on quantitative indicators like unfilled vacancies for six months and applicant-to-vacancy ratios, plus qualitative input from sector agencies and industry partners.
The focus is on vacancies hard to fill due to specialised skill gaps among locals, with the SOL regularly reviewed to stay responsive to changing industry needs.

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21 Apr 2023

Support Freelance Exercise Professionals to Obtain Certificates to Register on National Registry of Exercise Professionals

Sport Singapore will launch the National Registry of Exercise Professionals (NREP) in phases, allowing freelancers to register with specific certifications, a provisional membership for those without first aid certification, and subsidised training.
The Ministry has been engaging over 400 exercise professionals and industry stakeholders like gyms and fitness businesses to raise awareness of the NREP and encourage its use in hiring criteria.
The response from the industry has been positive towards the NREP, and engagement efforts will continue through all implementation phases.

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21 Apr 2023

Career Options and Prospects for Trained Singapore Oral Health Therapists

Oral health therapists in Singapore have diverse career options in both private and public dental clinics, including general and specialist settings, as well as non-clinical roles in education and administration.
The Ministry of Health is expanding the clinical scope of oral health therapists to address an ageing population, with a new training roadmap this year to upskill them for care across different ages and settings.
The government plans to explore additional career tracks for oral health therapists, such as in research and administration, and has accredited a diploma for entry into dentistry studies at the National University of Singapore.

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21 Apr 2023

Proposal to Allow Hawkers above Age 60 to Hire One Foreign Worker to Help with Food Preparation

Dr Tan Yia Swam proposed allowing hawkers over 60 to hire one foreign worker for food preparation and to train them to preserve hawker culture.
The government maintains that only Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents may operate or work in NEA-managed hawker centres to protect the local identity of the culture.
To address manpower challenges, schemes like the enhanced Hawkers' Productivity Grant provide co-funding for automation and digital solutions to boost productivity.

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21 Apr 2023

Investigation into Dormitory Operators Who Allowed Packed Food for Migrant Workers to be Left Unattended

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Manpower about the number of dormitory operators investigated and any enforcement actions taken over the past five years for leaving packed food unattended.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) stated it has not received complaints leading to enforcement actions in the last five years, but regular inspections have identified issues that dormitory operators addressed promptly without needing enforcement.
MOM is currently investigating recent media-reported cases and will take necessary enforcement actions if serious breaches of regulations are found.
Dormitory residents can report food-related issues to MOM's on-site teams or via the FWMOMCare app, with MOM following up with operators and employers to rectify problems.
In serious cases, MOM will take appropriate enforcement action, but no prosecutions or compound fines have been issued in the past five years for this specific issue.

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21 Apr 2023

Recent Declines in Reference Points for Salaries of Care and Senior Care Staff

Leon Perera questioned why the reference point salaries for Care Staff and Senior Care Staff have fallen despite the Ministry’s announcement of expected salary increases of 4% to 15% for social service staff from April 2023.
Masagos Zulkifli explained that the FY2023 Sector Salary Guidelines considered updated Skills Frameworks, changes in job sizes, and responsibilities, leading to job role mergers and reclassifications that are not directly comparable to previous years.
The Senior Care Staff role was re-mapped from the Social Work Associate grade to the Social Service Assistant grade, and social service agencies are advised to evaluate job roles and use appropriate benchmarks for salary setting.
The National Council of Social Service is providing support through webinars, workshops, and clinics to help agencies implement the FY2023 Guidelines effectively.

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21 Apr 2023

Extent of Protection with Move to Limit Proposed Legislation against Workplace Discrimination to Five Characteristics

Louis Ng Kok Kwang questioned if limiting the proposed workplace discrimination legislation to five characteristics might create unequal protection and tolerance for other forms of discrimination in society.
Tan See Leng emphasized that Singapore's policy opposes all workplace discrimination, and the Tripartite Guidelines and Alliance will continue to address all complaints and enforce fair practices.
The proposed legislation focuses on common and familiar forms of discrimination, with the understanding that many countries also specify protected characteristics in their laws.
The legislation will work alongside the Tripartite Guidelines, which will remain in place to cover all forms of discrimination and strengthen the overall framework for workplace fairness.

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21 Apr 2023

Recourse for Retrenched Unionised and Non-unionised Employees who are Paid Retrenchment Benefits that are Less Than Prevailing Norm

Retrenched employees who are not paid retrenchment benefits as stated in their employment contracts can file claims at the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management, with unresolved cases heard at the Employment Claims Tribunals.
For unionised employees where the dispute involves a collective agreement, the union can bring the matter to the Ministry of Manpower for conciliation, and if unresolved, arbitration at the Industrial Arbitration Court.
If no retrenchment benefit clause exists in the contract or collective agreement, the quantum is negotiated between the employee or union and the employer; non-unionised employees can seek assistance from TAFEP if the employer refuses to adhere to the prevailing advisory norm.
In unionised companies where negotiations stall, either the union or employer may request MOM's conciliation to resolve the dispute.

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21 Apr 2023

Inclusion of Restraint of Trade Clauses in Labour Contracts for Non-top Management Positions

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked whether the Ministry of Manpower monitors and condones restraint of trade clauses in labour contracts for non-top management positions.
Tan See Leng stated that such clauses should only be included for genuine business protection, be reasonable, and are generally avoided for lower-paying jobs due to their disproportionate impact on livelihoods.
Higher-paying middle-management roles may more legitimately use these clauses due to greater access to sensitive business information.
Employees can report unreasonable clauses to unions, TAFEP, or MOM, which have addressed around 20 such cases annually with employer cooperation.
Tripartite partners are developing guidelines to shape norms on restrictive clauses in employment contracts.

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21 Apr 2023

Assessment of Tech Capabilities and Competencies for Employment Pass under COMPASS

The Ministry of Manpower works with the Infocomm Media Development Authority to verify applicants' tech qualifications and work experience against the COMPASS Shortage Occupation List at the application stage.
After approval, EP holders are restricted to the specified shortage occupation, and any change in job role requires a new EP application with reassessment.
MOM conducts random audits and investigates whistle-blower cases to detect misuse, imposing stiff penalties for fraudulent applications.

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21 Apr 2023

Companies Facing Difficulties Re-negotiating Contracts Signed Before PWM Wage Rungs Were Set

Tripartite cluster committees have negotiated multi-year wage schedules for PWM sectors to give service providers and buyers advance notice, but some companies still face challenges renegotiating contracts signed before these wage rungs were set.
The government supports businesses through the Progressive Wage Credit Scheme, funding up to 75% of wage increases for five years, and encourages outcome-based contracting to improve sustainability and productivity.
Service buyers who threaten to blacklist contractors over renegotiation concerns are discouraged, and the government calls on unions to mediate, while noting that commercial contracts remain between parties without direct government intervention.

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20 Apr 2023

Debate on President's Address

Minister Ong Ye Kung outlined Singapore’s preparations for a “super-aged” society, focusing on urban planning, economic adaptation, retirement adequacy, healthcare reform, and good governance.
He emphasized adapting the economy by raising retirement ages, increasing female workforce participation, complementing local workers with foreign talent, and leveraging technology to address manpower shortages.
The debate featured exchanges between the Minister and opposition MPs on policy differences, including the GST hike, the use of reserves (NIRC), and the need for credible alternative proposals.
Minister Grace Fu highlighted the importance of sustainability and a renewed social compact across generations, citing initiatives for coastal protection, food security, and collective action on climate change.
Other speakers discussed youth engagement, inclusive meritocracy, and the business case for employing persons with disabilities, calling for active citizenry and partnerships across sectors.

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18 Apr 2023

Debate on President's Address

Several MPs stressed the need to adapt Singapore's education system for a fast-changing world, proposing curricular reforms like reducing syllabus volume, lowering class sizes, and enhancing pathways such as through-train schools to reduce exam stress.
Debates highlighted challenges in ageism and supporting an ageing population, with calls to better value seniors, address workplace discrimination, and improve inter-generational support and caregiving policies.
Proposals were made to refresh Singapore’s social compact through broader meritocracy, stronger social safety nets, and policies to tackle economic pessimism, such as a minimum wage, redundancy insurance, and housing affordability reforms.

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17 Apr 2023

Debate on President's Address

Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong expressed confidence in Singapore's ability to overcome challenges and maintain its exceptionalism, supporting the President's Address.
Ms Yeo Wan Ling highlighted the invisible social impacts of COVID-19, advocating for better support for women workers, platform workers, and adults with special needs through policy changes and community efforts.
Mr Fahmi Aliman emphasized the importance of Mother Tongue languages, strengthening support for vulnerable groups in the Malay/Muslim community, and building workforce trust through tripartite partnerships.
Mr Desmond Choo focused on workforce resilience, suggesting enhanced training support and unemployment assistance, while critiquing a single poverty line in favor of tailored aid schemes.
Assoc Prof Jamus Lim and Mr Desmond Choo debated the concept of a poverty line, with Lim advocating for a benchmark to guide assistance schemes and Choo supporting targeted, flexible aid.
Mr Ang Wei Neng called for adjusting ComCare eligibility criteria to account for inflation and ensure low-income families receive adequate support.
Mr Darryl David advocated for education focused on competencies over skills, greater diversity in public service leadership, and embedding equity and inclusion in societal development.
Dr Tan Wu Meng stressed the need for social togetherness in an AI-disrupted world, emphasizing face-to-face interactions and policy attention to cohesion to counter deepfakes and maintain trust.

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