Employment & labour — Topics

10 Apr 2023

Ministry of Manpower

MOM will enhance career support for Singaporeans through tools like Jobs Transformation Maps and CareersFinder, while professionalizing skilled trades and developing more local corporate leaders to keep workers relevant amid economic changes.
The ministry will roll out the COMPASS framework for Employment Pass applications from September 2023 to encourage diverse teams and support strategic economic priorities, while also strengthening protections for platform workers with injury compensation and CPF contributions.
MOM is committed to uplifting lower-wage workers with Progressive Wages and enhanced Workfare, supporting seniors and persons with disabilities through extended employment credits, and bolstering retirement adequacy by raising the CPF salary ceiling and reviewing policies for broader coverage.

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22 Mar 2023

Requirement for Performing Artiste Holding Work Permit to Attend Settling-in Programme

Louis Ng asked whether the Ministry of Manpower will require performing artiste work permit holders to attend a Settling-in Programme, similar to other sectors like migrant domestic workers.
The Ministry stated that non-Malaysian work permit holders in construction, manufacturing, marine shipyard, process sectors, and migrant domestic workers attend the programme.
The Ministry reviews this periodically but has no current plans to extend the programme to performing artiste work permit holders.

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22 Mar 2023

Impact on Employment of Full-time and Part-time Drivers from Expansion of Coverage of Progressive Wage Model

Leon Perera questioned whether the expansion of the Progressive Wage Model to cover drivers would protect them from being terminated and rehired as platform drivers to cut costs.
The Senior Minister of State for Manpower stated that misclassifying employees to avoid obligations is illegal and will be investigated, while noting the Progressive Wage Credit Scheme supports employers in implementing wage increases.
Dr Tan Wu Meng raised concerns about older or less informed workers being unaware of misclassification risks and asked about awareness programmes.
The Senior Minister of State responded that workers can contact MOM or unions if mistreated, emphasized there have been no complaints so far, and highlighted that workers have options to seek other employment.
The debate concluded with the Speaker ending Question Time and moving to a Ministerial Statement.

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21 Mar 2023

Forgery of In-principle Approval Letters for Migrant Workers

Louis Ng asked whether the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) investigates collusion between Singapore employers or agencies and overseas agents in forging in-principle approval (IPA) letters for migrant workers, and if not, whether it will start doing so.
MOM stated it conducts thorough investigations to identify parties involved in forgery cases and will check for collusion between local employers or agencies and overseas agents.
From 2018 to 2022, only one local employer was charged and convicted for forging IPA letters, and MOM will take enforcement action against any errant parties found complicit.

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21 Mar 2023

Profile of Foreigners Granted Singapore Citizenship

Leong Mun Wai asked for annual data since 2000 on the age, profession, and income distribution of foreigners granted Singapore citizenship.
The Minister referred to a prior parliamentary reply for age breakdowns and stated that from 2000 to 2022, about 37% of new citizens were PMETs, 14% non-PMETs, and 49% were not economically active.
From 2012 to 2022, around 32% of new citizens had a gross monthly income above the median of full-time employed citizens at the time of application.

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21 Mar 2023

Tripartite Guideline or Standard on Unexpected Care Leave

MP Louis Ng asked the Manpower Ministry to upgrade the Tripartite Standard on Unpaid Care Leave to Guidelines and consider legislating it, as well as to launch new Tripartite Standards for paid childcare and parent care leave.
The Minister of State explained that existing laws already mandate certain care leaves, and the voluntary Tripartite Standard on Work-life Harmony encourages employers to offer additional paid leave options like child sick leave and parental care leave.
The government prefers to keep Tripartite Standards voluntary to avoid burdening businesses, especially SMEs, while promoting flexible work arrangements and community support as more sustainable solutions.
The Minister for Manpower confirmed that Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangements will be implemented in 2024, following tripartite consensus, but no immediate plans to convert care leave standards into mandatory guidelines.
MPs emphasized the need to support parents of multiples and pre-term babies, suggesting a review or phased approach for larger firms, but the government maintains a balanced focus on business viability and employee support.

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21 Mar 2023

Support for Teachers with Young Children and Those Returning to Work after Extended Absence

The Ministry of Education provides flexible work arrangements for teachers with medical needs or caregiving responsibilities, but does not collect data on their usage as arrangements are often ad hoc and localised.
Teachers facing childcare challenges due to early work hours are encouraged to discuss their needs with school leaders to explore feasible solutions, though schools must balance these with their duty of care to students.
The Ministry is open to exploring partnerships with agencies like the Early Childhood Development Agency to facilitate childcare arrangements, but notes that parents' personal preferences must be respected.

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20 Mar 2023

Re-employed Workers Given Re-employment Contracts of Two Years and Longer

Desmond Choo asked the Minister for Manpower about the proportion of re-employed workers receiving two-year or longer re-employment contracts.
Tan See Leng stated that in 2021, 98.5% of re-employed workers were offered re-employment contracts of one year and above.
The Ministry does not have a further breakdown on the tenure of contracts for two years and longer.

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20 Mar 2023

Job Advertisements on MyCareersFuture Portal and Vacancies Filled

From 2020 to 2022, an average of 112,600 job vacancies were posted daily on the MyCareersFuture portal, with the top sectors being administrative and support services, information and communications, professional services, accommodation and food services, and manufacturing.
There was approximately one applicant for every five job vacancies posted on the portal over the same period, with only Singapore residents eligible to apply.
Data on the median number of applicants selected for interviews and the number of vacancies filled is unavailable because employers are not required to report this information, and recruitment strategies extend beyond the portal.
Approximately 240,000 active local MyCareersFuture users were recorded each year from 2020 to 2021, with about half finding new jobs within six months, and most of those who did not were already employed when they applied.

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20 Mar 2023

Attracting Talents Affected by Recent Workforce Lay-offs and Hiring Freezes into Civil Service

The Civil Service is actively recruiting tech talent through targeted programmes like the Smart Nation Scholarship, internships for students, and Smart Nation Fellowships for experienced specialists.
Agencies conduct their own and joint recruitment exercises, welcoming applicants from all backgrounds, including those affected by layoffs, as long as they meet job requirements and are keen to serve the public.
The “Tech for Public Good” initiative was launched to accelerate tech hiring, featuring a microsite to advertise openings, with over 100 positions filled and 15 career talks attracting more than 800 attendees.

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20 Mar 2023

Review of $4,500 Salary Cap in Section 35(a) of Employment Act 1968

Abdul Samad asked when the $4,500 salary cap in Section 35(a) of the Employment Act will be reviewed.
Tan See Leng explained that the Act covers all employees, with additional protections for lower-wage workers up to the cap.
The government reviews the Act regularly with tripartite partners, last in 2019, and will consider future Progressive Wage impacts.

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20 Mar 2023

Data such as Attrition Rates and Gender of Foreign Service Staff

The Minister reported that half of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs officers are women, with the proportion at superscale grades increasing from 15% in 2010 to 29% in 2022.
There is no significant difference in attrition rates between men and women in the Ministry, though overseas postings can be disruptive for officers with spouses and young children, particularly women who bear a disproportionate caregiving burden.
The Ministry regularly reviews human resource policies, including terms for overseas postings, to better support career aspirations and family obligations, and expects more women to take on senior roles as the Ministry seeks to recruit and nurture all available talent.

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20 Mar 2023

Mandatory Retrenchment Notifications Received by Government and Proportion of Tech Firms amongst Notifying Companies

The Ministry of Manpower received about 850 retrenchment notifications in 2023, with approximately a quarter from the information and communications sector.
About three-quarters of these notifications were submitted on time, and among late submissions, 65% were still filed before retrenchment occurred.
Employers who submitted late received caution letters, and the government did not provide a specific number of companies that failed to comply with the requirement.

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20 Mar 2023

Reporting Potential Unsafe Workplace Practices through OneService Mobile Application

Melvin Yong asked if the Ministry of Manpower will simplify public reporting of unsafe workplace practices through the OneService mobile app.
The Minister stated that reporting options already exist, such as the MOM hotline, WSH e-feedback portal, and LifeSG app.
MOM is exploring additional convenient reporting methods, including the OneService app suggestion.
Feedback from other government apps will be routed to MOM under the "No Wrong Door" policy.

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20 Mar 2023

Number of Foreign Students Caught Working Illegally in 2022 and Actions Taken against Hiring Companies

In 2022, 38 foreign students holding a Student’s Pass were caught working illegally, all of whom were warned and had their passes cancelled while being barred from working in Singapore.
The 21 companies that illegally hired these students faced enforcement actions, including 11 stern warnings, nine composition fines, and one prosecution.
Foreign students may only work up to 16 hours per week if enrolled in a recognized institution or during approved industrial attachments, otherwise they require a valid Work Pass.

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20 Mar 2023

Local Workforce's Ability to Meet Current Demand for Artificial Intelligence Skills

The government is actively growing AI talent through initiatives like the TechSkills Accelerator, which has placed and trained over 2,600 individuals in AI roles since 2016, with successful outcomes such as high job offer rates and salary increases for participants.
Efforts are being made to expand top-quality local AI research talent, including new partnerships like the AI Investigatorship and the existing PhD Fellowship Programme to support advanced research and mentorship.
Outreach programs aim to increase AI literacy across society, with over 100,000 attendees in initiatives like "AI for Everyone" to broaden awareness and adoption.
The government acknowledges that demand for AI skills may continue to outpace supply and commits to scaling up collaborations to empower more citizens in this growing field.

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20 Mar 2023

Singapore's COVID-19 Response

The Singapore government prioritized protecting lives and livelihoods during the pandemic, implementing measures to control COVID-19 outbreaks in migrant worker dormitories, support local jobs through initiatives like the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package, and strengthen systems for future resilience, including new dormitory standards and healthcare reforms.
The response highlighted the importance of tripartite partnerships and community support, with significant contributions from NGOs, employers, and grassroots volunteers, while also acknowledging lessons learned, such as the need for better early communication and mask availability during the crisis.
Singapore's financial strength and decisive leadership, including drawing on reserves and establishing support schemes, enabled the country to navigate the economic and health challenges, with the 4G leadership demonstrating effective governance and a commitment to emerging stronger from the pandemic.

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20 Mar 2023

Implementation of Recommendations by 2021 National Wellness Committee on Junior Doctors

The 2021 National Wellness Committee on Junior Doctors is currently finalizing recommendations after engaging stakeholders, with early initiatives like Chief Wellness Officers and expanded career pathways already in place.
Attrition rates for doctors in the public healthcare sector have remained stable at 3–5% over the last three years, but the committee is reviewing work hours, conditions, and well-being to further improve retention.
The committee, which includes junior doctors, is prioritizing areas such as mandating rest days, moving away from 30-hour calls, and reviewing the 80-hour weekly cap, while also examining administrative processes and workload monitoring.
The Senior Minister of State emphasized that solutions require a complex, system-wide approach beyond just hiring more staff or redistributing tasks, and recommendations will be made after thorough study.

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6 Mar 2023

Number and Percentage of Private Companies Offering Parent-care Leave

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Manpower for the number and percentage of private companies offering parent-care leave from 2021.
The Minister responded that based on 2020 survey data, 1,785 private companies, or 13.2%, provided paid parental care leave to employees.
The Ministry of Manpower does not track the number or percentage of private companies offering unpaid parental care leave.

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6 Mar 2023

Rationale for Requiring Both Employers and Doctors to Submit Incident Report after Diagnosis of Occupational Disease

Louis Ng questioned why both employers and doctors must report occupational diseases, while only employers are required to report work-related injuries or deaths.
The Senior Minister of State explained that doctors must report occupational diseases because affected employees may no longer be at the same job, ensuring cases are not missed, while workplace injuries have a direct employment link so employers report them.
The government enforces reporting through fines and imprisonment, closes loopholes, and collaborates with NGOs and employees to prevent under-reporting, aiming to keep the process lean and minimize administrative burden on healthcare workers.

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