Employment & labour — Topics

28 Nov 2022

Nominal Wage Growth for Full-time Employed Singapore Citizens by Industry

Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked for the nominal wage growth for full-time employed Singapore Citizens by industry for the year-to-date.
Tan See Leng explained that nominal median income growth by industry is released annually in January, with 2021 data being the latest available.
The 2022 data will be released in end-January 2023 in the Labour Force in Singapore report.
The answer focused on residents rather than specifically Singapore Citizens, and provided a timeline for future data release.

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28 Nov 2022

Effect of Announced Fee and Salary Adjustments on Private Preschool Operators' Sustainability

Darryl David inquired whether the Government considered the impact of fee reductions and salary enhancements for anchor and partner preschool operators on private preschool operators and if there are plans to support their sustainability.
Masagos Zulkifli clarified that the measures are part of a long-term strategy to provide affordable, quality preschools, noting that anchor and partner operators are private sector entities following fee caps and quality requirements.
He explained that private preschools not on these schemes can offer niche programs and price higher, but face competitive pressure from other sectors for skilled manpower, which the Government aims to mitigate through continued support.
Masagos assured that all preschool operators, including those not on anchor or partner schemes, benefit from various ECDA schemes, funding, and sector-wide initiatives to enhance productivity, training, and career development.
The Minister emphasized that the recent moves support families and educators, expand affordable preschool capacity, and maintain a vibrant, competitive sector that meets diverse family needs through innovation.

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28 Nov 2022

Effect of Improved Standards on Capacity of New Migrant Worker Dormitories

Minister Tan See Leng stated that no reduction in total migrant worker dormitory capacity has occurred since the improved standards took effect in September 2021.
The number of Work Permit holders in key sectors has increased by 25% since January 2022 and is 11% above pre-COVID-19 levels, driving strong demand for dormitory beds.
Employers are advised to secure housing for workers before arrival and consider their housing capacity before taking on new projects, as migrant worker numbers are already significantly higher than pre-pandemic.

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28 Nov 2022

Prison Inmates Helped by Yellow Ribbon Singapore in Securing Job Placements

Patrick Tay asked the Minister for Home Affairs about the annual number of prison inmates helped by Yellow Ribbon Singapore to secure job placements before and after their release over the past 10 years.
YRSG assisted about 2,200 inmates per year between 2012 and 2021 to secure jobs before their release, matching them based on skills and preferences.
After release, YRSG assisted close to 140 ex-offenders per year during the same period to secure jobs.

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28 Nov 2022

Skills Development Levy (Amendment) Bill

The Minister of State for Education, Ms Gan Siow Huang, presented the Skills Development Levy (Amendment) Bill to amend the Skills Development Levy Act 1979 on behalf of the Minister for Education.
The bill was read for the first time and scheduled for a second reading at the next available Parliament sitting, with the proceedings to be printed.
The debate focused on legislative updates to the existing Skills Development Levy framework to support workforce training and development.
The amendment aims to enhance the levy's effectiveness in funding skills development programs for employees in Singapore.
The bill was introduced as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the skills and employability of the local workforce through structured levy mechanisms.

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28 Nov 2022

SkillsFuture Singapore Agency (Amendment) Bill

The amendment to the SkillsFuture Singapore Agency Act aims to update the agency’s powers and functions to better support adult learning and workforce development.
The bill facilitates stronger coordination between SkillsFuture Singapore and other agencies to address evolving skills needs and promote lifelong learning.
It enhances the agency’s flexibility to adapt to future changes in the skills landscape, ensuring Singapore remains competitive.
The proposed changes are part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the national continuing education and training framework.

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28 Nov 2022

Impact of Layoffs by Big Tech Companies and Support Available for Affected Employees

The Ministry of Manpower reported that 1,270 resident workers in the tech sector were retrenched from July to mid-November 2022, with most being non-tech role employees and 70% aged 35 and below.
The government is actively supporting affected workers through the Taskforce for Responsible Retrenchment and Employment Facilitation, which provides job placement services, career coaching, and encourages skills upgrading and career conversion programmes.
The Minister highlighted that job vacancies in the Information & Communications sector remain high, and retrenched workers, especially in tech roles, are finding new employment quickly, with no immediate evidence of widespread salary adjustments or knock-on effects.

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28 Nov 2022

One-time Wage Adjustment for Civil Servants to Offset Anticipated High Core Inflation Rate in 2022

Ang Wei Neng asked if the Public Service Division would consider a one-time wage adjustment for civil servants to offset the high core inflation rate in 2022, citing reports that many employees might change jobs if pay does not keep up with inflation.
The Minister for Education, Chan Chun Sing, replied that civil service salaries are reviewed periodically to align with market benchmarks, and that recent salary increases, annual increments, and AVC payments are expected to exceed the inflation rate for eligible civil servants, with additional government support measures to cushion inflation impact.
Ang Wei Neng sought clarification on whether civil servants would receive increments above the 5.1% core inflation rate and whether this would encourage other Singapore companies to follow suit, to which the Minister confirmed that the total salary increases would exceed inflation for most civil servants, with minimal exceptions, and that the National Wages Council provides recommendations for the broader economy.

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9 Nov 2022

Migrant Domestic Workers Hired at Concessionary Levy Rate in Last Five Years

The debate focused on the number of migrant domestic workers hired at a concessionary levy rate over the last five years.
Ms He Ting Ru requested a breakdown of these workers by whether they were hired to care for children, elderly persons, or persons with disabilities.
Minister Tan See Leng provided figures showing an average of about 98,000 workers annually for children, 68,000 for elderly persons, and 3,000 for persons with disabilities from 2017 to 2021.
The data highlights the scale of concessionary levy usage across different care needs.
The exchange underscores government transparency in responding to parliamentary queries about domestic worker employment.

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9 Nov 2022

Relevance of Redundancy Insurance

Gerald Giam proposed a Redundancy Insurance Scheme to help workers facing redundancy with financial support during job searches, complementing existing retraining and re-employment programmes.
Tan See Leng responded that the current system includes a tripartite Retrenchment Taskforce offering employment assistance, Career Conversion Programmes, and the SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways programme to support displaced workers.
The government is studying how to enhance support for displaced workers, including potential measures like unemployment support, while ensuring they are motivated and effective in job searches.
The Ministry for Manpower plans to consult the Labour Movement and provide updates on improvements to the support system for redundant workers.

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9 Nov 2022

Cases of and Penalties for Employers Found to Have Illegally Recovered Employment Costs from Foreign Workers

From 2015 to 2021, the Ministry of Manpower received about 390 annual reports of employers illegally recovering employment costs from foreign workers, with the number declining since 2017.
Administrative financial penalties were issued to about nine employers per year, with a median penalty of $12,000 and a range from $7,500 to $95,000, alongside other actions like cautions and debarment.
The Ministry investigates all complaints, uses data analytics to detect suspicious hiring patterns, and has stepped up engagement to educate workers and encourage them to report such demands.

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9 Nov 2022

Government Expenditure in Support of Hospitals' Care Ambassador Positions Filled by Aviation Flight Crew

Louis Ng asked the Minister for Health about the annual government expenditure to support Care Ambassador positions filled by the Singapore Airlines Group and the sources of funds used.
Ong Ye Kung referred to a previous reply on 8 November 2022 that addressed the question about vacancies at healthcare institutions created by employees returning to the aviation sector.
The debate centers on the financial support for Care Ambassador roles filled by aviation flight crew and the funding sources involved.
The exchange highlights the government's response to staffing challenges in healthcare during the aviation sector's recovery.

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9 Nov 2022

Release of Latest Guidelines by National Wages Council and Impact on Recent Revision to Civil Servants' Salaries

The National Wages Council (NWC) has completed its review and its wage guidelines for 2022/2023 will be released on 14 November 2022.
The Public Service Division (PSD), which oversees civil servant wages and is an NWC member, uses NWC guidelines and prevailing economic conditions to determine salary adjustments.
Annual variable payments for civil servants have been progressive, with junior grades generally receiving higher payments as a proportion of their salaries.
PSD and relevant agencies are collaborating with the Amalgamated Union of Public Employees on strategies like job redesign and skills improvement to sustainably uplift wages.

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9 Nov 2022

Reports on and Penalties for Employers who Make CPF Contributions to "Phantom Workers"

From 2015 to 2021, the Ministry of Manpower received about 660 reports annually of employers inflating their foreign worker quota by making CPF contributions to "phantom workers," with about 11 employers penalized per year.
Administrative financial penalties ranged from $1,250 to $200,000 (median $15,000), alongside other actions like cautions, rectification orders, and debarment from hiring migrant workers.
The Ministry uses data analytics and no-notice checks to investigate reports, but the low penalty rate is due to the need for thorough evidence gathering, as many reports lack sufficient facts upon initial investigation.

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9 Nov 2022

Educating Foreign Workers on Available Channels to Settle Wage Disputes and Laws against Illegal Assembly

The Ministry of Manpower educates migrant workers on their employment rights and legal channels through mandatory Settling-in Programmes, guides, newsletters, and digital tools like the FWMOMCare app, with salary claims dropping significantly since 2019.
When wage disputes arise, MOM mediates to secure payments, as seen in the case of Zhengda Corporation where salaries were settled and the main contractor was addressed, while public order issues are handled by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Electronic salary payments are now standard for dormitory-residing migrant workers, with adoption rising from 75% pre-COVID to nearly 100%, reducing cash-related disputes despite minor administrative or preference-based delays.

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9 Nov 2022

Length of Service of Foreign Nurses Employed at Restructured Hospitals

The length of service for foreign nurses in restructured hospitals has increased, with the median rising from five to eight years and the average from seven to ten years between 2014 and 2021, though actual figures may be higher as the data does not include those who switched hospitals within the public healthcare sector.
The Ministry of Health aims to increase the total number of nurses, allied health, and support care staff from 58,000 to 82,000 by 2030 through a multi-pronged approach that includes boosting local intake, improving nurse well-being and career pathways, and recruiting overseas.
The Ministry has not provided a specific target number for hiring foreign nurses, emphasizing instead a focus on meeting overall healthcare demands and addressing current sector challenges through various efforts, with the timeline of 2030 set to achieve the broader workforce goal.

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8 Nov 2022

Outcome of Retirement and Re-employment Disputes Amicably Resolved through Mediation

From 2016 to 2021, 60% of amicably resolved retirement and re-employment disputes involved monetary compensation, including Employment Assistance Payment or other goodwill payments.
10% of the resolved disputes were settled without monetary compensation, typically with employers providing service testimonials to the employees.
The remaining 30% of cases involved employees withdrawing their appeals, and the ministry does not track cases where employers offered jobs in their own or another company separately.

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8 Nov 2022

Annual Median and Average Monthly Income of Single Unwed Parents in Past Four Years

The Minister reported that the average monthly income for single unwed mothers below 35 years old increased from $1,800 in 2017 to $2,500 in 2020, while those aged 35 and above saw an increase from $5,600 to $5,900 over the same period.
Median monthly income for single unwed mothers below 35 years old rose from $600 in 2017 to $700 in 2020, while those aged 35 and above remained stable at $3,400.
Data for 2021 is not yet available, and detailed wage information for the single age band of 35 to 36 years old is unavailable due to the small population size.

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8 Nov 2022

Bringing Forward Decision to Increase Home Team Officers' Retirement Age to 58 by 2030

Murali Pillai suggested accelerating the planned increase to the Home Team officers' retirement age of 58 by 2030 to address manpower shortages.
K Shanmugam explained that the retirement age is being raised progressively from 55 to 56, with full implementation by 2030, to manage manpower flow, hiring, and organizational renewal, while offering re-employment where needed.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is using technology and community partnerships to enhance productivity, but still requires a sufficiently sized workforce to maintain Singapore's safety and security.

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8 Nov 2022

Staff Turnover Rate amongst White-collar Crime Investigation Officers

The average staff turnover rate among white-collar crime investigation officers in the Commercial Affairs Department over the past five years was 6%, with 94% of departures due to resignations and 6% due to retirements, half of whom were re-employed.
The Singapore Police Force provides extensive training and development opportunities, including specialized courses and external postings, while also offering competitive compensation with a recent salary adjustment of 3% to 10%.
To manage heavy caseloads and support retention, the Police have introduced tools like the Digital Forensic Kiosk to improve efficiency in investigating complex cases.

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