Employment & labour — Topics

8 Nov 2022

Vacancies at Healthcare Institutions Created by Employees Returning to Aviation Sector

Mr Louis Ng questioned whether the Care Ambassador role filled by aviation crew would be made permanent, if the 900 vacancies were filled, and if not, why.
Minister Ong Ye Kung explained that aviation crew were temporarily redeployed as Care Ambassadors during COVID-19 with substantial government salary support, and most have now returned to aviation.
The government appreciates their service and is considering making such roles permanent through job redesign, blending clinical support, administrative, and operations tasks.

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8 Nov 2022

Impact of Warnings from Law Enforcement Agencies and Acquittals in Criminal Cases on Migrant Workers' Ability to Work in Singapore

Leon Perera asked whether migrant workers who received warnings from law enforcement or were acquitted in criminal cases are automatically barred from working in Singapore.
The Ministry of Manpower emphasized that Singapore’s law and order takes precedence over the interests of foreign work pass holders.
Migrant workers are not automatically barred, but MOM assesses each case based on the circumstances and seriousness of the actions leading to a warning or acquittal.

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8 Nov 2022

Rest Period for Workers Designated to Drive Their Colleagues

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked how the Ministry of Manpower will enforce a 30-minute rest period for workers who drive colleagues after six hours of onsite work, what penalties apply for non-compliance, and what constitutes a rest period.
Tan See Leng stated that compliance will be monitored through workplace safety inspections, accident investigations, and joint checks with the Land Transport Authority and Traffic Police, with regulations enhanced by January 2023.
Employers who fail to provide the rest period face financial penalties of up to $20,000 under the Workplace Safety and Health Act, and workers can report issues confidentially to MOM or the Migrant Workers Centre.
The mandated 30-minute rest period is a protected time for dual-role drivers to rest physically and mentally, without performing any work-related tasks.

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8 Nov 2022

Progress on Plan to Legislate Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Guidelines

Leon Perera asked for a status update on the 2021 plan to legislate the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment guidelines, including whether the Committee had finished its work, if its recommendations were accepted, and when the Bill would be introduced.
Tan See Leng responded that the Tripartite Committee on Workplace Fairness is still deliberating the legislation’s scope, requirements, procedures, and remedies and is consulting various stakeholders.
The Committee is expected to complete its work in a few months, after which more information will be shared and public comments will be invited before the Government studies and responds to the recommendations.

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7 Nov 2022

Publishing Insurers' Manual under Work Injury Compensation Act and Measures to Ensure Compliance

Leon Perera asked the Ministry of Manpower whether it would publish the insurers' manual under the Work Injury Compensation Act, what processes ensure insurers meet investigation standards, and if any insurers have been penalized for non-compliance since 2019.
The Ministry stated it collaborates with designated insurers, provides them with a manual containing detailed guidelines, and ensures employers and claimants can access information and dispute resolutions through its website.
Insurers must comply with licensing conditions, including processing timelines and performance standards, and the Ministry conducts audits and monitors performance, with penalties ranging from financial fines to licence suspension for failures.

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7 Nov 2022

Completion Date for Report by Advisory Committee on Platform Workers

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for Manpower about the precise completion date for the Advisory Committee on Platform Workers' report, any preliminary conclusions on legislative job protections for gig work, or the broad scope of its work programme.
Minister Tan See Leng responded that the committee is on track to finalize its recommendations by the end of the year and will share more details after completion, noting it is premature to specify legislative actions before the work concludes.
The Government will review the committee’s recommendations once submitted and engage stakeholders further on implementation details.

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7 Nov 2022

Singaporeans Retiring Before Statutory Retirement and Reemployment Ages in Last Three Years

In the three years up to June 2021, about 5,300 Singaporeans aged 55–61 retired before reaching the statutory retirement age, and about 12,000 aged 62–66 retired before the reemployment age.
These groups represented around 2% and 6% respectively of residents in those age categories who were or had been in the labour force.
Common reasons for early retirement included poor health, caregiving duties, and personal choice to take a break.
For older workers wanting to continue working, over 90% were offered reemployment, and tripartite partners encouraged age-friendly practices like job redesign and flexible work arrangements.

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7 Nov 2022

Making Following Working Day A Public Holiday for Those Falling on Saturdays

Liang Eng Hwa asked if the government would make the following working day a public holiday when a public holiday falls on a Saturday, similar to the rule for Sundays, to improve family time and well-being.
Tan See Leng explained that the Employment Act already provides employees with either extra pay or a day off when a public holiday falls on a non-working day, ensuring benefits are received regardless of the day of the week.
The current system is designed to be fair and flexible, allowing employees to enjoy the benefits of public holidays without needing to shift the holiday to the next working day.

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7 Nov 2022

Monitoring Employers’ Long-term Efforts at Creating Fair Workplace Environment

The Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) educates employers and promotes the adoption of Tripartite Standards to encourage fair and progressive employment practices across all organizational levels.
The Ministry of Manpower monitors fair workplace practices through indicators such as the Fair Employment Practices Survey, which showed a decline in reported workplace discrimination from 24% in 2018 to 8% in 2021.
MOM uses data analytics to identify higher-risk employers and takes enforcement action against egregious cases, while engaging others to improve practices, with over 1,700 employer engagements completed since 2016.

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7 Nov 2022

Non-compliance with Settlement Terms in Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management Mediations

Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for Manpower about the percentage of claimants reporting non-compliance with settlement terms in Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management mediations since April 2017 and what actions are taken to assist them.
Minister Tan See Leng stated that from April 2019 to September 2022, all settlement agreements in wrongful dismissal cases were complied with.
In cases of non-compliance, claimants may initiate a writ of seizure and sale, with guidance provided by TADM and NTUC.

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7 Nov 2022

Trade Associations/Chambers of Commerce's Feedback on Overseas Networks and Expertise Pass

Hazel Poa asked the Minister for Manpower if feedback was sought from trade associations and chambers on the Overseas Networks and Expertise Pass.
The Ministry of Manpower, Ministry of Trade and Industry, and economic agencies regularly engage trade associations and chambers on manpower needs and work pass policies.
Feedback from these groups is consistently considered in all reviews of the work pass framework, including the Overseas Networks and Expertise Pass.

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7 Nov 2022

Reducing Barriers to Employment for Persons with Epilepsy Through Greater Awareness

Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Manpower to increase employer awareness of epilepsy and its seizure types to help persons with epilepsy gain employment.
Tan See Leng highlighted TAFEP's ongoing educational and public awareness campaigns to promote fair and inclusive employment practices.
He emphasized that employers should judge candidates on merit and job ability, not medical conditions, and encouraged those facing unfair treatment to seek TAFEP's support.

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7 Nov 2022

Provision of Employment and Psychological Support for Persons with Epilepsy

Mr Christopher de Souza raised a query in Parliament about providing employment and psychological support for persons with epilepsy.
Minister Ong Ye Kung responded that medical social workers offer social, emotional, psychoeducational support, and employment referrals to agencies like Workforce Singapore and NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute.
Psychological support is available for those with cognitive or mental health issues through psychologists who assess and advise on interventions.
Support groups and community organisations provide networking and mutual support for individuals with epilepsy, caregivers, and families.

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7 Nov 2022

Studies Done on Epilepsy and Ensuring Fair Chance at Employment for Sufferers

Christopher de Souza asked whether studies have been conducted on epilepsy in Singapore, particularly regarding fair employment opportunities for sufferers.
Minister Masagos Zulkifli cited a 2018 study showing low public willingness to employ people with epilepsy, with only 43.1% willing to hire them, rising to 68.3% if seizures do not interfere with the job.
The Minister stated that jobseekers, including those with epilepsy, can seek support from Workforce Singapore and NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute for employment assistance.
Employers are reminded to follow Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices to treat all jobseekers and employees fairly based on merit.

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7 Nov 2022

Singaporeans and Permanent Residents Who Have Received SkillsFuture Training and Offered Jobs

SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) reported that about 660,000 Singaporeans and Permanent Residents benefited from supported programmes in 2021, and around 540,000 in 2020.
Over 26,000 participants in the SGUnited Skills and SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways Programmes as of end-March 2022 had 64% of those below 40 and 56% of those 40 and above finding employment within six months, mainly in Information & Communications, Healthcare, and Professional Services.
The SGUnited programmes have transitioned into the steady-state SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme launched in April 2022, with placement data not yet available as courses are ongoing.

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7 Nov 2022

Number of Jobs from Investment Commitments Secured This Year

Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for Trade and Industry for the total number of jobs that will be created from investment commitments secured this year.
Gan Kim Yong reported that in the first six months of 2022, EDB secured $8.5 billion in fixed asset investments and $3 billion in total business expenditure.
The projects are projected to add $7.5 billion to the economy when fully implemented.
The projects are projected to create more than 8,000 new jobs.

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7 Nov 2022

Utilisation of $100 Million Rail Manpower Development Package

The Rail Manpower Development Package has seen good utilisation, with over 2,900 rail workers trained in emerging technologies like data analytics and condition-based monitoring since October 2021, and is on track to exceed the target of training 3,000 workers by end-2024.
The package has supported 20 Polytechnic and Undergraduate Scholarships and 53 In-Service Sponsorships to build Singapore’s rail engineering talent pipeline, and a branding campaign has attracted more than 390 students for industrial attachments.
LTA will co-invest in training hardware such as virtual reality equipment and simulators, with the first grant awarded in November 2022 to enhance training efficiency and effectiveness.

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7 Nov 2022

Allowing Public Healthcare Institution Nurses to Work as Locum Nurses in Other Healthcare Institutions

Member Gerald Giam proposed allowing public healthcare nurses to work as locum nurses in other institutions to alleviate manpower shortages and increase income.
Minister Ong Ye Kung stated that nurses are already deployed across settings but their primary responsibility is to their home institution to prevent fatigue and ensure patient safety.
The Ministry is unlikely to support locum work as it may not significantly address manpower crunch and will focus on recruiting more nurses instead.

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7 Nov 2022

Wage Increases for Workers who Attended Workforce Singapore-supported Programmes

The Minister reported that around nine in ten participants in Career Conversion Programmes remained employed after two years, with about seven in ten earning more than their previous salaries.
For the SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways programme, about seven in ten participants secured employment after their attachment, and half of those employed earned higher than their last drawn salaries.
Approximately 80% of SGUP participants surveyed gave a high satisfaction score of at least four out of five, while no satisfaction surveys are conducted for Career Conversion Programmes.

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7 Nov 2022

Usage of SkillsFuture Credits and Effectiveness of Training Received

Over 840,000 Singapore Citizens, or about 30% of eligible individuals, have used their SkillsFuture credits, with the highest utilisation rate among those in their 30s at 36%, followed by those in their 40s (33%) and 50s (30%).
Popular courses using credits include those in the Food and Beverage, Information and Communications, and Security and Investigation sectors, with post-course feedback indicating 96% of trainees performed better at work and 90% took on more or new job responsibilities.
For those who used credits on recent SGUS and SGUP-CT programmes, about 65% of trainees (approximately 6,700) had found employment as of March 2022.

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