Employment & labour — Topics

5 Oct 2022

Academic and Non-academic Staff Employed by Institutes of Higher Learning on Employment and S Passes

Leong Mun Wai asked for the numbers of academic and non-academic staff in Institutes of Higher Learning on Employment Passes and S Passes, the count of S Pass holders with PhDs, and their roles.
Chan Chun Sing responded that in 2021, Employment Pass and S Pass holders made up about 11% and 4% respectively of all academic and non-academic staff in Autonomous Universities, Polytechnics, and the Institute of Technical Education.
Around 2% of IHL staff were S Pass holders with PhD qualifications, mainly in junior research-related roles and classified as non-academic staff.

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5 Oct 2022

Unemployment Rate for Singapore Citizens and PRs with Postgraduate Degrees

Leong Mun Wai asked the Minister for Manpower for the current average unemployment rate for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents with a postgraduate degree.
Tan See Leng replied that the annual average unemployment rate for residents with a postgraduate degree was 2.6% in 2021.
This rate was lower than the 3.2% for degree holders and 3.5% for all residents in the same year.
The Minister noted that this question had been previously addressed in a combined Parliamentary Question reply on 3 October 2022.

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5 Oct 2022

Increasing Number of Schools Offering Staggered Work Hours for Teachers

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked whether the Ministry of Education will mandate all schools to offer staggered work hours for teachers, or explain why not and what steps will be taken to increase such arrangements.
Chan Chun Sing responded that MOE gives school leaders autonomy to implement staggered hours based on their specific contexts, rather than imposing a blanket mandate, to ensure student care and educational outcomes are maintained.
MOE encourages flexible work arrangements such as part-time work, time-off for personal needs, working from home when not required in school, and virtual meetings at preferred locations.
Teachers can discuss flexible arrangements with supervisors to balance school and personal needs, while MOE will continue sharing good practices to support teacher well-being.

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5 Oct 2022

Senior Employability: Meaningful Employment and its Value for Businesses and Singapore

The debate highlighted that Singapore’s ageing population and longer life expectancy make senior employability vital, with seniors seeking meaningful work for satisfaction and economic reasons, but facing challenges like ageism and skill gaps.
Stakeholders acknowledged existing policies like the Retirement and Re-Employment Act (RRA) but noted issues such as unconscious bias in hiring seniors and the need for more flexible, multi-generational workforce support and continuous learning.
Recommendations included structural changes to learning and work models, promoting age-friendly practices and mentoring, and leveraging the Forward Singapore Movement to foster collaboration among all parties to enhance senior employment.

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5 Oct 2022

Review of Salary and Benefits for Educators and Staff in Mainstream Schools, Preschools and Special Education Schools

The Minister for Education outlined how salary reviews are periodically conducted for educators and staff across mainstream, preschool, and special education schools, with adjustments made to keep packages market competitive, including recent increases for Education Officers, Allied Educators, and MOE Kindergarten Educators effective October 2022.
Early Childhood Development Agency is reviewing salaries for preschool educators in government-supported preschools, with changes expected to be implemented from 2023, while special education school salaries are managed by Social Service Agencies with support from MOE through funding and guidelines.
Denise Phua suggested that MOE consider announcing salary changes in a more inclusive manner to avoid creating disparities across sectors and to share the philosophy behind salary computation with Social Service Agencies to ensure competitiveness for recruiting from the same talent pool.
Leong Mun Wai raised questions about attracting top talent to preschool and special education sectors and aligning salaries with competencies, with the Minister responding that talent is distributed across public service and compensation is based on skills and contributions rather than credentials alone.
The Minister confirmed ongoing efforts to share methodologies openly with Social Service Agencies and to ensure fair remuneration through holistic assessments, including career development and working environment, not just salary.

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4 Oct 2022

Complaints from Singaporeans About Being Replaced by Foreign Labour in Last Five Years

Leong Mun Wai asked for the number and percentage of complaints from Singaporeans about being replaced by foreign labour over the last five years.
Tan See Leng stated that TAFEP received about 180 complaints annually related to nationality discrimination from 2017 to 2021, but does not specifically track cases of Singaporeans being replaced by foreign workers.
Overall, complaints about nationality discrimination make up less than 5% of all employment-related complaints from local employees.

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4 Oct 2022

Minimum Experience and Qualification for Experienced Tech Professionals Applying for Five-Year Employment Pass

Hazel Poa inquired whether minimum experience or educational qualifications would be required for experienced tech professionals applying for the five-year Employment Pass.
Tan See Leng stated that the Ministry of Manpower is still reviewing which occupations will be eligible for the five-year Employment Pass.
Eligible applicants must meet a minimum monthly salary of $10,500 to reflect mid-level experience.
The Ministry will conduct specific occupation-based checks and verification to ensure applicants have the required skills and relevant qualifications for their roles.

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4 Oct 2022

Enrolment in Nursing Programmes in ITE, Polytechnics and Universities in Past Five Years

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Health for the number of students who enrolled in nursing programmes at ITE, polytechnics, and universities each year over the past five years, and the number and percentage of nursing graduates who went on to practise nursing.
Ong Ye Kung responded that nursing intake numbers across Institutes of Higher Learning remained relatively stable between 2017 and 2021, with about 2,100 students admitted annually into pre-registration nursing courses at ITE, Nanyang Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, and National University of Singapore.
He noted that employment outcomes for nursing graduates were strong, with 83% in full-time permanent employment within six months of graduation, and 90% of those employed working as nurses.
The response highlighted that nursing intake had grown by around 20% in the five years before 2017, but stabilized thereafter.
The data provided covers the past five years up to 2021, based on the annual Graduate Employment Survey conducted by the IHLs.

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4 Oct 2022

Requiring Preschools to Set Aside Minimum Mandatory Rest Areas for Teachers and Staff

The Minister responded that while preschools are required to have an office area and rest space for staff, no specific minimum area is mandated.
In 2021, the Early Childhood Development Agency released findings recommending dedicated rest areas and adult-friendly furniture, and worked with an association to offer ergonomic furniture with discounts.
Other recommendations to improve educator well-being include managing workload through digital tools and wellness programmes.
The agency will continue encouraging preschools to adopt these recommendations to enhance the working environment for educators.

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4 Oct 2022

Accidents Reported Involving Workers Transported in Back of Lorries and Other Vehicles

Ms He Ting Ru inquired about the number of accidents involving workers transported in the back of lorries and other vehicles, including casualties and deaths, for each quarter in the last year.
Minister K Shanmugam stated that Traffic Police only tracks accidents involving lorry passengers with casualties or deaths, without recording occupation or seating position.
The response indicated that specific data on workers transported in the rear of vehicles is not available, as the focus is on passenger casualties in general.
The debate highlighted limitations in data collection regarding worker safety during transport in lorries and similar vehicles.
The exchange underscores the need for improved tracking of occupational transport risks to inform safety measures.

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4 Oct 2022

Applying Lessons from How Employers Manage Operational Needs during Employees' Reservist Call-ups to Use of Parental and Childcare Leave

A 2013 survey found 77% of employed National Servicemen reported employers adjusted workloads for reservist call-ups, with employers covering duties by reallocating work or hiring temporary staff.
Employers use similar strategies for parental and childcare leave, such as reallocating work, hiring temporary staff, or allowing flexible scheduling for short leaves.
The government encourages early discussion between employees and employers to plan leave and maintain operational resilience, and will continue promoting progressive workplace practices.

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4 Oct 2022

Update on Study into Making CPF Contributions Mandatory for Platform Workers

The Advisory Committee on Platform Workers is engaging with workers and companies to consider mandatory CPF contributions for platform workers.
While many platform workers support mandatory contributions for retirement and housing, some worry about reduced take-home pay, and companies are concerned about higher business costs.
The Committee will continue thorough discussions with both parties and aims to complete its work by the end of the year.

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4 Oct 2022

Economic Impact of Imposing Ban on Transporting Workers on Back of Lorries

Ms He Ting Ru asked whether the Ministry of Transport had studied or would consider studying the economic impact and practical challenges of banning worker transport on lorry backs.
Minister S Iswaran responded that the Ministry is engaging stakeholders to understand sector-specific needs rather than commissioning a formal academic study.
He added that new safety measures for workers on lorries will be announced later in the year, urging employers to prioritize worker welfare.

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4 Oct 2022

Monitoring Fraudulent Claims in Workfare Income Supplement Scheme

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Ministry of Manpower whether it monitors for fraud in Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) claims, the rate of fraudulent claims by firms, and if there are plans to audit firms for "ghost" employees.
Minister Tan See Leng explained that WIS eligibility is automatically assessed based on CPF contributions for employees and declared income for self-employed persons, with data analytics used to detect unusual hiring patterns and audits conducted on income declarations.
Suspicious companies are flagged for on-site inspections, and suspected fraud cases are referred to the Singapore Police Force, which found two fraudulent WIS cases over the last three years, leading to recovery of disbursed funds.
MOM and CPF Board plan to continue reviewing processes and enhancing fraud detection capabilities to better identify and deter fraudulent WIS claims.

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4 Oct 2022

Mental or Emotional Stress Cited as Reason for Leaving Education Service in Last Five Years

In the last five years, fewer than one in 20 teachers who resigned cited job-related stress or workload as their reason for leaving.
The Ministry of Education emphasized its commitment to supporting teachers' well-being in collaboration with school leaders and stakeholders.
The response highlighted the ongoing efforts to ensure teachers can continue to provide quality education to students.

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4 Oct 2022

Complaints of Ageism in Workplace

Hazel Poa inquired whether ageism in the workplace is becoming an increasingly serious issue.
Minister Tan See Leng highlighted that senior workers are increasingly employed, with employment rates for ages 55–64 and 65–69 rising significantly and re-employment rates remaining high, while age discrimination incidents have declined according to MOM surveys.
The government continues to work with tripartite partners through TAFEP and TGFEP to educate employers and enforce fair practices, and plans to enact workplace fairness legislation to address age discrimination more broadly.

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4 Oct 2022

Appeals on Re-employment Disputes and Instances where Conciliation Failed and where Errant Employer is a Public Sector Employer

The Ministry of Manpower receives about 80 re-employment disputes annually, with around 90% resolved through mediation and the remaining 10% escalated to the Minister or the Employment Claims Tribunals, where about 40% of escalated cases result in compensation for the employee.
There was only one case from 2016 to 2020 where an errant public sector employer was required to pay compensation for unreasonably denying re-employment.
The Ministry emphasized ongoing tripartite efforts and public education to address age discrimination and improve re-employment practices, noting that older worker employment rates have increased over the years.
Compensation for re-employment disputes is determined on a case-by-case basis, considering various factors such as employee performance and years of service, rather than a fixed formula.

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3 Oct 2022

Definition of "Discrimination" under Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices

TAFEP investigates all reports of workplace discrimination based on the Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices, which require hiring, promotion, and rewards to be based on merit and job-relevant factors.
Breaches include hiring foreigners without considering similarly qualified locals or shortlisting candidates for reasons unrelated to job requirements, such as age or race, leading to referrals to MOM for enforcement.
Employers found in breach may face actions like suspension of work pass privileges, and future workplace fairness legislation will define discrimination more clearly and enable a wider range of enforcement actions.

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3 Oct 2022

Extend Mandatory Safety Review to All industries to Inculcate Safety First Culture in All Workplaces

Melvin Yong asked whether the Ministry will extend the mandatory Safety Time Out (STO) from high-risk sectors to all industries, and how many companies failed to meet the September 2022 STO deadline.
The Ministry of Manpower explained the STO was targeted at construction, manufacturing, marine, process, transport and storage, and companies using heavy vehicles, with compliance checks ongoing since October 2022.
The Ministry highlighted that the STO checklist is relevant to all industries and has introduced broader measures like a Code of Practice for boards and expanded StartSAFE support for SMEs to foster a safety-first culture across all workplaces.

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3 Oct 2022

Repatriation Costs for Work Permit Holders and Migrant Domestic Workers Terminating Employment on Own Accord Within First Month

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) informs employers upfront in writing and online that they are responsible for repatriation costs regardless of contract termination circumstances.
MOM has introduced a service fee refund policy requiring agencies to refund at least 50% of fees if a migrant domestic worker’s employment ends within the first six months.
Employers can transfer migrant domestic workers to new employers through participating agencies, which then bear upkeep and repatriation costs if the transfer fails.
The debate focused on whether to share repatriation cost information more visibly and to reconsider cost-sharing when migrant domestic workers leave within the first month.

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