Employment & labour — Topics

2 Aug 2022

Real Wage Trends of Singaporeans Compared to Residents Living in Top 20 Global Cities

Shawn Huang asked the Ministry for Manpower for a comparative table on real wage trends for Singaporeans versus citizens in the top 20 global cities by GDP.
The Minister for Manpower responded that the Ministry does not track wage trends for other cities but pointed to existing data on Singaporean residents' median gross monthly income, including employer CPF contributions.

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2 Aug 2022

Percentage of Female Employees in Companies Offering Flexible Work Arrangements

Louis Ng asked whether companies offering flexible work arrangements have more female employees, if the data exists, and why if not.
The Ministry of Manpower stated that companies with flexible work arrangements have an equal proportion of male and female employees.
The Ministry emphasized that flexible work arrangements benefit all employees regardless of gender and help companies attract and retain talent.
Tripartite Partners encourage the widespread provision of flexible work arrangements at all workplaces, irrespective of gender composition.

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2 Aug 2022

Salary Trends for Nurses and Ancillary Care Staff in Private and Restructured Hospitals

Louis Ng asked for the median and average salaries of nurses and ancillary staff in private and restructured hospitals over the past five years.
Ong Ye Kung replied that the question had already been addressed in his response to two other parliamentary questions on 2 August 2022.
The exchange highlights the availability of salary data but indicates no new information was provided in this session.

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2 Aug 2022

Inflow of Foreign Manpower to Address Shortage of Infant Care Teachers

The Ministry is addressing the infant care teacher shortage by expanding local training initiatives, such as career fairs and conversion programmes, to attract mid-careerists and others into the field.
Foreign manpower is already permitted within existing quotas to supplement the workforce, with less than a quarter of certified early childhood educators being foreigners and a small portion in infant care.
ECDA allows up to 50% of infant care staff to be allied educators or helpers to widen the manpower pool, while also working to improve retention through better career paths and working conditions.

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2 Aug 2022

SG Enable Partnering Organisations to Modify Work Environments to Support Employees with Special Needs

SG Enable runs the Open Door Programme, which provides job placement and support services, including job coaches who advise employers on creating accessible and calm work environments for employees with disabilities.
Employers can access the Job Redesign Grant to modify workplaces, such as adding calm rooms, to support employees with special needs.
SG Enable offers workshops to help employers create safe environments and manage challenging behaviours, promoting inclusive employment.
The government is collaborating with businesses and agencies to develop Enabling Business Hubs, which will provide shared facilities like calm rooms and on-site support, with the first pilot launching in 2023.

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2 Aug 2022

Training Programmes Under SG Enable to Employers Hiring Individuals with Special Needs

Christopher de Souza questioned whether SG Enable's training programmes for employers include guidance on assuring individuals with special needs about their job competence.
SG Enable's programmes, such as the HIRE Workshops and Open Door Programme, provide comprehensive training on managing and integrating employees with disabilities, including feedback and performance review skills.
The Enabling Academy offers additional resources and toolkits to support employers in disability-inclusive hiring, focusing on building confidence and competency for both employers and employees.

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2 Aug 2022

Progress of Singapore's E-sports Scene and Info-Communications and Media Professionals Required to Support Games Sector

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Singapore's e-sports scene grew significantly, with the global e-sports audience expected to exceed 500 million in 2022 and events like the Garena's Free Fire World Series achieving record viewership.
The games sector in Singapore, including e-sports, has created diverse job opportunities, with nearly 2,000 people employed in the sector in 2021, though a skilled talent shortage persists globally.
The 2,700 info-communications and media professionals figure from IMDA's 2019 survey is an indicative estimate based on expected growth, not a fixed target, and actual job creation varies with market conditions.
The government plans to support growth in the games and e-sports sector by enabling job creation and training Singaporeans with relevant skills to seize emerging opportunities.

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2 Aug 2022

Target Levels of Employment for Hospitality Industry with Expected Recovery From COVID-19 Pandemic

In December 2019, the hospitality industry employed 35,000 people, but due to COVID-19 restrictions, this dropped to 23,000 by March 2022, with hiring expected to increase as borders reopen and events resume.
To support local hiring, initiatives like the Tourism Careers Hub and Career Conversion Programmes have been launched to match job seekers, upskill workers, and help mid-careerists transition into the industry.
To address immediate labour needs, the government is providing temporary additional foreign worker quotas, while also encouraging business transformation and technology adoption to create quality jobs for locals.

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2 Aug 2022

Follow-up Actions on Findings of Junior Doctors Being Pressured to Under-record Working Hours

Minister Ong Ye Kung stated that healthcare institutions use electronic logging and surveys to monitor junior doctors' work hours and well-being, and MOH Holdings reviews indicators like late-night transport claims to detect potential under-reporting.
No systemic under-reporting of working hours has been found in public healthcare institutions based on available data and feedback, and a confidential whistleblowing channel exists for reporting workplace issues.
MOH Holdings is studying alternative methods to collect data on doctor work hours to further enhance monitoring and address concerns about junior doctors being pressured to under-record their hours.

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2 Aug 2022

A More Inclusive Workplace for Breastfeeding Mothers

Mr. Louis Ng highlighted the struggles of breastfeeding mothers at work, such as being forced to use toilets or storerooms for pumping, and proposed mandating more lactation rooms in buildings and legislating paid lactation breaks.
Minister Indranee Rajah acknowledged the need for supportive workplaces, noting existing building requirements for lactation rooms and that the government will review these in 2025, while emphasizing the importance of inclusive work culture alongside infrastructure.
The debate underscored the rise in breastfeeding rates in Singapore and the need for better support, with both speakers agreeing on the necessity of addressing space, time, and mindset challenges for working mothers.

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2 Aug 2022

Nurse-to-patient Ratio and Efforts to Reduce Nurses' Administrative Workload

Louis Ng Kok Kwang questioned the Minister for Health about nurse-to-patient ratios in general wards and ICUs over the past five years, the steps taken to reduce nurses' administrative workload, and any additional measures being considered.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary responded that nurse-to-patient ratios have remained stable, with one nurse for every four to five beds in general wards and one nurse per patient in ICUs, while highlighting efforts to reduce administrative tasks through process streamlining, support staff, and technology like the Nursing Software Suite.
She noted challenges including rising attrition rates, especially among foreign nurses due to international competition, and outlined initiatives to support nurse well-being, such as Staff Well-being Committees, counselling services, and ensuring adequate rest through duty roster planning.
Louis Ng sought clarifications on what constitutes "adequate" rest, the existence of an ideal nurse-to-patient ratio, and salary and hiring policies for ancillary care staff, to which the Ministry responded that work continues on improving conditions and retaining staff.
The Ministry emphasized a multi-pronged approach to stabilize the nursing workforce, including salary reviews, increased local nursing intakes, and collaborative efforts with families and caregivers to alleviate workload pressures.

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1 Aug 2022

Preventing Fall-from-height Fatalities at Workplace

The Ministry of Manpower has launched targeted inspections in high-risk sectors, resulting in numerous Stop Work Orders, fines, and compliance notices to address preventable safety lapses causing fall-from-height fatalities.
Stiffer penalties for Workplace Safety and Health breaches are calibrated based on culpability and harm, with enhanced accountability for company leaders through a new Approved Code of Practices for directors.
Besides fatal injury rates, MOM assesses major and minor injuries and dangerous occurrences to evaluate the effectiveness of preventive measures and identify emerging safety concerns.

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1 Aug 2022

Collection of Data on Real Wage Growth by Age Group

The Ministry of Manpower publishes annual median wage data and recommends examining long-term trends rather than annual fluctuations due to volatility.
Real wage growth is provided as annualised changes for full-time employed residents across age groups from 2000 to 2021 in a table.
The response covers all five age groups specified by Hazel Poa, though specific percentage figures are not detailed in the debate text.
The data includes employer CPF contributions and focuses on median gross monthly income from work.
The debate highlights a methodological approach to wage analysis over time rather than providing year-by-year breakdowns.

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1 Aug 2022

Percentage of Self-employed Persons Not Meeting MediSave Contribution Obligations in Full

Over the past five years, around 25% of self-employed persons did not meet their MediSave contribution obligations in full each year.
Slightly more than half of these SEPs had less than $3,000 in outstanding MediSave liabilities annually during this period.
The government piloted the Contribute-As-You-Earn (CAYE) scheme in 2020 with SEPs contracting with the government, which saw high participation and regular contributions.
Following the pilot, the government is studying the feasibility of extending the CAYE scheme to SEPs in the private sector.

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1 Aug 2022

Trends in Inflow and Outflow of Migrant Construction Workers Since Easing of COVID-19 Border Restrictions

The Minister reported that the inflow of migrant construction workers has exceeded outflows since borders reopened, with numbers nearly back to pre-COVID levels, while the proportion of skilled versus unskilled workers remains stable.
He noted that recent workplace fatalities were not due to inexperienced workers but preventable safety lapses, with enforcement and new measures being intensified by the Ministry of Manpower.
The Government is focusing on collaborative efforts with stakeholders to mitigate injury and fatality risks, referencing prior responses to similar concerns raised in Parliament.

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1 Aug 2022

Resignations of Local and Foreign Nurses from Restructured Hospitals in Past Five Years

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Health for the number and percentage of local and foreign nurses who resigned from restructured hospitals over the past five years.
Ong Ye Kung responded that the question would be addressed in his upcoming reply about the nursing workforce on 2 August 2022.
The response referred to an official report on nurse-to-patient ratios and efforts to reduce nurses' administrative workload.

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1 Aug 2022

Removal of Punitive Implications for Teachers Receiving Lower Grades Under Performance Management System of Stacked Ranking

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked whether MOE will remove punitive implications for teachers receiving lower grades under the stacked ranking system and, if not, why.
MOE explained that it uses relative ranking to recognize high performers with better grades and bonuses, while those struggling get lower grades and reduced bonuses, a practice also seen in the private sector.
All teachers access training and professional development, and weaker performers receive guidance from supervisors to improve; if improvement is lacking, suitability for the Education Service is assessed.
MOE stated it will continue evolving the system with feedback and teacher unions to support weaker performers while maintaining a high-quality teaching force for students' benefit.

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1 Aug 2022

Profiles of Licensed Plumbers

Pritam Singh inquired about the number of licensed plumbers by residency status, their nationalities and work passes, and their age distribution.
Grace Fu responded that among over 950 licensed plumbers, nearly 90% are Singaporeans, 5% are permanent residents, and the remainder are foreigners, with about 70% aged above 50.
She noted that the government does not track the nationalities of non-Singaporean plumbers and that most foreign plumbers hold S Passes.

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1 Aug 2022

Profiles of Licensed Gas Service Workers

Mr Pritam Singh asked for the breakdown of licensed gas service workers by nationality, age, and work pass type as of June 2022.
Minister Gan Kim Yong responded that there were nearly 600 licensed workers, with less than 15% being foreigners on Work Permits, S Passes, or Employment Passes.
The majority of these workers were aged between 31 and 70 years old.
The Minister did not provide specific data on the top 10 nationalities or the exact numbers of Singaporeans, permanent residents, and foreigners.

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1 Aug 2022

Profiles of Licensed Electrical Workers as of June 2022

As of June 2022, there were close to 4,000 licensed electrical workers, with less than 1% being foreigners on S Passes or Employment Passes.
The majority of licensed electrical workers were between 41 and 80 years of age.
The Minister did not provide specific breakdowns of Singaporeans, permanent residents, top 10 nationalities of non-Singaporeans, or detailed age profiles.

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