Employment & labour — Topics

5 Jul 2022

Review of Criteria for Issuance of Permanent Residency to Attract Skilled Workers

Mr Lim Biow Chuan suggested reviewing permanent residence criteria to attract skilled workers like nurses and technicians to address workforce gaps.
Minister K Shanmugam clarified that PR applications are assessed holistically on factors such as economic contributions, qualifications, age, family profile, integration, and commitment to Singapore.
The assessment includes evaluating whether applicants possess skills needed in key economic and social sectors.
The government's approach aims to balance attracting talent with ensuring sustainable integration into Singaporean society.
No immediate changes to criteria were announced, but the existing framework is designed to support workforce needs.

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5 Jul 2022

Proportion of Public Officers With Job Roles Conducive for Hybrid Work and Number of Work-from-home Days Permissible Per Week

The Public Service supports flexible work arrangements and assesses that up to half of its jobs are suitable for telecommuting.
For officers with telecommuting arrangements, they are permitted to work from home an average of two days per work week.
The Public Service is committed to maintaining high standards through outcome-based performance management and will continue to review and improve its work practices.

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5 Jul 2022

Plans to Ramp Up Manpower Supply for New Eldercare Facilities

The Ministry of Health is addressing the shortage of nurses and allied health workers by enhancing salaries, providing scholarships and training, and implementing job redesign to increase productivity in the community care sector.
Efforts to boost staff supply for new eldercare facilities include launching a campaign to improve the sector's public image and respect, while continuing to complement the local workforce with foreign manpower where necessary.
Healthcare clusters will collaborate with eldercare centres to bring preventive care services to the community, supported by administrative staff and volunteers, as part of the strategy to scale up eldercare capacity by 2025.

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5 Jul 2022

Companies Implementing Workplace Safety and Health-enhancing Technologies

In response to Leon Perera’s query, the Minister stated that about seven in ten businesses have implemented Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) technology solutions as per a December 2021 survey.
Over 500 small and medium-sized enterprises have used the Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) to adopt WSH technologies, receiving up to 70% grant support capped at $30,000 per solution.
The Minister noted that while the correlation between technology adoption and reduced workplace injuries varies by solution and industry, specific technologies like Fleet Safety Management have shown significant reductions in fatigue episodes and potential collisions.
The Ministry of Manpower will continue promoting WSH technologies through collaboration with employers, industry groups, and other agencies, and incorporate them into public sector tender specifications.

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5 Jul 2022

Impact of Manpower Crunch in Hospitality and F&B Sectors on Customer Satisfaction and Singapore's Reputation as Business and Travel Destination

Edward Chia asked for the Ministry's assessment on how the manpower crunch in hospitality and F&B affects customer satisfaction and Singapore's reputation as a business and travel destination.
Gan Kim Yong highlighted that Singapore's reputation remains strong, citing a tourism survey and a robust pipeline of events, indicating resilience despite manpower challenges.
The Ministry acknowledged post-COVID demand surges have strained these sectors and has reopened borders for foreign workers to alleviate labor shortages.
Businesses are encouraged to adopt digitalization, job redesign, and productivity measures to maintain service quality while transforming to meet both local and international customer expectations.
The Ministry will continue collaborating with industries to ensure quality service and experiences for visitors as Singapore welcomes back travelers.

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5 Jul 2022

Accidents Involving Food and Goods Delivery Platform Workers and Compensation and Support Provided

Since January 2021, there have been five fatal work-related traffic accidents involving food and goods delivery platform workers, with the Workplace Safety and Health Council reviewing work processes to enhance safety and the Advisory Committee on Platform Workers considering a financial protection framework for injured workers.
The government is exploring extending the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA) to cover self-employed gig workers, acknowledging their employee-like vulnerability due to platform management controls, while addressing concerns about companies potentially reclassifying employees as gig workers to avoid benefits by examining the nature of the working relationship.
The Advisory Committee on Platform Workers is engaging with stakeholders to strengthen financial protection for injured platform workers and aims to release its report by the end of the year, though the process is complex due to the diverse nature of platform work.

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4 Jul 2022

Study on Impact of Living Conditions on Sleep Quality and Quantity Among Migrant Workers and Workplace Safety

Leon Perera asked the Minister for Manpower whether the Ministry has studied how living conditions affect migrant workers' sleep and in turn workplace safety, and about efforts to alleviate heat in dormitories.
The Minister responded that dormitories must meet ventilation standards, with operators required to provide adequate fans, and new dormitories built after 2021 have reduced occupancy and more space per worker for better airflow.
Workers can report heat issues to FAST teams who work with operators to resolve them, and medical centres provide support, with very few heat or sleep-related complaints recorded in 2022.

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4 Jul 2022

Disbursement of Workcare Grant and Plans to Increase Take-up Rate

Raj Joshua Thomas inquired about the number of companies that have taken up the Workcare Grant, the total amount disbursed, and any plans to increase its take-up rate.
Since its launch in May 2021, there have been 26 applications, with five approved and the rest under assessment, totaling $46,000 committed to support seven rest areas for about 120 workers.
Most applications were submitted from early 2022 due to COVID-19 delays, and NTUC U Care Centre is conducting outreach efforts to encourage more applications from building owners and employers.

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4 Jul 2022

Number of Letters of Consent for Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP) Holders Approved in Each of Past 12 Months, Priorities Given, Measures to Prevent Exploitation and Recourse Available

From June 2021 to May 2022, about 1,500 Pre-Approved Letters of Consent (PLOCs) and LOC applications for Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP) holders were approved on average each month.
LOC applications are assessed individually and are not prioritized by industry; LTVP holders with PLOCs can work in most jobs with employer notification to MOM.
LTVP holders are protected under the Employment Act, including rights to timely pay, leave, and key employment terms, with efforts to educate them on reporting exploitation.
Employees facing mistreatment can contact MOM for assistance, with resources available on the MOM website for reporting and guidance on employment laws.

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4 Jul 2022

Number of Migrant Domestic Workers Suffering Injuries in Course of Work and Average Compensation Given in Last Five Years

Seah Kian Peng asked the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) for the number of migrant domestic workers injured at work and average compensation over the last five years.
MOM stated it does not collect injury data for migrant domestic workers because their work in households makes it hard to determine if injuries are work-related.
Employers must cover medical expenses and provide personal accident insurance with at least $60,000 coverage, regardless of whether the injury is work-related.
MOM does not track insurance payout data, as employers purchase insurance from private insurers.
The discussion highlights the lack of specific data on workplace injuries and compensation for migrant domestic workers.

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4 Jul 2022

Claims Made Under Work Injury Compensation Act in Past Five Years

Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Ministry of Manpower for five-year statistics on work injury claims by delivery riders, including breakdowns by injury type, work arrangement, and median compensation.
The Ministry provided data showing a methodology change in 2020, with no clear trend in claims, and noted no fatalities among delivery employees in the past five years.
Compensation for permanent incapacity was reported, but the Ministry does not track claims based on part-time or flexi-work arrangements.
Efforts are underway with delivery companies and platform operators to improve safety and financial protections for all delivery workers.
The Advisory Committee on Platform Workers is exploring enhanced injury protections for self-employed delivery persons, with details to follow.

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4 Jul 2022

Coverage of Escalator Maintenance Workers under Progressive Wage Model and Number and Profile of New Entrants into Sector in Past Two Years

The Progressive Wage Model (PWM) for escalator maintenance technicians will be extended to local technicians from July 2022, with plans to mandate PWM for all lift and escalator contractors in the future.
Approximately 150 local technicians joined the lift and escalator maintenance industry between 2020 and 2021.
The majority of these new entrants are likely to be mid-career individuals rather than fresh ITE or polytechnic graduates.

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4 Jul 2022

Reclassifying Training Officers in Day Activity Centres as Instructors Instead of Nurse Aides/Care Staff Given Nature of Job Scope

Christopher de Souza asked if training officers in Day Activity Centres should be classified as instructors rather than nurse aides/care staff to align with better remuneration under social service sector salary guidelines.
The Minister for Social and Family Development explained that Day Activity Centres support persons with disabilities through social and recreational activities, so staff are classified as "social service assistant and care staff," not "workshop instructors."
The "workshop instructor" category applies only to staff in Sheltered Workshops who provide work skills training to persons not ready for open employment, which differs from the DAC scope.
Salary guidelines by the National Council of Social Service are based on comparable market wages and are reviewed regularly to keep pace with broader labour market trends.
The classification and resource allocation for DACs are determined by client profiles and required manpower, with no immediate change proposed for training officer roles.

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4 Jul 2022

Data on Schools Offering Flexible Work Arrangements and Staggered Working Hours for Teachers in Past Five Years

Louis Ng asked for the number and percentage of schools offering flexible work arrangements and staggered working hours for teachers over the past five years, and whether MOE would collect such data if unavailable.
Chan Chun Sing responded that MOE provides part-time work options in all schools, with about 3.6% of teachers on part-time arrangements from 2017 to 2021.
School leaders have autonomy to implement other flexible arrangements like staggered hours or work-from-home when operationally feasible, without needing to report to MOE HQ.
MOE is committed to supporting teacher well-being through flexible work arrangements while ensuring responsibilities to students are met.
The debate highlights that while some data exists, detailed annual breakdowns by school are not systematically collected or reported by MOE.

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4 Jul 2022

Number of Resident Cleaners Attaining Minimum Progressive Wage Model Training Requirements and Planned Enforcement Actions against Cleaning Businesses for Non-compliance

As of end-February 2022, about 14,500 resident cleaners (35%) had met the PWM training requirement of two WSQ certificates, while another 21,200 (51%) had completed one of the two required modules.
Licensed cleaning businesses had until 31 December 2022 to ensure their cleaners attained one WSQ module on Workplace Safety and Health and another on environmental cleaning, per Tripartite Cluster for Cleaners' recommendations accepted in June 2021.
Cleaning businesses not in compliance face financial penalties of up to $5,000, with repeat offenders risking revocation of their cleaning business licences.
The National Environment Agency and SkillsFuture Singapore have been actively engaging licensed cleaning businesses to encourage early training of their cleaners.

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4 Jul 2022

Consolidation in Tech Sector and Impact on Singaporeans' Tech Jobs

Ms He Ting Ru asked for statistics on Singaporeans in tech, recent redundancies, and the impact of industry consolidation on the job market.
Minister Tan See Leng reported 128,900 residents in the I&C sector as of March 2022, with low retrenchments (260 in the last two quarters) and continued employment growth.
Despite global tech layoffs, hiring demand remains strong with job vacancies rising from 8,400 to 10,800, though moderation is expected due to macroeconomic challenges.
The government is investing in the I&C workforce and has a taskforce to support retrenched workers with career resources and coaching.
Businesses' ongoing digitalisation is expected to sustain demand for digital skills across the economy.

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4 Jul 2022

Number of Work Injury Claims under Work Injury Compensation Act

Mr. Patrick Tay asked for the number of work injury claims filed, assessed, and compensated for injuries sustained while working from home between October 2021 and June 2022.
Minister Tan See Leng responded that 12 claims were filed during this period.
Of these, nine were admitted as work injuries, two are still being assessed, and one was rejected as not work-related.

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4 Jul 2022

Employees Trained as Mental Health First Responders

Edward Chia Bing Hui asked whether the Ministry of Manpower has set targets for the number of workers trained as mental health first responders, including the rationale and timeline.
Tan See Leng explained that mental health first responders are trained to identify mental distress, provide initial support, and guide colleagues to professional help.
The Workplace Safety and Health Council offers free mental well-being workshops, with around 60 participants trained so far, and plans to promote further adoption.
The Ministry of Manpower does not set specific targets but encourages companies to adopt mental well-being initiatives suited to their needs.

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4 Jul 2022

Consequence of Raising Minimum Salary Requirements for Work Passes and Preventive Measures in Place

Hazel Poa questioned whether companies could shift working hours and wages to meet new work pass salary rules and asked if this was intended, with a request for preventive measures.
Minister Tan See Leng stated that such practices are not intended and have not been observed, emphasizing the goal is to ensure foreign workers complement locals rather than undercut wages.
He noted local wages have grown despite past salary requirement increases and that reducing locals’ hours and pay is bad business due to talent loss and S Pass quota issues.
If unfair practices occur, workers can raise them with TAFEP, which will review salaries to uphold fair employment guidelines.

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4 Jul 2022

Number and Percentage of Doctors Resigning from Public Hospitals Within Their Bond Periods in Past Five Years

Louis Ng asked for annual data on the number and percentage of doctors resigning from public hospitals within one, two, and three years of completing their bonds over the past five years.
Ong Ye Kung responded that MOH only tracks attrition by age group, noting rates for 29-, 30-, and 31-year-old doctors fluctuated between 2017 and 2021, with a general decline during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Minister attributed attrition to factors like morale, job satisfaction, work conditions, and a sense of mission, and pledged continued monitoring and engagement to address issues.

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