Employment & labour — Topics

4 Jul 2022

Number of Childcare and Infant Care Spaces with Existing Capacity but Face Shortage of Teachers

The Minister reported that the early childhood educator workforce grew by over 30% in the past five years, supporting a 17% expansion in preschool capacity to meet rising demand.
Localised mismatches between preschool supply and demand exist due to factors such as new preschools ramping up operations, internal placements for progressing children, and managed enrolment pacing.
ECDA collaborates with Anchor Operators and preschools to address localised shortages through recruitment drives, internal manpower diversion, and enhancing career development to attract and retain educators.

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4 Jul 2022

Plans to Permanently Implement Flexible Work Arrangements for Public Sector

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked whether there are plans to permanently implement flexible work arrangements, such as three days in the office and two days at home, for the public sector.
The Prime Minister, represented by Chan Chun Sing, noted that many public agencies had already adopted flexible work arrangements before the pandemic and that telecommuting was widely used during COVID-19, enhancing productivity but also presenting challenges to team cohesion and values inculcation.
The Public Service has transitioned to allowing telecommuting for up to two days per week for roles where feasible, with agencies deciding implementation based on operational needs, and up to half of public service jobs are deemed suitable for telecommuting.
Flexible options such as staggered work hours, part-time work, and other arrangements are available where operationally feasible, and officers are encouraged to discuss needs with supervisors and HR.
The Public Service supports tripartite efforts to boost flexible work adoption, has issued guidelines to maintain work standards and outcome-based performance management, and continues to review and improve work practices while balancing service standards and officer well-being.

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4 Jul 2022

Reasons and Countermeasures for Recent Rise in Workplace Incidents

There has been a worrying rise in workplace fatalities in the first half of 2022 compared to pre-COVID levels, with most incidents due to preventable safety lapses in high-risk industries like Construction and Transport.
The Ministry of Manpower has strengthened enforcement, including more inspections, higher fines, stop work orders, and plans for new codes of practice and procurement policies to hold company leaders accountable for workplace safety.
MOM encourages reporting unsafe acts through various channels, protects whistleblowers, and supports SMEs via programmes like bizSAFE, while calling for a concerted effort from all parties to review and improve workplace safety practices.

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9 May 2022

Assistance to Support Transition of Safe Distancing Ambassadors to Other Jobs Following Reduction in Number Deployed

The Ministry for Manpower addressed concerns about the transition of Safe Distancing Ambassadors (SDAs) after their numbers were reduced, noting that around 1,200 of the 6,400 workers in short-term COVID-19 roles would be redeployed to longer-term positions, while the remaining 5,200 would seek new jobs as their contracts end.
Workforce Singapore (WSG) and NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute (NTUC’s e2i) are providing employment facilitation support to help these workers find new opportunities.
Employers interested in hiring these workers can reach out to WSG and NTUC’s e2i for assistance.

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9 May 2022

Statistics on Workers Receiving Only Seven Days of Annual Leave

Louis Ng asked for the percentage of workers receiving only seven days of annual leave and the mean and median salaries of these workers.
The Minister for Manpower explained that the Employment Act grants a statutory minimum of seven days of annual leave in the first year, increasing by one day per year up to 14 days.
In 2021, about 17% of full-time employees were entitled to the statutory minimum of seven days due to working less than a year.
The mean monthly income for these employees was about $4,700, and the median was about $3,500.
The Minister noted that some employers may provide more than the statutory minimum even in the first year.

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9 May 2022

Long-Term Plans to Increase Recognition of Skills and Vocation-based Training with Tiers for Experience and Skills Certifications

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim inquired about long-term government plans to enhance recognition of skills and vocation-based training, suggesting a tiered certification system like Germany's or the US's apprentice-journeyman-master model.
Chan Chun Sing explained that the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) system already provides a tiered national framework with six qualification levels, regularly reviewed by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) to align with economic needs.
The WSQ system includes an Assessment-Only Pathway to certify skills without additional training and partners with industry bodies to develop sector-specific certification pathways, starting with the ICT sector.

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9 May 2022

Aviation Industry and Airports' Preparation for Expected Surge in Tourism and Challenges in Meeting Increased Travel Demand

The Ministry of Transport and aviation agencies are coordinating with Changi Airport Group and stakeholders to manage increased travel demand safely.
The aviation industry has ramped up recruitment and retained experienced staff, supported by a $500 million resilience package including $60 million for manpower.
CAAS has intensified safety oversight to maintain high standards amid growing flight volumes.
The sector faces challenges from having lost nearly a third of its workforce during COVID-19, requiring ongoing efforts to rebuild capacity.

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9 May 2022

Percentage of Employment Pass Holders, Permanent Residents and Singaporeans Holding Senior Roles in Finance Sector

Leong Mun Wai asked the Prime Minister for the current percentages of Employment Pass holders, Permanent Residents, and Singaporeans holding senior roles in the finance sector.
As of end-2021, the financial sector workforce comprised 71% Singapore Citizens, 14% Permanent Residents, and 15% work pass holders.
For senior roles based on 2020 data, 46% were Singapore Citizens, 21% Permanent Residents, and 33% work pass holders.
The proportions have remained stable over the years, with a gradual increase in the share of Singapore Citizens in senior finance roles.
In absolute terms, over 3,000 Singapore Citizens hold senior finance positions, an increase of more than 80% since 2016.

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9 May 2022

Cap on Number of Hours Nurses and Doctors Can Work Per Shift

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked whether the Ministry of Health intends to cap the working hours per shift for nurses and doctors, and if not, why not.
Ong Ye Kung responded that the Ministry does not plan to impose additional caps beyond existing regulations in the Employment Act and public healthcare contracts.
He noted that junior doctors already have guidelines on weekly work hours and rest periods, and institutions must adhere to these.
Flexibility is needed to manage operational demands, especially during crises like the pandemic, and workgroups are exploring support for healthcare workers.
The focus remains on balancing sustainability, work-life balance, and the ability to respond to exigencies of service.

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9 May 2022

Accreditation by SkillsFuture Singapore of Apprenticeships Through Practical Experience under Skilled Practitioner

Raj Joshua Thomas asked whether SkillsFuture Singapore could accredit apprenticeships in specific professions to formally recognize skills gained through practical experience under a skilled practitioner.
Chan Chun Sing explained that the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) framework, including its Assessment-Only Pathway, already certifies skills acquired through on-the-job training like apprenticeships across various sectors.
SkillsFuture Singapore plans to partner with sectoral agencies and professional bodies as Skills Development Partners to identify in-demand skills and establish structures for accrediting workplace-acquired skills.

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9 May 2022

Number of S Passes and Employment Passes Issued and Screening of Foreign Manpower under New Eligibility Criteria from September 2022

The Ministry reported issuing approximately 23,900 new S Passes and Employment Passes in Q1 2022, comparable to the 25,200 issued in Q1 2019, but the total number of pass holders remains significantly below pre-COVID-19 levels due to border restrictions.
All applicants must meet current eligibility criteria, including qualifying salaries, levies, and quotas, with new higher salary thresholds and levies taking effect in September 2022 to align with local wage growth.
Starting September 2023, Employment Pass candidates must also pass the new Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS) for a more holistic evaluation of their fit with the local workforce.
The Ministry is implementing these changes gradually and will not apply them ahead of schedule to ensure fairness and give businesses time to plan and adjust their hiring practices.

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9 May 2022

Annual Projected Growth of Freelancers in Infocomms Technology and Media Industries from 2022 to 2025

Patrick Tay asked the Minister for Communications and Information for the annual projected growth of freelancers in the Information and Communications Technology and media industries from 2022 to 2025.
The Minister stated that freelancers, or Own Account Workers, make up 8% to 10% of the resident workforce and have grown from 4,000 to 8,800 in the I&C sector between 2016 and 2021.
The Minister noted that technology and changing workforce aspirations may make freelancing more attractive but said there is no established method to project growth and that trends will be monitored.
The Minister added that support will continue to be provided to freelancers to maintain their skills relevance.

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9 May 2022

Impact of Reopening of Economy on Demand and Supply of Manpower and Measures Planned

The Minister outlined that sectors like construction, marine, food services, cleaning, and retail are facing severe manpower shortages due to the pandemic and border restrictions, but non-resident employment is rebounding as border controls ease.
The government is supporting local hiring through extended incentives like the Jobs Growth Incentive, targeted schemes for tourism and aviation, and initiatives to transition workers from COVID-19 roles to longer-term jobs in sunrise industries.
Businesses are encouraged to adopt technology, transform operations, and tap flexible work arrangements and local talent pools to build a resilient workforce amidst ongoing labour market tightness.

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9 May 2022

Plans Beyond Encouraging Employers to Retain and Promote Flexible Work Arrangements as Permanent Feature of Workplace

The Ministry of Manpower encourages employers to retain flexible work arrangements (FWAs) as a permanent workplace feature, citing benefits like business resilience and talent retention, with most employers showing interest in continuing them post-pandemic.
Tripartite partners are promoting sustainable FWA implementation through training, support from Work-Life Ambassadors, and adoption of the Tripartite Standard on FWAs, starting with the Public Service.
Guidelines to be introduced by 2024 will require employers to fairly consider FWA requests, establishing a norm where employees can request FWAs while employers assess based on business needs.

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5 Apr 2022

Net Increase of Local PME Jobs Not Taken Up by Applicant Who became New Citizen or Permanent Resident from 2005 to 2020

Leong Mun Wai asked for the net increase of local PME jobs from 2005 to 2020 that were not taken by applicants who became new citizens or permanent residents.
Tan See Leng stated that data for 2005 to 2009 is unavailable, as place of birth data collection started only in 2010.
From 2010 to 2020, the majority of local PME growth went to Singaporeans born in Singapore.
Foreign-born individuals who obtained citizenship or PR status accounted for less than half of the increase in local PMEs and PMETs over the last decade.
The response highlights that data constraints limit analysis to the 2010–2020 period.

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5 Apr 2022

Data on Number of Unvaccinated Employees Terminated due to Inability of Redeployment

Leong Mun Wai asked the Ministry for Manpower if it has data on unvaccinated employees terminated due to inability to redeploy and the number involved.
As of March 27, 2022, 98.4% of the workforce was vaccinated, with 36,900 unvaccinated local and foreign employees.
Data on unvaccinated employees who ceased employment since the Workforce Vaccination Measures began in January 2022 will only be available in mid-2022.

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5 Apr 2022

Written Consent for Work on Rest Day of Low-wage Workers

Louis Ng asked if the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) plans to legally require written consent for low-wage workers to work on their rest days.
MOM stated that while written consent is advisable for routine rest-day work to prevent disputes, it is not always practical due to fluid business needs, so verbal consent is sufficient for non-routine cases.
MOM emphasized that employees can withdraw consent anytime and should contact MOM if they are forced to work on rest days without consent.

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5 Apr 2022

Safeguards under Complementarity Assessment Framework to Prevent Abuse

Leong Mun Wai asked the Minister for Manpower about safeguards under the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS) to prevent abuse, such as circumventing minimum requirements.
Tan See Leng reiterated that MOM uses a multi-pronged approach, including data analytics, verification checks, and stiff penalties like fines, imprisonment, and pass revocation to deter fraud in salary and qualification declarations.
For COMPASS, MOM will implement similar enforcement measures, review mandatory qualification verification, and restrict occupation-based passes to ensure genuine role alignment, with ongoing reassessments and penalties for misuse.

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5 Apr 2022

Oversight of Contracts for Adult Educators

Saktiandi Supaat asked whether Adult Educators (AEs) in public education institutions are engaged under standard contracts, how the Ministry oversees contractual terms, and if there have been complaints from AEs.
Chan Chun Sing explained that Institutes of Higher Learning procure AE services for various duties, with contracts based on fair market practices and a standard template, but terms are agreed individually between institutions and AEs.
The Ministry of Education does not oversee these contracts, and feedback or complaints are typically handled directly by the institutions.

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5 Apr 2022

Measures to Help Frontline Social Workers Affected by Anxiety at Height of COVID-19 Pandemic

The Ministry for Social and Family Development (MSF) acknowledged the heightened anxiety among frontline social workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and noted that stress levels are expected to ease as demand for services normalises.
MSF and the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) have been promoting organizational support for mental well-being, with initiatives like the Caring for Social Service Professionals Scheme offering co-funding for counselling services and the Social Service Institute providing subsidized self-care courses.
Additional support measures include a mentoring programme for new social workers, a Sabbatical Leave Scheme for experienced professionals, and the extension of the Social Service SkillsFuture Tripartite Taskforce to address sector needs until April 2025.

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