Employment & labour — Topics

14 Feb 2022

Increase in Percentage of Self-employed Persons in Resident Workforce during COVID-19 Pandemic and Policies in Place to Better Protect Their Job Security

The proportion of self-employed persons in the resident workforce remained stable at 8% to 10% during the pandemic, with various existing support measures in place such as CPF contributions, Workfare payouts, and medical leave insurance.
The government has introduced initiatives like the Contribute-As-You-Earn scheme for CPF convenience and works with insurers to provide prolonged medical leave coverage for platform workers.
An Advisory Committee is actively engaging stakeholders to strengthen protections for platform workers and improve the balance between platform companies and workers.
Self-employed individuals can access dispute mediation through TADM and enforcement at the Small Claims Tribunal, as well as skills training and career advisory services for transition to regular employment.
Ongoing feedback collection and consultations are being conducted to inform future policies that better support self-employed persons, including those in the gig economy.

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14 Feb 2022

Take-up Rate of Volunteer Leave by Public Service Employees and Private Sector Companies Offering Such Leave and Their Take-up Rate

The Minister reported that public service employees can use one day of volunteer leave annually, with hundreds taking it pre-COVID-19 and a decline during the pandemic, while additional volunteerism occurs through agency-organized activities.
For the private sector, a 2021 study found about 29% of surveyed companies offered paid volunteer leave, with an average take-up rate of 42% among employees at those companies.
The National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre promotes corporate volunteerism and plans to release further findings in March 2022, while public sector volunteer efforts continue under initiatives like SG Cares and PS Cares.

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14 Feb 2022

Safeguards or Checks to Ensure Junior Doctors Not Pressured to Under-report Working Hours and Estimates on Rate of Such Under-reporting

Leon Perera asked the Ministry of Health about safeguards against junior doctors under-reporting working hours and any estimates on the rate of under-reporting.
Healthcare institutions use electronic logging, surveys, and proxy indicators like late-night transport claims to monitor hours and well-being.
A whistle-blowing channel allows junior doctors to anonymously report wrongful practices, which MOH Holdings investigates.
Based on collected data and feedback, there is no detected systemic under-reporting of working hours.

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14 Feb 2022

Payments under Jobs Support Scheme Made in 2020 and 2021 to Profitable Companies

Leong Mun Wai asked how much of the Jobs Support Scheme payments in 2020 and 2021 went to profitable companies.
Lawrence Wong explained that the JSS was designed to provide cashflow to firms during the COVID-19 crisis, focusing on retaining local employees rather than profitability.
The scheme's eligibility was based on firms employing local workers and paying CPF, not on whether they were profitable.
The government emphasized that the JSS helped preserve local employment and enabled firms to survive and recover from the crisis.

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14 Feb 2022

Plans beyond COVID-19 Pandemic to Recruit Singaporeans for Jobs in Healthcare and Other Related Sectors

The Ministry of Health will continue to expand local recruitment and training pipelines for healthcare and community care sectors, with increased intakes for professional programmes and mid-career conversion schemes to address rising demand from an ageing population and chronic diseases.
Initiatives such as Healthcare Career Conversion Programmes and senior management schemes in community care have successfully attracted more mid-career locals, with salary enhancements rolled out in 2021 to improve competitiveness and retention.
Despite challenges like attrition and workload pressures during the pandemic, the ministry will leverage cross-deployment, partnerships with private providers, and lessons from COVID-19 to ensure sustainable manpower and service delivery.

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14 Feb 2022

Current Number and Percentage of Civil Servants Deemed Unable to Work from Home Based on Job Functions and Eligibility for Flexible Work Arrangements

Approximately 60% of civil servants are in frontline roles, such as schools or uniformed services, which are not suited for sustained work-from-home arrangements.
Public Service agencies can discuss flexible work arrangements (FWAs) with these officers where operationally feasible.
FWAs for frontline civil servants include part-time work arrangements and flexi-hours to help balance work and personal circumstances.

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14 Feb 2022

Number of Requests for Exemption from Vaccination Differentiated Safe Management Measures (VDS) at Workplace and Existence of VDS as Subsidiary Legislation

Mr Leong Mun Wai asked about the number of exemption requests from workplace Vaccination Differentiated Safe Management Measures (VDS) and the Ministry for Manpower's responses to them.
He also questioned whether the workplace VDS exists as subsidiary legislation and why it was introduced without parliamentary debate.
Minister Tan See Leng confirmed that the Workforce Vaccination Measures are subsidiary legislation under the Workplace Safety and Health Act, presented to Parliament in January 2022, following established practice for delegating details to Ministers.
The measures aim to ensure workplace safety by requiring vaccination for employees, with exemptions only for those medically ineligible, while unvaccinated employees may be redeployed or placed on no-pay leave instead of facing termination.
The Ministry strongly encourages unvaccinated but medically eligible employees to get vaccinated to protect their health and workplace safety.

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14 Feb 2022

Availability of COVID-19 Healthcare Award or Similar Award Scheme for Cleaning Staff in Non-healthcare Settings to Recognise Contribution to National Effort Against Pandemic

Leon Perera proposed that the COVID-19 Healthcare Award or a similar scheme be extended to cleaning staff in non-healthcare settings, noting their high exposure risk and frequent lower-income backgrounds.
Grace Fu Hai Yien responded that existing awards like the Clean and Green Singapore Awards and the Environmental Services Workforce Day already recognise outstanding cleaners and exemplary frontline workers.
She added that the Progressive Wage Model for Cleaning will raise wages, with a baseline of over $2,400 per month by 2028, a 90% increase from current levels.
The government remains committed to supporting cleaners and recognising their contributions through these schemes and wage uplifts.
No specific plan was announced for a new COVID-19-specific award for non-healthcare cleaners.

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14 Feb 2022

Reported Cases of Sexual Harassment at Workplace in Past Five Years

Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Manpower about the number of workplace sexual harassment cases reported in the past five years and the actions taken.
The Police handled 378 workplace sexual harassment cases between January and September 2021, investigating 305 and completing 154 cases, with 70 resulting in warnings and two in convictions.
TAFEP handles cases not meeting legal thresholds, requiring employer investigations and cooperation, and has managed about 10 reports annually since 2019, with all employers taking corrective measures.
The government urges employees to approach TAFEP or the Police for assistance with workplace harassment.

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14 Feb 2022

Medical Leave Given to Public Healthcare Workers Contracting COVID-19 and Measures in Place to Ensure Healthcare System Not Compromised

Public healthcare workers who contract COVID-19 receive medical leave following the MOM advisory, typically a 5-day MC for mild cases with provisions for self-isolation and return-to-work based on testing and symptoms, while those caring for affected family members may be granted work-from-home or unrecorded paid leave.
The Ministry of Health monitors staff strength across public healthcare institutions and facilitates internal manpower adjustments as needed to maintain operations.
MOH collaborates with private healthcare providers to augment the public healthcare system’s capacity and ensure resilience during staff shortages.
Healthcare workers returning from leave may be deployed in lower-risk settings or COVID-19 areas with appropriate PPE and safe management measures to minimize reinfection risks.

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14 Feb 2022

Study on Potential Impact of Work-from-home Legislation over Past Two Years on Employers and Employees

The Ministry for Manpower has not conducted any study on the potential impact of work-from-home legislation over the past two years and has no plans to do so.
Surveys indicate that most employers provided remote work during the pandemic and wish to continue flexible arrangements, citing benefits for talent retention and employee work-life balance, though concerns about staff engagement and burnout remain.
The government will collaborate with tripartite partners to promote sustainable flexible work arrangements through resources and tools, avoiding rigid legislation to maintain workplace trust and avoid a litigious culture.

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14 Feb 2022

Data on Prevalence of No-medical Leave Incentives and Penalties Across Industries and Safeguards to Ensure Sick Employees Are Not Disincentivised to Take Necessary Medical Leave

Shahira Abdullah and Leon Perera raised concerns about practices that penalize employees for taking medical leave, asking whether the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has data on such incentives or penalties, whether they contravene employment laws, and if safeguards can be introduced to protect sick workers.
MOM does not collect data on the prevalence of attendance-related incentives but acknowledges such schemes exist; tripartite partners consider them unfair as they may discourage employees from seeking necessary medical care.
The tripartite partners will clarify that appraising or remunerating employees based on sick leave usage contravenes the Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices, and companies are being engaged to restructure these schemes into productivity and welfare schemes that do not consider sick leave.
Companies will be given time to adjust their schemes, and from next year, it will be explicitly stated that such practices are contrary to fair employment principles.

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14 Feb 2022

Jobs Created by New Investments Brought in by EDB in Last Three Years, their Profile and Preparedness of Local Workforce for this Growth

EDB attracted investments over the last three years created about 54,000 jobs in high-value sectors like advanced manufacturing, digital, and green economy, with a focus on roles such as software engineers, data scientists, and lab technicians.
The local workforce is supported through multi-agency initiatives like Career Conversion Programmes, SkillsFuture, and partnerships with companies like Bosch and Siemens to upskill workers for Industry 4.0 and new job roles.
Approximately 80% of jobs created from 2021 investments are projected to be held by locals with salaries above $4,000, though this depends on labor market conditions and the availability of suitable local talent.
The government is calibrating foreign manpower policies to complement local talent gaps while ensuring Singaporeans benefit from new investments through training and fair recruitment practices under the Fair Consideration Framework.
Investments are increasingly focused on capital- and skills-intensive sectors to enhance productivity, with efforts to make engineering and manufacturing careers more attractive to locals as part of the Manufacturing 2030 strategy.

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12 Jan 2022

Publication of Findings of REACH Survey in 2021 on Social Workers Impacted by COVID-19

The Ministry will share the 2021 REACH survey findings with MSF and the Singapore Association of Social Workers to inform ongoing support efforts for social workers.
MSF and the National Council of Social Service have taken steps such as publishing salary guidelines, providing funding, and introducing schemes like the Sabbatical Leave Scheme to support social workers.
The Ministry engages social work leaders and works with partners to address concerns on workload, remuneration, and inter-agency coordination.
MSF and NCSS will continue consulting social workers through the Social Service SkillsFuture Tripartite Taskforce to co-create initiatives.
Further consultations with social workers will be conducted after reviewing the survey findings to address their needs.

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12 Jan 2022

Proposal for Vaccination Leave for Workers Suffering from or Parents Caring for Children with COVID-19 Vaccination Side Effects

Dr Shahira Abdullah proposed additional vaccination leave for workers with side effects and for parents caring for children experiencing side effects after vaccination.
Minister Tan See Leng affirmed tripartite support for vaccination, noting existing encouragement for paid time-off for children’s vaccination and observation periods.
The Ministry cautions against creating new leave types that could burden businesses, preferring flexible work arrangements to maintain competitiveness.
Employers and workers have cooperated effectively during the pandemic without excessive regulation, validating the tripartite approach.

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12 Jan 2022

Plans to Assist Unvaccinated Employees Who Are Not Able to Return to Workplace

The Ministry of Manpower reported that as of January 2, 2022, the number of unvaccinated employees had decreased to 48,000 from 52,000, with only 140 (about 0.3%) certified as medically ineligible for vaccination.
Tripartite partners have advised employers to explore alternatives like remote work or redeployment rather than terminating employment, and most employers are expected to continue engaging affected employees.
Employees needing job transitions can use career matching services from Workforce Singapore and NTUC’s e2i, though job opportunities may be limited for those unvaccinated but medically eligible.
The government strongly encourages medically eligible unvaccinated employees to get vaccinated due to the significantly higher risks of severe illness or death from COVID-19.

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12 Jan 2022

Inclusion of Migrant Domestic Workers and Workers for Construction and Marine Sectors in Latest Vaccinated Travel Lane Revisions

Gan Thiam Poh asked whether the latest Vaccinated Travel Lane revisions until 21 January 2022 include migrant domestic workers and construction and marine workers under association-led initiatives.
Tan See Leng explained that migrant domestic workers enter through the VTL, mainstream lanes with Stay Home Notice, and industry-led initiatives, while construction and marine workers primarily use industry-led initiatives and mainstream lanes with SHN.
Construction and marine workers undergo an onboarding program with SHN, medical screening, vaccination verification, and a settling-in program upon arrival in Singapore.
The number of construction and marine workers entering is determined in consultation with lead agencies, considering industry needs and onboarding capacity, and most stopped entering via VTL after 23 December 2021.

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12 Jan 2022

Utilisation Rate of Jobseeking Apps amongst Workers Aged 55 and Above

Yip Hon Weng asked about the number of seniors aged 55 and above using jobseeking apps like MyCareersFuture and the Silver Jobs Portal, offline resources for less digital-savvy seniors, and plans to raise awareness and uptake rates.
Tan See Leng reported that active local users of MyCareersFuture grew from 109,000 in 2018 to 288,000 in 2021, with seniors aged 55 and above increasing from 8,000 to 24,000 over the same period.
He highlighted that Workforce Singapore uses advertising and other channels to raise awareness, and that offline assistance is available through Careers Connect, NTUC’s e2i, and 24 SGUnited Jobs and Skills Centres across HDB towns.

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12 Jan 2022

Proposal to Subsidise Small Sub-contractors in Built Environment Sector to Bring In Foreign Manpower

Kwek Hian Chuan Henry proposed that the government subsidise small sub-contractors and specialists in the built environment sector to lower the cost of bringing in foreign workers from non-traditional source countries.
The government has implemented temporary support measures, including extended foreign worker levy rebates and waivers, as well as contract adjustments under the COVID-19 Act, to help construction firms manage manpower shortages and cost increases.
These measures are under review as the sector recovers, with signs of improvement such as increased entry of foreign workers and near-pre-COVID progress payments.
The government encourages firms to adopt automation and digitalisation through available incentives to boost productivity and reduce reliance on labour-intensive methods.

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12 Jan 2022

Compassionate Leave Offered to Social Workers at Family Service Centres

Social Service Agencies, including Family Service Centres, set their own compassionate leave policies, though most offer it as a staff benefit without Ministry-mandated tracking.
MSF and NCSS have introduced initiatives like the National Care Hotline, Sabbatical Leave Scheme, and co-funded counselling services to support social workers' mental well-being.
SSAs are encouraged to develop self-care cultures, with various schemes and grants available to strengthen HR practices and organisational support.
During the pandemic, specific measures such as care teams and mindfulness programmes were implemented by SSAs to address staff stress.
The Ministry does not collect data on the median days of compassionate leave taken by social workers, as leave policies are determined by individual agencies.

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