Employment & labour — Topics

10 Jan 2022

Reduction of Annual Childcare Leave from Six Days to Two When Child Turns Seven

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked for updates on the rationale for reducing childcare leave from six days to two days when a child turns seven, and whether the Government is reviewing this, especially for essential or frontline workers who cannot work from home.
Indranee Rajah, representing the Prime Minister, explained that childcare leave was extended in 2013 to two days per parent per year for children aged seven to twelve, while younger children under seven retain six days, reflecting their greater care needs.
The Government balances parental support with employers' operational needs through a practical approach, promoting progressive workplace practices like flexible work arrangements instead of expanding leave entitlements.
For frontline workers unable to work from home, flexible arrangements such as staggered shifts or shared shifts are suggested to help manage caregiving responsibilities, with ongoing efforts to encourage family-friendly workplace practices.

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10 Jan 2022

Resolving COVID-19-related Disruptions to Entry and Hiring of Migrant Domestic Workers

Tin Pei Ling asked whether the backlog of migrant domestic workers' entry into Singapore has been cleared and if hiring costs have stabilised or reduced in the past two months.
Manpower Minister Tan See Leng confirmed the entry backlog has been cleared and that average monthly salaries have remained stable.
He noted that total upfront hiring costs for new MDWs have slightly decreased due to eased border controls and revised SHN requirements, allowing potential savings on SHN costs.
The Ministry of Manpower will continue to monitor MDW inflow and hiring costs.

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10 Jan 2022

Curbs on Migrant Worker Flows into Singapore and Impact on Business Growth, Costs and Inflation

Mr Chong Kee Hiong inquired about current entry quotas and daily averages for migrant workers in key sectors, along with pre-COVID comparisons, while also seeking measures to address expected worker shortages and rising manpower costs due to inflation and potential border tightening.
Minister Tan See Leng stated that entry approvals resumed in late 2021, with monthly averages rising to 10,000 for services and 18,000 for construction, marine, and process sectors, compared to much lower numbers earlier in the year, and noted no pre-pandemic monitoring due to no restrictions.
The government introduced retention schemes, extended Foreign Worker Levy rebates and waivers to alleviate cost pressures, and emphasized long-term strategies like productivity gains, automation, and local workforce development to reduce reliance on foreign labor.

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10 Jan 2022

Free and Confidential Counselling Services for Social Workers

Louis Ng Kok Kwang inquired if the Ministry would consider providing social workers with confidential, free counselling services similar to those offered to lawyers by the Law Society of Singapore.
Masagos Zulkifli B M M highlighted that while Social Service Agencies set their own welfare policies, most offer compassionate leave, and initiatives like the National Care Hotline and Sabbatical Leave Scheme support mental well-being.
The Ministry and National Council of Social Service engage agencies to promote mental health awareness and have launched schemes, including co-funding for counselling services, which have already enrolled 63 agencies employing over 12,000 professionals.

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10 Jan 2022

Impact of COVID-19 on Resignation and Recruitment of Healthcare Professionals

The Minister reported that about 1,500 healthcare workers resigned from public institutions in the first half of 2021, a 4% resignation rate, with more than half aged 30-39 and 90% staying in the healthcare sector.
Resignations in 2018 and 2020 were 4,600 and 3,700 respectively, showing a downward trend before 2021, while recruitment of nurses and allied health professionals increased from 1,900 in 2018 to 2,300 in 2020 but fell to 1,300 in the first half of 2021.
The COVID-19 pandemic has stressed the healthcare system, leading to challenges in retaining and recruiting staff, especially foreign nurses, due to global competition and poaching by other countries.
Public healthcare institutions have implemented support measures like counselling, helplines, and flexible work arrangements to retain staff, and supervisors discuss alternatives when resignations are initiated.
The government aims to build a local core healthcare workforce by improving awareness, expanding training pipelines, and ensuring competitive salaries, while taking a balanced approach to protect both the healthcare system and the broader population.

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3 Nov 2021

Efforts to Encourage Companies to Send Their Professionals for Training on Mental Health Competencies

Dr Wan Rizal inquired about government efforts to encourage companies to train their professionals in mental health competencies to serve as workplace resource persons.
The Ministry of Manpower highlighted the Tripartite Advisory on Mental Well-Being at Workplaces, which lists training providers and recommends tailored approaches rather than mandatory training, noting that creating resource persons may be less practical for SMEs.
The Workplace Safety and Health Council and Health Promotion Board offer free or heavily subsidised programmes, such as the Total WSH Programme and Workplace Outreach Wellness package, which include mental well-being support and interventions.

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3 Nov 2021

Available Data on Employer Type and Market Salaries for Existing Pool of Migrant Domestic Workers in Light of Restrictions on Entry of New Migrant Domestic Workers

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked whether the Ministry of Manpower is tracking employer types and market salaries for the existing pool of migrant domestic workers, given restrictions on new entries.
The Minister for Manpower, Tan See Leng, stated that 86% of existing MDWs in Singapore are hired by households with caregiving needs.
The average monthly salary for new MDWs hired from overseas was $590 as of end-2020 and increased to $620 by September 2021.
Transfer MDWs are paid, on average, about $40 more than new MDWs.
The response highlights data on employer types and salaries but does not indicate whether this information is being systematically tracked.

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3 Nov 2021

Cases of Wrongful Dismissal Lodged by Work Permit Holders in Past Five Years

There were 42 wrongful dismissal claims lodged by Work Permit Holders in 2020, which was part of 1,319 total claims from all employees.
Sixteen of the Work Permit Holder claims were referred to the Employment Claims Tribunals, with 11 dismissed or withdrawn and one case not lodged.
Three cases referred to the ECT resulted in money orders in favour of the employees, while 26 claims were resolved through the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management.

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3 Nov 2021

Statistics on Number of Days Worker is Repatriated Following Cancellation of Worker's Work Permit

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Manpower for statistics on the number of workers repatriated on the same day, within a week, and the median number of days after work permit cancellation over the past five years.
The Minister for Manpower, Tan See Leng, replied that MOM does not compile the statistics requested, as employers are typically given up to 14 days to repatriate work permit holders after permit cancellation.
MOM briefs new migrant workers during the Settling-In-Programme to inform immigration checkpoint officers if they have pending employment-related claims, allowing them to stay in Singapore to resolve claims and potentially transfer to a new employer.
MOM proactively reaches out to construction workers whose permits are cancelled for the retention scheme with the Singapore Contractors Association Limited, and the scheme is expanding to include Marine Shipyard and Process sectors with industry partners.

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3 Nov 2021

Average Number of Monthly Resignations of Foreign Medical Professionals in 2019, 2020 and 2021 and Impact on Medical System to Cope with Surge in COVID-19 Cases

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked for the average monthly resignations of foreign nurses and doctors in 2019, 2020, and 2021, and whether this affected the medical system's ability to handle COVID-19 surges.
Ong Ye Kung stated that the question was addressed in a ministerial statement by the Senior Minister of State for Health on 1 November 2021.
The focus was on understanding resignation trends and their impact on healthcare capacity during the pandemic.
The ministerial response provided official data and clarification on the issue.
The debate highlighted concerns about retaining foreign medical professionals during a health crisis.

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3 Nov 2021

False Allegations of Employer Abuse Made by Migrant Domestic Workers and Applicable Penalties

From 2019 to 2020, an average of 300 MDW abuse reports were made to Police annually, with 17 MDWs found to have made false allegations and 13 blacklisted from working in Singapore.
MDWs who provide false statements face penalties including fines, up to two years’ imprisonment, or both upon conviction, followed by repatriation and a ban from employment in Singapore.
Employers who are genuinely wronged may suffer financial and reputational losses, though specific loss figures were not detailed in the response.
The Police and Ministry of Manpower investigate all abuse allegations thoroughly and fairly to determine if claims are substantiated.
The Ministry did not explicitly commit to reviewing the sentencing framework but emphasized a serious and fair approach to handling false allegations.

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3 Nov 2021

Flexi-work and Work-from-home Arrangements in COVID-19 as Endemic Stage

The debate centered on whether companies should have the flexibility to decide on flexi-work and work-from-home arrangements as Singapore transitions to living with COVID-19 as an endemic disease.
Minister Tan See Leng explained that workplace measures are calibrated based on public health conditions, with a current requirement for employees who can work from home to do so, and a plan to gradually ease this as the situation improves.
He emphasized that employers should consider hybrid work models for future business resilience and to support employees’ work-life harmony and engagement.

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3 Nov 2021

Limits to Maximum Number of Migrant Domestic Worker per Household Given Impact of COVID-19 Restrictions on Entry of New Migrant Workers

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim queried whether the Ministry of Manpower would consider setting a cap on the number of migrant domestic workers per household and specifying the types of domestic work they can be deployed for, given entry restrictions due to COVID-19.
Tan See Leng responded that entry approvals for migrant domestic workers are prioritized based on urgent caregiving needs, such as households with sick elderly, young children, or family members with special needs.
The Ministry does not impose a fixed limit on the number of migrant domestic workers per household, as families may have unique circumstances requiring multiple workers, such as caring for young children or bed-bound family members.

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3 Nov 2021

Work Injury Claims for Injuries Sustained while Working From Home

Patrick Tay asked the Minister for Manpower for the number of work injury claims filed, paid, and rejected between 2020 and 30 September 2021 for injuries sustained while working from home.
Tan See Leng stated that since the Circuit Breaker began in April 2020, 53 work injury claims were filed for home-based work injuries.
Of these, 32 were admitted as work injuries, three are still being assessed, and the rest were rejected for reasons like injuries occurring during non-work activities at home.

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3 Nov 2021

Indicators for Companies to Establish Mental Health Support System for Their Employees

The Ministry of Manpower highlighted that tripartite partners have issued a no-cost advisory for employers to integrate mental well-being into existing workplace risk assessments and encourage open conversations and peer support networks.
Free or subsidised outreach programmes from the Workplace Safety and Health Council and Health Promotion Board are available to all companies, including SMEs, to address mental well-being as part of holistic workplace health initiatives.
The Minister emphasized that with the simplicity and accessibility of these resources, companies should proactively support employee mental wellness without needing to wait for specific distress indicators.

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3 Nov 2021

Review Restrictions to Facilitate Entry of Non-traditional Source Migrant Workers who Satisfy Necessary Health-related Entry Requirements

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked whether restrictions on non-traditional source migrant workers who meet health requirements, such as vaccination and quarantine, would be reviewed, especially for Category IV countries like those in South Asia.
Tan See Leng responded that travel restrictions have been lifted for non-traditional source countries including Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka, with entry approvals for migrant workers in the CMP sectors resuming under safe and calibrated conditions.
Migrant workers must be fully vaccinated before arrival or complete vaccination within two months after entry, and firms can use ongoing initiatives to bring workers in with tightened safety processes.
Any further changes to entry restrictions will depend on the evolving COVID-19 situation in the region.

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3 Nov 2021

Impact of Delayed Major Construction Projects on Singapore Economy

Manpower shortages in the construction sector have reduced output, with its real value-added 25% below pre-pandemic levels in the first three quarters of 2021.
Despite project delays, Singapore's overall economy remained resilient, with real GDP recovering to 0.6% above pre-pandemic levels in the same period, supported by strong manufacturing and finance sectors.
The government has implemented measures to ease manpower constraints, including easier retention of existing workers and assistance for bringing in new workers, while working with firms to meet project needs.

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3 Nov 2021

Closure of F&B Businesses due to COVID-19 Pandemic and Impact on Employees

Liang Eng Hwa asked the Minister for Trade and Industry about the number of F&B outlets closed, new outlets opened, and the employment impact on workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
From December 2019 to June 2021, 3,440 F&B businesses ceased operations while 5,620 new ones opened, with total employment in the sector dropping by about eight percent.
The government provided enhanced wage support under the Jobs Support Scheme, a Food Delivery Booster Package to reduce delivery costs, and career support through Workforce Singapore and NTUC initiatives.

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3 Nov 2021

Role of Migrant Domestic Workers in Singapore's Caregiving Landscape

Migrant domestic workers (MDWs) are integral to Singapore's caregiving system, offering flexible and personalised support for families with ageing parents and young children, despite societal shifts like an ageing population, shrinking household sizes, and more dual-income households.
Challenges have emerged, such as escalating salary demands, disputes including false allegations of abuse, and frequent transfer requests, exacerbated by reduced MDW supply during COVID-19, leading to higher costs and helplessness for some employers.
Suggestions were made to improve the system, including a higher levy for high-income non-local households, enhancing employment agency accountability, capping MDW-initiated transfers, and expanding support channels for employers.
The government has taken steps like allowing vaccinated MDWs entry, diversifying source countries, and improving employment history transparency, while dispute resolution services and training grants aim to foster better employer-MDW relationships and care quality.

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3 Nov 2021

Potential Disruptions to Manpower Resources in Sectors Such as Cleaning and Hospitality as Singapore Reopens under Vaccinated Travel Lanes

The Minister for Manpower highlighted that COVID-19 caused a sharp contraction in employment in 2020, with foreign workers accounting for the decline, and noted ongoing labour market tightness due to border restrictions and reduced foreign worker supply in 2021.
The government is supporting local hiring through initiatives like the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package and the Jobs Growth Incentive, which have placed many locals into jobs and helped businesses hire residents.
Efforts are being made to retain and hire foreign workers, including matching existing foreign workers with employers and facilitating safe inflows, while easing border restrictions to address labour demands in sectors like cleaning and hospitality.

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