Employment & labour — Topics

6 Jul 2021

Key Drivers for Rise or Decline in Number of Married Couples in Resident Households Aged 65 and above

Senior employment rates rose significantly from 2010 to 2020, with more married couples aged 65 and above both working due to better health and longer life expectancy.
Government policies, including increased retirement and re-employment ages and financial incentives, have made it easier for seniors to remain employed.
The decline in households where both spouses are not employed is linked to the overall increase in senior employment and longer working lives.

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6 Jul 2021

Percentage of Civil Servants who Use Parent-care Leave and also Eligible for Flexible Work Arrangements

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Prime Minister for the percentage of civil servants who use parent-care leave and are also eligible for flexible work arrangements over the past five years, and whether the Ministry would start collecting this data if it is not already available.
The Prime Minister's office responded that flexible work arrangements in the Civil Service include staggered work hours, telecommuting, and part-time options, and all civil servants are eligible if their job role allows, so eligibility is not specifically tracked.
It was also noted that civil servants with childcare or eldercare needs can discuss arrangements with supervisors and HR, including using leave provisions or flexible work options tailored to their job and operational context.
The response did not provide the requested percentage data, indicating that such specific statistics are not currently collected.
The Ministry's stance is that flexibility is broadly available, and discussions are encouraged to balance personal needs with professional responsibilities.

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6 Jul 2021

Percentage of Civil Servants who Use Childcare Sick Leave and also Eligible for Flexible Work Arrangements

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Prime Minister for the percentage of civil servants who used childcare sick leave and were also eligible for flexible work arrangements over the past five years, and whether such data would be collected if not already.
The Prime Minister, via Chan Chun Sing, stated that all civil servants are eligible for flexible work arrangements as long as their job role allows it, so eligibility is not tracked per se.
He noted that civil servants with childcare or eldercare needs can discuss arrangements with supervisors and HR, including using leave provisions, flexible work arrangements, or redeployment opportunities.

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6 Jul 2021

Measures to Manage Effects of "Credential Hyperinflation"

The Minister highlighted that the proportion of residents aged 25 and over with tertiary qualifications rose from 37% in 2010 to 48% in 2020, with graduate employment rates remaining stable and starting wages increasing over time.
The Ministry of Education works with economic agencies to align the supply of tertiary places with national manpower demand and industry needs, while institutions maintain admission standards and refresh curricula to ensure quality.
Emphasis is placed on lifelong learning through the SkillsFuture movement to help individuals reskill and upskill, as skills are the key determinant of wages and career prospects.

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6 Jul 2021

Appeals Received for COVID-19 Driver Relief Fund

Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for Transport about the number of appeals received for the COVID-19 Driver Relief Fund (CDRF), the success and failure rates relative to private hire car drivers, and whether the 200-trip monthly criterion could be reviewed due to lower ridership and to include delivery trips.
Between January and May 2021, 850 appeals were received, with about 190 approved and 660 rejected; half of the rejections lacked valid reasons, while around 300 were from new drivers not active during the qualifying period.
The CDRF targets active taxi and private hire car drivers dependent on driving for income, with the 200-trip criterion set to ensure support reaches existing drivers, though appeals consider factors like COVID-19 impact, delivery trips, and medical or compassionate grounds.

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6 Jul 2021

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Government's Population Strategies

The Government regularly reviews population strategies and confirmed they remain aligned with the Emerging Stronger Taskforce recommendations to support post-pandemic recovery.
Singaporeans remain central to population policies, with continued focus on marriage and parenthood, support for families, and strengthening the local workforce through upskilling and reskilling.
The Government will continue to tap global talent to complement local workers while ensuring fair hiring and refining foreign workforce policies to create more good jobs for Singaporeans.

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6 Jul 2021

Impact of Wage Increases for Cleaners on Subvention Grant to Town Councils

Sharael Taha asked whether the Ministry for National Development would increase subvention grants to Town Councils after the announcement of wage increases for cleaners under the Progressive Wage Model in June 2021.
Desmond Lee stated that Town Councils primarily fund cleaning operations through Service and Conservancy Charges collected from residents, supplemented by an annual operating grant from the Ministry.
The Ministry has no plans to increase grants to address cleaners’ wage costs since the Progressive Wage Model was introduced in 2012, but will continue monitoring the situation.
Town Councils are encouraged to manage finances carefully and adopt technology to reduce reliance on manpower for cleaning.

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6 Jul 2021

Swift Border Policy Response to Surge in Imported COVID-19 Cases

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked about the number of Dependant's Passes issued in the past year, why they were not immediately barred during a surge in imported COVID-19 cases, and whether they could be delinked from Work Permits for more agile border policy revisions.
Minister Tan See Leng explained that entry approvals are calibrated based on the risk levels of countries, and preventing Dependant's Pass holders from entering could discourage Work Pass holders from staying in Singapore, thereby worsening manpower shortages.
The Minister noted that border restrictions since 2020 have separated families, and while businesses support health measures, additional disruptions from stricter family entry rules would be counterproductive.

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6 Jul 2021

Free Trade Agreements and Foreign Manpower

Ministers Ong Ye Kung and Tan See Leng defended Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), especially the India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), stating they are fundamental to Singapore's economic survival and not the cause of job challenges faced by local professionals, managers, executives, and technicians (PMEs).
The ministers clarified that CECA does not allow an unfettered inflow of Indian professionals, explaining that immigration and work pass policies remain fully under Singapore's control and all foreign PMEs must meet local employment criteria.
They acknowledged genuine concerns about job competition, nationality concentration in some sectors, and unfair hiring practices, and outlined measures such as raising Employment Pass salary thresholds, enforcing fair employment frameworks, and supporting skills development for locals.
During the debate, some MPs and Nominated MPs raised issues about discrimination, requested more data on foreign manpower, and suggested stronger enforcement or legislation to protect local workers, with the ministers committing to review and strengthen existing frameworks.

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6 Jul 2021

Impact of Revising Wages for Cleaning Sector on Cleaners and Workers in Other Sectors

The government explained that the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) for cleaners is designed through tripartite consensus to raise wages sustainably, with cleaners’ wages growing 26% cumulatively from 2014–2019 and local employment rising 3%, and it plans to expand PWM to sectors like food services, retail, and waste management to cover up to 218,000 workers.
Officials emphasized that PWM aims to avoid disemployment by aligning wage increases with productivity improvements and job redesign, supported by government grants and training, and that stakeholders—including employers, service buyers, and consumers—must share the cost to ensure sustainability.
The government noted that low-wage workers’ real wages at the 20th percentile grew 39% from 2009–2019, outpacing median growth, and that Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) will be reviewed to complement PWM without offsetting wage gains, while tripartite clusters will tailor sector-specific implementation timelines.

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6 Jul 2021

Impact of Singapore-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement on Trade, Job Growth, Employment of Singaporeans

Members of Parliament raised questions on the economic benefits, job creation, and foreign workforce growth since the Singapore-India CECA, including effects on local employment and nationality-based discrimination.
The Minister for Manpower sought permission to address these oral questions together with written questions via upcoming ministerial statements, indicating a comprehensive government response on CECA's impact.
The debate highlighted concerns over FTAs' outcomes, foreign PMET numbers, local talent development schemes, and how CECA commitments compare with other agreements.

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5 Jul 2021