Religion, race & rights — Topics

4 Jul 2023

Women's Charter (Family Violence and Other Matters) (Amendment) Bill

The Bill updates the definition of family violence to explicitly include physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological abuse, aiming to provide more comprehensive legal protection for survivors.
It introduces new measures to empower survivors and authorities, such as allowing protectors to apply for protection orders on behalf of reluctant survivors, issuing emergency orders, and implementing electronic monitoring for high-risk perpetrators.
The amendments also strengthen rehabilitation and accountability for perpetrators by expanding the scope of counselling and treatment orders and increasing penalties for breaches of court orders.

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4 Jul 2023

Ensuring Seniors' Access to Polyclinic Care

Senior Minister of State Dr Janil Puthucheary outlined short-term measures to ease polyclinic appointment access, including setting aside slots for walk-in patients and seniors with mobility issues, while acknowledging that new polyclinic constructions were delayed due to the pandemic, leading to capacity constraints.
Multiple MPs, including Dr Tan Wu Meng and Mr Liang Eng Hwa, raised concerns about seniors’ difficulties with online booking systems and suggested alternatives such as hotlines, increased walk-in slots, and subsidies for CHAS GP clinics to improve accessibility.
The Ministry of Health is exploring options like telemedicine, leveraging Active Ageing Centres, and reviewing subsidy levels, but noted that increasing walk-in slots alone does not resolve overall capacity issues and a balance between online and walk-in appointments is needed.
Healthcare workers in polyclinics were acknowledged for their efforts amid rising demand, with the ministry committing to support them through expanded GP roles, training, and resources to manage the growing healthcare needs of an aging population.
The Ministry of Manpower clarified that medical certificates from any licensed practitioner in Singapore are recognized, addressing concerns about employer acceptance of non-polyclinic MCs.

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3 Jul 2023

Recourse for Seniors or Persons Physically Unable to Return Trays at Food Outlets

Dennis Tan asked about recourse for seniors or persons physically unable to return trays at food outlets.
Grace Fu stated that enforcement will not be taken against those with genuine difficulties due to frailty or disability.
She encouraged family or caregivers to return trays on behalf of those unable to do so.
If dining alone without assistance, cleaners will clear the trays left behind.
The overall approach balances personal responsibility with practical support for the vulnerable.

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3 Jul 2023

Trial of Priority Cabins for Elderly on MRT Trains

The trial of priority cabins for the elderly and other groups like expectant mothers and persons with disabilities is under evaluation by the Land Transport Authority, considering post-pandemic travel patterns.
The trial has been on hold indefinitely due to COVID-19, but other initiatives like the Helping Hand scheme and Caring Commuter Champion programme are being promoted to support commuters with additional needs.
The government is considering extending priority beyond the elderly to include groups such as expectant mothers and persons with invisible medical conditions or temporary injuries.

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3 Jul 2023

Ways to Ensure Availability of Budget Cooked Food and Halal Food Options at HDB Coffee Shops

Miss Cheryl Chan raised concerns about ensuring budget cooked food and halal options at HDB coffee shops, suggesting the Ministry act as an anchor operator or centrally source ingredients for small operators.
Desmond Lee stated that HDB’s Budget Meals initiative already requires rental coffee shops to offer at least four budget meals and two budget drinks, with one halal option included.
HDB declined to directly participate in the food industry, citing its core mandate, but will collaborate with agencies to support SMEs in upgrading capabilities.
A halal stall has been required in HDB rental coffee shops since 2005, and the new budget meal rule reinforces this with at least one halal meal among the four.

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3 Jul 2023

Progress and Impact of Proposed Workplace Fairness Legislation and Support Measures Available

The proposed Workplace Fairness Legislation aims to protect against common forms of discrimination such as nationality, age, sex, race, and language, building on existing tripartite guidelines and introducing a graded penalty system that focuses on dispute resolution through internal channels and mediation before litigation, with the goal of maintaining a harmonious workplace culture.
Small firms with fewer than 25 employees will be initially exempt from the legislation for about five years to allow time to build HR capabilities, but they remain subject to the Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices and can still face administrative penalties for discrimination, with support measures planned in collaboration with organizations like ASME.
The government emphasizes a whole-of-society approach to root out discrimination, including educating stakeholders, clarifying what constitutes discrimination, and protecting employees from retaliation, while the legislation is targeted for finalization and drafting in 2024, with ongoing reviews on areas like breastfeeding accommodations and strengthening penalties under the guidelines.

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3 Jul 2023

Plans under Healthier SG for Younger Persons with Disabilities

The Ministry of Health is building on the Enabling Masterplan 2030 to support healthier lives for younger persons with disabilities, including those with intellectual disabilities.
Pilots such as a Community Integrated Health Team are underway, partnering with social service agencies and healthcare professionals to provide multidisciplinary, community-based care for PwDs with complex needs.
Healthier SG initiatives include updated physical activity guidelines inclusive of PwDs and expanded sports opportunities through the Para Sports Academy and the Disability Sports Masterplan.
MOH and MSF are studying service gaps and coordinating with stakeholders to strengthen support for PwDs’ health and healthcare needs.
MOH is committed to working with partners on further programmes and pilots to make healthy living more accessible for all residents.

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10 May 2023

School Places for All Students with Special Educational Needs

The Ministry of Education stated there are currently 24 government-funded Special Education (SPED) schools, with plans to increase to 28 by the 2030s, and they continuously monitor demand for places.
Admission to SPED schools requires a formal diagnosis of special educational needs through a psychological assessment, and suitability is determined based on the child’s cognitive, psychological, social, and physical needs.
Not every child with special educational needs is best supported in SPED schools; the decision is made collaboratively with a panel of qualified professionals.

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10 May 2023

Vulnerable Group Persons Hired in Government Project Tenders with "Set aside" Clauses

The government does not centrally track the number of vulnerable group hires from project tenders with "set aside" clauses, though agencies may occasionally award contracts requiring a quota, such as reserving 10% of jobs for persons with disabilities and seniors.
Each agency can independently decide to include "set aside" clauses or create preferred supplier programs for firms with the Enabling Mark, leading to variable implementation across tenders.
The government employs non-procurement measures to support vulnerable group employment, including job placement services, grants, and the development of Enabling Business Hubs to enhance regional opportunities.

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10 May 2023

Obituary for the Late Mr Palaniappan s/o Arumugum

Mr Palaniappan s/o Arumugum, a Tamil translator for Parliament for over 30 years, passed away on 4 May 2023, and was remembered by the House for his extensive contributions to public service and language promotion.
He served in the judiciary and Parliament, led initiatives to improve translation services, and was instrumental in developing bilingual glossaries and promoting Tamil language standards nationally.
Beyond his official duties, he was a community leader, adjunct faculty, and recipient of multiple public service awards, remembered for his warmth, mentorship, and dedication to family and racial harmony.

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9 May 2023

Sensory Rooms for Individuals to Develop their Senses within Government-owned Sports and Cultural Facilities

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim inquired whether the Ministry would consider adding sensory rooms to government-owned sports and cultural facilities to help individuals develop their senses.
Edwin Tong Chun Fai noted that public arts, heritage, and sports facilities aim to be inclusive, with existing sensory rooms and programs like the National Museum’s Quiet Room and National Gallery’s Calm Room.
The government collaborates with community partners such as SG Enable to offer inclusive programming, including Quiet Mornings at museums and Relaxed Performances at Esplanade.
Sport Singapore ensures calm spaces are available during events with special needs participants and is identifying existing sports centre rooms for conversion into sensory-friendly spaces.
Efforts are underway to build capabilities among arts, cultural, and sports organizations to strengthen inclusive programming and support for individuals with sensory needs.

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9 May 2023

Women's Charter (Family Violence and Other Matters) (Amendment) Bill

The amendment bill aims to strengthen protections against family violence by updating the Women’s Charter and aligning it with other relevant laws.
Minister of State Ms Sun Xueling presented the bill on behalf of the ministry, initiating its first reading and scheduling the second reading for after 3 July 2023.
The bill seeks to improve legal measures and support mechanisms for victims of family violence, reflecting the government’s commitment to safeguarding vulnerable individuals.
Parliament is set to review the proposed amendments in detail during the second reading, with the goal of enacting more comprehensive protections.

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8 May 2023

Progress of Initiatives to Improve Female Labour Force Participation Rate

The Ministry of Manpower reported that the female labour force participation rate for women aged 25 to 64 increased from 74.8% in 2018 to 78.6% in 2021, which is higher than in Canada and the United Kingdom.
Key initiatives to improve female participation include promoting flexible work arrangements, with 91% of employers offering at least one formal FWA in 2021, up from 53% in 2018, and plans to introduce Tripartite Guidelines on FWAs by 2024 to make requesting flexible arrangements a workplace norm.
Support for women returning to work includes programmes by Workforce Singapore and NTUC’s e2i, which placed over 83,000 women jobseekers in the last three years, and the launch of the herCareer initiative in June 2022 to assist women re-entering the workforce.
Measures to support caregivers include doubling preschool capacity since 2012 to over 200,000 places, enhanced preschool subsidies, additional tax relief for working mothers, and expanded caregiving options for those caring for elderly family members.
The Tripartite Committee on Workplace Fairness will strengthen protections against discrimination based on sex, require employers to implement grievance handling processes, and legislate protections against retaliation for reporting workplace discrimination and harassment.

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8 May 2023

Fixed Timeframe for Coffee Shop Operators to Find Replacement Halal Food Stalls

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked if the government would set a fixed timeframe for coffee shop operators to replace a closed halal stall and impose stricter penalties, beyond future lease non-renewal, for non-compliance.
Minister Desmond Lee explained that HDB already requires operators to have at least one halal stall and to find a replacement within the current tenancy period, with non-renewal or termination as potential actions if they fail.
The Minister noted that stricter penalties may not be the best approach, as operators face challenges like low demand and competition, and the Ministry prefers to engage the industry to co-create solutions for maintaining halal food availability.

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8 May 2023

Breakdown of Ethnic Integration Policy-related Appeals Acceded to in 2022 by Ethnicity

In 2022, HDB received 411 Ethnic Integration Policy-related appeals, acceding to 128 of them as of 21 March 2023.
Of the 128 acceded appeals, 92 were from Indian/Other race flat owners.
29 acceded appeals were from Malay flat owners, and seven were from Chinese flat owners.

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8 May 2023

Special Educational Needs Students Studying in Mainstream Schools and Support Available

There are 35,500 students with Special Educational Needs in Singapore, with 80% supported in mainstream schools and 20% in Special Education schools, and the number of Special Education schools is planned to increase from 24 to 28 by the 2030s.
Mainstream schools provide support for SEN students through inclusive classroom practices, a Case Management Team, Teachers trained in Special Needs, and dedicated SEN officers (Allied Educators), with each primary school having two SEN officers and each secondary school having one, plus more for schools with higher needs.
The Ministry of Education has increased the number of SEN officers from about 450 in 2017 to over 660 in 2022 to better support students with SEN in mainstream settings.

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8 May 2023

Aligning Character and Citizenship Education Curriculum with Model in UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The Minister confirmed that Singapore’s Enabling Masterplans and policies are aligned with the UN social model of disability, aiming to remove societal barriers for persons with disabilities.
The Character and Citizenship Education curriculum already fosters empathy, sensitivity, and respect toward persons with disabilities, reinforced through community service and Values in Action activities.
Collaborative programmes between general and special education schools, including co-curricular activities, help build inclusive awareness and staff capacity.

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8 May 2023

Timeline for Introduction of Anti-discrimination Law

Sylvia Lim asked about the unresolved issues and timeline for the draft anti-discrimination law announced in 2021, including when it would be available for public review.
Tan See Leng responded that the Tripartite Committee on Workplace Fairness released interim recommendations in February and is reviewing public feedback.
The Committee aims to release its final recommendations in the second half of this year, with legislation drafting to follow.
The government targets having the draft law ready for the second half of 2024.

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8 May 2023

Balloting Scheme for Singaporean Muslims to Perform Haj Pilgrimage

Dr Wan Rizal inquired whether the limited balloting scheme reduces waiting time for Singaporean Muslims to perform Haj, by how much, and if it prioritises first-time pilgrims.
The scheme, introduced by MUIS, uses a computer-generated random draw to allocate additional Haj places from Saudi Arabia at short notice, aiming to fairly and transparently fill these slots to ease the backlog.
It is reserved for first-time Haj registrants who have been in the queue for over five years, with past pilgrims ineligible, and will be implemented only when additional places are announced for future Haj seasons.
The effectiveness in reducing waiting time depends on Saudi Arabia's allocation of official and additional Haj places, which can vary each year.
This approach follows international practices of using balloting to manage limited Haj quotas and improve utilisation of all allocated places.

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8 May 2023

Racial Mix Consideration at Annual Primary 1 Registration

The Primary 1 registration framework balances factors like sibling precedence, proximity, and parental ties, with parental choices affecting the racial composition of schools.
Students learn about multiculturalism through subjects like Character and Citizenship Education and Social Studies, covering cultures, contributions, and mutual respect.
Schools promote cross-racial interaction through cultural celebrations, learning journeys, and co-curricular activities, supported by Ministry of Education initiatives.

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