Religion, race & rights — Topics

2 Nov 2021

Universal Definition of Mental Disorder and Mental Disability Across All Legislation

Dr Shahira Abdullah proposed a universal definition for mental disorder and mental disability across all legislation and a review of criminal laws to better protect persons with mental conditions in the justice system.
The Second Minister for Law explained that current legislation uses context-specific definitions tailored to different policy intents, such as protection, detention, or capacity, and noted existing safeguards in the criminal justice system.
The Minister stated the government is open to a common definition if it can meet all policy intents and invited suggestions for improvements.
Dr Shahira asked about upcoming reviews and whether the Interagency Taskforce for Mental Health could help establish a common definition for future laws.
The Minister welcomed ongoing suggestions and highlighted the need to balance different contextual needs when considering a universal definition.

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1 Nov 2021

Easing of COVID-19 Restricted Measures for Friday and Daily prayers at Mosques

Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap asked when COVID-19 restrictions for Friday and daily prayers at mosques could be eased further.
Masagos Zulkifli B M M explained that MUIS follows medical and taskforce guidelines, with Friday prayer capacity growing from 6,400 in June 2020 to about 40,500 now.
More worshippers can now walk in for daily prayers, and MUIS will continue adjusting measures to ensure safety for all, including seniors.

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1 Nov 2021

Update on Investigation of Deviant Teaching and Expected Date of Completion for Investigation

Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap asked for an update on the investigation into deviant teachings, the expected completion date, and whether MUIS is aware of any ongoing activities by the alleged individual or his followers.
Masagos Zulkifli B M M stated that MUIS and its Fatwa Committee reopened the case in November 2020 after new information emerged and have since concluded their internal investigations and lodged a police report.
MUIS cannot provide further details as the matter is under police investigation, and findings will be made public once completed.

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1 Nov 2021

Retirement and Re-employment (Amendment) Bill

The bill raises the statutory retirement age to 65 and re-employment age to 70, with speakers supporting these changes but seeking safeguards on wage adjustments during re-employment to prevent unfair reductions for older workers.
Concerns are raised about conciliation timelines for re-employment disputes and medical fitness assessments, emphasizing the need for timely resolutions and protection against misuse of chronic illnesses to deny re-employment.
For the CPF amendments, speakers seek clarity on criteria for "specified significant conditions" allowing automatic disbursements, options to reallocate Medisave funds to retirement accounts, and safeguards in the new process for distributing un-nominated CPF monies to beneficiaries.

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1 Nov 2021

Retirement and Re-employment (Amendment) Bill

The Retirement and Re-employment (Amendment) Bill aims to progressively raise the statutory retirement age from 62 to 65 and the re-employment age from 67 to 70 by 2030, starting with increases to 63 and 68 respectively in July 2022, to support seniors who wish to work longer and address Singapore's ageing population.
The CPF (Amendment) Bill simplifies the CPF Act, introduces auto top-ups to retirement accounts, removes the annual cap for MediSave voluntary contributions, and streamlines the distribution of unnominated CPF monies upon death, without changing the CPF payout eligibility age.
Debates highlighted the need to combat age discrimination, enhance support for mature workers through job redesign and retraining, and ensure employers use re-employment frameworks fairly, with calls for stronger anti-discrimination laws and flexible work arrangements to extend meaningful employment for seniors.

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5 Oct 2021

Efforts to Encourage Buyers of Outsourced Services to Abide by Fair Employment Guidelines

Mr Yip Hon Weng raised concerns about discriminatory clauses in tender documents for outsourced services and asked what more can be done to encourage buyers to follow fair employment guidelines.
Manpower Minister Tan See Leng reiterated that all employers must adhere to fair employment principles, regardless of client demands, and that discriminatory practices will face enforcement actions.
The government plans to enshrine fair employment guidelines in law, allowing broader actions against breaches and holding employers accountable.
Authorities will continue to investigate complaints about discriminatory tender documents and may suspend work pass privileges for non-compliant service buyers or their agents.

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5 Oct 2021

Monetary Awards for Paralympians

Members of Parliament raised concerns about the disparity in monetary awards between Paralympians and Olympians and called for more support for disability sports.
The Minister clarified that award schemes are managed by non-governmental councils and the gap in cash awards does not reflect the Government's valuation of athletes.
The Government highlighted its equal support for all athletes through a High Performance Sports system and the One Team Singapore Fund, which matches donations to support both able-bodied and para-athletes.

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5 Oct 2021

Sedition (Repeal) Bill

The Minister for Home Affairs introduced the Sedition (Repeal) Bill to repeal the Sedition Act, arguing it is a colonial-era law with outdated provisions no longer used for prosecution, and that its core concerns are now covered by other modern legislation like the Penal Code and the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act.
The Bill amends the Penal Code to extend section 267C to cover speeches and communication, requiring proof of intent for offences related to violence or disobedience, and makes sections 298, 298A, and 505 arrestable to allow police swift action on cases affecting social cohesion, while clarifying that merely conveying information about civil disobedience without intent to incite is not an offence.
A Member of Parliament supported the repeal but raised concerns about the removal of a six-month time limit for prosecutions, the scope of amended offences, and the arrestable status of certain Penal Code sections, with the Minister responding that the Sedition Act’s thresholds were uniquely colonial and not comparable to modern offences, and that arrestability is justified for public order while safeguards are embedded in intent requirements.

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5 Oct 2021

Olympic and Paralympic Achievements

The Minister celebrated Team Singapore's Olympians and Paralympians for their achievements and resilience at the Tokyo 2020 Games, highlighting individual stories and announcing a new President’s Award for Inspiring Achievement for Yip Pin Xiu.
Several MPs praised the athletes' dedication and called for stronger support systems, including better integration of sports and education, more corporate partnerships, and improved career transition programmes for athletes.
The debate also addressed the disparity in cash awards between Olympic and Paralympic athletes, with calls for greater parity and efforts to enhance inclusivity and accessibility in disability sports.
The Minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to investing in both elite performance and grassroots sports development to foster a vibrant sporting culture in Singapore.

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5 Oct 2021

Current Protection against Retaliation and Dismissal for Employees Who File Complaints on Workplace Discrimination

The Employment Act protects employees from dismissal without just cause, including cases where dismissal is due to reporting workplace discrimination, and employees can seek assistance from MOM or TAFEP if they face retaliation.
The Tripartite Committee on Workplace Fairness is examining potential legislation and whistle-blower protections, with a focus on ensuring a safe environment for employees to speak up without fear of victimization.
If employees experience retaliation, they can approach MOM or TAFEP for guidance and investigation, with enforcement actions considered against employers who target whistle-blowers.
The discussion also highlighted the need to consider workplace harassment in the review process, with suggestions to update advisory guidelines to better protect employees.

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5 Oct 2021

Actions against Employers Accused of Workplace Discrimination Based on Age and Race

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and TAFEP take workplace discrimination seriously, using corrective workshops, HR process advice, and enforcement actions like curtailed work pass privileges in serious cases.
MOM is considering suggestions to enhance employer awareness, including training frameworks similar to BizSafe and linking such training to government tender eligibility, but prefers an educational approach over naming-and-shaming.
Officials emphasized engaging HR practitioners and employment agencies to promote fair hiring practices, while noting that persistent discriminatory behavior will lead to enforcement actions.

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4 Oct 2021

Efforts to Prevent Hateful or Inciteful Speech or Action Being Communicated or Distributed

The Singapore Government has strict legal frameworks, including the Broadcasting Act and Penal Code, to prohibit hate and offensive speech and enforce the removal of such content to protect social cohesion.
The Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) addresses falsehoods that can fuel hate speech, while the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act enables swift action against online religiously inflammatory material.
Beyond regulations, initiatives like the Digital for Life movement and Media Literacy Council promote respectful online behavior and civil discourse through education and community partnerships.

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4 Oct 2021

Considerations to Lower Voting Age to 18 in Singapore

He Ting Ru asked whether the government is reconsidering lowering the voting age to 18 and, if not, why.
Chan Chun Sing, representing the Prime Minister, stated that the considerations for keeping the voting age at 21 from August 2019 remain unchanged.
The Member was advised to refer to the Hansard for the detailed reasoning.

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4 Oct 2021

Investigation into and Enforcement against Hate Crime Cases in Past Five Years

Tan Yia Swam asked for statistics on hate crime investigations and outcomes over the past five years.
K Shanmugam explained that Singapore does not track crimes by offender motivation but uses sections 298 and 298A of the Penal Code as proxies for racial and religious hate crimes.
In the last five years, 143 cases were investigated under these sections, resulting in 55 warnings, two fines, five jail terms, and five combined fines and jail terms.

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4 Oct 2021

Update on Investigation into Fair Employment Complaints Lodged against Hillview Heights Condominium Property Management Company

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) confirmed that TAFEP received four complaints about Hillview Heights’ property management company for age and language discrimination in tender documents, with the fourth complaint leading to an ongoing MOM investigation.
For the first three complaints, TAFEP engaged the company, which made rectifications, but TAFEP later advised a systemic review after identifying non-isolated issues; the fourth complaint indicated this advice was not followed.
MOM and TAFEP take workplace discrimination seriously, may require corrective workshops, and can enforce actions like curtailing work passes, though no increase in complaints has been observed since the case was publicized.

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4 Oct 2021

Measures to Help Older Workers Stay Employed and Find New Jobs Despite COVID-19 Impact

The Minister reported that the six-month re-entry rate for senior retrenched residents improved from 39.3% in Q3 2020 to 43.8% in Q2 2021, and employment for those aged 60 and above slightly increased from 38.5% in 2019 to 39.0% in 2020.
Senior workers are being placed in a wide range of sectors, with seven in ten finding jobs in Administrative & Support Services, Wholesale & Retail Trade, Accommodation & F&B Services, and Community, Social & Personal Services.
The government introduced the $1.5 billion Senior Worker Support Package in 2020, which includes wage offsets, grants for higher retirement and re-employment ages, part-time re-employment support, and CPF transition offsets to help employers retain and hire older workers.
The measures are designed to support both job retention and new job placement for older workers aged 60 and above during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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4 Oct 2021

Updated Protocols for Serving Quarantine Orders at Home and Support Measures for Persons with Disabilities, the Young and the Elderly

The Ministry of Health outlined its response to surging COVID-19 cases, emphasizing a shift to home recovery for most patients to preserve hospital capacity for severe cases, while deploying additional ambulances and expanding ICU and community care beds.
MPs raised concerns about support for vulnerable groups like the elderly, disabled, and young during quarantine, with the Ministry clarifying that caregivers can accompany them and Home Recovery Buddies are available for assistance, while acknowledging challenges with hotline responsiveness and IT issues like TraceTogether status clearance.
The debate highlighted operational strains, including delays in processing quarantine queries and conveying elderly patients to hospitals, with the Ministry committing to streamline protocols, improve communications, and bolster resources through private sector partnerships and more testing centers.

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14 Sep 2021

Breakdown of Discrimination Complaints by Category from 2014 to 2021

Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked for the annual breakdown of discrimination complaints by category from 2014 to 2021.
Tan See Leng responded that TAFEP received an average of 379 workplace discrimination complaints per year from 2014 to the first half of 2021.
The response included Table 1 with the annual average number of complaints by discrimination type, though the specific categories and yearly data were not detailed in the provided speech excerpts.

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14 Sep 2021

Outcome of Complaints of Discrimination Received by Ministry or Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices

Between 2014 and the first half of 2021, TAFEP received an average of 379 workplace discrimination complaints annually, investigated all of them, and found about two-thirds unsubstantiated due to misunderstandings.
The remaining one-third of cases led to referrals to MOM, with an average of 41 employers per year found in breach of fair employment guidelines and facing work pass suspension.
The data covers complaints received, investigated, mediated, resolved, and prosecuted by TAFEP and MOM, with most resolved through clarification and mediation without further action.

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14 Sep 2021

Rehabilitation and Reintegration Challenges Faced by Prison Inmates Aged 55 and above upon Release and Measure to Assist Them

Older prison inmates aged 55 and above face challenges including age-related health issues, securing accommodation, employment, financial needs, and social support, similar to other offenders but with additional vulnerabilities due to their age.
While in prison, inmates have access to rehabilitation programmes that can be adapted for age-specific needs, and after release, they can benefit from community-based programmes like CBP and MAS for supervised reintegration, with tailored support from volunteers and befrienders.
Healthcare services are provided during and after imprisonment, with referrals for continued treatment and mental health support, while post-release accommodation assistance is facilitated through Family Resource Centres and social workers.
Employment support is delivered through Yellow Ribbon Singapore, which offers skills training, job placement, and career coaching, including digital literacy programs like "Seniors Go Digital" to help older inmates secure suitable jobs.
Family and volunteer support are emphasized, with initiatives like the Throughcare Volunteer Framework and befriender programmes to maintain relationships and provide pro-social guidance for older offenders lacking family support.

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