Religion, race & rights — Topics

20 Jan 2014

Laws to Protect Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The Ministry for Social and Family Development acknowledged the need to protect the rights of persons with disabilities and highlighted progress through the Enabling Masterplan and ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Existing laws, including general statutes and specific measures like the Mental Capacity Act and BCA’s Code on Accessibility, are already in place to cover the needs of persons with disabilities, with periodic reviews to ensure relevance.
Beyond legislation, the Ministry emphasized the importance of changing public attitudes through campaigns like "We are Able!" to build a more inclusive society.

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20 Jan 2014

Female Representation on Boards of Listed Companies

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked whether the Ministry has studied the causes of low female representation on the boards of listed companies and how to encourage more women to serve on boards.
The Ministry, through a Diversity Task Force formed in late 2012, is examining gender diversity on boards and senior management of listed companies and conducted a survey in July 2013, with findings expected in mid-2014.
The Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations runs the BoardAgender initiative to raise awareness about the economic benefits of gender-balanced boards and to encourage women to serve on boards.

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20 Jan 2014

Employment and Employability of Seniors

David Ong proposed removing the statutory retirement age and restoring full CPF contributions for workers over 50 to empower seniors and address age discrimination, emphasizing that longer lifespans and a tight labour market make their continued employment both economically sensible and personally beneficial for financial security and well-being.
Dr Amy Khor, representing the Ministry of Manpower, defended the existing re-employment framework under the Retirement and Re-employment Act as a balanced approach that protects workers while giving employers flexibility, noting high re-employment rates and gradual progress in restoring CPF contributions without harming older workers' employability.
Both speakers highlighted the need to redesign jobs, enhance schemes like WorkPro and the Special Employment Credit, and shift societal attitudes to view older workers as assets, ensuring fair compensation and active ageing for Singapore's ageing population.

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20 Jan 2014

Update on Little India Riot

Multiple Members of Parliament asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs about the causes, findings, and lessons from the 8 December 2013 Little India riot, including the timing and transparency of the Commission of Inquiry, public and media reactions, and measures to prevent recurrence without overreaction.
Questions focused on operational and security adjustments by law enforcement and SCDF, including the activation of the Special Operations Command, adequacy of SOC strength, and improvements to safety protocols for rescuers.
Several MPs inquired about alcohol-related policies, including restrictions, licensing, and enforcement in Little India and other areas, seeking details on violations, lessons learned, and sustainable measures to address public disorder linked to alcohol consumption.
Concerns were raised about multiracialism, the repatriation of riot-involved workers, and the objectivity of processes for deeming immigrants undesirable, alongside calls for transparency in the Committee of Inquiry’s composition and proceedings.

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12 Nov 2013

Students Accepted into Secondary Schools via Direct School Admission Scheme

Over the past five years, secondary schools made about 2,400 annual Confirmed Offers via DSA, with an even gender split, and roughly 196 students (8%) did not take up the offers.
The 10 schools accepting the most boys under DSA are Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), Dunman High, Hwa Chong Institution, National Junior College, NUS High School, Raffles Institution, School of Science and Technology, School of the Arts, St Joseph’s Institution, and Victoria School.
The 10 schools accepting the most girls under DSA are Cedar Girls’ Secondary, CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’, Dunman High, Methodist Girls’ School, Nanyang Girls’ High, Raffles Girls’ School, River Valley High, School of Science and Technology, School of the Arts, and Singapore Chinese Girls’ School.

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12 Nov 2013

Suara Musyawarah Committee Report

The Minister outlined that key Malay/Muslim organizations like MUIS and MENDAKI will lead the implementation of the committee's recommendations, focusing on new initiatives like Nadi Khidmat@Mosques to support vulnerable families.
The government highlighted ongoing collaborations, such as MUIS working with the Health Promotion Board to address health issues like smoking, hypertension, and obesity through mosque-based programs.
A periodic progress report will be provided, with MUIS and MENDAKI submitting an annual update on their plans and the rollout of Nadi Khidmat@Mosques, which is expected next year.
The government acknowledged recommendations requiring national-level study, such as addressing job discrimination, and pointed to existing mechanisms like the Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices.
The Minister encouraged community organizations to leverage resources, including the Malay/Muslim Community Development Fund, to implement the report's recommendations and provide updates at appropriate times.

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12 Nov 2013

Conditions for Waiving Ethnic Integration Policy for HDB Flats

The debate centers on whether to waive the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) for HDB flat sales, with Hri Kumar Nair questioning if owners who did not benefit from EIP when buying should be subject to it when selling, and suggesting exceptions for forced sales due to arrears or court orders.
Minister of State Desmond Lee emphasized that EIP is applied consistently to prevent ethnic enclaves and promote racial harmony, and while some sellers may face inconvenience, waivers would compromise the policy's objective, though exceptions may be considered case-by-case for very exceptional circumstances.
The discussion clarified that EIP quotas are factored into BTO allocations, and while a minority seller in forced sales might qualify for a waiver, the government maintains that EIP is not intended to advantage or disadvantage families but to uphold multiracialism in public housing.

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12 Nov 2013

Opportunities for Students to Interact with Peers of Other Nationalities

The Ministry of Education uses the formal curriculum and co-curricular activities to foster interactions between Singaporean and international students, including through subjects like History and Geography and events like International Friendship Day.
Schools collaborate with local and overseas institutions for joint activities, cultural celebrations, and exchange programmes to provide students with exposure to different cultures and nationalities.
The Ministry acknowledges concerns about skewed school enrolments and notes that opportunities for interaction exist whether students are in the same school or through external events and overseas exchanges.

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12 Nov 2013

Core Components of Character and Citizenship Education Syllabus

The new CCE syllabus focuses on core values, social-emotional competencies, and skills for character and citizenship, using life experiences and activities like co-curricular programmes to teach students respect, responsibility, and other values.
Animal welfare and common special needs and disabilities are both covered as lessons within the syllabus, not as core modules, to teach responsibility and appreciation of diversity, but neither is designated as a mandatory module.
MOE is open to collaborating with disability groups to develop content and pedagogy and is exploring online resources to make CCE content accessible anytime, though technology will complement, not replace, teachers.

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12 Nov 2013

World Economic Forum's Gender Gap Report 2013

The Parliamentary Secretary noted Singapore’s improved ranking in the WEF Gender Gap Report 2013, rising to 58th place, and emphasized the government uses multiple indices—including the UN Gender Inequality Index—to track gender equality, while acknowledging the WEF report measures relative gaps rather than absolute progress.
In response to questions about data gaps, the Parliamentary Secretary explained discrepancies in tertiary enrollment figures stem from methodological issues for city-states like Singapore, and highlighted high female literacy rates and university enrollment, asserting equal educational access.
The government outlined initiatives to support women’s workforce participation, such as expanding childcare and eldercare services and promoting shared parental responsibilities through family education, while noting labor force participation rates have improved over the past decade.
On political empowerment, the Parliamentary Secretary reported women hold 25 of 99 parliamentary seats (25.4%), above the global average, and stressed the merit-based system over quotas, while acknowledging more could be done to increase female representation in Cabinet.

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11 Nov 2013

Criteria Used to Determine Content of Singapore Citizenship Journey

The Singapore Citizenship Journey is a mandatory programme comprising online modules, experiential learning at key sites, and community sharing sessions to help new citizens understand Singapore's society, values, and responsibilities.
Its content is determined by criteria focused on helping new citizens adapt to the Singaporean way of life and relate better to fellow citizens, covering history, institutions, social norms, and community relations.
The government continuously updates the content to meet these objectives, with ongoing consideration for topics like Singapore's Constitution and democratic norms during reviews.

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11 Nov 2013

Use of CPF Retirement Account Funds for Haj

Lee Li Lian asked if Muslims above 55 can use part of their CPF Retirement Account for Haj pilgrimages.
The Acting Minister for Manpower explained that CPF Retirement Account funds are primarily reserved for retirement needs and can only be withdrawn under specific conditions like exceeding the Minimum Sum or via a $5,000 concession.
The Minister stated that aside from these limited withdrawals, CPF Retirement Account savings cannot be used for other purposes, including Haj pilgrimages.

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11 Nov 2013

Singapore's Quota of Haj Places

The current Haj quota of 680 places per year, set as 0.1% of Singapore's Muslim population, does not fully meet the growing demand from Singaporean Muslims due to demographic changes and rising affluence.
The Minister requested an increase to 800 places (based on 0.1% of approximately 800,000 resident Muslims) and successfully restored this year's quota from a reduced 544 to 680 after appeal, enabling an additional 136 pilgrims.
MUIS allocated the 136 additional places through its Pilgrimage Committee, using a combination of the appeal list and the Advanced Haj Registration System's sequence, and all places were filled.

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21 Oct 2013

Public Service Commission (PSC) Scholarship Awards

PSC scholarships are awarded strictly on merit with no racial quotas, and outstanding students from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Between 2004 and 2013, six PSC scholarships were awarded to Malay students, including one President's-cum-Singapore Police Force Overseas Scholarship holder.
These scholars pursued diverse disciplines such as Law, Economics, Biochemistry, and Aeronautical Engineering and were deployed to various government agencies based on their training, preferences, and public service needs.

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21 Oct 2013

Extension of Special Employment Credit Scheme to Benefit Well-qualified Elder Singaporeans

Ms Tan Su Shan proposed an age-based top-up to the Special Employment Credit (SEC) to better support the recruitment and retention of well-qualified older Singaporean workers.
The SEC currently provides employers with credits of up to 8% of monthly wages for eligible older employees, recently expanded to cover those aged above 50 with wages up to $4,000.
The government noted that CPF contribution rates already decrease with employee age, helping offset costs, and highlighted other measures like WorkPro and re-employment laws to support older workers.
Labour force participation among older residents has increased, with higher employment rates for those aged 60-69 and high re-employment offers at age 62.
The government will study the proposal further and continue monitoring the labour market to refine policies promoting older Singaporean workers' employment.

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21 Oct 2013

Discrimination against Employees with Mental Conditions

Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar inquired about reported discrimination against employees with mental conditions and the extent of such cases over the last ten years.
The Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices (TAFEP) has received four complaints of perceived discrimination against workers with mental health conditions out of about 1,000 total complaints since 2007.
TAFEP encourages individuals facing employment discrimination to seek its advice and assistance, and employers have generally been receptive to making adjustments to their practices when issues are identified.

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21 Oct 2013

Women in SAF

Mr Alex Yam raised questions about the number of women in the SAF since 1997, the challenges they face in their careers, and whether the Ministry would broaden recruitment across combat and support roles.
Minister Ng Eng Hen stated that about 1,500 regular servicewomen make up 7% of the corps, are deployed in diverse roles including combat positions, and that career progression is merit-based.
The Minister highlighted that women have held senior command roles and participated in international missions such as tsunami relief and peace operations, and that the SAF provides flexibility for life events like marriage and parenthood.
He added that the SAF awards scholarships to women to attract talent, citing examples like LTA Sharon Tan, and emphasized the profession as fulfilling and vital to the SAF’s effectiveness.

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21 Oct 2013

Cessation of Teletext Service

Ms Denise Phua and Mr Low Thia Khiang raised concerns about the impact of Mediacorp's Teletext service discontinuation on the elderly and less-educated users, asking for assistance and usage data.
Minister Yaacob Ibrahim explained that Teletext usage declined drastically due to internet growth, making it commercially unviable, and highlighted ongoing initiatives like the Silver Infocomm Initiative to help seniors transition to digital alternatives.
The Minister acknowledged feedback and complaints from seniors, assured that alternative services exist, and emphasized that Mediacorp's decision was commercial but made with consideration for public impact.
Ms Phua suggested a more rigorous communication and coaching plan for affected seniors, including multilingual support and community-based coaching, which the Minister agreed to consider.
The debate concluded with an understanding of the challenges faced by seniors and a commitment to enhancing digital inclusivity through existing and improved programs.

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21 Oct 2013

Barrier-free Access Measures in Land Transport Master Plan 2013

The Ministry emphasized that the Land Transport Master Plan 2013 prioritizes accessibility, with all train stations and bus interchanges barrier-free, more wheelchair-accessible taxis, and all buses to be accessible by 2020, alongside extensions to pedestrian crossing aids and sheltered walkways.
The Parliamentary Secretary assured that holistic, door-to-door accessibility is considered, citing user-focused projects like the City for All Ages and collaboration with voluntary welfare organizations to gather feedback and pilot initiatives.
Plans include extending the Walk2Ride programme to cover commercial and industrial buildings linking to MRT stations, with consideration for such facilities if they are part of the journey.
The Ministry is reviewing pedestrian infrastructure, such as accelerating pedestrian crossings in estates with high elderly populations and installing lifts at overhead bridges, while addressing localized needs through community engagement.

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16 Sep 2013

Maternity-related Disputes and Complaints

From 2008 to June 2013, the Ministry of Manpower received 617 maternity-related claims and appeals, with most resolved through mediation and a small number referred to the Minister for a decision.
About half of the cases referred to the Minister were decided in favor of the employee, but no reinstatements were ordered; compensation was provided instead, as employees often preferred not to continue with the same employer.
The Ministry enhanced maternity protection from May 2013 to cover the full pregnancy period, making employers liable for full maternity benefits if they dismiss pregnant employees without sufficient cause.
The majority of disputes involved complex issues beyond straightforward unfair treatment, often linked to alleged poor performance or misconduct by the employee.
The Ministry continues to ensure legal protections against unfair dismissal during pregnancy and maternity leave, with mediation remaining the primary resolution method.

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