Ang Hin Kee
Singapore
“But the COVID-19 pandemic has already compelled even countries to relook at their longstanding economic strategy and even geared up to becoming less reliant on others.”
“Will the Ministry consider mirroring the approach taken in the pre-school sector? Childcare centres and kindergartens are licensed under the regulatory framework. This helps to enhance the affordability, accessibility and quality of our pre-schools.”
“Chairman, I have a clarification for the Senior Minister of State Lam. Beyond monitoring the take-up rate of training for aviation crew. I know that the Senior Minister of State takes a personal interest in many transport workers.”
“While we are happy to see those businesses continue to protect and look into the riders' interest but, in the longer term, we may need to consider whether we need to license the operators so that the responsible actions of a few will be the standard for all that are in the industry. With that, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support the Bill.”
“Mr Speaker, on the quarantine allowance, over the week, we have spoken to some taxi drivers and private hire drivers, they are very assured that if anyone of them is quarantined, there is a $100 daily allowance given by the Government.”
“One further point of clarification. Grab and Gojek and the likes of Uber are platform operators. When they came onto the Singapore scene, we spent quite a lot of time to persuade them to co-contribute to the MediSave; to find ways to support them in their training; to support them for their healthcare needs although they are freelance dri…”
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“This is in tandem with the Ministry of Manpower's (MOM's) proposed recommendations for Self-Employed Persons (SEPs). In fact, we already have such a tripartite workgroup for taxi drivers, taxi operators and LTA. Ride-hailing operators also have light assets, making it easy for them to suddenly exit to the detriment of drivers, commuters and their own employees. The sudden exit of Uber was a case in point. Ride-hailing operators also collect monies on behalf of drivers and any delay in payments will not be fair to the drivers. Hence, the new licensure should ensure that there are safeguards, such as security deposits or minimum payment periods, by the operators. Chairman, the P2P sector also includes the traditional limousine drivers and others who belong to informal networks. I have met many of them throughout the last few years. Many operate on varying degrees of matching and driving as a service. Drivers, so called, "page out" jobs from their regular clients to other members when they are unable to fulfil them. Drivers in this group have expressed serious concerns if the regulations are onerous. Chairman, the groups are homegrown. The authority had taken a light-touch regulatory approach for foreign new entrants like Uber and Grab for several years. Look how far these operators have come and how much they have benefited. We should, therefore, provide similar leeway to our local groups to operate alongside these bigwigs. As it is, the growth in commuters is slowing. I estimate about 1.2 million daily hired trips now compared to about a million five years ago. But we have now about 130,000 taxi and private hire vocational licence holders. It appears that too many drivers are fighting for a limited pie. Should we consider capping the number of such vehicles?”
“Chairman, I would like to declare my interest as the union representative for the private hire drivers as well as the taxi drivers. The Government had taken a light-touch regulatory approach towards ride-hailing apps. There are now, some say 60,000, some say 40,000 private hire vehicles and about 20,000 taxis on the road. Commuters have more choices and more workers have become vocational drivers. I have previously called for a review of the regulations for private hire and taxi operators to first better safeguard interests of commuters; second, ensure fair competition; and third, offer better welfare for the drivers. An example was the initial partnership of Uber and ComfortDelGro (CDG) and a subsequent merger of Uber and Grab in 2018. Many feared then that it would lead to excessive power owned by one big player. I am glad that the authority has announced earlier that exclusivity by operators will not be allowed. Drivers must be allowed to choose jobs from any platforms or arrangements. We should, therefore, avoid situations where operators cause unnecessary anxiety among drivers by telling them that they will not cover drivers' insurance if anything happens while they fetch passengers using another service platform. We should also avoid operators working together to co-share commission and end up competing less with one another. Decisions by operators have a big impact on consumers' options and drivers' livelihood. In fact, operators can unilaterally decide to ban or suspend drivers according to their own rules. As drivers are self-employed, the Employment Act does not apply to them and they have limited recourse. We propose that the Ministry form tripartite workgroups to agree on hiring terms, among other issues to be addressed.”
“Finally, will there be training support given to preschool educators to enable them to find the time and permission from the owner to attend relevant training? Early Childhood Education”
“One of the key strategies identified by ECDA is to raise productivity for the preschool sector. Improved and streamlined work processes should be able to help preschool educators devote more time to care for children. An idea in 2017 was the Smart Solutions rolled out by ECDA together with industry partners. Comprising an integrated package of information technology (IT) solutions, I understand it is supposed to help with productivity at the childcare centres. Have there been many operators who tapped on the available Government grants to defray part of the costs for adopting IT solutions? Have these solutions helped to ease administrative duties, such as children’s attendance and temperature taking, parent-teacher communications and other work at the childcare centres? Another was centralised meal catering by the Association of Early Childhood and Training Services, ECDA and industry partners to provide healthy meals to preschoolers. Has the intended outcome been achieved? More recently, there was also an e-procurement system to help preschool operators order commonly-used items from a curated catalogue of approved vendors selected. Smaller operators can also enjoy cost savings through volume aggregation. More importantly, it allows centres to free up time and manpower to focus on delivering quality care and development of the children. We have good tools to support our preschool sector to become more productive and, in turn, improve the working environment for the early childhood educators. Does the Ministry have detailed plans and timeline on assisting more preschool operators to leverage technology and tools such that the adoption rate of these improvement solutions becomes more pervasive across the sector?”
“I have a clarification for the Minister. We heard very good updates on SEPs, especially the fact that it is not growing and that many are still in the traditional sector. I would like to ask the Minister for her opinion about a visibly growing number of personal mobility device (PMD) users, cyclists, motorcyclists serving as food delivery as a vocation. Is that a concern for MOM and is this a growing trend? Is it an indication there is underemployment or is this an interim transitional thing?”
“So, I would like to ask the Minister if MOF would look at this kind of parameters rather than only on diesel tax as a way to manage the vehicles on the road.”
“I can sense that Mr Lawrence Wong understands the plight that the taxi drivers are facing. Unlike many countries where the digital disruption of Uber and Grab has caused a lot of chaos and there were strikes, fights and the burning of vehicles – even taxi drivers in some countries burn themselves to death just to show their protest – ours have been relatively supportive and they have seen the advent of technological disruption and tried to accommodate, everybody trying to make a living on the road. We have 65,000 taxis and private hires on the road, and only about 1.2 million-plus commuting traffic a day, which is less than 100% of the increase in the vehicle fleet size. I think the market probably cannot absorb so many vehicles. So, despite the diesel tax, there is really not a big market and we have many vehicles, and every driver trying to eke out a little living from this. Perhaps, the Ministry can consider that we may not need such a big size of vehicles on the road because it is not just technology; it is just the size of the market that is not big enough to accommodate —”
“Perhaps, we should have no new private hire cars that use diesel vehicles because that is not going to help us solve the problem but increases the size of the problem. Finally, the private hire car drivers suggest whether they can be given a higher percentage of tax deductible of 80% instead of the current 60% to deal with the higher diesel tax. Use Resources Efficiently and Effectively”
“But because of the cost increase and you cannot pass on the cost, they need to drive longer hours. The rental costs of hybrid taxis are also not viable. Those are about $20 more expensive than the diesel-driven taxis per day. So, with 65,000 taxis and private hire cars on the road, the size of the daily hired trips only increased marginally from about one million when we had 28,000 taxis, to slightly over 1.2 million currently, meaning that the number of commuting public that took either taxis or private hire cars, did not grow in tandem with the growth in total vehicles serving them. Perhaps, in terms of the size of the MRT lines and the buses that we provided, the commuting size did not grow as much as for taxis and private hire cars. One way I mentioned earlier during my Budget Debate speech is to encourage operators to reduce rental for hybrid taxis or find a better booking system that reduces empty cruising for the taxi drivers or perhaps even consider reducing the pump price at their pump stations so that taxi drivers can manage the increase in diesel tax. I hope the Government agencies that issue operating licences to them or give permits to them to operate will ensure that everyone, not just the taxi drivers, and the Government co-share the burden of diesel-generated pollution. Sir, I had earlier also suggested if the incumbents are not willing to do so, perhaps the Government can consider letting the taxi union run such prime licences so that we can charge a lower fee to the drivers. Even private hire drivers have told me that they are also in this dilemma because some of them use diesel vehicles. I hope that the licensing authority like the Land Transport Authority (LTA) can track what is the size of the diesel fleet under private hire services.”
“Chairman, I declare my interest as an advisor to the taxi union and the private hire union. Taxi drivers pay daily rental fees of mostly over $100 a day for the vehicle they rent, and operation costs have also risen. Even car wash costs more today. This is before the latest diesel tax hike and potential future GST increases. The situation is made dire because of stiff competition from private hire cars. On the road today, there are now two private hire cars to one taxi, an alarming jump, considering that five years ago, we had 28,500 taxis and no private hire cars. Today, we have only 20,000 taxis on the road. I have raised this suggestion some years back. Will the Ministry consider a review or waiver for the GST that is levied on the daily rental of taxis that is borne by taxi drivers? Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam back then had replied to my suggestion that one way is to get the taxi drivers to register for GST which would then allow them to charge customers for GST and they do the claims later. However, it is not a feasible solution since fares are set by their respective taxi operators. If waiver of GST on the daily rental of taxis through this channel is not a viable solution, perhaps the Government can consider other options so that the drivers can claim back the GST paid on the rental of the vehicle that they lease from the taxi operator. Secondly, the reduction of the annual Special Tax for diesel taxis by $850 helped to manage part of the cost increase. With 15,100 taxis running on diesel, the taxi drivers have shared with me that they may need to drive longer hours and longer distances to cover the higher diesel tax. That defeats the purpose of trying to cut down the use of diesel.”
“For Minister Chan Chun Sing, just one clarification and one suggestion. When the Minister earlier mentioned about public sector transformation, he will have his officer work with AUPE to ensure that public sector servants are assisted and well-coached as far as training is concerned. I think the Minister also referred to the Statutory Board unions and those who are House unions, not just those that are belonging to AUPE, just for clarification, so that the other union leaders and members will not feel left out that their areas are not looked after. Secondly, a suggestion. I had a conversation with many of them and they have mentioned that a lot of the trainings are centred on the workers themselves – on the lower-skilled or the older ones. Then, they realised that their supervisor could be much younger, could be somebody who is in their 30s or 20s. And they realised that, sometimes, the supervisors do not quite understand that this transition, this situation that they face, require some level of empathy, some assistance and some mentoring and coaching from the supervisors. So, the suggestion is that, can supervisors that oversee some of these workers also go through a system of training whereby they are able to coach and guide these officers along so that the entire transformation and the ability to adapt will be something that is owned by both the staff as well as the supervisors and, therefore, make the workplace more inclusive?”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, the Government has been active in its efforts to innovate and improve the ease of transactions between the Government and the public. As the pace of transformation quickens with technological disruptions, I would like to know how well public sector workers are being prepared to stay relevant. At the same time, how have jobs in the public sector been transformed and what other changes will be coming soon? In the midst of such changes, I hope the Government can take the lead in ensuring that all public sector workers have access to relevant training, reskilling and redeployment opportunities. Are the various Ministries and agencies aware of the challenges faced by those who may struggle in their training efforts, especially the older workers, who may find it more challenging to acquire new skillsets? Have we been able to redeploy these workers across different departments, agencies or Ministries? Recently, I met about 80 unionised staff from various Statutory Boards and they shared with me their experiences and the assistance given to help our public sector workers to be future-ready and to be prepared for a transformed workplace. Is PSD aware of how each agency is progressing in this journey and whether their respective efforts have been effective, especially to help the older ones adjust to the pace of training required for their new or enhanced job roles or even redeployed roles? Last year, the CSC announced that it is partnering the 12 Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) to support public sector transformation, as well as the transformation of learning within the sector. Public officers will have access to one digital learning platform. Would the Ministry have an update on the take-up rate of these courses on the new learning portal?”
“We can then appoint the appropriate operator who will sell fuel at the right price to members and manage them manage costs. Mr Speaker, Sir, personal responsibility in making well-informed choices about contracting practices, protecting against contingencies, for example, buying insurance, and planning for future needs remain core principles for freelancers. However, support from the Government in training and setting the tone for all buyers will be an important boost. I urge business buyers and operators to also offer freelancers a fair and reasonable deal. That is a Budget outcome that will matter most to freelancers. With that, I support the Budget.”
“Taxi drivers wished that the Government can provide more support to help them manage higher operating costs. Why is that so? First, while there is some rebate to cushion the impact, they need more assistance. The average cost increase even after the $850 rebate is about $2 to $3 or up to $4 per day because they use about 50 litres of diesel a day if there are two shift drivers of the diesel taxi. We have called upon taxi operators to help beyond just passing on this diesel rebate that the Minister has offered to the drivers. In fact, why is it that they can do more? It is because, firstly, they can consider reducing the daily rental of the taxis which, today, ranges from about $110 to $120. They can also consider cutting pump prices because they offer pump stations to their drivers. They themselves operate the pump stations. So, very different from other businesses. When their costs increase, taxi drivers cannot pass on this cost increase to commuters because they also do not set the fares of the taxis. The fares are set by the operators. The type of vehicle is selected by the operators. I cannot choose between vehicles A and B because you have 16,000 diesel vehicles that the taxi drivers choose from. So, if the operator offers non-diesel taxis, then the taxi driver would not have to incur this additional diesel tax. So, a lot of the conditions seem to be favouring the operator or beyond the control of the drivers. I urge the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and MOF to look at taxi licence operators implementing positive outcomes for workers to form part of the licensing criteria. Perhaps, if the operators are not keen on doing more, the Government can consider issuing fuel pump licensing rights to the unions.”
“We hope that the Ministry can consider partnering us and freelance associations to send our young freelancers to key regional markets. We in the NTUC also stand ready to select and prepare young workers from among unionised companies, especially those who have displayed leadership skills, to gain overseas exposure so that they can support our unionised firms’ expansion plans. Freelancers and self-employed persons (SEPs) are often frustrated by late or non-payment for work done. Sometimes, they have to deal with buyers who exact additional demands beyond the agreed scope of work. Usually, disputes arise because the agreed terms are not documented or when the contract terms are vague. MOM recently reported that 500 companies have adopted the Tripartite Standards when contracting with SEPs. I am glad our joint efforts have seen some early take-ups. The standard helps. However, I also want to applaud the MOF team in getting all Government Procurement Entities to adopt the Tripartite Standards. Let us encourage more to do so, especially the recipients of transformation efforts supported by Enterprise Singapore’s EDG. I would also like to thank the MOF team for guiding freelancers to navigate Government procurement procedures. Many would like to tender and bid for projects offered by the Government, and I am happy that we will next co-produce with MOF a brochure with information on procurement procedures and practices so that freelancers know how to provide and bid for Government projects. Mr Speaker, the second part of my speech deals with the impact of diesel tax. The Minister for Finance's announcement that diesel duty will be increased has caused much concern among taxi drivers.”
“Typically, for them, training is also self-funded. Potential loss of income when they attend classes also deters some from attending such training. But we have had some early successes in providing training support to them with the help of some Government agencies and NTUC Learning Hub. For example, we contextualised first-aid courses for outdoor learning and adventure instructors. We also customised SkillsFuture for Digital Workplace training for taxi drivers and sports coaches. Masterclasses and workshops were also co-organised with freelancer associations. We hope to receive more help even as we intensify our efforts to deepen the competencies of more freelancers. We are glad that there are initiatives like those by IMDA to develop the media sector skills framework. IMDA also provides training allowance to alleviate the loss of income when media freelancers attend approved training. I hope that other Government agencies will quickly put in place skills frameworks and training allowance for freelancers in sectors under their purview. We have also made some progress in technical training for individuals like riggers – those who set up lightings and sound systems on ceilings and walls – and boot camps to equip new media freelancers on how to go about submitting quotations and how to go about training and deepening their own competencies. This also includes upstream efforts with MOE’s Education and Career Guidance officers. Together, we co-curate sessions where youths in tertiary institutions can get a clearer picture as to what a freelance career entails. Mr Speaker, Sir, young freelancers shared that they want to be a part of the GRTP. They, too, want opportunities to gain working experience overseas.”
“Because every freelancer matters, NTUC and NICA's first piece of work is to collaborate with insurers to offer Prolonged Medical Leave (PML) insurance to instructors and coaches. In fact, a member recently suffered an injury and was on medical leave for two months. Previously, he would have to rely on his own savings. But with the insurance cover, the payout enabled him to receive income during his recuperation. However, not many have taken up such a policy as they fear losing out on bids if not everybody takes it up. This is one area where Government Procurement entities can encourage freelance bidders to be protected. In January this year, the National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NPHVA) worked with ride-hailing operator Grab to help their active drivers enjoy free Prolonged Medical Leave coverage. I am also the Executive Adviser for NPHVA and, this morning, we managed to get, together with the help of MOM, GOJEK to also offer similar product protection for their driver partners. I hope all operators will do the same for all taxi and private hire drivers to be covered under such insurance coverage. To this end, I would like to appreciate the efforts by MOM and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to engage these operators. It is actions, such as these, that will affirm their assertions that drivers' interests matter to them. I feel that Budget 2019 is pro-worker with initiatives like the GRTP and the Professional Conversion Programmes (PCPs) to help workers with skills upgrading and to move into new growth areas. Freelancers also want to participate in these initiatives. They do not have easy access to courses and support. It can be extra daunting if they work in specialised fields where there are few local providers or experts.”
“Mr Speaker, the Minister for Finance spoke on the need to develop deep capabilities and how our Singaporean talents have been making their mark in various fields, and how connecting with other highly skilled individuals from around the world have made us even stronger. That has been most aptly portrayed by how our freelancers have contributed to the successful making of the Hollywood movie “Crazy Rich Asians”. They have also benefited from collaborating with global talents in this regard. Let me declare my interest as a Director in charge of the Freelancers and Self-employed Unit in the NTUC. Freelancers have responded positively to the Minister for Finance's message on how the Government will help workers deepen capabilities and seek new opportunities. I will touch on this in the first part of my speech and thereafter on the impact of diesel tax. Today, one in 10 workers are self-employed or freelancers. The emergence of digital platforms has created more options and easier access to an alternative or additional source of income. However, freelancers that we spoke with cited challenges, such as loss of income due to prolonged illness or injury, training gaps and unclear contracts. The Tripartite Workgroup formed by MOM has come up with recommendations to address these concerns. Some ideas implemented have had good traction, but we can do more and do it faster. A case in point is the formation of the National Instructors and Coaches Association (NICA). It was registered with the Registrar of Societies and became an affiliate of NTUC just last month to represent the interests of freelancers who teach sports, enrichment and wellness.”
“I would like to follow up with a question about the HSR staff who were deployed to alternative roles in LTA. I was wondering if the Ministry will consider deploying them, perhaps, in other countries that may agree to the arrangement whereby there are HSR-equivalent projects which are ongoing, so that the staff will be kept abreast with the developments of the same nature, dealing with high-speed trains and tunnelling works, so that they are kept abreast with the latest technology which must certainly improve over the next one or two years.”
“If both agencies can partner and pool their resources together, I am quite sure the 9,000 or more users or commuters who will learn and benefit from such safe riding programmes will be multiple-fold in a shorter time period. Sir, for a car-lite society to take off, we need pedestrians, cyclists, PMD users and drivers to have the right mindset when sharing public spaces, pavements and roads. So, beyond legislation and enforcement measures, what is of utmost importance is for every pedestrian, driver or PMD user to be more considerate to other users while adhering to the rules and regulations of our roads.”
“Thirdly, earlier we heard about enforcement against errant users and retailers. Accidents involving PMD users or bike-cyclists sometimes can involve minor injuries, at times serious injuries, and even deaths. LTA has been issuing advisories and summonses to many cyclists and PMD users for unsafe riding. I want to commend them for their greater and more visible enforcement actions. It has helped to highlight the importance of having people who obey and have proper riding behaviour, rather than those who are errant in their behaviour. On the other hand, we also hear of efforts against errant retailers of PMDs and Power Assisted Bicycles (PABs) who are not compliant. Such operations by LTA and the Traffic Police are important and should be encouraged. Similarly, I would like to call upon LTA to offer a listing of more than just reputable sources of retailers – a listing to which all users can go through, knowing that any items that are sold will be those that are compliant. So, beyond reputable sources, I hope the Senior Minister of State can work with MOT or LTA to give a listing to assure all consumers that any devices that they purchase in Singapore will be compliant. This will enable our users to have peace of mind knowing that they have bought from retailers in Singapore who have complied with all the rules and regulations. Finally, on educating users and the general public, the Safe Riding Programme is a useful approach to education not only for the young but the old and all users. This programme can work closely with the Traffic Police who similarly have other related programmes.”
“I am glad that the roads around the two markets in my constituency will soon be revamped to be Silver Zones. Similarly, I hope MOT can implement more Silver Zones in more older estates sooner. With better designed roads and pavements, more traffic-calming features, clearer signages, one part of the equation to have a safer and more pleasant commute for everybody will be in place. Secondly, what about insurance and protection? Earlier, the Senior Minister of State spoke about the increased number of people who were involved in accidents whereby users of PMDs, electric-bikes and so on were the main cause of accidents. It is currently not mandatory for PMD users to buy insurance although, back in 2016, a local insurance firm launched a first-of-its-kind insurance plan that covered accidental deaths, permanent disabilities, medical expenses against injuries and third-party liabilities for that accident when riding, mounting or dismounting a bicycle or PMD. PMD users, especially frequent daily users, such as those who use it to deliver food, couriers, should take out such insurance. On the other hand, many households are likely to be cycling or using PMDs only on a recreational basis, or infrequently. Hence, to make such insurance plans more affordable and flexible may be the way to go. So, I hope that AMAP can work with the insurance companies to design more flexible insurance packages and coverage so that more users, whether the regular users who use them for their work or the recreational users who use them for the family, can find it easier to buy such insurance. It will be particularly important for users to be insured so that, if there is an unfortunate incident of accident, the coverage can allow claims to be made from the insurance.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Bill. With easier access to rental bicycles and PMDs that the Minister has spoken about, people are finding it more convenient to move around. I agree with the Minister that many users are responsible. But we, too, know of incidents whereby pedestrians were knocked down by cyclists or PMD users who were reckless, or fires which occurred due to overheating of batteries while these devices were being charged. It is important for device owners and users to exercise greater responsibility and ensure the safety of others beyond the convenience of themselves. So, beyond the recommendations made by AMAP, such as reducing speed limits or wearing of helmets by cyclists, I have four suggestions to make. Firstly, infrastructure. Sir, our residential estates are densely built up with interconnected roads and narrow footpaths. The challenge is how to best redesign existing lanes or add on new ones to accommodate all types of users. It also includes erecting more signages and clearer warning signs where it is either prohibited to use certain devices or where restrictions exist. In this regard, I am pleased that at least in Ang Mo Kio Town, we have received support from the Ministry of National Development to improve our town. We will be adding more dedicated lanes for cyclists and PMD users. We will be able to install clearer and standardised signages, expand existing footpaths as well as cater for more parking facilities. I hope that, soon, more such improvements will be made across the Island. In this year’s Committee of Supply (COS) debate, I also asked the Ministry of Transport (MOT) to speed up the Silver Zone implementation so that more estates with elderly residents can have additional traffic-calming measures.”
“Mr Speaker, I have a follow-up question for the Minister. Is the emphasis on success rate detracting the jobseeker from the fact that some of them may need to upgrade their skills, learn new skills, or are we paying too much attention on the ability of immediate matching, for example, they think "just because I list myself in the Jobs Bank, or I go to the Jobs Bank, I can therefore get a job"? Sometimes, people may forget that you actually may need to go for different skills upgrading. Then that journey may take a longer time. So, are we paying too much attention on success rate and not putting enough focus on getting yourselves trained and upgraded to acquire a new skillset?”
“Minister, let me first declare my interest. I have a family member who is serving in the same platoon as CFC Dave Lee. And following the incident, there were many parents and National Servicemen in the same platoon who were sharing concerns and worries. So, I would like to ask the Minister if the Ministry is familiar with the state of affairs of the motivation and the level of our National Servicemen in the same platoon being in so close contact with the deceased. As well as whether has conversation been taking place with the family members to assure them that the safety protocols are in place and their sons can continue to be in the exercise and various operational readiness that they are being put through in the camp?”
“Are we still an economy that welcomes new ideas, allows testbed for innovations and involves our local workforce in these exciting ventures? We most definitely are. Despite this Uber episode, we want to tell those with the best ideas and technologies to come to our shores. We are prepared to share risks. We are a city of innovation, of new adventure. However, an abdication of responsibility is not what we signed up for and should not be allowed to take root here, neither for our freelancers, nor for our workers. I support the Motion, Mr Deputy Speaker.”
“Such dispute resolution systems allow freelancers to work through payment disputes with the production houses, schools and the taxi operators. More Government agencies should set up such a framework so that freelancers under the purview of their respective sectors can be better supported. Perhaps, applicants for Government funding should be required to offer medical coverage and dispute management frameworks for freelancers if they engage freelancers in their services. Fourth, caveat emptor or buyers beware is a great reminder to buyers to be careful when a deal looks too good to be true. This principle applies to freelancers, too. For instance, many had wanted a light touch regulatory approach for the private hire sector. However, those affected with Uber’s sudden exit from Singapore now question why the Government could not do more. With technological disruptions and the speed that it is transforming industries, it is important that our regulators move quickly to ensure a support system is in place for our freelancers. However, it is equally important that freelancers exercise caution towards platforms which do not want to be subject to or to commit to tripartite standards, advisories and guidelines designed to do right by our workers. It is true that we want to remain a nation of opportunities, where we can invite new ideas from the world to come to Singapore and take root. Our workers, including freelancers, are also prepared to adapt to evolving market conditions and embrace technology. Businesses, likewise, need to demonstrate a willingness to be in sync with our workers’ commitment. Finally, are we upset with Uber for letting us down? Yes, I think we are.”
“Secondly, look after the immediate needs of freelancers, especially in the areas of healthcare. One way is to embrace the recommendations made by the Tripartite Workgroup on Self-Employed Persons. In fact, some platform operators, like Grab, have started to make co-contributions to the MediSave account of the freelancers on their platform. This is an encouraging move and parallels existing efforts by taxi operators to help cabbies with their MediSave. The next step is for our freelancers to have access to insurance products that protect them in the event of a long-term illness or injury, since the loss of income is particularly troubling for self-employed individuals if they are unable to work for an extended period of time. Insurers have been approached by the Tripartite Workgroup to design such a product and I hope it will be available soon. Coincidentally, in today's Straits Times Life section, there is also an extensive write-up about the lives of freelancers in the audio, stage lighting and rigging work and the need for protection when they are faced with an injury and long-term illnesses. In Mdm President’s speech, she also reminded us that we must continue to strive to become a more caring and inclusive society, especially for our workers. Freelancers, Mr Deputy Speaker, are an important part of our workforce, and a good place to start is to provide a safety net for them. Thirdly, accord recognition to the dispute resolution framework set up by the supervising Government agency. The Info-communications Media Development Authority, MOE and LTA have already put in place such a system for media freelancers, sports coaches, instructors as well as taxi drivers.”
“The whole episode left a bitter aftertaste. Perhaps, disruptive technology brings along with it disruptive management. Hence, it is only right to ask: is this typical of how management of such disruptive technology firms will operate in Singapore? I guess, like most things in life, it depends. There are many other apps-based platforms operating here, ranging from food/retail delivery to talent matching services, benefiting many freelancers. I recently spoke with the President of the Sharing Economy Association Singapore and he assured me that his members desire to be responsible corporate entities to freelancers and consumers. But how will we know if freelancers embarking on the gig economy or availing themselves to such platforms will not be left to deal with another Uber disappearing act? I propose four areas to strengthen the support for freelancers and those who are considering this career option. Let me first declare my interest. I work in the NTUC and I look after the welfare and needs of taxi drivers, private hire drivers and freelancers. What are the four ways? One, do more to educate our jobseekers and school leavers on what to look out for if they choose to embark on freelancing as a career option. Just last month, we met with 100 Education and Career Guidance Counsellors from MOE. The aim is to update them on the developments within the freelance communities. This enables them to better advise students who might be considering freelance work. Similar efforts are in place with career counsellors for adult jobseekers on what sustainable freelancing is like, the risks involved and the possibilities. Many freelancer communities and platform operators have also volunteered to share their experiences and industry tips at these engagement talks.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, last week, a global icon of disruptive technology packed up and left Singapore. Yes, Uber came, disrupted and left abruptly. Other apps which came and left include Easy Taxi and Karhoo. Most recently, Go-Jek and Jugnoo arrived on our shores. Disruptive technologies will come and go, and we can expect this trend to continue. By now, we are familiar with how ride-sharing apps have radically transformed the taxi industry. These new technologies change the way we commute as more turn to such apps to book rides. This also means more job opportunities for freelance drivers. When ride-sharing apps first came onto the scene, they were pitting themselves against the taxi operators. Then the lines started to blur. Alliances started to form through products like JustGrab and UberFLASH. Eventually, we saw two large alliance Uber and Comfort versus Grab and the others. More cabbies also started to use the apps' platform, and many learned new technologies to make a living. However, the sudden Uber and Grab merger announcement, followed very quickly by Uber's quick exit, caught everyone by surprise. Uber employees were asked to pack up on the day of the announcement and to go home and wait for further notice. Commuters were worried about Grab monopolising the industry. Freelance drivers were not sure how their livelihoods would be affected. Many had signed on to these ride-hailing apps to make a living. Some even changed jobs, bought a car or leased it long term to enter this market. They were perhaps lured by the promise of flexibility and good income. With Uber’s sudden exit, there was no one to turn to as both Uber's and Lion City Rentals' offices were closed, and the senior management at Uber Singapore were uncontactable.”
“I would like to ask Parliamentary Secretary Baey Yam Keng concerning the announcement that NHB and NAC will be adopting the manpower tripartite workgroup's recommendations for self-employed persons. We have been working with NAC for only a few months and we are very glad that you have speedily decided to adopt the recommendations. I have two clarifications that I require from the Parliamentary Secretary. One is whether NAC will also similarly take a leading role in trying to mediate disputes between the freelancers and the buyers of their services so that there is a platform for them to settle payment disputes and issues concerning payment. The second question is: apart from NAC, how about venue operators and event organisers that take funds from NAC? Will the Ministry also require that these operators and venue owners similarly adopt recommendations to safeguard and protect the interests of freelancers that participate and take part in events hosted by the event organisers or the venue operators?”
“A question for the Senior Parliamentary Secretary. Earlier, the Senior Parliamentary Secretary mentioned that the Early Childhood ITM will be released today. For MTL preschool teachers, I would like to enquire whether in this ITM there will be clear career and skills upgrading pathways for MTL teachers. They, too, look forward to career progression and good pay rises. Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: I thank Mr Ang for the question. Yes, indeed, we have plans and also training programmes for the MTL teachers. There are scholarships as well as training awards to be given. WSG will also look at it to see how we can facilitate the process. Some of the programmes that are being rolled out, such as Work Trial and the Enhanced Work Trial, will also be relevant to our MTL teachers.”
“Will the Ministry consider giving greater support by providing teaching aids and tools for MTL preschool teachers, or inviting more education experts to share their expert knowledge and experience, so that MTL preschool teachers can have more resources to develop teaching materials containing localised content? Besides attracting more Singaporeans to join this profession through internship programmes, will the Minister consider launching more scholarship or bursary programmes targeted at preschool MTL teachers so as to identify, grow and nurture a pool of Singaporeans who are passionate about teaching MTL? I would like to urge the Government to offer more support to preschool MTL teachers, provide them with relevant educational tools and resources at different stages, and develop pathways for them to upgrade their skills, so that teachers can help young children not only to learn and speak their mother tongue, but also to love the language as well. Bilingual Education”
“Mr Chairman, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Although I graduated from an English medium school, the lessons that I learnt from young, songs by Feng Fei Fei and other songs that I listened to from the radio, Chinese novels that I read from libraries and the Chinese newspaper Sin Chew Jit Poh helped me fall in love with the Chinese language. Today, young children receive good quality preschool education in their mother tongue language (MTL) starting from preschool. In my work with the Education Services Union and the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning, I had the honour of witnessing the dedication and hard work of preschool Chinese teachers in cultivating love for the Chinese language amongst our children. Besides enabling individuals to converse comfortably in their mother tongue for business and social interactions, it can also enhance understanding of our own culture. I have met many parents who are also very supportive and believe that children should start learning how to use their mother tongue at childcare centres and homes to communicate. With the foundation that has been established, how can we do better going forward? Does MSF have an estimate of the number of MTL teachers we need in our preschools to meet future demands? What is the Ministry's strategy to attract and retain local MTL teachers? I would like to suggest that more effort be directed towards cultivating greater interest in MTL among preschool children and improving the teaching methods for MTLs.”
“Mr Chairman, I have three clarifications for Second Minister Ng Chee Meng. First, now that we are better matching taxi and private hire services to commuters, the Second Minister mentioned a 99% satisfaction level. So, I wonder whether we still need the taxi availability indicator since we have hit such a high level of satisfaction. Second, the Minister mentioned that he will incorporate digital training into private hire car and taxi drivers' course curriculum. My concern is more with new entrants coming into this industry. If they were to be displaced later by AV, perhaps we should better advise them as to how to make a career choice when they come to thinking about driving as a vocational skill. Third, I welcome the move to regulate Uber and Grab-type of third-party apps operator. I was wondering whether LTA will adopt part of the tripartite workgroup's recommendation for self-employed persons, as announced by Minister Josephine Teo earlier this week concerning protection and coverage that we should be giving to self-employed persons, particularly when it comes to regulating these two operators.”
“Chairman, by 2030, the total number of elderly Singaporeans will increase to 900,000. The Silver Zone programme, started in 2014, is one good initiative. It involves introducing traffic calming measures and safety features to make the roads safer for senior citizens. There will be 50 silver zones come 2023. To date, eight silver zones spread across the island have been completed. I would like to enquire if the programme has been effective in reducing the number of accidents involving senior citizens. Can we speed up the projects' implementation so that more mature estates with a large number of elderly residents, such as Ang Mo Kio Town, can have safer roads for senior users? I have two hawker centres and markets in Cheng San Seletar and many elderly residents will benefit from early adoption of the silver zone in this area.”
“Singapore's position as the leading port in the world has been constantly challenged by the rise of China and rapid developments in China. For instance, Shanghai port is far busier than Singapore's port. China is also making aggressive moves to build ports in Southeast Asia under its Belt and Road Initiative to reshape trade across Asia. China is planning to build an 873-kilometre (km) high-speed rail linking China directly to Thailand's port, and plans are in the pipeline to build a 135-km Kra canal across southern Thailand which would allow ships to bypass the Strait of Malacca and Singapore. In Malaysia, China is funding the construction of the East Coast Rail Line (ECRL) under its Belt and Road initiative. In addition, the Port Klang Authority has announced to build a S$64 billion giant port in Pulau Carey. ECRL will connect ports on the east and west coasts of Peninsular Malaysia and that may alter the current regional trade routes, which ply between the busy Straits of Malacca, passing by Singapore before reaching the South China Sea. How is the Government working with PSA to fight such fierce competition fuelled by the Belt and Road initiative so that the new Tuas Mega Port will be our competitive advantage, rather than a white elephant? How could the Government consolidate our position, renew our strategies and innovate, taking advantage of digital and other emerging technologies? Are the existing maritime workers and companies prepared for possible technological disruption? How will the Government help local maritime companies adapt and take advantage of the digital transformation? Regulation of Bicycle-sharing Operators”
“Perhaps we can adopt a similar approach for private hire vehicles. At the end of the day, we want to encourage fair competition, and I urge that LTA review our regulatory approach so that drivers and commuters' interests may be safeguarded. Safety in the Straits of Singapore”
“Chairman, the advent of third-party ride booking apps has transformed our chauffeured ride services and the way many of us travel. When I previously sought for LTA to regulate the third-party ride booking apps operators, LTA had selected a light-touch approach. As the popularity of private hire car services grows, they are fast becoming a major part of our public transport landscape. Recent alliances forged between the two key players, Grab and Uber, together with the taxi operators, have further established their market dominance. I feel that it is timely for LTA to assess if there is a need to strengthen the regulatory controls and safeguard the interests of consumers and the drivers. Once an operator establishes a dominant market position, commuters may potentially have to bear with higher costs when they are left with limited choices. Drivers, on the other hand, may be compelled to follow any terms and conditions set by the operators or risk losing their livelihood. Information, such as the safety and condition of their vehicle fleet, should also be submitted to LTA to enhance road worthiness and also to provide protection for the personal data of commuters and drivers. Whilst commuters now have more choices, the ride service industry may not be able to sustain and will become an issue if costs suddenly rise and there are too many drivers chasing after a finite number of commuters. It may be worth considering limiting the number of private hire and taxi vehicles on the roads, as well as the number of new full-time drivers and new entrants. We must avoid an over-supply situation and a "churn" mentality among the operators if the numbers are not managed. Currently, the taxi fleet is subjected to an annual growth rate if they meet the Taxi Availability indicators.”
“Secondly, can we help existing drivers, especially the older ones, equip them with digital skills and learn to be tech-savvy, to help them to be more resourceful, and to do their job more efficiently? I hope that LTA will work quickly with the industry partners, stakeholders and the union to cater enough lead time to help taxi and private hire drivers, who are likely to be impacted, to acquire new vocational skills to transit into a new sector or a new role within the land transport industry. Autonomous Vehicles”
“Mr Chairman, in 2013, the Land Transport Masterplan visualised a people-centred land transport system by 2030 and to have 75% of all peak-hour journeys to be made on public transport. Are we on track to meet this target as of 2017? Will the Ministry be able to give a breakdown of the mode share distribution of our train, bus, taxi and private hire cars in 2017? What is the likely breakdown by the different public transportation mode come 2030? The Transport Minister also recently unveiled the Land Transport ITM where we will leverage emerging technologies to deliver a transport system that is safe, efficient, reliable and comfortable for commuters. One such technology is autonomous vehicle (AV) which has great potential to change the way we commute. We started AV trials back in 2015. Is the Ministry able to assess what is the estimated share by AV, come 2030? With the implementation of AV and with a possible larger presence by 2030, what is the number of workers who may be potentially displaced? What are the targeted and transition measures to help those at risk? I would like to declare my interest as the Advisor to the National Taxi Association (NTA) and the National Private Hire Vehicle Association (NPHVA). Currently, we have approximately about 70,000 active drivers. To help them cope with potential disruption by AV, I have two suggestions. Firstly, for those who have yet to enter this industry but are contemplating to do so, can we provide them with information about the career option and potential risks involved? This serves to help them make an informed decision on what to expect before joining this sector and not hastily change jobs to become a chauffeur-ride service driver.”
“I would like to seek clarification from the Senior Minister of State on the tax deductible part. Surely, now that LTA recognises that vocation drivers for the private hire cars are fairly similar to taxi drivers, I think our tax deductible for car rental and fuel can be in keeping with the approach we do for taxi drivers for the Year of Assessment in this coming tax period.”
“Chairman, let me first declare my interest as the advisor for the National Private Hire Vehicles Association. Currently, taxi hirers can use rental of vehicles and fuel as tax deductibles. Can a similar approach be adopted for full-time private hire vehicle (PHV) hirers? Unlike previously, these drivers are now required to obtain a Land Transport Authority (LTA) Private Hire Car Driver’s Vocational Licence (PDVL) to provide point-to-point ride services. PHV drivers can only serve commuters who book their trips through the apps. All trips completed are also recorded, making it possible to identify the time spent providing hire-for-reward services from other usage. A full-time taxi hirer, in comparison, will have to achieve about 20 revenue trips per day to cover his costs and some take-home income for the day. A private hire driver may do fewer revenue trips as their consumer base is limited due to the fact that they only take trips based on what is assigned by the system. Prior to LTA requiring all PHV drivers to obtain a licence, they were required to register a transport company, and this took care of the tax. With the licence, they now no longer have to register a company but are affected by the tax deductible. I urge the Ministry to allow full-time PHV hirers to submit their vehicle rental and fuel expenses for tax deduction purposes. Tax Deductible for Private Hire Car Driver”
“A question for the Second Minister. We are, of course, concerned that many aspiring young people want to be freelancers, especially those who want to be private hire car drivers or taxi drivers. But moving forward, with the advent of things like autonomous vehicles, there may be a danger that some of them may enter into a career whereby they may be displaced. So, I would like to enquire if the career counsellors and coaches would be equipped to guide individuals who aspire to be freelancers to make an informed choice or to direct them towards employment that is of a permanent nature, such as an employee-employer relationship, other than the fact that they just make up their mind to probably enter into a lower entry barrier job of a freelancer. 2.30 pm”
“Are these counsellors and coaches familiar with the nature of freelance work? Can they give a fair assessment of the risks involved, compared with permanent employment? Are they equipped with enough information, so as to better guide and advise their clients? To this end, I would encourage they enhance the support by collaborating with freelance groups to invite experts to mentor, conduct talks to share insights and raise greater awareness on the nature of freelance work. Finally, I would also like to know how MOM will engage the various Government agencies, industry associations and freelance communities to implement the TWG recommendations. Self-employed Persons' Well-being”
“Mr Chairman, as mentioned by Ms Jessica Tan, freelancers or SEPs make up close to 10% of our workforce. The TWG was formed by the Minister for Manpower in 2017 to identify the main challenges faced and to make recommendations. I thank the Minister for inviting me to join the workgroup. We have submitted our recommendations to the Ministry. I look forward to targeted assistance and specific support for our SEPs. In particular, I would like to draw our attention to a segment of SEPs. In the recent joint graduate employment survey of graduates from the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Singapore Management University (SMU), results state that more went into freelance work – 2.4% in 2017 compared to 1.7% in 2016. What is the Ministry’s assessment of this small but growing number? In another survey conducted by MOM in 2016, 83% of approximately 200,000 respondents cited freelance work as their preferred choice of employment. However, 17% did not engage in freelance work as a preferred choice. Again, I would like to ask: what is the Ministry's assessment of this segment? Did they fail in their efforts to seek permanent employment? For working adults who are currently freelancers not as their preferred choice, what are the types of assistance available to help them transit to full-time employment? For school leavers, are we able to strengthen our channels to guide our youths on the appropriate career choice to springboard their aspirations? I know we have Education and Career Guidance Counsellors (ECGCs) in schools, polytechnics or Institutes of Technical Education (ITEs) and career coaches at the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) and Workforce Singapore (WSG) career centres to provide career guidance.”
“Our familiarity with the workers has also proven to be invaluable when it comes to helping them adapt to the transformation that is occurring. Support is already readily available to help businesses which wish to innovate and adopt technology. For example, SMEs can address their manpower and hiring needs through various programmes, such as the Earn and Learn programme, Professional Conversion Programmes and the new Career Trial programme. 5.45 pm One key challenge that remains for SMEs is how to make sense of the coming ITMs in the various sectors that have been announced. How do they navigate through all the new initiatives and identify what is relevant to plug their current gaps? How do they, as bosses, help their workers to be digitally ready, especially among the older workers? I would like to seek the Ministry's assessment of the readiness of our SMEs to take part in the various ITMs. Have we been effective in ensuring that workers in SMEs are geared up to uplift their employability and readiness to adopt technology? Finally, what strategies will be in place to ensure that pervasive transformations will take place among our SMEs and their workers? Local Enterprise and Association Development (LEAD)”
“Mr Chairman, amid the major shifts spelt out during the Budget Statement, the Minister for Finance announced a slew of initiatives to support our SMEs overcome near-term challenges and to ride on future opportunities. Grant applications are also streamlined so that SMEs can better tap on Government assistance. Some employees, especially those in the SMEs, are worried that they will be replaced with automation or when the company goes through transformation, and they may no longer be needed at the workplace. From our experience in the Labour Movement, there are some encouraging stories and some learnings. For example, SMEs in the retail industry were encouraged to adopt technology and make use of Government funding. Through the facilitation help of our team in U SME in the Labour Movement, some of the retailers in the SME sectors have adopted radio-frequency identification (RFID) in their retail outlets. Previously, staff need to manually do stocktaking but, with RFID, they could just use the scanner to find out the stock numbers easily. So, Mr Chairman, it is with "right" technology rather than "high" technology that helped ease our SMEs and their workers into adopting transformation at the workplace. Through such interactions and others that we had, it is clear that some of the SMEs and workers are still tentative in adopting more automation. The Labour Movement is thus concerned with the readiness of our workers in the SME side to adopt and adapt to the new technology that is forthcoming. To this end, we are committed to partner the Ministry to be one of the ground enablers to extend assistance to SMEs on available schemes and to strengthen the readiness of our workforce, especially those on the SME side.”
“We have recently submitted our recommendations to the Minister and we look forward to more specific support and targeted assistance for self-employed persons. I will share more during the Committee of Supply when we debate on the MOM budget. Mr Speaker, it suffices to say now that we need more support for self-employed persons, such as fair practices; a formalised structure for dispute resolution; workplace injury insurance; and also to ensure that all Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs) and SkillsFuture planning include self-employed persons into their thought process and their scheme of things so that self-employed persons can also access skills upgrading to stay relevant and future-ready. Budget 2018 is a Budget that prepares us for the future. We should not underestimate the value that self-employed persons bring to the economy. I hope the support for self-employed persons can be widely adopted to help them sustain their career choice and thrive in this new economy. With that, Mr Speaker, I support the Budget. 2.27 pm”
“Some freelancers shared with me that they are affected by delayed payment, unexpected cuts to the fees or the rates and changes in incentive payment at the last minute, without giving them due recognition and information ahead of time. New technologies do bring dynamism to our economy. But with only vague and non-transparent guidelines, freelancers using such platforms are potentially at risk. As these intermediaries gain bigger market share, they also grow in power and, if left unchecked, they can dictate tougher terms over the self-employed persons and even consumers who use their platforms. Having previously taken a light regulatory approach, perhaps it is more timely now for the Government agencies to review the operations of such platform intermediaries and consider getting them to take on more responsibilities. I hope to see more being done to support our self-employed persons. Fortunately, there have been several good examples. A case in point is the Tripartite Standard on the procurement of services from media freelancers that was launched in November last year. This was jointly developed by Info-communications Media Development Authority with NTUC and stakeholders. It is an industry-specific Tripartite Standard that addresses the concerns of media freelancers. Back in 2014, LTA, together with the National Taxi Association and taxi operators, also set up a mediation system to allow taxi drivers to resolve payment disputes with their taxi operators. MOM also commissioned a survey on self-employed persons in 2016 to gather more information and understand their concerns. Following that survey, the Minister last year announced a Tripartite workgroup that was formed in March 2017 to study the issues faced by this group of workers. I was a member of this workgroup.”