Gan Kim Yong
Singapore
“Consumer complaints relating to the secondary resale market for tickets to major events and concerts have generally remained low. Nonetheless, to protect the public from scams on secondary ticket resale platforms, the Police have imposed Code of Practice requirements under the Online Criminal Harms Act to require designated online service…”
“Singapore does not condone the use of forced labour. We criminalise forced labour in Singapore under various laws. Relevant Government Ministries and agencies, such as the Ministry of Manpower, Ministry of Home Affairs and Singapore Police Force, play their part in investigating complaints of suspected breaches in domestic laws that relat…”
“The Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) discontinued the PayNow nickname feature as scammers had been exploiting the use of nicknames to impersonate legitimate entities and trusted individuals.”
“As of end-2025, around 6,900 private residential buildings have registered their solar installations with SP Group for the export of excess solar-generated electricity to the grid. The installed solar capacity of these residential buildings is 115.3 megawatt-peak (MWp), or around 5.5% of all current installed solar capacity in Singapore.”
“The one-year pilot extension of liquor trading hours has seen strong interest from businesses. As of 31 May 2026, the Police have approved 88 applications for the extension of liquor trading hours from public entertainment outlets in these areas.”
“The Government does not make projections of domestic or regional demand for renewable diesel or sustainable aviation fuel. Demand depends on commercial considerations, evolving market conditions and regulatory developments across different jurisdictions.”
The complete record
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“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to make a clarification. During the parliamentary sitting on 17th July, in response to Mr Siew Kum Hong's Question on university admission, I said that during this year's admission exercise, a total of 28,000 local students applied to local universities. Out of that, 14,000, or 49%, were offered places. Similarly, about 23,000 foreign students applied to the universities for the same admission year and only 987 were given places, and that is 4.3%. I would like to correct the second part of my reply. The number 987 refers specifically to the number of foreign students holding local GCE 'A' levels or polytechnic qualifications. There are foreign students who were offered university places who hold other qualifications. Out of the 23,000 foreign students who applied to the local universities, a total of 4,218, or 18%, were offered places. The Ministry of Education had issued a clarification to the media on 19th July. BILLS INTRODUCED MONETARY AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE (AMENDMENT NO. 2) BILL "to amend the Monetary Authority of Singapore Act (Chapter 186 of the 1999 Revised Edition)", presented by the Minister for Trade and Industry (Mr Lim Hng Kiang); read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. INQUIRIES BILL "to enable the President to appoint a commission of inquiry and to enable the relevant Minister to appoint a committee of inquiry, and to provide for matters related thereto, to repeal the Commissions of Inquiry Act (Chapter 48 of the 1985 Revised Edition) and to make related amendments to certain other written laws", presented by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Law (Prof.”
“In addition to the co-funding of infrastructure, NEA has also been exploring with petrol stations, such as SPC, Caltex and Shell, on the possibility of dispensing CNG at their service stations. To promote the use of more environmentally-friendly vehicles, the green vehicle rebate was introduced in 2001 to lower the cost differential between green vehicles and conventional vehicles. As at end May 2007, there are 339 CNG vehicles on the road. I hope that, moving forward, more Singaporeans will opt for CNG or other green vehicles. As more CNG vehicles come on the road, the demand for refuelling stations will grow and this, in turn, will encourage the private sector to provide such infrastructure. GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE ON HEALTH 26. Mr Siew Kum Hong asked the Minister for Health over the last five years (a) what has been the expenditure on health as a percentage of annual total Government expenditure; (b) what has been the per capita Government expenditure on health; and (c) if these figures have been declining, what is the reason for such a decline.”
“Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. ADJOURNMENT Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn to a date to be fixed." - [Mr Lim Swee Say]. Adjourned accordingly at Fifteen minutes past Five o'clock pm to a date to be fixed. WRITTEN ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER NOT ANSWERED BY 3.00 PM COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) STATIONS 23. Dr Lam Pin Min asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (a) what is the number of compressed natural gas (CNG) stations in Singapore; and (b) whether there are plans in the near future to build CNG stations in more accessible or centralised parts of Singapore so as to encourage more Singaporeans to convert to driving the environmentally friendlier CNG vehicles. Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: There is currently only one CNG refuelling station in Singapore, located on Jurong Island. In addition, two more CNG refuelling stations have been planned to be operational within the next year or so. I understand that taxi company SMART Automobile is working to set up one station at Mandai by January 2008, and another at Serangoon North in the later part of 2008. As part of the Government's support for private sector efforts to develop CNG re-fuelling infrastructure, we have helped companies co-fund the start-up costs through the National Environment Agency's Innovation for Environmental Sustainability Fund. NEA helped to fund the existing Jurong Island station, and will also be giving funding to SMART Automobile for its proposed stations at Mandai and Serangoon. We hope that the private sector will seize this opportunity of co-funding to build new and more CNG re-fuelling stations.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, first, I would like to thank Dr Lily Neo and Mr Seng Han Thong for their strong support for the amendment Bill, particularly to Dr Lily Neo for supporting the allocation of 40% of the income to other educational institutions. And I also like to thank her for the tribute and recognition she gave to the pioneers of Ngee Ann Kongsi who founded the corporation and benefited the society. I also want to address Mr Seng Han Thong's query on who decides on the 40%. Let me assure Mr Seng that it will be a consultation process. Ngee Ann Kongsi will indicate their interest of which educational institutions they would like to support and the approval will be given by the Minister eventually. So, it is a process of consultation and understanding, and we will take into account the Kongsi's desires, their traditions and linkages. At the same time, I would also like to stress that credit will definitely by given to Ngee Ann Kongsi for their contributions. Not only do we have to yin shui si yuan, but we must also zhi en tu bao. I think these are values that are entrenched in our Asian society and we want to continue to promote them. Mdm Deputy Speaker, I believe with these amendments, we will give Ngee Ann Kongsi greater flexibility so that they can respond to the changing needs of its beneficiaries. The Ministry of Education will continue to work with the Kongsi to realise the vision of its founders to contribute to the society at large and to allow it to serve as an example and an inspiration for many others to follow suit. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Mr Gan Kim Yong].”
“The new section 20B, as provided for in clause 10, is designed to do that. We will now require Ngee Ann Kongsi and its appointed directors to exercise their voting rights in the Kongsi's subsidiaries in the interests of these beneficiaries. If this requirement is contravened in the passing of any resolution, then that resolution and any consequential action will be invalid and of no effect. Composition and procedural issues of the Ngee Ann Kongsi Committee of Management Finally, the remainder of the Bill amends some composition and procedural issues of the Ngee Ann Kongsi Committee of Management which oversees the Kongsi's operations. These amendments are primarily administrative and procedural in nature and do not have policy implications. Conclusion Mdm Deputy Speaker, Ngee Ann Kongsi has always demonstrated its unstinting commitment to Ngee Ann Polytechnic and for education in general. We need more of these organisations to step forward to work hand-in-hand with the Government to provide our students with a world-class education. I am confident that the amendment of the Ngee Ann Kongsi (Incorporation) Ordinance introduced under this Bill will allow Ngee Ann Kongsi more flexibility to promote the advancement of education in Singapore and bring about even greater benefits to the larger society. Madam, I beg to move. Question proposed. 5.05 pm”
“Clause 10 therefore also clarifies the definition of the term "income" to mean net income, ie, the income after deducting operating expenses and depreciation cost. Treatment of proceeds from sale or disposal of Ngee Ann Kongsi's assets Next, the present Ordinance requires Ngee Ann Kongsi to donate 75% of all moneys arising from the disposition of any of its property and not just from recurring income. This will dilute the Kongsi's asset base over time and reduce the capacity to generate income for future donations. It is in the long-term interest of potential beneficiaries that we encourage the Kongsi to grow and enhance its asset base, so that it can contribute more to society in the long run. Clause 10 will amend the Act to allow Ngee Ann Kongsi to re-invest the proceeds from the sale or disposal of its assets by excluding them from the definition of net income. This way, the Kongsi will be able to turn over its assets for better returns. Management of Ngee Ann Kongsi's subsidiaries Next, the Ordinance does not specifically address the governance of subsidiary companies set up by the Kongsi. As a case in point, in 1989, Ngee Ann Kongsi transferred its leasehold interests in the piece of land at Ngee Ann City to Ngee Ann Development Pte Ltd (NAD) in exchange for 70% equity stake in NAD. As NAD is a separate independent legal entity from the Kongsi, it does not come under the direct purview of the Ordinance. It may undertake transactions detrimental to the interest of the Kongsi and its beneficiaries. For example, it is possible for NAD to disburse funds to organisations other than those provided for in the Ordinance. We need to protect the interests of the educational institution beneficiaries under the Ordinance.”
“For example, Ngee Ann Kongsi's annual income has grown substantially from $0.5 million in 1972 to $23 million in 2006 mainly due to dividend income earned through its interests in the Ngee Ann City development. Ngee Ann Kongsi's contribution over the years has allowed Ngee Ann Polytechnic's Endowment Fund to be accumulated to $119.3 million as at end of FY2006. It is therefore both appropriate and timely to amend the Ordinance with a view to giving the Kongsi more flexibility in its contributions so that a wider spectrum of society can benefit from them. Let me now highlight the key clauses of the Ngee Ann Kongsi (Incorporation) (Amendment) Bill. Key clauses of Bill Scope of contribution of income by Ngee Ann Kongsi Mdm Deputy Speaker, we want to preserve the original intent of Parliament when it last amended the Ordinance in 1972 that 75% of Ngee Ann Kongsi's income should benefit the society at large. However, we should give the Kongsi more flexibility to decide on the beneficiaries of its donations. Clause 10 of the Bill will amend the Ordinance to allow the Kongsi to contribute 25% of its income to Ngee Ann Polytechnic, 40% to other educational institutions and 10% to other charitable causes, maintaining a total of 75%. Giving the Kongsi greater flexibility in its income contributions will benefit more types of educational institutions and charitable causes. Over the years, the scale of the Kongsi's operation has also increased. There is therefore a need to review the way Ngee Ann Kongsi's income is computed. The Kongsi will incur operating expenses and depreciation cost in deriving the income. Such expenses should be deducted in the computation of income, in line with common accounting principles.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." In the history of our nation-building, a few pioneering individuals and corporations have been strong and consistent supporters of education. Ngee Ann Kongsi is one such pioneer that has made significant contributions to our education system. The Kongsi established the Ngee Ann College in 1963. Some four decades later, with the funding and support of both the Government and Ngee Ann Kongsi, the college has grown to become the Ngee Ann Polytechnic, an institution of higher education that is well respected by employers and reputed internationally. Ngee Ann Kongsi has not only contributed money to help fund student programmes, but also provided much of the land for the polytechnic's campus. Generations of students have benefited from the Kongsi’s unwavering support for education. The Ngee Ann Kongsi was incorporated by the Ngee Ann Kongsi (Incorporation) Ordinance of 1933 to administer its income and properties for various worthy causes, including the support for education. The Ordinance originally required the Kongsi to donate 50% of its income or $100,000 annually, whichever is higher, to Ngee Ann College in perpetuity. Later in 1972, Ngee Ann Kongsi proposed to develop its property along Orchard Road. The Government felt that the gains from the appreciation of property value were a result of the overall development of the Orchard Road area and therefore a larger portion of such gains should benefit the society at large. The Ordinance was then amended to increase the Kongsi's contribution to Ngee Ann Polytechnic to 75% of its income, in return for land development rights for its property along Orchard Road. Need for amendment There have been significant changes over the years.”
“Mr Speaker, as I mentioned in my reply earlier, it is also important for us to look at the balance between employability, responding to the needs of the industry and, at the same time, to address the aspirations of our Singaporeans. Many of them, even though they are not able to go into universities right from the onset, they do progress through the polytechnic route and, eventually, they look at the possibility of furthering their university education through the polytechnic route. As I mentioned in my reply, the polytechnics are also developing degree programmes in collaboration with specialised institutions that offer niche programmes that are in demand by the industry today in Singapore. I think we provide many routes of advancement for our students to realise their aspirations and to allow them to pursue their education opportunities. MASS RAPID TRANSIT DOWNTOWN LINE (Expediting of construction) 5. Mr Cedric Foo Chee Keng asked the Minister for Transport if the construction of the MRT Downtown Line can be expedited. 6. Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Minister for Transport (a) whether the Ministry will consider expediting the construction of the Bukit Timah corridor of the Downtown Line as 2015 is too long to wait for its completion; and (b) what are the criteria used in determining how the stations along this line will be located.”
“Mr Speaker, let me just give the House some benchmark numbers so that we can have a feel. During this year's admission exercise, a total of 28,000 local students applied to local universities. Out of that, 14,000 (49%) were offered places. Similarly, about 23,000 foreign students applied to the universities for the same admission year and only 987 [Please see clarification during sitting on 27th August 2007.*] were given places, that is, 4.3% [Please see clarification during sitting on 27th August 2007.* ]. So on that basis, we want to demonstrate that the universities do give priority to our local students. And for our students who can qualify, based on the requirements of each discipline or faculty, they would have been given admission. Beyond that, the universities would want to ensure that there are also sufficient foreign students to provide diversity and it is part of the learning experience that we want our students to go through as well during their university education here. *Col. 1347, 27th August 2007.”
“Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the Member for the questions. I think we have increased the university participation rate in gradual steps, not in large jumps, so as to maintain the quality of graduates from our universities here, and also to ensure that our graduates are readily employable. Based on 2006 Graduate Employment Survey, it shows that 86% of graduates from our three universities were able to find full-time employment within six months of graduation. It is therefore important that we continue to produce graduates who are employable, rather than jump into increasing the capacity of the universities. In terms of participation rate, while our target participation rate is 25%, we also understand that many of our students who went through polytechnic education would continue to look for opportunities to upgrade and pursue university education. It may not neces- sarily be immediately after their polytechnic diploma. Some of them would work for a few years and they would continue to upgrade. Overall, we are looking at more than 40% of our population who would eventually pursue a degree programme. This position compares quite favourably with many of the developed economies in the world. So we are also watching the progress of the other countries. We also need to be careful not to end up in a situation where many countries found themselves in when they expanded university participation too rapidly.”
“Mr Speaker, I am glad that the Member has accepted the need for international students' presence here to enrich the learning experience of our own local students because we are facing a rapidly globalised environment here. It is also important for us to understand that each university has its own admission criteria and students who are able to meet the admission criteria would have been admitted into the universities because they operate on a very open merit-based system. Therefore, as we move towards our current target of 25% cohort participation, the universities will continue to look at additional places to accommodate our students to provide them with opportunities to pursue university education here.”
“This increase is sufficient to cater to the larger cohort of what we call 'Dragon' girls who will enter the universities this year. Each application, including every appeal, is carefully and fairly examined by the universities' admissions offices. Each student is assessed on the basis of merit.”
“Sir, we have increased the number of university places over the years. The number of places at NUS, NTU and SMU together has increased by an average of about 5% each year over the past 10 years. The proportion of each cohort of local students entering the three universities will increase to about 23.5% this year, compared to 20.8% in 2000 and 15% in 1990. In addition, MOE is encouraging the polytechnics to link up with Foreign Specialised Institutions to offer degree programmes in niche disciplines. For example, Ngee Ann Polytechnic has tied up with Wheelock College from the US to offer a degree programme in early childhood education, for which Wheelock has a strong reputation. These specialised degree programmes will provide our students with more opportunities to pursue university education. We are progressively moving towards the current target of providing subsidised university education for 25% of each cohort of local students. I would like to assure the House also that the local universities' vision to have more international students is not being achieved at the expense of local students. University places for foreign students are over and above those that are set aside for local students. International students play an important role. Their presence helps to create diversity in our campuses, gives them a more enriching learning experience and better prepares our students for the globalised future. Turning to Mr Zaqy Mohamad's request for an update on the recent university admission exercise, the three universities will provide a total of 14,685 places for Academic Year 2007, compared to the intake of about 13,420 students last year. This is an increase of about 1,270 places, or about 10%.”
“As I mentioned during the COS earlier this year, the private education landscape has changed over the years. In the earlier years, most of the private education organisations in Singapore worked very much as an agent that offers distance learning. Not many of them were here conducting lessons and having classroom facilities for our students. But over the years, this has changed and the sector has evolved and we have over the years also introduced several measures by the different agencies to improve the quality and regulation of this industry, including, for example, CASETrust which is one such measure. Moving forward, in line with our strategy to develop Singapore into an education hub, MOE is taking a more fundamental relook at this regulation framework and see how best we can support this strategy. It has to be a balance between regulation and promotion, as we want to regulate and ensure compliance with the law. At the same time, we want to make sure that we do not stifle up and coming new merging private education organisations that are trying to make a mark. So it is a balance between regulation as well as promotion. That is why we have to track very carefully, consult widely, understand the industry before we introduce the system. So, in a nutshell, from MOE's point of view, it is more important for us to have a good solution rather than a quick solution. DENGUE OUTBREAK (Update) 16. Dr Lily Neo asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources if he will give an update on the present dengue outbreak and what more can be done to prevent the situation from worsening.”
“Mr Speaker, I think Mr Zaqy Mohamad has another Question, Question No. 28, which is related to the admission and university places for our students. I just want to give a quick response now and we can deal with the specifics later on in that specific Question. Looking at it from the university's point of view, it is important for us to bear in mind that some private education institutions can be quite expensive. It is therefore difficult for us to extend subsidies to all private education organisations. We have provided significant subsidies through our three main universities - SMU, NTU and NUS. I think our focus now is to continue to build these universities and help our students do well in these universities.”
“I do not have the specific numbers with me at the moment.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, with regard to the foundation programme that Mdm Cynthia Phua has mentioned, I think these foundation programmes were designed specifically to cater to UNSW programmes and the local universities would have to look at them very carefully. After all, the admission criteria for our local universities are merit-based. They have to ensure that, first and foremost, they are qualified to enter into our local universities' programmes. At the same time, we also have to ensure that they are able to complete their programmes. So I think we will assess each of them on a case-by-case basis, based on our universities' own admission criteria.”
“Mr Speaker, as I mentioned earlier, we are looking into the feasibility of introducing an accreditation system and a new regulatory framework. But this is a fairly complex issue because today, there are some 1,200 private organisations already operating in Singapore, and for us to regulate them, we will have to do so very carefully. At the moment, the Ministry is consulting the industry to understand the structure of the industry better, to understand the concerns, weaknesses and strengths of the industry and see how we could introduce a system to enhance the protection for students and, at the same time, to also enhance the image and branding of Singapore's education system.”
“In the event of private school closures, our priority is to assist the affected students and minimise disruption to their studies. Going forward, as I announced at the last Committee of Supply in March 2007, MOE is looking at the feasibility of introducing a new regulatory framework for the private education sector that would, amongst other possible changes, enhance student protection measures. Mr Zaqy Mohamad asked about providing fee subsidies to students in privately-run tertiary institutions to pursue degree programmes. MOE has no plans to do so at this point in time.”
“Turning to the question on safeguards for students raised by Mdm Cynthia Phua, private education providers which enrol foreign students are required to attain CASETrust for Education certification. CASETrust-certified private schools are required to protect students' fees by purchasing tuition fee insurance. Alternatively, these schools may set up an Escrow account into which students pay tuition fees in advance, which the bank will then disburse in instalments. In the event of school closure, unused tuition fees will be returned to the students. Foreign university branch campuses, such as UNSW Asia, are not required to be CASETrust-certified because they are reputable institutions with university status accorded by their home countries. It is also common practice for such institutions to collect tuition fees on a semestral basis. This makes CASETrust's student protection measures unnecessary. In the case of UNSW Asia, it fully refunded the tuition fees paid by its first batch of students for the period after its closure. It also refunded the deposits paid by students who had not begun their programmes of study. From MOE's records, 18 private commercial schools have closed in the past five years, for a variety of reasons. In many cases, the schools stopped taking in new students and only closed after seeing through their final intakes. As such, students were not adversely affected. In other cases, the schools sought alternative programmes for their students to transfer to. Mr de Souza asked if the Government can ensure that private education institutions have sound business plans. It is not possible for the Government to ensure the success or financial robustness of any business venture.”
“Sir, I would like to thank Mdm Halimah Yacob, Mdm Cynthia Phua, Dr Lily Neo, Mr Christopher de Souza and Mr Zaqy Mohamad for their Questions on the closure of UNSW Asia and related issues regarding private educational institutions. Earlier on, the Minister for Trade and Industry had provided a comprehensive reply on negotiations between MTI and UNSW. MOE was informed of UNSW's decision to close its Singapore campus two days before the public announcement on 23rd May 2007. As soon as we learnt of UNSW's decision, our top priority was to help the affected students. MOE worked with EDB, the three Singapore universities and several private education providers to provide options for affected students who wished to remain in Singapore to pursue their degree programmes. The three Singapore universities - NUS, NTU and SMU - and the private education providers set up a one-stop centre at the UNSW Asia campus to facilitate enquiries and applications by the affected students. Taking into account the suddenness of the situation and to help the affected students, the three Singapore universities extended their deadline for application for this academic year to 4th June. They received applications from 231 UNSW Asia students and considered these applications case by case on the basis of merit. Twenty-four UNSW Asia students received offers from the universities. These efforts to assist students provided them with additional options, besides the offer by UNSW of places in its Sydney campus. To date, we understand that 116 out of the 143 UNSW Asia students from the March 2007 intake have opted to continue their course of study at UNSW in Sydney. MOE does not have information on students taking legal action against UNSW. These are decisions to be taken by the students themselves.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, of course, the Commissioner of Labour has received many applications from time to time and, where the applications do not warrant special consideration, these applications have been rejected, and every time when an application is submitted, the unions involved in that company have always been consulted. When the schemes do not warrant special consideration, the unions would also voice their objection.”
“Ms Cham Hui Fong asked the Minister for Manpower whether the Ministry will consider (i) reviewing the salary ceiling of $1,600 for white-collar workers under Part IV of the Employment Act as the salary ceiling was last amended in 1995; and (ii) expanding the scope of the Act to cover junior executives and confidential staff.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, indeed, it is one of our key concerns to ensure that our Singaporeans will continue to be able to find good jobs as we create new opportunities for them. With regard specifically to PMETs, we announced recently the introduction of a professional conversion programme and this is targeted at mid-skilled Singaporeans, to train them for specific sectors that we foresee would have a rising demand. Through this conversion programme, we will help them to switch careers and equip them with the skills necessary for these new sectors of growth. This is one example, and we will continue to help them. But we also have to recognise that some of these PMET employees have their own individual needs which are different from the general workers. So we need to hold their hands more closely. We will find ways to help them as we go along. With regard to Mr Zaqy's second question on the projected numbers that we are expecting to fill, either through the education system or future workforce, in terms of our projection, we mentioned that, over the next five years, we are going to create some 450,000 job opportunities. Among these 450,000 job opportunities that we are going to create, we do not have specific targets, because these are macro numbers. But we do believe that, because most of these jobs will be service-related and in the service sector in Singapore, by and large, the majority will continue to be Singaporeans and, therefore, most of these jobs will be Singaporean-based. PART IV OF THE EMPLOYMENT ACT (Review) 12.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, MOM has always been working very closely with our tripartite partners, ie, the NTUC, WDA, as well as the Singapore National Employers Federation, to look at how we could help train our foreign workers to prepare them better for the environment in Singapore. We also produce guidelines for both employers as well as employees, to help them integrate into our society so that they find their experience working in Singapore a pleasant one. Only by doing so will we be able to attract more foreign talent and to retain them in Singapore. With regard to the last question on the protection of foreign workers, in fact, this has been a key focus of MOM over the years, and we want to make sure that for the foreign workers who are here to contribute to our economy, their interests are protected no less than our Singaporean workers.”
“Mr Speaker, in fact, some of the programmes are long-term programmes and they interact quite regularly. Let me give you an example. Hwa Chong Institution, for example, works very closely with its neighbourhood schools in terms of different cultural programmes. One example is West Spring Secondary and Bukit Panjang Government High. For these schools, they actually practise music together. In Hwa Chong, there is a Chinese orchestra. They have 24 festive drums as well as wushu. And from March to June, they will practise together with students from both schools. This culminates in a joint performance at the Racial Harmony Day in July. So they actually meet each other quite regularly within these three to four months. They practise together, get to know each other, learn from each other, and then they jointly perform together at the Racial Harmony Day. Column No : 223 BILL INTRODUCED Column No : 223 GAS (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Gas Act (Chapter 116A of the 2002 Revised Edition)", presented by the Minister of State for Trade and Industry (Mr S Iswaran); read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. Column No : 339 Column No : 223 CIVIL SERVICE SALARY REVISIONS Order read for resumption of debate on Question [9th April 2007], "That the Civil Service Salary Revisions be considered by Parliament.". - [Minister for Defence]. Question again proposed. 2.00 pm”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Ministry has adopted the approach of top-down support for ground-up initiatives, ie, we encourage the schools to evolve and develop their own initiatives and programmes because by doing so, we give the schools a greater sense of ownership to the programmes that they have developed, and we encourage them to do so by providing them with the necessary support. Therefore, we would like to encourage a diversity of different programmes and activities. Also, students will learn from different ways. So we encourage them to have different forms of integration programmes, rather than to formalise them and make it a formal programme. We would prefer to encourage them to have their own ideas so that they will be more effective in inculcating this multi-racial culture within the school.”
“Mr Speaker, the Cooperation Agreement covers a wide range of issues in labour, worker-related and employment-related issues. In particular, from Singapore's point of view, we are very interested in workplace safety and health (WSH) matters. In fact, as the Chair of ASEAN Labour Ministers, Singapore has adopted workplace safety and health as one of the core focus of ASEAN Labour Ministers, and this issue has also been brought up with ILO. We are working on the programmes, together with ILO, to address issues of workplace safety and health. I think we have three objectives in mind. Firstly, we want to, through this platform, learn from other countries' experience in workplace safety and health. We will also benefit from the expertise in ILO with regard to workplace safety and health. The second objective is to share our experience and efforts that we have put in over the many years in achieving our workplace safety and health. And, thirdly, we also want to showcase our achievements so far in WSH. PUBLIC AND RESTRUCTURED HOSPITALS (Class downgrading of wards) 7 . Dr Fatimah Lateef asked the Minister for Health if the process of class downgrading for wards in public and restructured hospitals can be streamlined and hastened as there are too many steps and appointments which make the workflow process very time consuming.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, over the years, the International Labour Organisation, or ILO, and ASEAN have been cooperating in many areas of mutual interest, such as occupational safety and health, industrial relations and vocational training. ILO's technical expertise is well regarded and valued by ASEAN. The Cooperation Agreement, which was signed between ASEAN and ILO recently, reflects the strong commitment of both organisations to collaborate closely in addressing labour and employment issues as well as promoting social progress. Singapore is supportive of this Cooperation Agreement and believes that it will pave the way for increased cooperation and partnership between ASEAN and ILO through mutual exchange of information and joint technical cooperation projects. Such collaboration is likely to benefit workers across ASEAN.”
“We have to recognise that the priority for us is to ensure that they are employable, and as they are employed, their remuneration or salary must reflect their competency as well as the performance and the value of the job. With the growth of the economy, I think the job market is very healthy. We have created a significant number of jobs, a large proportion of them are PMET jobs, and therefore we believe that they will receive commensurate remuneration according to the jobs that were taken. At the same time, we have also recently introduced the professional conversion programme (PCP) to allow PMETs to convert to new jobs that are in demand. But, of course, for some of the jobs that are becoming less and less relevant in this knowledge economy, these jobs will become less competitive. So we want to help them to acquire an occupation that is more relevant to today's economy and PCP is one programme that we have introduced recently to help them achieve this. COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN ASEAN AND ILO (Significance and impact) 6 . Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Minister for Manpower what is the significance and impact of the Cooperation Agreement, to address labour and employment issues and promote social progress, that was signed on 20th March 2007 between ASEAN and the International Labour Organisation.”
“Mr Speaker, our programmes cater to all the workers and a significant number of them are PMETs. They come from different career paths. We do job re-creation and, at the same time, we also conduct retraining for them so that their skills can be applicable in other areas that are more relevant in today's economy.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as of 31st December 2006, some 300 companies have committed, under the ADVANTAGE! scheme, to employ and re-employ mature workers beyond the age of 62. Many of these companies have already put in place employment practices that are age-friendly with the help of the ADVANTAGE! scheme. We will continue to work with the tripartite partners to reach out to more companies and to encourage them to make a commitment to recruit as well as to retain these older workers. Mdm Ho also asked how do we work with other partners. In fact, tripartite collaboration is a key cornerstone of our success so far in reaching out to the older workers. WDA will, together with NTUC as well as the employers' associations, work together and reach out to the older workers, encourage the employers to change their mindset to be pro-older workers and, at the same time, we also want to reach out to the workers to prepare them to be more flexible and to equip them with skills that are up to date and relevant so that they can remain competitive and employable. We will continue to do so together with our tripartite partners.”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, I just want to clarify that I did not say that the outsourced contracts are beyond our reach. I mentioned in my reply that even outsourced contractors are bound by the Employment Act and they will have to follow similar employment terms and conditions. With regard to the civil service, my response was that we will continue to work with the civil service to improve the best sourcing procedures and to work into the best sourcing contracts to ensure that workers' benefits and interests are protected.”
“I think it is important for us to bear in mind that the responsibility for fair employment practices lies with the contractors themselves. While it is useful and value adding for the outsourcing companies to work with the contract suppliers to ensure compliance, we must not run away from the basic principle that the contract suppliers themselves are fundamentally responsible and legally liable to provide fair employment terms to their employees, including payment of CPF. Again, like my Minister, I do not want to answer on behalf of the civil service. But, certainly, MOM will work with the civil service to look at how we could further improve our right sourcing practices within the civil service. On her second question about continuous service, yes, it is one of the areas that is of concern. I think we will monitor the trend and we will also collect feedback from the employees and workers, and if indeed it is a problem, we will address it. There are many ways of addressing it other than by legislation. One way is through persuasion, promotion and education, both at the employer side as well as the employee side, because the employee must also be aware of his rights to insist on a continuous service. Also, we want to work with our tripartite partners, the employers, and persuade our employers to be enlightened. Up to a point, we can also include this into the tripartite guidelines for employment practices so that we will work with our tripartite partners for fairer employment for all our workers.”
“I encourage these workers to take a longer term view and to avail themselves to the many training opportunities, including WDA's Place-and-Train programmes which are open to them and are subsidised under the Lifelong Learning Endowment Fund. In doing so, these workers not only improve their skills, but, more importantly, are in a better position to find permanent employment. Mr Chairman, this debate has covered many issues arising from an ageing workforce and the impact of globalisation. These trends are inevitable and cannot be ignored. Together with our tripartite partners, MOM has been working on practical responses to the challenges ahead. I want to emphasise that the strong spirit of tripartism nurtured over the years has allowed us to develop out of the box solutions in a consensual and constructive manner in our own unique Singapore way. That is one key strength of our labour market and an important reason why Singapore workforce continues to be ranked highly in the eyes of international investors. We must work to preserve and strengthen this tripartite relationship between unions, employers and the Government.”
“Both MOM and CPF Board will step up enforcement against errant employers, including the directors of the companies who do not pay CPF for their workers. Doing so will also help ensure that their workers can benefit from Workfare. MOM and CPF Board will also continue to work with the tripartite partners in educational and outreach efforts. Ms Cham Hui Fong suggested licensing manpower staffing companies that provide outsourced workers in order to protect workers' CPF and employment rights. This is a good idea but it is not necessary as our existing laws are already adequate. Ms Cham also suggested that temporary and casual workers should not be disadvantaged in terms of access to training opportunities. I agree. Mr Alvin Yeo also noted the importance of training of older workers, particularly in the service sector. This is an area which WDA has studied carefully. This is why WDA has reviewed its funding system and established two avenues of funding - employer based and worker based - to make training more accessible and affordable to all workers. While temporary and casual workers do not have employers to support their training, Ms Cham rightly pointed out that they can access WDA's worker-based funding where financial support is not tied to employers, but channelled through the training providers in the form of subsidised fees. WDA funding support will kick in and the worker pays only the subsidised fees for training. Even then, as noted by Ms Cham, some casual and temporary workers are reluctant to go for training as it would result in a loss of income for them.”
“He, and not the outsourcing company, is liable for CPF contributions, as for all self-employed persons. This model is more likely for advanced and specialised functions such as consulting work. It is highly unlikely to be the arrangement for outsourced jobs that are performed by the rank-and-file workers. If any company claims that its team of 20 cleaners are each working as independent contractors, our enforcement officers would certainly scrutinise the arrangement very closely and would need very strong evidence to be persuaded that it is bona fide. Indeed, in 2006, the CPF Board took action against 180 companies which tried to evade their statutory obligations by labelling their employees as independent contractors. We will continue to be vigilant against such practices. The second way of outsourcing is to engage another commercial entity to take over the function. This new commercial operator will then hire its own employees to perform the job. In such a situation, the new commercial operator is the employer and is obligated to comply with the CPF Act and the Employment Act. In other words, the worker does not lose his right just because there is outsourcing. Although the responsibility to comply with the law now rests with the new commercial operator and not the outsourcing company, I agree with Members that the outsourcing company could and should do more to promote greater compliance. For example, they can exercise their influence as purchasers of services to require their suppliers to comply with the CPF Act and the Employment Act requirements. I agree with Members that, from time to time, there will be employers who will try to circumvent the law.”
“I agree with Ms Olsen and Mr Ong Ah Heng that more can be done to change mindsets and practices, besides exhortation and promotion. TAFEP will set up a Tripartite Centre for Fair Employment to expand its activities to reach out to and benefit more companies and workers. This Tripartite Centre will also serve as a focal point to promote the awareness of fair employment practices. It will receive public feedback and give advice to employers and workers on fair employment practices. The Centre would also provide assistance to employers who are keen to adopt good employment practices. MOM, SNEF and NTUC will jointly provide the resources for the Centre. Details of the Centre and its programmes will be announced by TAFEP in due course. My Ministry does not condone discriminatory practices and we will continue to play our part in regulating employment practices. As Ms Olsen has pointed out, the Retirement Age Act provides an avenue for redress for workers whose employment is terminated on grounds of age. Likewise, section 14 of the Employment Act provides an avenue for redress for a worker who has been unfairly dismissed, which would include a dismissal on discriminatory grounds. This would also apply to a female employee at any stage of pregnancy. Let me now address the points raised by Members concerning outsourcing. Mrs Josephine Teo commented that some companies do not make CPF contributions for outsourced workers, on the basis that they are no longer their employees. 1.30 pm First, allow me to clarify. When a company outsources a function, it can do so in one of two ways. The first is for the outsourcing company to hire individuals as contractors to perform the task. In such a case, the independent contractor is treated as self-employed.”
“These complaints are mostly related to age, race or language requirements, and pregnancy. So, the problem is not excessively large compared to the size of our workforce. Ms Olsen has asked that we be more flexible, selective and creative in dealing with these issues of discrimination, and I agree. We have adopted a promotional approach, leveraging on our strong tripartite relationship. In May 2006, following the recommendation of the Tripartite Committee, we set up a Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices (TAFEP). The Alliance, co-led by Mr Bob Tan from SNEF and Mdm Halimah from NTUC, has done very well in raising awareness of fair employment practices through its range of activities and programmes, including the publication of Tripartite Guidelines on non-discriminatory job advertisements. To address the issue of inappropriate questions asked during interviews raised by Ms Olsen, TAFEP will soon be launching a set of Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices. These Guidelines will not only cover the do’s and don’ts for interviews, but also deal with the issue of job application forms and other in-employment practices. While Guidelines serve as important reference points, real and sustained changes in employment practices will come about only when there is commitment by employers. TAFEP has launched a Pledge of Fair Employment Practices, which organisations are encouraged to voluntarily endorse, as a sign of their commitment to the cause. To date, about 330 employers, including various chambers of commerce and other employer federations, have come on board, which shows that commitment is growing. I certainly hope more companies will join this movement.”
“These jobs will be in a variety of sectors, including retail, manufacturing, finance and hotels, and will include positions, such as store managers, technicians and aircraft engineers. A key lesson in many of these projects is that, very often, simple changes can make a huge difference. You can reap significant benefits at very little cost. For example, Croda Singapore, a specialist chemicals manufacturer, leveraged on the funding support from ADVANTAGE! to purchase specialised equipment that eliminates the need for its workers to bend their backs and lift heavy loads when packing the materials produced by the company. Not only does this allow Croda’s mature workers to continue in the job with lower risks to their health and safety, it also increases workers’ productivity. Going forward, we will use ADVANTAGE! grants to help companies restructure their HR systems and introduce re-employment practices. Next, let me touch on the issue of the quality of jobs for older workers. During the Budget debate, Dr Amy Khor and Dr Ahmad Magad expressed concerns that the increase in the employment of older workers had been mainly in the low-skilled jobs. While it is true that in 2006, 68% of workers aged 50 and above were employed in lower-skilled jobs, this proportion has been declining over the years. Increasingly, older workers are being employed as professionals, managers, executives and technicians as well, and we can expect this trend to continue as the educational profile of our older workers improves. Mr Ong Ah Heng and Ms Eunice Olsen asked what we can do to encourage the adoption of non-discriminatory employment practices. To put the issue in context, MOM receives an average of about 70 complaints on discrimination at the workplace each year.”
“In fact, many Singapore companies do not yet have systems in place to prepare workers as they approach retirement age, and help them make the transition, including to different positions where necessary. Employers have to put the system in place. Workers’ attitudes also need to change. Today, many workers begin to withdraw from the labour force after the age of 55. Given the longer life expectancy of 78 for men and 82 for women, retiring at 55 may no longer be an option for most of us. The Tripartite Committee will finalise its report soon, which will include its recommendation with regard to the re-employment legislation. Mr Seng has also asked about employment rate targets for older workers for the next three years. Minister Lim Boon Heng has set a medium term target of 65% employment rate for those aged between 55 and 64. It is a very tough target, but we will work towards that and we should avoid setting short-term targets, as employment rates are subject to short-term volatility in the economy and other factors. On MOM’s part, the ADVANTAGE! Scheme launched last year is an important instrument to help older workers stay employed. Mr Low Thia Kiang asked what ADVANTAGE! has achieved. So far, grants under the ADVANTAGE! Scheme have been used primarily to redesign jobs or processes, to make them more suitable for older workers. More than 300 companies have participated in the ADVANTAGE! Scheme and have committed to implementing age-friendly practices, ranging from re-employment of workers beyond 62, automation, changing of benefit and wage structures, and the creation of new jobs. Collectively, these companies have committed to hire more than 2,500 additional mature workers and re-employ more than 3,400 workers beyond the retirement age.”
“MOM will continue to work with our partners to promote the adoption of medical benefits schemes that will enhance the long-term employability of our workers. Dr Muhammad Faishal called for more to be done to facilitate re-employment beyond official retirement age of 62, including the introduction of legislation on this, as Japan has done. The legislation in Japan took effect only last year. Early indications are that the legislation is working relatively well, due to a number of factors. First, there is a strong desire on the part of workers to continue working. At the same time, older workers are able to adapt to new roles and environment after retirement. What is also critical is that companies start discussing with employees on re-employment early, to prepare them and to set expectations. Some companies in Japan do so as early as five years before the workers retire. However, Japan’s experience also shows that the implementation of re-employment legislation is not without difficulties. It is a challenge for employers and unions to agree on the criteria that workers have to meet, to qualify for re-employment. It is also not easy for some re-employed workers to accept the adjustments, which are necessary to keep them competitive. These are some of the teething problems faced by Japan. The Tripartite Committee has been discussing the feasibility of introducing a re-employment law in Singapore. The unions and employers are receptive of the concept because of the flexibility in this system. However, greater flexibility also means that re-employment is more complex to implement, as the Japan experience has shown.”
“A “Women Back to Work” Committee has been set up under the leadership of NTUC and comprises members from WDA, SNEF and the self-help groups to identify the key barriers that women face in returning to the workforce and to help them overcome these obstacles. A big part of the solution will lie in the availability of flexible work arrangements to help women juggle between family responsibilities and work. The tripartite partners are, therefore, encouraging companies to create part-time or flexible working opportunities as well as promoting family-friendly employment practices among employers. Our efforts in improving work-life strategies and promoting more family-friendly workplaces will help to encourage women to go back to work. Senior Parliamentary Secretary Mr Hawazi Daipi, who chairs the Tripartite Committee on Work-Life Strategy, will elaborate on this later. In connection with the employment of older workers, Mr Yeo Guat Kwang has asked if MOM, together with the tripartite partners, could push for a review of medical benefits in the private sector to provide portability and better management of the cost of medical benefits to employers. This is not easy, as many companies already have existing medical benefits which have generally served them and the workers well. Nevertheless, a number of companies have taken up the challenge of providing comprehensive yet portable medical benefits. One example which was in the newspaper recently is the Salvation Army, which has shifted all its 400 employees from a group medical insurance plan to an Enhanced IncomeShield Plan for every employee. NTUC FairPrice is also introducing a similar medical scheme for its employees.”
“Last year, 61% of those aged 55 to 59 were employed, a five-percentage-point improvement from two years ago. For those aged 60 to 64, the improvement is even more marked – up eight percentage points to 42% in 2006. But I agree with Mr Seng Han Thong that we can still do more to raise the employment rate for older workers. As my Minister mentioned yesterday, the other group which we need to focus on is women. In fact, the two issues are related. If you look at the employment rate figures, two important points are noteworthy. Firstly, the employment rate of male residents from 55 to 64 is already quite high, and comparable to that in the developed economies. Sir, with your permission, I would like to refer to Chart 1: Country Comparison of Male ER 55-64. We are better than the US, UK, in fact, the OECD total. We are just behind Korea, Japan and Sweden. Secondly, the employment rate of female residents aged 25 to 39 is also high, and comparable to that in the developed economies. If you see chart 2: Country Comparison of Female ER 25-39, we are still ahead of many economies. However, after the age of 40, the employment rate of female residents starts to lag other developed countries, and we do not fare so well in the 55 to 64 age group. Chart 3: Country Comparison of Female ER 55-64 will show that we are quite far behind. Therefore, one of the key efforts is to keep more mature women in the workforce or, if they have left the workforce, to find ways to bring them back in. This is an area that the Tripartite Committee on Employability of Older Workers will be studying further. In the meantime, the tripartite partners have already recognised this challenge and have swung into action.”
“Mr Chairman, many Members have spoken today about several important challenges facing our workforce. These challenges are driven primarily by two major factors, demographics and globalisation. First, from the demographic angle, we are facing the challenge of an ageing population. This problem is not unique to Singapore as many countries face the same issue. An ageing workforce, coupled with longer life expectancy, will require a major shift in mindset and expectations on the part of both employers and employees, as well as changes in workplace practices. Second, globalisation has increased market efficiency and created new opportunities for us. However, the process of globalisation has also created new challenges. Outsourcing, for example, challenges the traditional employer-employee relationship as well as long-standing workplace practices. Many companies have to restructure to remain competitive. 1.15 pm The way forward for us is to recognise these challenges and engage various stakeholders in addressing them. Our key advantage is that we have developed a strong tripartite relationship over the years that allows us to address these crucial issues with openness, mutual trust and confidence. Let me first deal with the challenges of an ageing workforce. MOM recognises that there is no simple and neat solution that can address all these challenges. Rather, a multifaceted approach is needed. We also recognise that, ultimately, it is economic growth that will create jobs and drive the demand for workers, including older workers. This is evidenced by the improvement in the employment market over the last two years. We have made progress in raising the employment rate for older workers.”
“Mr Chairman, I think I mentioned in my reply earlier that, as we work on the licensing framework, we will include factors such as academic rigour, governance, as well as student welfare to make sure that all these areas are covered under the licensing framework. At the moment, CaseTrust for education does provide some form of governance certification for private education organisations that are certified by CaseTrust.”
“Mr Chairman, our cultural heritage plays an important part in our lives. It defines who we are, and what we are. It is therefore important for us to remember our culture and languages. But it is also important for us to ensure there is common space because we live in a multi-racial society. And, therefore, from the Ministry of Education's point of view, we focus on the teaching of the mother tongue, and the English language which is the common language for us to communicate among different races. As regards dialects, in fact, we encourage and allow our clan associations to continue to provide courses for our children, and students who might want to learn these languages. Many of them do pick up these languages. Many of our clan associations do run these courses and some of them even have projects with schools like bringing some of these students to their ancestry homes in China to do a project study as part of their immersion or project course. Some of these courses will enrich their experience and also remind them of their culture or their own heritage. But, at the same time, we provide common space within our mainstream schools.”
“Mr Chairman, we will definitely work very hard and quickly on this licensing framework that we are considering. But the private education sector is a very big sector and many organisations are involved. The quality of this sector is also rather uneven. So, it is important for us to consult the industry extensively to understand the problems and the concerns and to evolve a system that is credible and can withstand the test of time. Therefore, it is important for us to do this very carefully. I would not want to rush into it and find that we have a system that is weak. I think rather than setting ourselves a timeframe, I will prefer to work at it carefully, but we will certainly do it as soon as possible.”
“At the moment, we are looking at our Post-Secondary Education Account which will provide support for students who want to continue beyond secondary school education. For lifelong learning, at the moment, we are working with WDA on the Lifelong Learning Fund to support adults who are interested to pursue education after they have gone into working life. At the moment, we want to ensure that our Post-Secondary Education Account focuses on selected institutions that provide quality education because many of these courses are very expensive and, therefore, we want to make sure that they are very targeted. Dr Lily Neo's suggestion of a personal lifelong learning account is something that we will study carefully. But until we are able to find a system to accreditate and ensure the quality of the training institutions, it is a system that is not easy to implement and we have to ensure that money is well spent. If we were to introduce this hastily, we will find that a lot of the resources will go to waste and it will open to a lot of abuse. It will not be effective in providing quality education to our children. Therefore, we will study this proposal carefully and once we put in place a proper accreditation system, we will consider expanding it.”