Halimah Yacob
Singapore
“Thank you. I think that is certainly a very good idea and that is what we want to do and wish to do, to have the integration of the facilities. As the Member said, it is to encourage inter-generational bonding and support. In fact, we have already started one in Mr Seah Kian Peng's constituency.”
“I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the clarification, and for his information, I have written twice to LTA. The answers have been negative. My question is, what is the alternative because the purpose of the overhead pedestrian bridge is for people to cross over but the elderly has difficulty crossing over?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am really happy to hear about the immense investment in helping households cope with the rising cost of energy. There will continue to be households that, despite these assistance measures, will face difficulty in paying for their electricity bills.”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Minister: if the problem in Japan is not resolved within the next few months, what measures will be in place to assist sectors that are affected, notably, sectors like electronics?”
“Madam, I have two concise clarifications. My first concise clarification is to ask the Minister about the very low unemployment rate. Given this very low unemployment rate, does MOM have strategies in place to help people who want to find jobs, not just those who are already displaced but those who are currently employed?”
“Madam, on behalf of the House, I would like to thank the Minister, the Minister of State and the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the very comprehensive and detailed responses given. This year, the Ministry of Manpower did not have the highest number of cuts. That honour went to the Ministry of National Development.”
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“Sir, in this regard, I would like to ask the Minister to give us an update on the initiatives to balance work and family. Specifically, I would like to ask to what extent do companies in Singapore provide work-life balance programmes and policies and supportive workplace environments. What are the characteristics of companies most likely to provide work-life programmes and policies and supportive workplace environments? What are some of the common benefits provided at the workplace, and whether the Ministry has received any feedback on the refinements needed and other enhancements? Finally, there have been comments that some countries with good work-life practices have not really been successful in getting their people to procreate. I hope the Minister can share with us examples, positive ones, of the more successful countries.”
“Sir, in 1977, the US Families and Work Institute conducted a national study on the changing workforce. It found that employees with more supportive workplaces as well as better quality jobs are more likely than others to have higher levels of job satisfaction, more commitment to their companies' success, greater loyalty to their companies and the stronger intention to remain with their companies. The same 1997 survey also found that employees with more demanding jobs and less supportive workplace experience suffer from more stress, poorer coping, worse moods and less energy off the job, all of which jeopardise their personal and family well-being. Sir, to me, this study clearly explains why weneed an effective national strategy to promote work-life balance in Singapore. A company that provides a supportive work environment that meets the needs of families not only helps these employees and their families but also benefits his own bottom-line. I am not sure whether there is a similar study in Singapore. If so, I hope the Minister can share his findings with this House. Overall, the situation in Singapore has improved with measures such as the family-friendly companies awards. However, indications are that many companies still do not share this belief, and a lot more needs to be done. The number ofdual income families is increasing and as families struggle with job insecurity and rapid changes at the workplace, they do need programmes to help them balance work and family. Otherwise, I fear that all our efforts at encouraging Singaporeans to procreate will have no results, as insecure, unstable and stressed out families are not likely to produce more offsprings.”
“The third point is that at the last Parliament sitting, the Minister had said that HDB may agree to allow affected home owners to do their own inspection so that they do not have to cough up the $40 to get a contractor to do the inspection. Can the Minister confirm whether this is indeed now possible? Quality of HDB Flats”
“Madam, I have three points to make. The HDB is currently looking into legislation to make it compulsory for home owners to have their windows checked and made safe. Although this legislation is well-meaning because of the serious problem of falling windows, I think there is concern down the ground that the approach may be too drastic. I personally do not expect this law to be arbitrarily invoked against a home owner. As I see it, it is a last resort fall-back position in case there are really errant home owners who refuse to maintain their windows. Nevertheless, I would like to suggest that instead of just falling back on legislation, the HDB should also adopt the softer approach first, of educating home owners on their responsibility to maintain their windows as well as other parts of the flat so that these do not pose any danger to others. In fact, this process should be an on-going one and not surface only when we have a problem of falling windows. It is true that most home owners sign the lease agreement which stipulates this as their responsibility. But the truth is that not many home owners really read, or even fully understand, all the terms in the lease that they signed. My second point is that I wish to ask the Minister what help or assistance will be given to those who cannot afford to replace their windows. HDB has agreed to pay for half the cost for 43,000 flat owners who had their windows with aluminium rivets installed between 1987 and 1998, but no help for all the others. Other flat owners have to pay their own. The average cost of $190 is still quite hefty for low income, smaller flat owners, some of whom are struggling with unemployment. Could the Minister at least explain what help will be given to them and where can they get this help from?”
“In this respect, therefore, I am happy to inform the House that a tripartite task force comprising representatives from the NTUC, employers and other interested stakeholders has been established to actively promote CSR in Singapore. More details about the tripartite task force will be revealed later. For now, Sir, I would like to ask the Minister the following questions: First, how would he evaluate the progress of CSR in Singapore? What steps have been taken to promote CSR among companies operating here, whether foreign or local, and among Singapore companies operating overseas? What initiatives will be taken to engage all the relevant stakeholders on this issue on a regular and ongoing basis? And will the Ministry consider allocating resources for the promotion of CSR, including providing stronger support from SPRING for the work of the tripartite task force?”
“Sir, three years ago, on an ILO mission to evaluate a social dialogue project in a developing country, I visited two factories producing jute and garments. The jute making factory had very poor working conditions and was a serious health hazard. Jute dust swirled everywhere and even pregnant women were working there. On the other hand, the garment making factory was a modern air-conditioned factory which observed strict health and safety conditions. In fact, all the do's and don'ts on safety were pasted on the wall. The difference between the two was as stark as it was obvious. The jute-making factory sold its products in the local market. The garment factory, however, sold 95% of its products to big labels like GAP in the USA and Europe, and they had imposed the do's and don'ts on environmental and labour standards on it. 11.30 am That, to me, was the clearest example of what CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) and standards can do to protect the lives and limbs of working people and prevent environmental degradation. The western companies were under pressure from their own customers, unions, church groups and environmental activists to ensure that all along their supply chain standards were observed. So they established regular audits of their suppliers wherever they might be situated to ensure compliance. Sir, that in a nutshell is what CSR is all about. It is about good corporate governance, observance of core labour standards and protection of the environment. It is all about sustainable development and putting people at the centre of economic development. In Singapore, although we have hardly discussed about CSR, it does exist but much more needs to be done. Clearly, the Government alone cannot set the lead.”
“Sir, our Government has been very far-sighted in promoting FTAs. This has helped us to overcome constraints of space and growth. Singapore companies could now establish a presence abroad, either through exporting more goods or setting up of overseas branches. We have signed many FTAs, with the USA, New Zealand, Japan, as examples. And, we are in the process of signing other FTAs as well. I have three questions to ask of the Minister. First, I would like to ask the Minister to give us an update. As a result of the various FTAs that we have signed, how many jobs have been created for Singaporeans and in which sectors of the economy? Second, Sir, it was said that the US-Singapore FTA would create job opportunities for our young professionals as 5,400 new visas a year will be issued to allow them to work in the US. I would like to ask the Minister to give me an update from May 2002 till today. May was the date when the USSFTA was signed. How many Singaporeans have benefited from this scheme and are working in the US? What steps have been taken to help Singaporeans avail of this opportunity? Finally, Sir, among the concessions under the USSFTA, degrees from four selected law schools are recognised for admission to the Singapore Bar and it will be easier to create joint ventures with Singapore firms to practise law. Some in the legal profession were concerned over this. I just would like to ask the Minister, if there has been any follow up to assess the impact of this on the legal profession.”
“What public education programme has the Ministry embarked on, specifically targeted at warning young people about the dangers of synthetic drugs, as some were under the mistaken impression that such drugs are less deadly compared to the traditional drugs? Expunging Criminal Records”
“Sir, I am very concerned about two trends that are taking place in the drug scene in Singapore. First, there are now many more synthetic drug users compared to heroin abusers. In 2003, for instance, 54% of the drug abusers arrested took synthetic drugs. Among new drug abusers, an alarming 72% took synthetic drugs. The second worrying trend is that the number of young people abusing drugs as a percentage of the total number of drug abusers continues to be high. In 2002, 28% of drug abusers were in their 20s. Last year, the figure had increased to 34%. For new abusers, those in their 20s, they continue to form the majority of new abusers arrested at 52%. Sir, I am concerned over these trends as drug abuse is a terrible malice that causes wastage and death. I have seen some cases in my own constituency. Once trapped, they cannot get out of it. They cannot hold a job and their family life is torn apart. Despite our stringent laws to prevent drug peddling and drug taking here, I am concerned that our young continue to be attracted to drugs. I would, therefore, like to ask the Minister how effective are our measures to fight drug abuse, particularly among the young. Are there any reasons for the huge increase in the use of synthetic drugs and what new strategies have been developed to deal with them? Has there been any in-depth research done to identify the causes of drug abuse in Singapore, particularly among the young? Are the synthetic drugs that are in the market manufactured here or are they smuggled from overseas? And what measures are in place to prevent the manufacturing of synthetic drugs in Singapore? Can some of the laboratories here, for instance, be used as a cover for the production of drugs?”
“So, my question to the Prime Minister is whether he could give some indication as to when the employees who were transferred to MPA and PSA Corporation will be paid this ex gratia payment. After all, the Finance circular had clearly stated that payment can be made at any time before the IPO listing. Staff had also pointed out that there was a precedent in the case of the PUB when payment was made even before Singapore Power was listed.”
“Sir, my concern is over the issue of ex gratia payment to staff of statutory boards or the Government when a corporatisation takes place. PSA corporatised in February 1996. The staff were split into two groups. One group was transferred to the PSA Corporation and the other group to the Maritime Port Authority. At the time these employees were transferred, there was a Ministry of Finance circular which provides for ex gratia payment. It states that when a statutory board or Government entity is corporatised, the employees will be paid an ex gratia payment. This payment will be made both to the employees who move to the privatised company as well as those required to remain in the board to regulate the privatised company. The Government said that this payment will incentivise employees to remain in their respective organisations and is a reward for the contribution to the development of the statutory board. On time of payment, the circular said that it can be made at any time after the corporatisation of the statutory board or Government agency and before the IPO of the privatised company. Sir, it has been more than eight years now since the employees were transferred. Many had since left service. For instance, as at 2001, out of 347 employees who were transferred, 67 had left service due to death, retirement, medical boarding out or other reasons. Many more would have left by now in both MPA and PSA Corporation. If the promise of an ex gratia payment were to have meaning at all, the payment cannot be delayed for too long, as otherwise there will be no one else left to pay. This may be unfair to those staff who have put in long years of service and for whom this benefit was intended.”
“This change, Sir, will not result in any cost to the Government and can be easily implemented. So I hope that the Government will seriously consider it. As at December last year, Sir, out of 34,221 female civil servants, 20,274 women are on the MSO scheme. Hence, any change to this would be significant to the women. Sir, we have tried to slaughter many sacred cows. I would like to urge the Government to slaughter this sacred cow which has become not only diseased, but so diseased that it is even worse than the mad cow disease.”
“First, let me thank the Deputy Prime Minister for announcing yesterday that the Government will look into the possibility of giving equal medical benefits to women in the civil service. This is a very important signal. If the Government wants private sector employers to be pro-family, it has to show the way. And, it can do so by changing its stand on medical benefits for women, which everyone agrees is discriminatory as this policy has nothing to do with the performance of our women, but everything to do with their gender. It is good that the Government has agreed to review this policy, otherwise it cannot project itself as a model employer. I will not repeat everything that my parliamentary colleague, Ms Irene Ng, had said, but I want to say that the Government, if it does not review this policy, will also be in violation of ILO Convention 100, which she has also alluded to. When the Government discriminates and withholds certain pro-family benefits from their own female civil servants, it has less moral authority to tell private sector employers not to do so. And I agree entirely with Ms Irene Ng that there is scope for us not to just wait for the Committee's work, but to start looking into the MSO scheme. As we all know, all civil servants under the MSO scheme are given $350 to pay for their outpatient medical expenses. However, while male employees are allowed to use this subsidy for the outpatient medical expenses of their spouse and children, female employees are not allowed to do so. This is a gross anomaly and does not really make sense because, at the end of the year, if there is any unused portion, this will be transferred to the female civil servant's Medisave account.”
“Means testing should not be the only way in which we control healthcare cost in Singapore. A lot more has to be done to ensure that healthcare remains affordable, particularly, continuous efforts like identifying and addressing the areas which had caused the cost of hospital care to balloon over the years.”
“I know that means testing has already been applied for step-down care and in a few other services, but hospital care is a different kettle of fish, as the cost involved is much more and, for those suffering from catastrophic illnessess, the medical bills are huge. Singaporeans who are really poor, and the upper income, will have fewer problems, but those caught in-between may face difficulties. Likewise, those who suffer from a prolonged illness, even though they may be enjoying a certain income level, will have their savings wiped out and little monthly income to support their medical needs. We also have to bear in mind that we are an ageing society, and we now want families to have more children. If, as a result of the new means testing policy, they have to pay more in terms of hospital care, then our efforts at promoting procreation may be affected if families feel that they have to incur increased liabilities in meeting the healthcare needs of their children. Many Singaporeans today are saddled with multiple responsibilities. In addition to taking care of their own children, many have the responsibility of taking care of old and sickly parents. If we use income alone as a yardstick, it may not be very helpful, as a person may be earning a certain income but it may not be sufficient for him to take care of his multiple needs. Policy-making, Sir, is not an easy process and there are risks associated with any policy. We do not want to see a situation where, because of certain policies, people do not seek treatment or they neglect their aged parents. I do urge the Government to study these issues very carefully before proceeding with means testing, as healthcare is an issue which is close to the hearts of many Singaporeans.”
“True, we should get students to pay a higher proportion of the fees but we should not kill the Singapore dream where everyone aspires for a better life through education. Although there may be loan schemes available, I wonder whether it is really good to have so many young Singaporeans, like Mr Tan Soo Khoon said before me, burdened by a high level of indebtedness when they leave the university. Again, like Mr Tan, I also wonder how this would affect their decision to get married, buy a house and have children. Hence, I would like to urge that we continue to ensure that university fees remain affordable to Singaporeans. I do not see university education as benefiting the individual more, compared to investments in primary or secondary education. We are a small country, Sir, and people are our only asset, coupled with the fact that many of the investments that we are bringing in are high value-added ones, there is certainly a need for more people with university qualifications. It was not so long ago that Mr Philip Yeo who said that in the life sciences sector, those who have the first degree are only fit to wash test-tubes. Hence, I would like to urge the Government to ensure that university education will continue to remain affordable and within the reach of the average Singaporean family. Sir, on means testing for hospital care, I agree with the principle that we need to focus subsidies on those who need them, and so make the most of our healthcare budget. However, usually the devil lies in the details, and I would like to urge that before we introduce any means testing for hospital care, we should study the issue very carefully.”
“The payment under the Special Gratuity Scheme is much lower compared to that under the Special Resignation Scheme, although the Special Gratuity Scheme is not meant to cover redundancy situations. These concerns, Sir, should be addressed so as not to affect the morale of public sector employees. As far as possible, all efforts should be made to redeploy affected staff. If it is not possible to continue employing them, then they should be informed in advance and assisted in securing alternative employment or to undergo training in order to prepare them for other jobs. I would appreciate, Sir, if these concerns can be addressed. Public sector employees perform an important role in our economy. The public employment practices have undergone tremendous changes over the last few years, the most recent one being the revision of the SRS, and last year there was a major restructuring exercise at the HDB. Public sector employees are aware that they can no longer expect an iron rice bowl, and public sector unions have been at the forefront in bringing the message of change to their members. Public sector employees are also aware that employment practices cannot be fossilised and they must expect greater alignment with the private sector. Nevertheless, it is important that, in the face of the budget cuts and the push for Best Sourcing, we ensure that public sector employees continue to feel confident that they have good career prospects and their concerns for stability and job security are addressed. Sir, I see expenditure in education as an important and necessary investment in our people. I am, therefore, concerned that if the universities are allowed to set their own fees, university education may become too expensive and out of reach of low and middle income Singaporeans.”
“Although the retrenchment rate is expected to be lower this year, the rate of unemployment is still high and many Singaporeans continue to need help to secure jobs. And, even those who are working will require support since their salaries may not be sufficient to meet basic needs. Next, Sir, I come to the point on Best Sourcing. This requires public sector agencies to undertake "market testing", so as to compare the cost of providing their services in-house against the cost of having private sector vendors provide the services. If private sector vendors can deliver the service more economically, they will be engaged to do so. The public sector will then discontinue doing the function. The public sector agency will then discontinue the function, and either redeploy or release the affected staff. Sir, the rationale for Best Sourcing is understandable, nevertheless, in view of the current economic climate and the still high unemployment rate, there are concerns among public sector employees. The older public sector employees feel particularly vulnerable. Many fear that they will not get jobs so easily if they were retrenched as a result of Best Sourcing, particularly since employers today are still biased against older workers. Many have also asked whether there is a need for the Government to also behave like the private sector, particularly when the job market is still soft. Some were also concerned that when jobs were outsourced these may invariably end up in the hands of foreign workers. There were also concerns that some public sector management may invoke the Special Gratuity Scheme instead of the Special Resignation Scheme in order to remove surplus staff.”
“In this regard, I would, therefore, like to urge the Government to consider some means of assisting workers who wish to attend non-job related training but which will prepare them for other sectors of the economy. We have mooted the idea of individual learning accounts on several occasions but somehow this has not received much support. I would, therefore, like to ask for Government support again for this idea of an individual learning account for workers, in line with our focus to develop lifelong learning. The Government can consider opening an account for every working adult with a CPF account and regularly topping this account much in the same manner that it has done in topping up the Medisave account for those above 50. In my view, this will go a long way towards promoting lifelong learning and employability. It also sends a strong signal of Government's support for individual efforts at improving themselves. Let me now come to the next point, Sir. This year, there will be a 2% cut in the budget for all the Ministries except MINDEF, and this will apply for FY 2004 and FY 2005. Sir, I understand the rationale - revenues have become increasingly constrained because of the growth volatility and the reduction in corporate tax and other incentives given to companies have also affected the revenue stream. Nevertheless, my concern is whether this would have an impact on the Government's social expenditure. Will this have an impact on the social assistance programmes run by the Ministries for the poor and needy and will these affect subsidies for services such as health and education? I understand the need to balance the budget and to reduce deficits, nevertheless, my concern is how this will impact on help for low income families as there are still many who need help.”
“Although there is a limit of 5% imposed on the number of "S" passes, based on past precedents, we know that it will only be a matter of time before employers agitate for an increase. I am particularly curious, Sir, why we have a shortage of such manpower that is now the target of the "S" passes, considering that we now have 5 polytechnics and two universities and we aim for a 60% rate in terms of the cohort entering university by 2010. Does this indicate that our planning and manpower projections are not as effective as it should be in meeting the needs of the various sectors of the economy? What more can be done to systematically identify areas or sectors in the economy where jobs are being created and to prepare Singaporeans for these jobs so that we will not have a situation where even higher value-added jobs end up with foreign workers? Mr Speaker, Sir, I strongly support the decision to raise the Skills Development Levy's salary ceiling from $1,500 to $1,800 in line with the increase in the number of training places that is projected from now onwards. Training and skills upgrading is of critical importance to our workers to enable them to remain employable and this increase is, in fact, long overdue. However, there are limitations to the current system. Workers continue to complain that employers are not prepared to train them for skills that are not relevant to their current job. Workers, on the other hand, are concerned that if they stick only to job-related training, they may not be prepared for other jobs when they are retrenched. Workers are prepared to go for training at their own time even, but do need assistance in funding.”
“Unlike the R passes for skilled and semi-skilled workers, and the P passes for professional workers, the "S" passes are meant to attract the middle-tier skilled workers with diploma and post-secondary level education. The feedback I have received is that Singaporeans fear that the "S" pass workers will pose a direct competition to our polytechnic and university graduates. It is not competition per se that Singaporeans are concerned about. Rather, their concern is that they may pose an unfair competition with Singaporeans because they can be employed at much lower cost than Singaporeans, as their minimum salary is only $1,800. There is also no restriction on their countries of origin compared to the previous Q2 passes that are now being abolished. This concern has some basis as last year's retrenchment figures show that a higher proportion of those retrenched are executives. With the presence of the "S" passes, this will be the category that will find it even more difficult to get employment if they are retrenched. I note in particular that the "S" passes will now be open to the healthcare, IT, aerospace and pharmaceutical sectors. These are high value-added industries and, if Singaporeans have to compete with foreigners even in these job sectors, I wonder how that would impact on the employment prospects of diploma holders and university graduates. I remember reading last week's report in the Straits Times that one in five polytechnic graduates ends up in a part-time job. I would therefore like to ask the DPM and Finance Minister, if he could kindly give an assurance that Singaporeans will not be displaced by foreigners and that our policies will continue to give priority to Singaporeans for good, high value-added jobs, now that the gates have been opened even wider.”
“But looking at the trend that is taking place today, there is cause for concern. Many companies are outsourcing their services. In the past, only blue collar, manufacturing jobs are outsourced but today outsourcing involves white collar and higher value-added jobs as well. Even the Government is outsourcing, a trend which the Finance Minister has stressed will continue and in fact even intensified through the Best Sourcing Directive of the Ministry of Finance. In this light, my question is where are the jobs coming from? Will the number of jobs that are created be enough to cover the number of school leavers entering the job market and soak up those who are retrenched or unemployed? What more can be done to encourage companies that are based here to try and retain the jobs in Singapore, and even if they have to outsource, to do so to local companies? Has there been an assessment of the impact of outsourcing on our economy and jobs and with the growth of India and China, what will be the future implications? Will outsourcing intensify and, if so, which are the more vulnerable sectors? I think it is important that we address these questions as the concern down the ground continues to be whether enough jobs will be created - a concern which is further compounded by the announcement that we will be making permanent residents here much more attractive in order to attract more foreigners to sink their roots here. Sir, I can also see a certain contradiction in our policies. On the one hand, the focus is on creating more higher value-added jobs for Singaporeans. But at the same time, the policies affecting the employment of foreign workers are made more liberal. I am referring specifically to the new category of "S" passes that are being created to replace the Q2 passes.”
“They are a reflection of our values, and they send important messages to our youths about what we value. A society that values children, parenthood and the family is far different from a society that does not. The ongoing debate that we are having today is healthy as it enables more people to buy into the idea. Through this process, we can then develop a consensus on the kind of society that we want and what we are prepared as Singaporeans - the Government, employers, workers and everyone who has a stake here - to put in place to support these values. Sir, how to address Singapore's declining fertility rate is not an easy issue. It is a complex and intricate issue involving many facets. The current approach however has serious limitations as they are ad-hoc and it is not multi-agency except when a problem crops up and a committee is set up to deal with the issue as we are now doing. I would like to suggest therefore that the Government seriously consider setting up a multi-agency body that will champion issues concerning the family and would also act as a sounding board for all policies or programmes that will impact on the family. Sir, let me now come to the other points in the Budget. The Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister has given us an overall assessment of the economy. Singapore continues to remain as a competitive manufacturing location especially for high-tech, high value-added activities. However, in the same breath, we are also told that the manufacturing sector is not likely to generate many more jobs as MNCs are shifting to higher value-added, less labour-intensive activities, and will increase output per worker rather than hire more workers. Hence, to create more jobs for Singaporeans, there will be strong emphasis on the services sector.”
“In this context, I would like to suggest that even if the Government is not prepared to consider legislation at this point of time, nevertheless, it needs to put a mechanism in place to monitor the impact of such policies, otherwise the market will take care of itself. Women will not avail themselves of the longer maternity leave and have more babies because they fear they may lose their jobs. As one employer had put it in a newspaper interview recently, if it was just too troublesome he would not employ women. The other way of ensuring that there will be no discrimination against women if they avail themselves of the longer maternity leave is to extend this benefit to fathers as well. I am not saying that fathers will now start conceiving but what I am saying is that we could describe this additional period of leave as parental care leave which can be enjoyed by either the father or the mother. In this way, the disruption to the workplace and cost to the employer will be spread out. At the same time, we also encourage fathers to assume greater responsibility over child-rearing and family responsibilities. Over time, this will by itself create a momentum, in terms of changing of society's norms and perceptions about work and family. Sir, I would also like to add that we should not view this issue of procreation from a narrow, temporary perspective of how many babies will be born to support our economic growth or contribute to our GDP. If we cast this entire debate and put all our efforts to boost the birth rate solely from a purely economic angle, we may see some results in the short term, but I doubt that it will be truly sustainable in the long term. Economics and society are inextricably bound and intertwined. The policies that we adopt do shape our society.”
“On the issue of time, many women also pointed out that there were insufficient alternative work arrangements, such as part-time work or teleworking, to widen their choices after childbirth. Currently, their only choices are to stay at home to look after the children or to remain in the workforce. Additionally, many also felt that there is a need for a more supportive environment at the workplace for working parents. In this connection, of course, we have been working very closely with the MCDS in order to promote work-life balance at the workplace, and we are happy to say that there are some positive results but more could be done. In Japan, for instance, there is a good percentage of women doing telework. In the Scandinavian countries where there is a high female labour force participation rate, there are many flexible work arrangements for working mothers. Sir, the proposal to lengthen their maternity leave, despite many misgivings, is an important one to me as it will also partly overcome the problem of lack of affordable infant care facilities. But the issue of discrimination against women will have to be dealt with, as many women are concerned about how the improved benefits will affect them in the job market. The point to note here is that in most of the countries where there are generous benefits for women to take care of the family, there is also legislation to protect their right to keep their jobs after they return to work and to provide a system for women who are discriminated against to file a complaint. It will be interesting to see whether without such a supporting legislation the measures that are put in place here will be effective to prevent discrimination against women.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I agree with the previous speakers that this is indeed an interesting Budget. It deals not only with specific issues of concern to the economy but, of equal importance, it sets important outlines on issues of significance to us as a society. In terms of economic issues, the focus of this year's Budget is on enhancing Singapore's competitive edge. In this respect, this year's Budget continues with the process that was started last year to put in place some of the key recommendations of the ERC. Some Singaporeans have expressed disappointment though, that there are no goodies for the individuals, except for the Medisave top-up for those above 50 years of age, whereas many incentives were given to companies. To the extent that this Budget will help to further strengthen companies and attract more investments, I hope that there will be a trickle down effect, and ultimately all Singaporeans will benefit. Let me now make specific comments on some aspects of this Budget. On the issue of halting the falling birth rate, I agree with DPM that a comprehensive approach is needed. To me the issues that we are confronted with can be categorised into three areas: cost, time and supporting infrastructure. In NTUC, our Women's Committee had conducted dialogue sessions with a few hundred women leaders and activists. The feedback that came across loud and clear is that cost is still a major factor affecting a couple's decision on whether or not to have children and, if so, how many. In this connection, many had said that they were not looking at just the cost at the time of the birth of a child, but to them, it is a whole process from infancy to adulthood.”
“Sir, first, I would like to ask the Minister what can be done to prevent profiteering, because there are some indications that prices of eggs have increased and not necessarily because the supply itself has been unduly restricted. My second question is that there is a report that 30 birds suddenly dropped dead in Hougang yesterday, and that had caused some fears. Could the Minister please enlighten us as to whether that has anything to do with the Avian flu or nothing at all?”
“I would like to ask the Acting Minister whether the Ministry has any figures on whether the children on Learning Support Programmes have been attending kindergarten classes or they have not been attending kindergarten classes. How many percent has not been attending? The other question is: would the MOE consider providing information to self-help groups on the siblings of these children who are currently in the Learning Support Programmes so that the self-help groups can take pre-emptive action in reaching out to the siblings from those who are on LSP?”
“Sir, can I also ask the Parliamentary Secretary regarding claims involving foreign workers? What happens if the foreign worker has to be sent back home if his claim is not met or settled yet?”
“Sir, both of my questions were not answered. My first question was: approximately, how long does it take for a claim to be met, ie, from the time the worker files a claim and, ultimately, the claim is met by the employer? My second question is: are there sufficient numbers of labour inspectors to do the inspection work? Because the Parliamentary Secretary did mention that labour inspections were done by the Ministry. My third question to the Parliamentary Secretary would be: how many thousand employers are there in Singapore, and how many labour inspectors are being deployed to do the inspections to ensure compliance with the Employment Act?”
“Sir, the first question is: how long does it take between the time that a worker files a claim and his claim is successfully met, either in terms of adjudication by the Ministry as well as a final payment made to the worker? Secondly, how many inspectors does the Ministry have to do inspection work to ensure compliance with provisions under the Employment Act?”
“This is important as there are legal, social and ethical issues involving human organ transplants, and the public needs to be properly informed and educated to overcome major concerns which cannot be addressed by the law alone. On this note, Sir, I support the Bill.”
“The need to require the consent of the waris is the only reason why section 5 cannot automatically apply to Muslims. Sir, there are great benefits for Muslims to be covered under section 5 of HOTA, as the rate of kidney failure among Muslims is much higher. So long as Muslims are excluded from the ambit of section 5, we will have less priority when it comes to organ transplants. Although dialysis is one way of dealing with the problem, it is not a better solution compared to a kidney transplant. As I mentioned earlier, with a more favourable framework that is now in place for live organ donations, Muslims would also benefit. However, it is important that we continue to exhaustively explore all avenues that are currently available to save lives. I, therefore, call for on-going discussions among our Muslim religious scholars, the MUIS Fatwa Committee and the Muslim community, in consultation with key international Islamic jurists and ulamas, on how best we can maximise the use of organ donations prescribed under section 5 of HOTA. Fatwas on organ donations have actually evolved quite a bit from the original position enunciated in 1973, where kidney donations were prohibited. Since then, with tremendous developments in medical science and more is known about the risks of organ transplants, a new fatwa has allowed kidney donations, subject to the approval of the waris. Over time, taking into account the concerns and needs of the Muslim community, this is one issue we need to focus and get resolved. We need to find a way of dealing with the issue of consent from the waris. In conclusion, Sir, I support the call made by several colleagues for an extensive public education programme.”
“In this regard, the position of a Muslim living donor and that of a non-Muslim are the same, subject of course to the requirement of approval from the waris for Muslims. Muslims are now also regulated by Part IVA when it comes to living organ donations. In many countries, the use of organs from living donors has become much more important, compared to the use of organs from those who are brain dead. In 1999, there were 5.3 kidney donors per million population in the UK, 8.7 in Switzerland and 11.5 in Sweden. Norway has a very successful number of live kidney donations among the European countries, with 24.6 people donating their kidneys per million population in Norway in 1999. With a clearer framework for live organ donations provided under this Bill and more public education of the benefits of live organ donations, I can foresee that, over time, living donors will become a much more important source for organ transplants in Singapore, and this will benefit everyone, regardless of their religious convictions. Sir, the removal of organs from Muslims who have died remains the same. Muslims are still required to opt in before section 5 of HOTA, which deals with the removal of organs after death, will apply to them. There are several fatwas from the MUIS Fatwa Committee on the issue of organ donations by Muslims after death. The key point to note is that Muslims are allowed to donate their organs, subject to the approval of the waris after a person's death. A key consideration for the fatwa committee's decision is that Islam places a high premium on saving lives and gives priority to the needs of the living rather than the dead. Hence, Islam supports transplants to save lives in emergency situations.”
“Hence, I would like to urge a review of the scope of these clauses which stipulate the penalty for buying and selling organs by ensuring that they are wide enough and are severe enough to act as a deterrent. I would also like to suggest a review of section 15 of HOTA. The use of Internet and other forms of communications, such as SMS, has become very pervasive today compared to 17 years ago when HOTA was first passed. In some countries, the Internet has become a very pervasive tool for the buying and selling of organs. A simple query on the Google search engine, for instance, would yield thousands of websites purporting to sell various body parts. Under section 15 of HOTA, all advertisements relating to buying or selling of organs or blood are prohibited. Section 15, too, describes what amounts to an advertisement. It includes every form of advertising, whether in a publication, by the display of any notice or signboard, or by means of any catalogue, pricelist, letter or other documents whereby words are inscribed on any article, or by the exhibition of a photograph or a cinematograph film, or by way of words inscribed on any article or exhibition of a photograph or cinematograph film, or by way of sound recording, sound broadcasting or television or in any other way, and any reference to the issue of an advertisement shall be construed accordingly. Perhaps, the Minister could clarify whether these new forms of communication I have cited, ie, Internet, SMS, will be covered under section 15(1) and, if not, whether he would consider amending this provision to add greater clarity to it, so as to prevent organ trading. Sir, with the introduction of a new Part IVA under the Bill dealing with living donor organ transplants, Muslims will now be partly covered under HOTA.”
“Increasing the penalty would send a clear signal to all those who may be tempted to resort to such crimes that they would be severely dealt with. Another concern I have, Sir, is with regard to both section 14(2) of the Act and new section 15A of the Bill and the issue here is whether they are extensive enough to cover all the various transactions and steps involved in organ trading. Under section 14(2), a contract or arrangement under which a person agrees for valuable consideration, whether given or to be given to himself or to another person, to the sale or supply of any organ or blood from his body or from the body of another person, whether before or after his death or the death of the other person, shall be void. It is unclear whether this provision covers all the situations involved in organ trading. For example, does it cover a broker who acts merely as the agent to bring in the organs, or procure people locally, or overseas, who are willing to sell their organs, but who himself has no direct dealings with the person seeking an organ transplant? Does it also cover those who act as the contact points, or who knowingly make the travel arrangement, or engage in other activities to support the buying and selling of human organs? In this whole process of illegal organ trading, there is a long chain and we have to ensure that we put adequate measures in place to prevent organ trading. Organ trafficking, Sir, is a worldwide concern. In the European Union Parliament, stringent laws are being considered to penalise human organ trafficking. The proposal is for those convicted of organ trafficking to be liable to 10 years of imprisonment.”
“Their law provides for the body of the donor to be properly dealt with. The Greek law provides that the body must not look mutilated and must be made to look as normal as possible for the family's viewing afterwards. I think such a provision in that law will reasonate with Singaporeans because, culturally, Singaporeans also would like to have the deceased bodies of their loved ones in one piece and not mutilated as a result of organ transplants. Another key objective of the Bill is to regulate live organ transplants. As the Bill correctly points out, there is a need for regulations to safeguard the interests of living donors by ensuring that living organ donation meets ethical and professional standards. In this regard, Sir, I feel that the existing penalties to deter illegal buying and selling of organs in our Act may not be sufficient, particularly now that we have expanded the scope of the Act. Under section 14(2) of HOTA and new section 15A(4) of the Bill, the maximum penalty imposed on someone found guilty of entering into a contract, or arrangement to sell organs, is a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment not exceeding one year or to both. This penalty clause has not been reviewed since 1987 and is, in my view, an insufficient deterrent. A maximum fine of $10,000 and a jail term of one year is nothing compared to the huge benefits and profits that can be reaped from organ trading. I think it is timely for the Minister, in the light of the current proposal to expand the scope of HOTA, to consider increasing the penalty to deter human organ trafficking. Trafficking in human beings is a heinous crime. Trafficking in human organs is a crime of the same genre. It is equally heinous as the victims are usually the desperately poor and needy.”
“In fact, developed countries with established transplantation programmes do not make a distinction between deaths from accidents and other causes. However, Sir, there is a concern among some Singaporeans, which my other colleagues have also expressed, that hospitals may prematurely terminate the care of a patient in order to use his organs for transplantation purposes. Now that the scope of the Act is being expanded, it is important that we address this concern. This could be addressed by putting in place effective rules and measures to determine when a person will be considered as brain dead. In some countries, the law prescribes a procedure before a person is considered brain dead. For example, in Greece, Article 7 of their law (821) provides that a patient must be declared brain dead by three specific physicians - the patient's physician, plus a neurologist or neurosurgeon, plus an anesthesiologist. None of these three physicians are allowed to be part of the transplantation team as a safeguard against premature termination of care to the donor. The organ must also be removed by physicians specialised in this field. I would like to suggest that the Minister consider introducing such a provision in our law in view of the concerns that have been raised concerning what amounts to brain death. It is important that hospitals adopt clear rules on this and also inform and educate the public of the system that is in place. It is even better if this is stipulated in our law as the Greek law so provides. I am certain that this will help to generate greater public confidence that the interests of donors are adequately taken care of. The Greek law is also interesting in other aspects and reflect their cultural, social, norms and ethos.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Human Organ Transplant (Amendment) Bill is an important Bill. With advances in medical science, organ transplant has become a common and effective procedure to save and enhance lives in many countries. The figures on deaths arising from failed organs are staggering. [Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Chew Heng Ching) in the Chair] 5.06 pm In Western Europe, there are 120,000 patients receiving chronic dialysis treatment. Estimates suggest that between 15% and 30% of transplantations in Europe die whilst waiting for an organ. In Singapore, as at December 2002, there were 666 people on the transplant waiting list for kidneys, 20 for livers and 7 for hearts. Between 1996 and 2002, 32 kidney failure patients and 110 liver failure patients died. The Acting Minister has also given some updated figures earlier on. In the US, it was estimated that, in the year 2000, organ transplantations had saved or enhanced the lives of more than 20,000 men, women and children. If we can save more lives through this Bill that we are now debating, then we should support it. The amendment seeks to allow removal of organs in all situations where a person is brain dead, protect living organ donors and expand the scope of transplant to include the heart, liver and cornea. The existing law is restrictive as it allows only the kidneys from persons who died in an accident to be used for transplant. The Bill seeks to remove this and to allow transplant from other brain dead patients. To me, this is a logical development as the existing restriction makes an unnecessary distinction between those who are brain dead because of accidents and those who are brain dead because of other illnesses, and there is no medical difference between the two.”
“My second question is: does the Ministry have any on-going counselling service or assistance for the existing students?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I have two questions. With regard to those students in the universities and polytechnics who are not able to pay their loans within the time prescribed, are they given some flexibility to do so beyond the time prescribed? Secondly, are there on-going assistance programmes or counselling service provided to students who have financial difficulties throughout their period of study?”
“And if they can see the value of having a family that is happy, in being able to balance both work and life, I think that would be good for the company. So our approach has been through persuasion, providing some incentives to companies that are prepared to look at their work structures so that they can redesign it in order to make it convenient for working mothers to balance both work and family commitments.”
“Sir, may I ask the Minister, apart from financial incentives, what other incentives can the Ministry provide to employers to encourage them perhaps to have other work options, such as flexi time, part time, three-quarter time work, or tele-working, because many of these work options that I have just cited are actually in a very preliminary stage in Singapore compared to many developed and even some developing countries. So I think it is obviously a case where incentives are needed for employers to explore some of these other work options to encourage women who do not want to leave the workplace but, at the same time, want to have more children. Hopefully, we will be able to increase our fertility rate. Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, I agree with the Member that we have to find a way to help our mothers to balance work and life. I think the Member may be aware that, since about three or four years ago, when Mr Speaker was the Minister then, we had started the Work-Life Unit in MCDS to look into promoting, what we call, family-friendly workplaces. A lot of the work has been through persuasion. We have also managed to develop a group of work-life consultants. And, here companies can tap on some of the subsidies which are available to help them redesign some of their workplaces to allow women to balance work and life equally. Having said that, Sir, I would like to say that the progress has been very good as far as MCDS is concerned. More companies are coming on board to adopt some of the work-life practices that we have been encouraging. It is new. But after three years or so of implementing it, more than 16 companies, mainly large companies, are on board in this programme. We are also trying to encourage some small companies.”
“Sir, can I ask the DPM what assistance is being rendered to those who are in prison and DRCs? I have a couple of residents who have come to see me on this, because they are not able to do the topping up either because they said that information did not reach them or for whatever other reasons. What help is rendered to those in DRCs and prisons?”
“In fact, the Code of Ethics and Conduct drawn up by the Direct Selling Association of Singapore requires its members to give the consumer a 7-day cooling-off period to cancel the contract without penalty. Sir, for practical reasons, I feel that the present Bill should allow for a cooling-off period of at least five days, excluding weekends and public holidays. Sir, lastly, I am not sure about the rationale for imposing a monetary cap of $20,000 on the value of a claim for unfair practice under this Act. The reason cited is that this Act is intended to protect the small consumers. But, if a supplier uses a trade practice that is specifically cited in this Act as errant and unfair to secure a sale in a consumer transaction, no matter how large the value is, surely he should be held accountable. If a consumer entered into a consumer transaction, eg, he bought a very expensive watch. as a victim of the unfair trade practice of the supplier, and that unfair practice is covered by this Act, but not under any other existing criminal laws or statutes, what remedies would he have against the supplier? In other words, if the supplier's malpractice falls within the Penal Code, the Unfair Contract Terms Act, the Misrepresentation Act or other existing laws, the customer has the right of restitution against the supplier no matter how small the value of the claim. But if the unfair practice is not covered under any existing laws other than this Act, and the value of the claim is above $20,000, the customer would then not have any recourse against the supplier, whether under the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act or any other existing laws. Sir, I hope the Minister will take the above comments into consideration. I support the Bill.”
“The recent publicity of e-mail and time-share resale scams show that consumers will benefit from some lessons in business savviness so that they will not fall prey to unscrupulous dealings of deception. Legislation may help consumers get their money back but education will help prevent the loss from happening in the first place. Sir, the education process should also not leave the suppliers out. If the suppliers are equipped with a thorough knowledge of their obligations under the new legislation, there will be a win-win situation for themselves, the consumers and the economy. Fourthly, CASE is working to expand its mediation centre in anticipation of a greater need for mediation once the Bill is enacted. There may be a slew of disputes that may seek mediation. Will the mediation centre of CASE alone be enough to serve the function? What will MTI do to encourage the development of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, and how swiftly will this take place? Fifthly, with regard to the cancellation of time-share and direct sales contracts, I would like to ask if a cooling-off period of more than three days, excluding Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, will be considered. For the purpose of comparing the duration of the cooling-off period, the New South Wales Door-to-Door Sales Act allows for a cooling-off period of 10 days, while the UK Consumer Credit Act provides for a cooling-off period of five days. After entering into a transaction, a timeframe of the contemplated three days, excluding weekends and public holidays, for the consumer to consider his purchase, find out more about the transaction, perhaps seek some advice and go through the motion to cancel the contract seems a little short.”
“Will there be an official Government body that will be able to administer the new Act? An Office of Fair Trade set up by MTI can look into the interests of both businesses and consumers. It can work together with CASE, Singapore Tourism Board and various other bodies to provide information, advice and education. It can be in a better position to ensure due compliance, conduct market studies, fine-tune and improve business-consumer confidence. Secondly, the First Schedule lists the transactions excluded from the Bill. I note that the professions, such as legal services, medical practices, accountancy, and other professional services, are not excluded from the application of this Act. These professions are already regulated by their own respective governing statutes and have their own governing bodies and rules. For example, any complaint regarding the conduct of a lawyer can be brought up to the Law Society who will investigate and, if found to be true, has the power to censure and even disqualify the lawyer concerned. Therefore, including such professions in the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act would lead to duplication of channels and give the consumer the right to seek remedies by complaining to one governing body or to the other, and I think this is onerous on the professions and undesirable in general. Thirdly, the Bill provides a framework for consumers to have civil remedies. However, we all know that prevention is better than cure. First and foremost, I agree with Mr Yeo Guat Kwang that the emphasis should be on the education of both the consumers and suppliers. Hopefully, education on fair trade practices will lessen the likelihood of time-consuming and potentially expensive disputes. Such education will also stretch beyond legal rights and remedies.”
“This Bill is a good start and seeks to make that line clearer as to what is to be considered undesirable trade practices. This Bill is a result of many years of study, initiated by the Consumers Association of Singapore, several Members of this House and the Ministry of Trade and Industry, into the feasibility of having fair trading legislation in Singapore. Sir, it is a timely one. This Bill, when passed will further enhance consumer protection as well as complement existing legislation such as the Multi-level Marketing and Pyramid Selling (Prohibition) Act and the Multi-level Marketing and Pyramid Selling (Excluded Schemes and Arrangements) Order 2000. However, Sir, I have a number of questions on the Bill. First, I would like to ask how will the Act be administered and who will administer it? We should not look to CASE alone to monitor fair trading for three reasons. The first is that the term "fair trading" compels us to address both the interests of the business and the consumer to bring about better economic performance and an improved marketplace. The second reason is that CASE is primarily concerned with the interest of the consumer, not the supplier. The third reason is that CASE is a non-profit organisation dependent on grants, sponsorship, donations, volunteers and members' subscriptions. It does not have the same clout as a Government body. In places like the UK, Melbourne, New South Wales, Queensland, there are Offices of Fair Trading set up by the government that ensure compliance and enforced legislation. For instance, the New South Wales Office of Fair Trading safeguards consumer rights and advises traders on fair and ethical practices. In addition, it investigates unfair practices and provides a licensing system.”
“The next day, while she was shopping in Lucky Plaza, she saw the same model of video-camera in the shop window and asked for the price. The man straightaway quoted her $1,400. Of course, she was upset, called me and complained that my friend had cheated her. She said the walk-in opening quote, even before bargaining, was below what she had paid for. I called my friend and asked whether he had over-charged. He told me that if I could buy the same video-camera for $1,400, he would gladly buy it from me. So, the next day, I went with my tourist friend to that Lucky Plaza shop. True enough, when I asked the shopkeeper, he quoted me $1,400. But when we said we were interested and would like to buy that camera, the shopkeeper said the model we wanted was an old model and tried to persuade us to buy another model but of a different brand which he could offer us for the same price. But when we insisted on the Sony one, he said he had no stock in the shop and had to order from the agent which could take 3 days. When we said we could wait, he warned us that at that price, the camera would not come with any warranty. The sales tactic is obvious. Many tourists go shopping for a good price. They know what they want to buy and go around many shops looking for the best price. So, these shopkeepers quote the enquiring tourist a very low price on the item that he is looking for so as to entice him into the shop. After that, they persuade him to buy something else that is inferior but which would give the shop a fat profit. Now, if the customer finds that he has been over-charged, could he complain? Sir, there is a fine line between a bad bargain and an unfair bargain, and the difficulty is where to draw that line and where to set the balance.”
“We need the body, Sir, that would be able to act quickly and is impartial and authoritative. Ensuring that there is an effective body to deal with suppliers who indulge in unfair practices, is to my mind, part of the critical framework to ensure that the objective of this Bill is achieved. Sir, save for those comments, I fully support the Bill. EXEMPTED BUSINESS (Motion) Resolved, That the proceedings of the business set down on the Order Paper for today be exempted at this day's sitting from the provisions of Standing Order No. 1. - [Mr Mah Bow Tan]. CONSUMER PROTECTION (FAIR TRADING) BILL Debate resumed. Mr Ong Kian Min (Tampines): Mr Deputy Speaker, a few years ago, I was in the United States and telephoned a number of car rental agencies to ask about their rental rates. After enquiring about the rates with the receptionist of a particular company, I thanked her and said I would consider her quote and would call her again when I had decided. She immediately responded that if I could confirm the reservation then and there, she would throw in a $20 petrol voucher into the package. The company knew very well that once they lose that contact with me, a potential customer, the chances of making the sale are reduced drastically. But, if I am influenced by the petrol voucher and succumb to the selling tactics, accept the offer and later regret my decision, should I be entitled to complain? Sir, on the other hand, compare that to a situation I came across in our Orchard Road Lucky Plaza. I had a foreign visitor and she wanted to buy a video camera. I recommended her to a friend who sold consumer electronics and she bought a Sony videocam for $1,500. That was the best price my friend could offer her.”