Hawazi Daipi
Singapore
“Madam, between 2001 and 2014, of the international students at secondary and junior college levels who were granted permanent residence (PR) on their own merit, around one-quarter were on scholarships, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) scholarship, for their studies.”
“Madam, we are aware that these are secondary and pre-university students who are not likely to start working immediately after they have completed their "A" levels. So, we do not require them to work in Singapore. It is separate from the university-level scholarships. Page: 34”
“Madam, as I have said in my reply, we leave it to the schools to decide on whether a student or a staff member is fit or good enough for certain types of overseas trips. Some overseas trips can be very physically challenging, but some may not be.”
“Madam, the Member may be aware that MOE has worked with the Temasek Cares for a programme to assist families to manage the cost of treatment after the insurance coverage cap has been reached.”
“I think, generally, yes, Madam. The travel insurance coverage includes accidents and treatment of injuries as a result of accidents, as well as repatriation.”
“At the ground-breaking event, a number of non-Muslim grassroots leaders asked me how they can also support the construction of this community institution in Woodlands. I am heartened by such a supportive spirit and inter-racial and inter-religious cooperation.”
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“Mr Chairman, schools play an important role in providing students with the education necessary not just for their academic development but also their holistic development as individuals. I thank Members for their interest in ensuring that our schools provide well for our students, not just in "hard" aspects such as academic performance, but also in "softer" aspects and equally important aspects of ensuring that they will grow up to be well adjusted and responsible members of the society. I wish to stress, however, that in these efforts, MOE and the schools must be supported - by parents, the community and the media. MOE is always keen to engage stakeholders in the well being and proper development of our students, but this is the responsibility that lies with all of us. Let me first thank Mr Zainudin Nordin for his question on the work of the committees that were set up to promote Malay and Tamil languages. The Ministry of Education conducted comprehensive reviews of the teaching and learning of Malay and Tamil last year. The conclusion of both reviews was the articulation of a vision of Malay and Tamil being closely intertwined with the Singapore society in which they are practised. For Malay, the vision is in the development of Arif Budiman, a Malay expression that encapsulates the learned person who contributes to society and nation. For Tamil, the vision is for it to be a living language and a vibrant part of our multi-racial society. We fully agree with Mr Zainudin that the promotion of Malay and Tamil, therefore, has to be a community effort in partnership with stakeholders.”
“In the case of terrorism, can the Minister inform the House of the potential threats to Singapore and our neighbouring countries? How does the Minister assess the change of leadership in Jemaah Islamiyah in Indonesia and the region, and the problems in Southern Thailand? Is the SAF, along with the SPF as well as SCDF, operationally ready for the possible first terrorist threat and attack in Singapore? It is also important to ask about our post-operation plans for the period when psychological defence - a component of our Total Defence - would be tested. Defence Diplomacy”
“Sir, I would, first, like to thank the Prime Minister for having decided to give our NSmen a Special Bonus in conjunction with the 40th Anniversary of National Service. Both full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) and those who have completed their ORNS training cycle will enjoy the $100 and $400 bonus respectively. NS bonus sends a signal - an important signal - that Singapore values the men who have been there to ensure our national security and safety through their services in the Singapore Armed Forces, the Singapore Police Force and the Singapore Civil Defence Force. It is therefore important that we share the benefits of our prosperity with our NSmen. The Special Bonus also demonstrates the importance that is placed on our national defence and the concept of Total Defence, which has gained greater currency and relevance, as the sources of threats have changed from largely military aggression only to also the scourge of maritime terrorism and piracy, as well as the need to respond to disasters. While our large spending on defence has been justifiable, the question that will always be asked is how ready is our Armed Forces for any eventuality, in terms of weaponry edge as well as operational readiness of our men to action. This must be viewed against the different sources of threats to us. Sir, may I ask the Minister to give us his assessment of the security environment around Singapore, in South East Asia, as well as in the adjacent regions of East Asia and South Asia, in particular, the potential flashpoints in the Strait of Taiwan and the Korean Peninsula. How are we working with other countries to enhance peace and security of our nation and that of the region?”
“Sir, it has been two years since we engage countries in the Middle East intensely. Since then, there have been many high level contacts and our businessmen and companies have made in-road into various economic activities there. The Middle East offers vast opportunities for our businessmen but the fact is that there is still a lot that we have yet to learn about the region. To engage and reach out to the new partners, like those in the Middle East, we need to develop friendship at all levels and know more about their language, culture and religion. We need to encourage Singaporeans to learn Arabic, travel there and feel the pulse of the society there and learn about how they do business. I believe the interest in the new relationship is not one-sided. Countries in that region seem to want to engage and work with Singapore too. Can the Minister tell the House of this convergence of interest and how we can mutually benefit from closer relations with countries in the Middle East? What are the opportunities that are open to Singapore and what can Singapore offer to them?”
“Sir, in last year's Committee of Supply debate on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Minister said that Singapore's and ASEAN's strategy is to make Southeast Asia the fulcrum for a new architecture of peace and cooperation in Asia, ie, a new Asia, from an Asia long colonised by imperial powers to an Asia that has re-emerged and re-entered onto the world stage. We have seen China and India at different stages and at different degrees re-emerging as regional economic powers, providing much needed new opportunities for economic growth for other countries, including those in Southeast Asia. The re-emerging powers create new tensions, as they vie for influence in the region. How is ASEAN, as a grouping, managing the challenges? Are the ASEAN+1 and ASEAN+3 mechanisms as well as the ASEAN Regional Forum sufficient for her to engage the regional powers and other countries outside Asia? For ASEAN to attract the right kind of interest from regional powers and groupings, the 10 members must maintain a certain level of cohesion. May I ask for an update from the Minister on the state of solidarity among the 10 ASEAN members in the face of common problems and challenges from regional powers? Are bilateral problems between member countries in the way of ASEAN's common good? With a view to solving them, what are the major stumbling blocks towards the creation of ASEAN economic, social and security communities by 2020? East Asia Summit”
“Sir, I would like to focus on the Asian region. I wonder if the Minister shares my observation that there is a general sense of optimism in Asia about the prospect for peace, stability and economic development in the region. Major regional powers like China and India are focusing on their economic development, giving greater opportunity for growth for smaller countries in the region. As a small city-state, Singapore is not in a position to determine the course of events and the nature of relationship between these countries. That is why we always have to watch closely the triangular relationship among the United States, China and Japan. In the middle of that triangle are the cross-straits relations between China and Taiwan. That is why the recent decision by Taiwan to "freeze" the National Reunification Council and China's angry reaction towards it are a cause for concern. This recent development seems like a replay of past tensions due to the issue of reunification of Taiwan. What is the Minister's assessment of the medium and long-term prospects for peace and stability in East Asia vis-a-vis the cross-straits relations? How will the triangular relations involving the US, China and Japan evolve? May I also take this opportunity to ask the Minister to give the House an update on our bilateral relations with the US, China and Japan? Sir, it is widely acknowledged that the re-emergence of China and India will provide other countries new impetus for growth. It will also pose a challenge to others, particularly countries in Southeast Asia, as these two giants vie for influence, market and resources. How is the contest going to be played out and how is this going to affect Singapore? India”
“Sir, I do not have those figures but, essentially, the members are asking for protection, ie, wider and better protection. But there is another area that we have to talk about, which is cost, and I have talked about it. While we want to have good coverage for every worker and to participate in the scheme, we should not make it more expensive. Actuarial studies have shown that if we increase the coverage, there will be higher premium, and I have given two figures to indicate that if we increase the premium, it is likely that, for the older workers whom we want to cover and help, they would not benefit from this because they may not find it affordable.”
“Sir, I have replied to the questions the hon. Member has raised. Let me just repeat one point I made earlier, ie, that for age group 34 and below, the percentage of members of that age group who participate in DPS is 41%. For those 55 and above, it is only 6%. The figures speak for themselves.”
“Sir, actually, members can cover themselves by buying their own personal insurance coverage and there are so many options in the market. What we are trying to say is, because this is a mass insurance scheme for workers, the cost is kept low and we want to maintain the low cost so that as many workers as possible can enjoy the scheme. It is simple logic. But what we want to do - and I would like to stress this - is that this scheme helps as many workers as possible who can afford it and we want to make it affordable. Members can, of course, take their own additional insurance protection.”
“Sir, I do not have the figure for the difference that members would have to pay should the years of coverage be extended. To give an illustration, for the age group of 34 and below, the proportion of members covered is 41%. In comparison, for age group 55 and above, the percentage of membership covered is only 6%. This illustrates the fact that when premium rises with age, older workers find it expensive and thus opt out.”
“Sir, while I share the concern of Dr Ong with regard to the need for coverage, we must, in meeting the needs of insurance coverage, bear in mind that the system must be affordable to the people we really want to help. I have said earlier that this scheme is an opt-out scheme targeted at younger members and their families in the event of the member's death or permanent incapacity. We must realise if we extend the coverage to the older age group, the premium will increase, including for the current oldest age group that is 55 to 59. Even, currently, we find that for the older workers, the rate of participation in the DPS is much lower than that for the younger age group. So if we extend the coverage and therefore increase the premium, it is likely that the proportion of older workers covered would be much lower.”
“CPF members can also use 100% of their CPF Ordinary and Special Account savings to purchase approved investment-linked insurance policies under the CPF Investment Scheme to cover themselves up to the age of 62. For these reasons, CPF Board kept the age limit at 60 when it privatised the DPS.”
“Sir, the Dependants' Protection Scheme, which is an opt-out scheme, was targeted at younger members and their families in the event of the member's death or permanent incapacity. Such families are likely to have less savings to fall back on. Keeping the age limit lower, currently at 60, has also kept premiums affordable and ensured a high participation rate of 1.64 million members. Premiums now range from $36 for members aged 30 and $260 for those aged 55 years, with a sum assured of $46,000. Dr Ong has asked if the age limit could be extended. This is possible and indeed we did raise the age limit from 55 to 60 years in 1995. But actuarial studies showed that we would have to charge significantly higher annual premiums if we raise the age limit further and this may increase the opt-out rate. So while we want to serve especially the older workers and their families, we may not be actually serving them if we raise the coverage of the insurance scheme. In addition, CPF members, beyond the age of 60, would likely have dependants who are older and economically active, and have less need for protection. It may also result in adverse selection as members who are less healthy and therefore in greater need for protection would continue with DPS while those who do not need it will opt out. Over time, this adverse selection would result in higher claims payout and further increase the premiums for older members who are insured. Older members may not be able to afford higher premiums and protection would lapse when they default on payments. CPF members who would like to have extended insurance coverage can do so by buying insurance schemes using their own cash.”
“Sir, work permits are issued to foreign workers so that they can be engaged in one particular sector and one particular company. Deploying them to other companies, or to other industries would be infringing the Employment of Foreign Workers Act. If a company has many different operations, we will have to take a look at whether it is cross-deployment or whether or not it constitutes illegal deployment of the foreign workers on the basis of whether the operations are under the same company or in a separate legal entity. MAN YEAR ENTITLEMENT SCHEME (Illegal practices) 6. Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan asked the Minister for Manpower (a) how many contractors have been prosecuted each year, over the last five years, for selling their foreign worker quota or Man Year Entitlement; (b) what measures have been, or will be, implemented to mitigate this problem; and (c) if any changes will be made to improve the Man Year Entitlement scheme and prevent such illegal practices.”
“The workers who might have been caught working with Town Council contractors may come from the construction or marine industry. Does the Ministry study closely the manpower needs? Yes, we do that all the time. We are quite prudent about the issuing and the renewal of work permits. I can assure Members that we will do this continuously not only so that we do not have too many unnecessary foreign workers in Singapore but also so that we can create jobs for Singaporeans.”
“Sir, foreign workers given work permits to work in certain industries have been deployed to various industries and sectors, in particular, the service sector. If the Member can ask me very specific questions, I can find the figures for her at the next opportunity. How is it that some sectors which are said to need a lot of foreign workers actually have surpluses? We will have to base it on the current economic activities within the industry and we work with the other agencies in order to identify the needs. But what is important to note is it is impossible to really eradicate completely illegal deployment or employment of foreign workers. However, to deter abuses, MOM will step up penalties and enforcement. We want to do this so that we will reduce the number of illegal deployment of foreign workers in Singapore and, at the same time, create jobs for Singaporeans.”
“Sir, in the past five years, a total of about 3,180 employers were prosecuted under the Employment of Foreign Workers Act, or EFWA, for illegally deploying or employing foreign workers. This has averaged around 637 errant employers per year. To deter illegal employment and deployment of foreign workers, MOM has significantly stepped up the level of enforcement. Between January and June this year, 386 employers have been prosecuted under the EFWA. Several key initiatives were put in place to support this enhanced level of enforcement. Firstly, MOM has also doubled its enforcement force in the past four months. Secondly, instead of responding to public complaints, the Ministry's enforcement intelligence capability has been built up to guide our enforcement actions. This has enhanced our operational effectiveness. In addition, we have moved to a more integrated approach in our enforcement. For example, when we investigate an employer for suspected infringements of MOM regulations such as non-payment of salary, or health and safety violations, we would also now check for other infringements such as illegal deployment of foreign workers. To send a strong deterrent message, errant employers who employ and/or those who aid in illegally deploying foreign workers will be severely dealt with.”
“Yes, I think the CPF Board and the other agencies are already doing that, but more can be done. We can seek views from members of the public, and Members of Parliament too, on how much better we can help educate members of the public on how to save and how to enhance their savings so that they have enough for their retirement. FOREIGN WORKERS (Illegal redeployment) 5. Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan asked the Minister for Manpower (a) how many errant employers were prosecuted each year, over the last five years, for illegally redeploying their foreign workers to work in jobs they were not approved for; and (b) what other measures will his Ministry take to deter such illegal practices, which work against current efforts to recreate and reclaim jobs for retrenched and other Singaporeans.”
“Sir, let me try to put this in perspective. The survey found that, generally, Singaporeans are quite well-versed with the ways and means to save so that they can support themselves when they have retired. They save regularly, they spend within their means and are generally prudent about loan decisions. However, as Mdm Halimah said, quite a number of Singaporeans do not appear to be very clear about how much to save for their retirement and on financial instruments that can help enhance their savings for retirement. In this regard, CPF Board, together with other agencies that form MoneySENSE, will organise a series of seminars at the community level so that they can reach out to even low-income families. I have said earlier that the workers and family heads are quite well-versed in matters pertaining to savings, on how much to save, and so on. These are particularly those who are Internet-savvy. To reach out to those who may not be well-versed in the use of the Internet information, a series of seminars will be conducted. But the CPF Board and its partners that support MoneySENSE should be supported by community organisations in order to educate members of the public. We will also reach out to schools so that students will have better information about the importance of savings and how to save so that they can start saving even before they start working. We recognise that people generally start acting on savings and financial planning when they reach certain important milestones or stages in their life - when they get married, when they want to buy houses, when they have their first child, and so on. So, CPF Board will target such groups of people so that they can have the best information on and alternatives for savings as well as for enhancements of their savings.”
“Yes. In the past year, MOM prosecuted three employers for defaulting on salary payments to their foreign domestic workers. These employers were fined by the courts and ordered to make restitution of the defaulted sum by way of the court. Two of these employers paid up in full, while the third employer was jailed for 10 weeks for failure to pay the fine and the outstanding salary. As for abuse, the number of substantiated abuse cases handled by the police in 1997 was 157 and, in 2004, it was 59. So, there was a decline in the number of substantiated abuse cases. Column No : 1005 PRICES OF DRUGS (Publication on Ministry of Health website) 6. Dr Tan Sze Wee asked the Minister for Health, in light of the successful publication of hospital bills which has led to greater transparency and reductions in hospital bill sizes, if his Ministry will consider publishing on the Ministry of Health website the prices offered to them by vendors for drugs, particularly the prices for common proprietary prescription medicine used in the treatment of acute illnesses such as antibiotics and of chronic illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension.”
“Sir, funds are made available for students with learning disabilities. MOE provides annual grants to the Dyslexia Association of Singapore as well as to the Autism Resource Centre. BUKIT TIMAH CAMPUS (Allocation) 15. Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan asked the Minister for Education (a) who will ultimately decide on whether the NTU or NUS will be given the present Bukit Timah campus, if at all; (b) what will be the criteria used to make this decision; (c) how long will this allocation be for; and (d) whether his Ministry will be prepared to let this campus be "absorbed" into the Botanic Gardens to enhance the latter's size.”
“Sir, we leave it to the school to determine the amount of fund they want to allocate to students of the different needs.”
“Sir, MOE provides block budgets to schools. Schools have the autonomy to use the funds to develop programmes based on the needs of their students. Schools which have students with learning disabilities, such as dyslexia and autism, receive additional support. Their students are able to get specialised assistance at the learning centres that are set up collaboratively between MOE and voluntary organisations, such as the Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS) and the Autism Resource Centre (ARC). MOE provides funding to these organisations to develop programmes to assist such students. From next year, MOE will provide additional support for students with learning disabilities through the deployment of Special Needs Officers in all primary schools and some secondary schools. More broadly, MOE aims to increase the level of awareness of special learning needs in our schools over the next five years, and to equip more teachers with the basic skills necessary to support students with learning disabilities. Students with learning disabilities may request for special accommodations in national examinations, such as the PSLE, GCE 'N', 'O' and 'A' levels. The specific accommodation that is provided depends on the disability of the pupil. The range of accommodations includes the provision of extra time for written papers, exemption from oral examinations, modified text-type or enlarged print on examination papers, and separate testing rooms. Applications to the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) can be made through schools. The cases are reviewed by a panel of Educational Psychologists to determine the type of assistance to be given to each student, depending on the nature and severity of the disability.”
“Sir, we are encouraging employers to practise more enlightened HR policy so that they can help the employees to take care of their children as well as their aged parents. There is a committee which has been formed under MOM that encourages employers to practise more enlightened HR practices and we are working with industry leaders, industry champions as well as industry groups to spread this message of better HR practices because these practices will not only help the employees but also employers and companies to retain and employ good workers. PROPOSAL TO DEVELOP INTEGRATED RESORTS Order read for resumption of debate on Question [18th April 2005], "That the Proposal to Develop Integrated Resorts be considered by Parliament.". - (Deputy Leader of the House). Question again proposed. 1.43 pm”
“Sir, it is an offence under the Employment Agencies Act to operate an employment agency, or EA, in Singapore without a licence. We take a serious view of unlicensed employment agency operations and have been prosecuting such errant individuals, including unlicensed foreign employment agencies. MOM has not detected a marked increase in unlicensed EA operations. In 2003 and 2004, we took enforcement action against 21 cases of unlicensed EA operations, including prosecuting 12 unlicensed EA operators. The maximum penalty for an unlicensed EA, as a first offender, is a $5,000 fine. For subsequent conviction, the maximum penalty is a fine of $10,000 and six months' imprisonment. MOM would like to warn unlicensed employment agencies that necessary punishments will be meted out to the offenders. DISCRIMINATION AGAINST EXPECTANT WOMEN EMPLOYEES 18. Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan asked the Minister for Manpower (a) if there are cases of alleged discrimination against pregnant women employees that have been lodged with the Ministry; (b) if so, how many cases were lodged for each of the years from 2002-2004 and the first three months of 2005; (c) how many of these cases were proven; (d) what recourse did these employees have and what penalties were imposed on the employers who were found to have practised discrimination; and (e) how can non-unionised women employees be protected against such discrimination, should it exist.”
“Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Minister for Manpower whether he is aware that there is a marked increase in the number of unlicensed foreign employment agencies operating in Singapore and that they are creating unfair competition to the licensed local ones and, if so, does he intend to take enforcement action against them.”
“Sir, in the past, employers who owed their workers salaries were requested to issue cheques for the salary arrears made in favour of the Commissioner for Labour. The Ministry would then bank in the cheque into its account, and issue a separate cheque with the same amount to the workers concerned. This process is inefficient and involves the unnecessary step of the Ministry collecting the monies in the first instance. As a result, it took longer for workers to get back their money. Under the new system implemented with effect from February 2004, employers are advised to issue cheques made in favour of the workers directly and deposit the cheques with the Ministry. The workers are requested to collect the cheque from the Ministry within seven days. This has expedited the process. As a result, workers now are able to receive their payment earlier. Our experience shows that the majority of workers are able to collect their cheques within one week. If any claimant fails to collect the cheque within that period, the Ministry will make further attempts to contact the worker thereafter. In situations where the unclaimed cheque is returned to the employer, the Ministry would ask the employer to re-issue a replacement cheque if the worker were to subsequently turn up to claim his monies. In situations where the cheque is not honoured, the Ministry will help the worker pursue the matter with the employer for payment to be made. Our records show that less than 1% of the 1,137 cheques received in 2004 were not honoured. In these cases, we have helped the workers to take up the matter with the employer. The new arrangement has worked well in the interests of workers who were owed salaries. UNLICENSED FOREIGN EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES 17.”
“Sir, we are committed to providing a minimum standard of housing for foreign workers in Singapore. They are workers who have contributed to our well-being. We are already working more closely together with other agencies - URA, HDB, BCA and SCDF - to ensure that more facilities could be provided for these foreign workers. MOM is already looking into ways to speed up the construction of more dormitories and, as I said, work has already started with the various agencies. CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND BOARD (Dependants' Protection Scheme) The following Question stood in the name of Mdm Ho Geok Choo - 14. To ask the Minister for Manpower how will the Central Provident Fund Board manage increases in premiums for the Dependants' Protection Scheme by the outsourced insurers. Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan: Question No. 14.”
“And we are working closely now to ensure that more land and more facilities are provided for proper housing.”
“Sir, let me answer the second question first on the lack of housing facilities in Singapore. Currently, we have facilities for about 50% of workers who need proper housing. MOM, as I have said in my earlier reply, is working with the other agencies to provide more land parcels so that more dormitories can be built for foreign workers. As for Ta-Ching in particular, in fact, all the 44 employers of foreign workers who used Goldstrong Dormitory, MOM has given a list of approved housing for foreign workers for the employers to consider. In a nutshell, we have a list of approved housing which can be used by the employers. On rules, yes, there are minimum standards that employers and accommodation operators must abide. These are rules set out by agencies like URA, HDB, BCA, NEA and the Singapore Civil Defence Force. There are two main conditions for the standards. One is that off-site accommodation must comply with the approved land use. In the case of off-site housing of foreign construction workers, contractors must house them in either purpose-built dormitories or in quarters constructed on land that is approved by URA or other relevant authorities. The second condition is that it must comply with the environmental health requirements by NEA, safety requirements by the SCDF, and building structural requirements by BCA. I am not sure whether it is possible to have a one-stop centre for dormitory operators or housing operators for foreign workers so that the needs of their workers can be met quickly. But, as it is now, the various agencies are already working together to ensure that we have proper housing and we have already accommodated 50% of the foreign workers who need housing.”
“Sir, I think we should leave it to employers to decide for themselves whether they want to grant paid leave, unpaid leave or other forms of encouragement to the workers to engage in voluntary work. The Government, in general, encourages voluntarism and we will always encourage civil servants to show examples. But requiring or advising companies or even encouraging them to offer paid leave may instil rigidity in the system and it does not necessarily encourage further voluntarism. So we would like to use persuasive ways to encourage companies to further encourage their employees to do voluntary work.”
“Sir, I do not have the information with me at the moment. But it is precisely because it is very difficult to track the workers and MOM may not necessarily know the whereabouts of these workers. So it is easier for us to require the employers to pay directly to the workers. At the same time, the figure mentioned by Mr Low about the money being transferred back to the Government indicates the difficulties in us tracking the workers, especially foreign domestic workers. Sir, whatever measures we take may not necessarily be foolproof. What we want to do is to ensure, in the first instance, that the number of cases of non-payment of salary is reduced. And one way to do it is by requiring employers, in some industries, to pay their workers through GIRO. So it is easier for us to minimise the problem of non-payment of salary and that would reduce the problem for the workers in future.”
“Dr Chia Boon Hock, a psychiatrist who monitors foreign domestic workers' suicide rates, was quoted as saying that foreign domestic workers who “do not speak English well�? are “like lost souls�? in a “strange new land�?. Nonetheless, my Ministry has been practical about the entry test, and as far as possible, most of these questions are picture-related or picture-based. Sir, we welcome feedback from Mr Ong, other Members and other interested parties. We will periodically review the format of the test so that it could be re-configured to better meet our goals of bringing in better qualified, more mature, foreign domestic workers. Finally, Mdm Halimah Yacob has again asked whether the Government will ratify the International Labour Organisation Convention 138. Now that the Employment Act has been amended to raise the minimum working age to be in line with the requirements of Convention 138, we are working towards ratifying the Convention within this year.”
“The existing list of approved source countries is able to supply sufficient foreign domestic workers who can meet the new entry requirements. The $50 levy reduction which will take effect from 1st April will further ensure that employers could afford to pay more for better quality foreign domestic workers from existing source countries. Nevertheless, my Ministry will continue to monitor the situation and review this, if it is necessary, in future. Mr Ong expressed concern that the number of foreign domestic workers may increase significantly in response to the levy reduction. Employers who need foreign domestic workers could employ them, but they must also ensure that their foreign domestic workers are being well taken care of. Those who have not done so have been banned from hiring foreign domestic workers. Sir, Mr Ong also talked about new measures taken by MOM to check for the quality of foreign domestic workers. The FDW entry test should not be viewed in isolation. My Ministry has introduced several measures to raise the quality of FDWs. In January this year, the minimum age for new foreign domestic workers was raised from 18 to 23 years old, and they are required to have had at least eight years of formal education. The entry test is meant as a broad tool to verify that they can read and understand basic safety instructions, as well as have some numeracy and literacy skills in order to perform household tasks and communicate with the employers. English is used because it is the working language. The recent Straits Times feature on foreign domestic workers also highlighted language barrier as the main cause of misunderstandings between the employers and foreign domestic workers.”
“Mr Yeo also suggested a revamp of the existing employer-provided medical benefit scheme to enable employees to enjoy medical coverage, not only during employment, but also in-between employment and post-retirement. Following the recommendation by the Economic Restructuring Committee to implement either the Portable Medical Benefits Scheme (PMBS), or the Transferable Medical Insurance Scheme (TMIS), a set of tripartite implementation guidelines was issued on 1st October 2003. However, the progress of both the PMBS and TMIS has been slow, with only about 400 companies having implemented either scheme. Under the PMBS, employers make additional monthly contributions to their employees' Medisave accounts to pay for the premiums of MediShield or MediShield equivalent products. As the PMBS rides on the MediShield scheme, many employers have been waiting for the result of the MediShield review by the Ministry of Health. MOH has recently announced changes to the MediShield Scheme. In this regard, I agree with Mr Yeo that employers, trade unions and related Government agencies, including MOM, MOH, MOF and MAS, could work together to examine how PMBS or other employer-provided medical benefits schemes could be refined and integrated into the revamped MediShield framework. On foreign domestic workers raised by Mr Ong Ah Heng, Sir, let me say that in this area we have done a lot. Mr Ong has asked whether we are willing to review the inclusion of new countries, such as Cambodia and Vietnam, as source countries. Sir, there are currently many approved source countries from which employers can recruit foreign domestic workers (FDWs). The list includes Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand.”
“Sir, notwithstanding this, MOM will continue to strengthen our enforcement measures, including targeted audits of companies in selected industries with high incidences of salary arrears. We will also step up the prosecution of companies who deliberately flout labour laws, and directors or other managers who act irresponsibly in the management of their workers' well-being. To ensure the payment of salaries in sectors with higher default rates, one measure which is being studied is to require employers to pay their workers through GIRO. Errant employers who default on salaries could be flagged out. Let me now touch on other benefits, including extended maternity leave and childcare leave. Mr Yeo Guat Kwang has asked for an update on the implementation of the extended maternity leave and childcare leave, which were launched last year. I am pleased to inform Members that both have been well accepted by employers. Following a series of briefings for HR practitioners and union leaders to explain the policy rationale and provide practical guidelines for implementation, most companies are now able to implement these benefits without any difficulties. My Ministry is also administering the Work-Life Works!, or WoW!, Fund that provides funding to companies to implement worklife strategies. Since the launch of the fund in August last year, we have approved 15 applications at a total cost of $343,000. Sir, the Government strongly encourages volunteerism and for employers to support their employees who contribute their time to charitable causes. Most volunteers willingly take their own time and leave to do this. There is no necessity to legislate paid leave for volunteer work as proposed by Ms Eunice Olsen, as this might dilute the sacrifice of their efforts.”
“So the proportion of workers who could not qualify to claim under the Workmen's Compensation Act is really small. But even for workers who are not currently covered under the Act, many of those who are in industries with higher risk exposure, such as marine and petrochemical, already enjoy various forms of insurance coverage provided by their employers. Sir, let me now talk about salary payment raised by Mdm Halimah Yacob and Mr Low Thia Khiang. Apart from safety, salary payment by employers is another integral part of the basic well-being of our workforce. There is no excuse for employers not to pay salaries to their workers punctually. Mdm Halimah Yacob asked about the non-payment of salaries, where there have been a few high profile cases last year involving large construction companies defaulting on the salaries of both foreign and local workers. In particular, the case of Wan Soon Construction, which involved some 440 workers, mainly from India, Bangladesh, China and Thailand, attracted much media attention. Fortunately, that case was resolved amicably with the aid of the Indian High Commission. The Wan Soon case illustrates to us the importance of early reporting of salary arrears. Early reporting prevents salary arrears from accumulating and enables MOM to resolve disputes more expeditiously. 4.00 pm The total number of cases involving salary arrears in the non-unionised sector last year fell by 4% as compared to 2003, that is, from 6,690 in 2003 to 6,422 last year, and it fell by 34% as compared with 2002. The number of companies who have defaulted on employee CPF payments has likewise come down since 2002. So, the situation has improved over the last three years.”
“Sir, I would like to thank Members who have spoken on workers' welfare. As we move forward and even as we improve the flexibility and responsiveness of our labour force, we must look after the interests and well-being of our workers, both local and foreign workers. Workers' safety and workmen's compensation are integral components of basic well-being. So I am pleased to inform Mr Teo Yock Ngee that MOM has reviewed the existing workmen's compensation system. We agree that it can be further enhanced to expedite the assessment of compensation for injured workmen. Specifically, we will be setting up a medical board to assist in the settlement of disputes over medical assessments. I think this is the way forward. We want to make sure that the assessment can be concluded expeditiously. Mr Teo has asked how workmen's compensation is computed and whether it is adequate. Workmen's compensation is calculated based on the average monthly earnings of the injured worker and takes into account factors such as the injured worker's age, his potential loss of earnings and the percentage of permanent incapacity he sustained. The definition used is in line with international standards. Where the injured worker is unable to perform the essential actions of life, it will also take into account the cost he will incur for constant care. MOM periodically reviews the Workmen's Compensation Act to ensure adequacy of coverage of our workforce. The Act which applies to manual workers and non-manual workers with monthly earnings not exceeding $1,600 covers about 47% of the workforce. On average, only 2% of the cases reported to MOM were rejected yearly over the past four years on the ground of income exceeding $1,600.”
“Sir, I agree that CCA and CIP have done a lot in inculcating that spirit of service, that sense of belonging to not only the school but also to the larger community. I think they can certainly do more. As we have seen through our experiences handling SARS, the way the students and the community, in general, responded to the development in our neighbouring countries following the tsunami disaster, we have reasons to be proud in how that spirit of togetherness and sense of belonging to ourselves, being Singaporeans, have developed over the years. It is always tempting to cite anecdotal examples and we always remember unpleasant examples. I think it is not fair to schools, in general, for us to just cite one example and then generalise it. There are examples of students who help others through buddy reading programme. There are those who help the physically handicapped. There are many good examples which have been highlighted by the press. So I do not think it is fair to our education development, in general, to our students, teachers and our institutions to cite a single example and generalise it. I appreciate Mr Chan's views on the importance of CCA and CIP, and we have done a lot for our students. They might have smelt the flowers, but we have already introduced that liking towards flowers. Why not? In my personal view, if at the end of the day, only 1% of each student cohort continues to do community service seriously after they have grown up, I think we have achieved something. 4,000 to 5,000 Singaporeans of each cohort doing community service is not bad at all. So the cumulative effect must be good for Singapore. 5.15 pm”
“Prof. Png talks about geographical rootedness. What is more important is the spirit of rootedness, not geographical rootedness of our pupils to the schools they belong to or they have their education in. We have seen in many schools the spirit of togetherness and the sense of identity, which have been developed over the years through games and achieving common objectives together. Sir, it does not matter where the school is located. If River Valley High is located in Pandan Loop or Teban Gardens, the spirit of River Valley High remains intact. If RI is now located in Bishan, the spirit of RI remains the same as 50 years ago. I do not come from RI, but I understand that spirit of the rootedness among former RI pupils. I do not think it is necessarily significant to develop rootedness among pupils on the basis of geographical location.”
“Sir, we approach this programme in a different way for different levels of students. Let me start by saying that we are providing more teaching resources to schools so that we can counsel and teach pupils issues of sexuality. We have trained teachers to teach sexuality education. We are providing more trained teacher counsellors to schools. For example, from this year, counselling provision in schools will be further enhanced. We will be sending trained teacher counsellors to all secondary schools this year. On top of that, we will also be sending full-time school counsellors to schools. All secondary schools will have full-time school counsellors by next year. We will do so over a period of three years for primary schools and JCs. On top of that, we also engage a team of professionals in helping students with sexuality problems. These comprise specialists in guidance, psychologists, medical and legal professions too. How do we teach students on issues of sexuality? Generally, we teach students through subjects like CME so that they understand issues of sexuality. The Member asked whether we use discussive approach. Yes, we do that, especially for students at a higher level, ie, at the JC level. Students will understand through discussions, through viewing videos together and through analysing situations. As I have said, we are providing more trained teachers to schools, including JCs, in the next one to three years at different levels so that we can enhance further sexuality education in our schools. I hope that answers the Member's questions.”
“Sir, I suggest that Mr Zainudin ask the parents why they need to approach their MPs to seek help to pay for the school fees which they have in arrears. Schools provide assistance to pupils who need assistance. Schools will have to conduct an investigation. The school will first ask pupils to pay the fees. Where they have chalked up arrears, very often the school will advise parents to come for a discussion. I do not know what happened to parents who did not approach the school and why they did not approach the school for assistance. But having said that, the 12,000 pupils who have approached their schools and whose applications have been considered could not have met their MPs to get financial assistance to pay for the school fees. A great majority of them must have approached their schools directly.”
“Yes, the two Committees will conclude their work in August. We will have time to review their recommendations. Those which can be implemented immediately and quickly, we will try to do immediately. But there are issues like curriculum design and development and examinations which may need some time. In principle, I can assure Mr Iswaran and Members that we will try to implement as quickly as we can in all respects of the review - curriculum, examinations, as well as pedagogy activities, ie, the teaching methods. We will start with those which are easy to implement and easy to improve. But some areas of efforts, like teacher training and curriculum design, may take a bit of time to finetune. I am not very sure how quickly we can implement all the recommendations. But I can assure Members, including Mr Iswaran, that we will try to do that as quickly as we can. But we have to do that comprehensively and cohesively so that our students can benefit and that we do not have to review the new curriculum and the examination format sooner than necessary in future.”
“00 pm Nevertheless, we understand that the transmission of national instincts and values to our students is a long process. The family, the community and the society play no less a critical role in shaping these values in our young. I do not think this is a role that we should only give to the schools. Perhaps, the real measure of success of our efforts lies in how our students instinctively respond to a national or regional crisis. If the positive and caring spirit of our students and Singaporeans during SARS or the tsunami disaster is of any indication, I am confident that we are on the right track in preparing future citizens of Singapore. Working together with parents and the community, our schools will continue to strive to ensure that our students are imbued with a sense of love, loyalty and belonging to the community and to Singapore.”
“Therefore, opportunities have to be created for students to undergo experiences that will help them internalise these values. Co-curricular activities play a key role. And here I fully agree with Mr Alex Chan on the importance of giving our students opportunities to connect with organisations out there, including through sports organisations. Through CCAs, our students form life-long friendships. Sports is a particularly good CCA to bond students and their community. Mr Alex Chan may be pleased to note that MOE encourages schools to establish links with sports clubs. Clubs, such as the Singapore Cricket Club, Singapore Recreation Club, Ceylon Sports Club and the Singapore Indian Association, organise youth development programmes to nurture and train young sports talents. There are also student hockey players in schools, such as Tampines Junior College and Yuhua Secondary, who play for local clubs in the Singapore Hockey Federation League tournament. So there are opportunities for them, and the students have taken up the opportunities to play with the big boys, so to say, in the league and, hopefully, that will give them the connection to the larger community too. The Community Involvement Programme provides yet another platform for students to build connections with their wider community. Some of our students conduct reading programmes in libraries, while others visit old folks' homes to interact with the elderly residents and help with the maintenance of these homes. Our schools have also collaborated with various organisations to broaden and deepen students' involvement in community outreach projects. Such organisations include Community Clubs, Community Development Councils, the National Youth Council and the Singapore International Foundation. 5.”
“MOE has set up the Committee on Strengthening Racial Harmony in Schools, which I chair, with the aim of helping schools broaden and deepen inter-racial understanding and mixing in their schools. The committee comprises representatives from MOE, schools, parent support groups, and community leaders who have been nominated by CDCs. For example, the Racial Harmony Day on 21st July each year is one key event among the many activities and programmes carried out by schools to promote inter-racial understanding. Mr Alex Chan asked whether MOE encourages students' participation in community organisations and also how MOE is developing a sense of rootedness, patriotism and, increasingly, a regional identity in our students. We fully agree with him that it is imperative for us to develop in our students a strong sense of belonging to their community and to the country. In schools, we strive to impart these national instincts and values through our National Education programmes, Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs) and Community Involvement programmes (CIP). National Education is also infused in subjects, such as Civics and Moral Education, as well as Social Studies. Teachers use varied teaching approaches, such as discussions, case studies and Learning Journeys. Pre-university students also attend dialogue sessions with senior civil servants on topics such as economic competitiveness and governance. So there is a wide range of activities and programmes for us to impart a sense of rootedness and belonging to the country in our students. Members will agree that teaching more does not mean learning more. Values are often “caught�? and not “taught�?. National Education has to be authentic and meaningful, experienced and felt by the students.”
“The Community Development Councils administer a number of social assistance schemes to help low-income families and families that need help to tide over a difficult period. Such assistance is necessary so that our students do not have to stop schooling to support their families. Dr Warren Lee spoke about this during the Budget debate and I want to reassure him that students who had left school prematurely can seek re-admission into our school system if they want to continue with their education. Corporate organisations, such as SembCorp Marine, also provide financial grant to assist low-income households with schooling children to purchase school textbooks, uniforms and stationery. SembCorp Marine has done these for a few years and has been working directly with the Ministry of Education in the past two years. Taken together, these financial assistance schemes from MOE and the wider community ensure that no child is denied an education on account of financial difficulties. Dr Ong Seh Hong suggested that we teach Religious Knowledge to primary school pupils to promote racial harmony. We agree with Dr Ong on the need to promote racial harmony in school. This is currently done through Civics and Moral Education (CME), where students are exposed to the different religious and cultural customs, beliefs and practices in Singapore. The purpose is to foster the value of respect for others in our students from the primary to pre-university level, rather than impart religious beliefs to them, which should not be the role of our schools. As a secular state, we feel that this approach is more appropriate and coherent in promoting racial harmony.”
“Mr Zainudin Nordin asked what MOE is doing to assist parents who cannot afford pocket money and textbooks for their children in schools and whether these students will be disadvantaged because of their situation. The MOE Financial Assistance Scheme provides for students from low-income households. This scheme grants waiver of school fees and part of the miscellaneous fees, and provides free textbooks to students too. In 2004, this scheme had benefited a total of 14,646 students, compared to 11,471 in 2003 and 7,387 in 2002. The larger number of students means that more are benefiting from the scheme. For this year, as of February, schools have already processed and approved over 12,000 applications. This number covers 9% of students living in HDB one to three-room flats, and 2% of those staying in four to five-room flats. We estimate the total financial assistance to be given this year to be about $1.5 million. Students can use the funds in their Edusave accounts to pay for their second-tier miscellaneous fees. This year, the Edusave Pupils Fund contribution rate by the Government for students at the primary level has been increased by $10 from $160 to $170, and for students at the secondary level by $40 from $160 to $200. As announced by PM in his Budget Statement, there will also be a once-off top-up of $100 to the Edusave accounts of every primary and secondary pupil. The School Advisory or School Management Committees will also provide additional support to needy pupils which may take the form of pocket money, settlement of fee arrears, free meals, stationery and uniforms. In 2004, the School Advisory Committees provided $3 million worth of financial assistance and bursaries.”
“Students' responses to pre- and post-programme questionnaires indicate a significant increase in their understanding of sexuality matters, including the negative consequences of teenage sexual activities. There is also a generally positive shift in the students' attitude towards sexuality matters. The sexuality education programme is still in its early stage of implementation, with the post-secondary package only implemented in JCs last year. We will be evaluating the programme at the upper primary and the JC and Centralised Institute (CI) level this year. Sexuality education is not an easy subject to teach. If we over-teach the subject, we may not get the right results. It is also much more than knowledge about sexual reproduction. It is about attitudes and beliefs towards sexuality. Schools need to be sensitive to the students' developmental needs and their level of understanding in order to engage them. Above all, our teachers need to use effective teaching methods to bring the subject alive to impact the students. We will continually review our programme to ensure that it meets the challenges in our society. Let me assure Members that MOE agrees totally with the importance of sexuality education for our students. While schools and family provide the primary contexts for the inculcation of positive attitudes towards sexuality matters, the larger communities, other Government agencies, and the media, can also play an effective role in influencing these positive behaviours and attitudes. Together, we can help our youths make more informed and responsible choices.”
“This programme adopts a holistic approach towards the issue of sexuality, including the physical, emotional, social, intellectual and ethical dimensions of sexuality. Sex education, on the other hand, focuses solely on the physical dimension and is usually taught to married couples. Mr Ong cited the example of schools in some cities in China which have introduced what he termed as sex education. I am not sure whether it is really sex education or sexuality education. However, if this is useful for us to take a look at their experiences and how they design the curriculum and programmes for their pupils, we will do so and see what we can learn from them. We aim to provide students with accurate knowledge about sexuality, inculcate sound values and equip students with relevant skills to build healthy relationships and make responsible decisions regarding their sexual behaviour. The sexuality education programme is premised on the importance of the family, and respect of the values and beliefs of the different ethnic and religious communities on sexuality issues. The programme has been well received in our schools. Teachers felt that it was comprehensive and well thought through. The students felt that the lessons provided a legitimate platform for them to discuss the issues that were commonly considered “taboo�?, but they would like to know. Teenage pregnancies and abortion are complex issues. Lack of family support, low self-esteem, sexual abuse and a lack of understanding of responsibilities in relationships are also factors associated with teenage pregnancy. A survey by MOE in 2004 to gauge the impact of the sexuality education programme was conducted on eight secondary schools and covered over 2,000 pupils.”