Janil Puthucheary
Singapore
“Sir, I thank Ms Lee for her two supplementary questions, which address what are our targets and what is it that we measure. Indeed, the issue of how we should think about recycling and waste disposal will be at the heart of our review of our Zero Waste Masterplan.”
“Another strategy that we are embarking on is the strengthening of the reuse of waste residue and treated toxic industrial waste before and after they are landfilled.”
“Sir, about half of our recycling material is exported. It is processed overseas. There are business arrangements between businesses here in Singapore and businesses in the region or overseas, to be able to handle the recycling of waste and recycling of material, whether domestic or non-domestic, already today.”
“Sir, I thank Ms Poh for her questions. Indeed, we do have to shift behaviours. The incentives and disincentives around recycling and waste disposal are an important part of it. We will consider her suggestion on looking at the fees.”
“The heat advisory that goes out is clearly defined. In my original answer, I explained what a heat wave was. There are clear definitions that we have been using in Singapore since 2016, if I recall. It was then last revised in 2023.”
“Sir, in the planning of schools, the Ministry of Education ensures that our students can access a primary school near their homes. Except for a small number, 15 of Special Assistance Plan schools, all primary schools offer the three official mother tongue languages.”
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“Sir, about half of our recycling material is exported. It is processed overseas. There are business arrangements between businesses here in Singapore and businesses in the region or overseas, to be able to handle the recycling of waste and recycling of material, whether domestic or non-domestic, already today. Those arrangements allow for businesses to address a larger market, potentially reap economies of scale and become sustainable as a commercial interest, which gives us the opportunity to then have the capacity to further recycle. We will continue to work with stakeholders and partners on making sure that this is a viable process.”
“Sir, I thank Ms Lee for her questions and also for her highlighting that waste generation is falling. I think this is a marker of the awareness from the various campaigns and the engagement that Singaporeans have with the importance of this issue. It gives us the foundation to think about how we might take the next steps in terms of our Zero Waste Masterplan and achieve the very important outcomes around reducing waste that is diverted towards Semakau Landfill. The suggestions that she has made around the EU's packaging regulations and potentially RFID-based sorting of food waste, these are all things that we can look at and we can consider. We actually have a number of pilots, studies and stakeholders that are looking at many of these measures. We are looking for tools and mechanisms to improve the outcomes, to reduce the amount of waste that we generate and to increase the recycling of the ways that we do generate. What we have to do is to keep our focus on the outcomes – whether it is about mechanisms such as packaging regulation, technologies such as RFID or the policy thresholds for disincentives. We have to look at the outcomes in terms of waste generation and recycling rates. In some cases, some of these tools may end up diverting behaviour to an alternative waste stream and alternative packaging, which potentially may be harder to recycle or may have other consequences for the environment. So, we do have to look at it holistically, whether it is about a policy threshold for a disincentive, technology implementation or regulation that we impose on businesses, what is the outcome around waste generated.”
“Sir, I thank Ms Lee for her two supplementary questions, which address what are our targets and what is it that we measure. Indeed, the issue of how we should think about recycling and waste disposal will be at the heart of our review of our Zero Waste Masterplan. The issue that she brought up in her first supplementary question: should we focus purely on the recycling rate? Should we think about waste production? Should we think about waste disposal? The reality is, today, we look at all of these things. The study and the review will address whether we should introduce new indicators or whether we should change the emphasis between the indicators that we currently track, measure and target. She is right to then highlight that public education campaigns should look at what the outcomes are. We do not only look at, for example, participation in public education campaigns or awareness. We do track the waste production recycling rates and many other outcome indicators, and we will continue to do so.”
“Sir, I thank Ms Poh for her questions. Indeed, we do have to shift behaviours. The incentives and disincentives around recycling and waste disposal are an important part of it. We will consider her suggestion on looking at the fees. The issue of blue bin contamination continues to be something that we have to engage in terms of public education and shifting behaviours. It will certainly form an important part of the review of the Zero Waste Masterplan. I thank her for her suggestion.”
“Another strategy that we are embarking on is the strengthening of the reuse of waste residue and treated toxic industrial waste before and after they are landfilled. The recently launched Towards Resource Efficiency And Sustainability for URban EnvironmentS (TREASURES) Centre will focus on building the technologies and the risk assessment frameworks for this purpose. It will work with industry partners to reduce the risk and uncertainty of commercial use of waste residue and allow us to close our resource loops. I thank Members for their interest in the Zero Waste Masterplan review, and for their questions on how we can better strengthen recycling and resource circularity in Singapore. The work on this is still ongoing. We will engage the public and industry as part of the review process and share more details in due course.”
“To improve the quality and yield of paper and cardboard, NEA has also worked with all PWCs to offer dedicated collection of paper and cardboard in their respective zones since December 2025. Efforts introduced by the PWCs include implementing smart recycling bins, door-to-door collection services, Cash-for-Trash events,+--*- or partnering TCs to set up metal cages or points for bulk collection. Five TCs have come forward to partner the PWCs in dedicated collection, and we have seen encouraging results in collecting paper and cardboard with lower contamination rates. We encourage all TCs and community stakeholders to reach out and partner with their PWCs. We have also introduced source-segregated recycling at the national level, such as via the Return Right – Beverage Container Return Scheme. By nudging consumers to make a small change in their lifestyle, we hope to increase the recycling of beverage containers and spark a change in our recycling habits. Moving forward, we will explore more ways to enhance the National Recycling Programme to reduce contamination and improve the volume of clean recyclables recovered from households, building on ground-up recycling initiatives. This could include the use of source-segregated bins. Recycling is important, but we must also reinforce the other "2Rs" – Reducing waste at the outset and Reusing where possible. We have seen some encouraging progress on this front. Domestic waste generated per capita has fallen by 21% over the past decade, and non-domestic waste generated per unit gross domestic product has dropped by more than 30% over the same period. We will explore how we can better support efforts to shape consumption patterns and the growth of more sustainable business models.”
“Comparing recycling rates across countries is therefore not always meaningful if the bases are different. However, we do believe that we can and must do more to strengthen resource circularity in Singapore. This is why I had earlier announced that the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) and NEA will be reviewing the 2019 Zero Waste Masterplan to strengthen our approach to waste management. Under the 2019 Masterplan, we had set a target of 70% recycling rate by 2030 and to reduce the waste sent to landfill per capita per day by 30% by 2030. While we are striving to achieve these targets, we will review them for relevance given the changing waste and recycling landscape. For the targets to be meaningful, we will address the challenges associated with recycling of both domestic and non-domestic waste. We are studying how we can increase the yield of clean, segregated recyclables that are easier for recyclers to meet regulatory requirements. We will engage the waste generators to explore better ways to segregate waste upstream in the processes. For households, the blue bin network under the National Recycling Programme remains the primary channel for recycling. Today, blue bins are managed by our Public Waste Collectors (PWCs), who are required to provide one blue bin per HDB block and clear recyclables up to three times a week. To address higher recycling demand and overflowing bins in certain areas, PWCs have deployed additional bins at around 700 locations and increased the collection frequency at more than 1,100 locations. NEA and the Town Councils (TCs) also conduct joint site inspections to address estate-specific issues, such as bin placement and damaged bins, with straightforward issues typically resolved within two days.”
“Sir, Singapore disposed of 3.36 million tonnes of waste in 2025, with 1.67 million tonnes from domestic sources and 1.69 million tonnes from non-domestic sources. A breakdown by the type of the amounts of waste generated, disposed of and recycled can be found on the National Environment Agency (NEA) website. Sir, technological solutions are available to recycle most waste streams if properly separated and treated. However, even if recycling is technically possible, it may not always be practical or economical to do so. There are several economic, logistical and behavioural factors determining our recycling rates. First, the business case for recycling has deteriorated due to rising logistics, freight, manpower and energy costs across the wider landscape. These rising costs make it less viable for recyclers to operate a sustainable business around collecting and recycling of material. Second, export markets for recyclables have become increasingly stringent in their requirements. Singapore exports most of its recyclables for further processing. Tightening export requirements by the receiving countries could limit the quantity our local recyclers can sell. And third, the contamination of recyclables remains a persistent challenge, limiting the volume of recyclables that can be recovered and processed. These three challenges make the situation complex and contribute to the lower recycling rates we have seen in recent years. The definitions of recycling rates also vary internationally, with no consensus on the definitions. Some countries report recycling rates across different waste streams, others use a broader definition of what counts as recycled, such as including energy recovery or repurposing of waste residues within their national recycling rate, which we do not.”
“The heat advisory that goes out is clearly defined. In my original answer, I explained what a heat wave was. There are clear definitions that we have been using in Singapore since 2016, if I recall. It was then last reviewed in 2023.”
“The heat advisory that goes out is clearly defined. In my original answer, I explained what a heat wave was. There are clear definitions that we have been using in Singapore since 2016, if I recall. It was then last revised in 2023. [Please refer to "Risk of Heat Wave Events in Singapore and Development of Advance Warning Systems for Weather-dependent Sectors", Official Report, 6 May 2026, Vol 96, Issue 30, Oral Answers to Questions section.] [(proc text) Written statement by Dr Janil Puthucheary circulated with leave of the Speaker in accordance with Standing Order No 29(5): (proc text)] I wish to make the following factual correction to my reply during the Sitting of 6 May 2025. My reply should read as follows:”
“Sir, I thank Mr Liang for his questions. He first asked about the classification of second-hand smoke as a public nuisance and so, an environmental issue. I think the specific mechanism of how we might further reduce the instance of smoking and second-hand smoking, we can debate and we can discuss, and certainly, we can continue to explore. There are challenges about enforcing any of these mechanisms within one's home. I think that is the key issue that we are wrestling with in the previous Parliamentary Question as well as this one. How far do we want to intrude into the privacy of one's own home and the behaviours that one can engage with there? That, I think, is the key issue that we are facing. Because smoking has increasingly been prohibited. I think we now have something like 49,000 spaces across the island where smoking is prohibited. And Members will be familiar with the smoking prohibitions in covered areas within the HDB estates. It is precisely because we have prohibited it in so many of these areas that now, we are having to deal with the issues of what someone does in their own home when that smoke then pervades the neighbours' home. That is the second point. Can we step up messaging? Yes, certainly, we can. We can certainly explore this. I would personally take the view that smoking is not just an undesirable behaviour at your balcony because it is going into your neighbours' home. Smoking should stop. It is bad for you, full stop. It is bad for one's health. Certainly, we can work with the Health Promotion Board on the public health messages as well as HDB on responsible behaviours as neighbours. I thank Mr Liang for his suggestions.”
“We have relatively good coverage. The Member can file a separate Parliamentary Question (PQ), a written PQ perhaps, about the specific number. From memory, I think we have 19 weather stations. Historically, not all of them were used for heat reporting, but today, all of them are, for air temperature. And then, we have, if I recall, another 27 Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature stations across Singapore. So, our overall coverage for sensors is pretty good. Again, this issue of the data that we get, as well as the answers to his other two questions – whether we need to study the UHI effect on our action plans and whether we have adequate worker protections against heat stress – these issues are the sorts of things that the Heat Resilience Policy Office that we announced in the Committee of Supply this year will indeed coordinate across the whole-of-Government, to look and to see how we make sure our action plans for heat resilience adapt to the changing environment and to the changing risk environment that the Member described in his supplementary question. So, the short answer to the second half of his first supplementary question is about the sense-making, as well as his other two questions – this is work that the Heat Resilience Policy Office will indeed be taking up.”
“Sir, I thank Mr Melvin Yong for his questions. He first asked about the advisory and whether it needed to be more formal, and whether it was robust and actionable. I would characterise our position thus: and I would say it is robust, it is formalised, it is actionable. Of course, we will continue to improve it. We have had the Mercury Taskforce – it was reported in the news, discussed in this Chamber since 2023 – and this brings together public sector agencies, more than 30, looking at what are the various response plans that are sector-specific, domain-specific and under the regulatory aegis of the various agencies. The heat advisory that goes out is clearly defined. In my original answer, I explained what a heat wave was. There are clear definitions that we have been using in Singapore since 2016, if I recall. It was then last revised in 2023. And so, it is objective, it is measurable, it is specific. [Please refer to "Clarification by Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment", Official Report, 6 May 2026, Vol 96, Issue 30, Correction By Written Statement section.] And then, agencies – he cited the example of MOM looking at outdoor workers – have developed action plans. These then are triggered by the information that is provided by the MSS. So, MSS, the National Environmental Agency, has a certain set of definitions. When the thresholds are reached, advisories are issued that fall into certain pre-specified categories. And then, various agencies and regulatory bodies will activate their action plan. So, the formalised, robust, actionable processes are already there. Of course, as related to his later questions, these can and will be improved. And I will speak about that in a minute. He asked about the number of sensors.”
“Sir, this is a hypothetical situation that we have not encountered yet. The Act provides for the Director-General and NEA to exercise a range of measures should they come across a good, which is non-compliant or which was declared to be compliant and is now subsequently non-compliant. And that can arise for a number of reasons. Software modification is one, but physical hardware modification is also another. The assessment would have to be made as to whether the problem was rectifiable. This goes to an earlier question about the time that was given and the actions that are taken, and if the problem was rectifiable, then a reasonable period of notice, together with instructions to rectify. Failing which, warnings and fines, all are possible. Whether the action would be taken against the person who imported or the manufacturer, the answer is potentially both, because now that you know that this business or this person may have deliberately done it, we would have a higher level of scrutiny. If we are aware that a particular model or particular manufacturer may engage in such practices, when further models from that manufacturer are submitted for review and registration, certainly, we would have to take this into account. And so, we would have a range of possible responses to such behaviour. But I would encourage businesses and end users, please do not engage in such behaviour. The intent of these regulations is to improve our energy efficiency and by doing so, we will end up lowering the costs for all the businesses and the households that are involved, and that is the important outcome that we want to achieve. 2.09 pm”
“Sir, I thank Ms Poh for her question. The answer to the first part is, we do not yet know because the extension of the Energy Conservation Act is to goods that are currently not regulated. So, we have engagements with the sector, with the restaurant association, we have information that the behaviour is happening. But until we regulate these goods, we will not have a handle on exactly how many there are coming into the space. So, at a future time, we should be in a better position then to think about what is the total estimated annual consumption to include what, today, would have regulated and unregulated goods. And so, the reduction in energy savings, we can make an estimate, and we have estimated that there is about a 30% reduction in costs and over a life-cycle of the compliant good compared to a non-compliant good. So, is that overall energy reduction in the sector? I think we cannot draw a straight line because it is not the only consumption of energy within the sector. But the short answer is, the current issue is that we do not regulate the goods that we are going to regulate, and so we do not know exactly how many there are on the market. The second part of the question that this involves a large number; actually, this is not the case. Today, most of the businesses involved are already engaged with MEPS- and MELS-compliant suppliers and are already involved with purchasing from the suppliers. The suppliers are already MEPS- and MELS-compliant. So, it is a not a huge number that will have to then come on to the scheme. We have engaged with those that we can find and we have worked with them to then shape the operations of the scheme to ensure that it is not too onerous, as I described in my speech.”
“This supports the delivery of programmes, such as the Energy Efficiency Upskilling Programme and Singapore Certified Energy Manager Programme, to develop a pipeline of local energy management talent and to build local energy efficiency capabilities. Members made several suggestions to strengthen public education and incentivise the adoption of compliant goods and were concerned about the cost impact to end users when the amendments take effect. NEA maintains an online database of compliant regulated goods with product information, including estimated annual energy consumption and energy costs. Energy efficient appliances typically offer lower life-cycle costs through energy savings, even if they may have higher upfront capital costs. For example, life-cycle costs of MEPS-compliant commercial storage refrigerators are on average 30% lower than non-compliant models. Mr Speaker, Sir, energy efficiency is an economic imperative that strengthens our energy resilience, that delivers cost savings for consumers and businesses and contributes to our national climate targets. The Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill is a necessary step to ensure that all regulated goods in Singapore are held to the same MEPS and MELS requirements and deliver greater energy efficiency outcomes for end users. I thank all Members who have spoken for their support on the Bill and with this, Mr Speaker, I seek to move.”
“I encourage businesses to use the Energy Efficiency Grant to adopt more energy efficient equipment. For households, the Government has provided eligible households with $400 of Climate Vouchers in total over the last two Budgets, under the enhanced Climate Friendly Households Programme. This helps to offset the initial cost of purchase of more resource-efficient household appliances and fittings, which are expected to yield recurring energy and water savings over their lifespan. Households that have yet to use their $400 Climate Vouchers can do so up to 31 December 2027. More recently, we expanded the list of products under the enhanced Climate Friendly Households Programme to include induction stoves and five-tick clothes dryers. From 15 April 2026, households can tap on Climate Vouchers to access a wider range of resource-efficient products and achieve greater resource efficiency. We do also want to invest in the development of a pipeline of energy management professionals to support energy efficiency initiatives. Mr Lee Hong Chuang suggested that the Government strengthen cooperation between industry and higher education institutions to develop more professional courses in energy efficiency and energy management. The Member would be pleased to hear that this is already happening and that the Government has programmes in place to help businesses build a pipeline of energy management professionals to support our resource efficiency initiatives. For example, in February 2026, NEA, the Singapore Institute of Technology and the Energy Efficiency Training Centre launched the new Energy Efficiency Training Facility.”
“Penalties will be imposed on a per-import basis, with fines of up to $10,000 per import of non-compliant goods for own use. The MEPS-compliant equipment delivers life-cycle energy savings compared to energy inefficient equipment and this actually already intrinsically incentivises end users to import compliant equipment. So, the risk of reputational damage from the legal proceedings also discourages businesses from importing non-compliant goods. Put all of that together, we think this is likely to be quite effective. A penalty framework on a per-import basis is also consistent with penalty regimes in similar legislation, including the Environmental Protection and Management Act 1999, which imposes a fine not exceeding $10,000 for each contravening supply or import of non-compliant greenhouse gas goods, such as commercial chillers. Members had asked how the Government would provide support to businesses and households to adopt more energy-efficient equipment and to build energy management capabilities. We have a suite of measures that businesses and households can tap on to strengthen their energy resilience. Companies can tap on the Energy Efficiency Grant to co-fund investments in energy-efficient equipment. The Energy Efficiency Grant already covers a wide range of regulated goods, including air-conditioners, refrigerators, clothes dryers, motors and water heaters today. As announced by the Senior Minister of State for Finance, the Energy Efficiency Grant base tier has been expanded to all sectors and support will be extended for another year, to 31 March 2028. This is a part of the measures to support more businesses in purchasing energy efficient equipment through the increasingly uncertain global climate.”
“It is NEA providing an enforcement instruction and it is the platform then will have to comply about how these are taken down. Consumers can verify compliance by checking for accompanying MELS labels when purchasing regulated goods through online platforms. The new regulations will only apply to new regulated goods imported into Singapore, for the purposes of own use. The new regulations also exclude second-hand or used regulated goods, whether it is online or in the physical marketspace. Notwithstanding this, second-hand regulated goods imported into Singapore for resale as brand-new will be subject to the MEPS and MELS requirements. NEA will conduct surveillance and investigations to enforce compliance as required. We intend to effect the new regulations from 1 July 2026 to give platform operators time to adjust to the new regulations. Since 2023, NEA has also been engaging online platforms, such as Shopee and Lazada, to remove advertisements of non-compliant goods. The online platforms engaged have also cooperated with NEA's instructions and have taken down the non-complaint listings accordingly. Moving forward, we will continue to work closely with online platforms to enhance surveillance of the online space and to encourage the proactive removal of listings of non-compliant regulated goods. The platforms may implement manual or algorithmic systems at their discretion to proactively remove these listings. If NEA discovers online listings that are non-compliant, we will work with the platforms to manually remove such listings. We hope this will minimise the purchase of non-compliant regulated goods, unintended or otherwise, by individuals and households. We have assessed the accompanying penalty framework to be a sufficient deterrent.”
“NEA will issue press releases and circulars to inform end users and businesses about the new regulations and will also engage key stakeholders, including the food and beverage businesses through industry associations, such as the Restaurant Association of Singapore, to ensure that businesses and industries understand the new regulations and their responsibilities. NEA will also conduct checks on business establishments as needed, and conduct enforcement in response to whistle-blowing reports. We have assessed that there is no need to introduce controls at the point of import at this time. So, the questions around Singapore Customs, and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, we have assessed that there is no need for these types of controls at this point. The number of regulated goods imported for own use is expected to be small. And if there were such controls as some Members have asked, they would apply to all regulated goods imported for local supply or own use. This potentially increases the administrative burden, friction and compliance costs for the importers significantly. And today, the vast majority of regulated goods brought into Singapore meant for local supply are already MEPS- and MELS-compliant. What we are trying to do is close the loophole for a small number of goods. The proposed amendments will empower the Minister to make regulations to compel online platforms in Singapore to remove or rectify listings of non-compliant listings of regulated goods. This ensures that the non-compliant regulated goods, such as those that do not carry the MELS labels, are not offered to end users in Singapore. The actual operationalisation of removal of these listings will be done by the platform.”
“Mr Dennis Tan asked how the Government would ensure regulated goods would remain MEPS-compliant after import, particularly those controlled by the manufacturers or third parties through software embedded within the regulated goods. To balance the regulatory burden and energy efficiency outcomes, we have adopted a practical approach to apply MEPS and MELS requirements at the point of import only for own use, similar to the current regulations that apply requirements at the point of local supply. And I would emphasise this point that this is the regime that is in place currently for local suppliers, and the opportunities and hypotheticals that Mr Dennis Tan had provided within the speech potentially exist today, but they do not appear to be a material problem at this point. Nevertheless, we will continue to monitor the situation and if NEA has information that approved regulated goods have low energy efficiencies during actual operation, we will investigate, conduct additional tests and audits and follow-up as necessary. SMEs may import regulated goods for own use through intermediaries, such as contractors or interior designers. In such cases, it is the intermediary importing the regulated goods for subsequent supply to the SME that would be responsible for compliance. Like all other end users directly import regulated goods for their own use, franchisees must ensure that the regulated goods that they import for their own use comply with the MEPS and MELS requirements.”
“Mr Foo Cexiang highlighted challenges for individuals and households in providing free samples of the regulated goods imported for own use, which the Director-General may require under clause 12 of the Bill for the purpose of testing or analysis. The Act does provide levers for NEA to obtain samples to, such as in the case of a business that may bulk import regulated goods for their own use. But I would like to assure Mr Foo and Members of the House that testing analysis is only conducted on regulated goods on a needs-basis and only where it is feasible to do so. Mr Yip Hon Weng and Mr Muhaimin Malik asked about the Government's approach to allow the Director-General to exercise powers to impose, modify or revoke conditions after registration and the approach for appeals. I would like to assure Members that the Government would only invoke these powers only on a needs-basis and a reasonable time period will be accorded for the review, allow for rectifications and to process the appeals. There will be instances where the Government would require swift rectifications to prevent the further circulation or further sale of non-compliant regulated goods. As set out in clause 7 of the Bill, the Director-General must, before imposing or modifying any condition for registration, give written notice to the holder of the registration stating the proposed condition or modification, and provide time for the holder of the registration to make written representations with regard to the proposed modifications. The Act also expressly allows any importer or manufacturer aggrieved by the decision to file an appeal to the Minister.”
“We have taken in the feedback to reduce the compliance burden on end users who are importing regulated goods for their own use, and they typically cannot spread the registration costs across multiple units. So, therefore, the registration and renewal fees on end users who import regulated goods for their own use will be waived. Similar to local suppliers, all end users importing the regulated goods for own use will be required to register them with NEA to demonstrate the MEPS and MELS compliance, regardless of whether another importer or manufacturer has registered such goods. The reason for this is, there needs to then be an assignment of responsibility for the act of importing this particular good and that this particular report matches the good as declared. And so, it is the person who is conducting the import for own use who has to take on that responsibility. NEA can accept test reports provided by equipment manufacturers for registration of regulated goods. Suppliers and end users are not required to obtain additional independent test reports beyond those provided by the equipment manufacturers for registration. To avoid incurring unnecessary import costs, end users are also encouraged to register their regulated good prior to import to ensure that the good is MEPS- and MELS-compliant. As I have previously explained, to do so prior to import incurs no cost for the end user importing for their own use. We will continue to review and streamline the registration process as needed. NEA will upgrade the ELS Portal for a better user experience for those applying to register their appliance. End users will be able to use Singpass, similar to how businesses currently use Corppass to access the ELS Portal and register. NEA will provide more information in due course.”
“Several Members have asked about the Government's plans to reduce compliance burden for end users arising from the proposed amendments and have made suggestions to streamline the registration process and user journey, such as waiving test report requirements for regulated goods if these Goods had been demonstrated to be MEPS-compliant by prior importers. Sir, the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment and NEA have conducted public consultations regarding the proposed amendments. The stakeholders we have consulted, which range from local suppliers of regulated goods, businesses and technical experts from our institutes of higher learning have all been broadly supportive of the proposed amendments. They have also provided feedback to reduce the compliance requirements and ensure practicality for end users and we have incorporated their feedback into this Bill. For example, we have excluded lights from the Bill because regulating them will impose a disproportionate compliance burden on end users, such as households that occasionally import a few lights. Lights are less energy intensive compared to other regulated goods and typically consumer 10 times less energy than appliances, such as refrigerators, and constitute less than 6% of household energy consumption. We will continue to monitor the import of lights for own use and if needed, explore the extension of regulations to cover such imports. Sir, the new compliance requirements are not expected to be onerous. Currently, local suppliers are subject to a registration fee of about $70 per model to register their models for local supply with NEA.”
“Mr Speaker, I would like to thank Members for their support, their questions and their comments on the Bill. All the Members who have spoken had indicated their support for the Bill and its intent to extend MEPS and MELS to regulated goods imported by end users for own use. In answering their questions and comments, I would like to begin by clarifying that only certain common appliances, such as air-conditioners and refrigerators are covered under the Energy Conservation Act and this Bill. As mentioned in my opening speech, equipment, such as electric vehicles chargers, are not currently covered under the Energy Conservation Act and National Environment Agency's (NEA's) website has a list of regulated goods. The volume of regulated goods imported for own use is small for now especially when we consider appliances, such as air-conditioners and refrigerators. The concern is that this could increase over time given the proliferation of online marketplaces, making it easier for consumers to import such regulated goods for their use. We have also noticed that some businesses are also directly importing regulated goods, such as commercial storage refrigerators, for their own use. And so, that is part of the need to introduce the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill to ensure a level playing field for both users and suppliers of regulated goods in Singapore, many of which are SMEs, and which are already complying with the Energy Conservation Act and for us to also improve our overall energy efficiency in Singapore.”
“Sir, in the planning of schools, the Ministry of Education ensures that our students can access a primary school near their homes. Except for a small number, 15 of Special Assistance Plan schools, all primary schools offer the three official mother tongue languages.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I move that, "That the debate be now adjourned." [(proc text) Resolved, "That the debate do now adjourn." – [Dr Janil Puthucheary]. (proc text)]”
“Sir, NEA specifies a minimum collection frequency of three times a week for the smaller blue bins and once a week for the larger-capacity 2,200-litre side-loader recycling bins in HDB estates. We also require our public waste collectors to clear the recyclables from the blue bins on a regular schedule, specifically so that the bins do not overflow and to attend to feedback within 24 hours. So, those are the metrics that we track. 11.30 am We would also like to take this opportunity to ask all of us to play our part. If we use the blue bins correctly, do not discard rubbish there, then the likelihood of them overflowing and becoming an eyesore or a problem within our estates would reduce. The need for increased collections for what should be recyclables rather than waste would also reduce, and then the ability to recover the material for useable feedstock for recycling streams would also improve. Mr Singh also asked a question about AI technology. The issue is to increase the specificity and sensitivity, so that we are not generating too many false positives or false negatives through this, and so that work is in progress.”
“Sir, the nature of the pilot is that we are trying to empower the Town Councils to make some of those decisions about the location and the enforcement action that they would like NEA's assistance to support. It is a pilot to see how well this can work, but the intent is to make sure that, in working in partnership with the Town Councils, we increase the responsiveness to ground feedback and shorten the time cycle, increase the speed of the deployment and the potential enforcement action. So, we are still studying and certainly we would be happy to work with Ms Lee and everyone else in terms of improving the responsiveness of NEA to the Town Councils' intelligence or sense-making, in order to do this better. Certainly, AI-enabled technology is already being piloted together with some visual recognition technology for the purposes of detection of offences, such as Ms Lee had described.”
“Sir, if I could address the question on the RVMs first. Certainly, and I would ask Mr Hoe and all Members if there are specific locations that they think would be better served by an RVM, we do have a plan to double the number from the initial deployment and we are looking at feedback to decide where those RVMs should be placed. We will also be looking at the usage patterns of the first 1,000 to help us understand where we would locate them. But if there are specific locations, we would be more than happy to consider them.”
“Sir, I thank Ms Hany Soh for her questions. The decals are available if the F&B outlets sign up to be part of the "Return Right" F&B scheme. I would not want Members to think that this has to be done by 1 April. Even after 1 April, an F&B outlet can choose to sign up. But if it has not yet signed up and is not on the list as a "Return Right" F&B outlet, then they have an obligation to charge the 10-cent deposit for the 10-cent deposit to follow the container with the customer. Whoever has the container then has the responsibility to deal with it. So, the decals are available. We will be distributing them to outlets that sign up, either before 1 April or after. The idea of a centralised list is something we can certainly look at and consider.”
“Sir, the short answer is, yes. We do indeed want to improve our food waste management and encourage all the stakeholders involved to participate. We have, as Ms Poh has highlighted, a number of mechanisms and platforms, as well as legislation in place. We would like to make sure those are fully utilised and continue to work with stakeholders to then study how we can improve the processes. At the moment, we are focusing, in the news and in the House on other waste streams – plastics and packaging – but indeed, food waste is something that we do need to think very seriously about because of the opportunity that it presents in terms of reducing our wastage, improving our resource recycling and reducing the amount that is diverted towards waste and landfill.”
“Relying on regulations and enforcement alone is not enough. Collective effort by the community remains critical in helping us safeguard public health. Smokers should be considerate of those around them when they smoke. Premises owners and residents have a responsibility to prevent mosquito breeding and rat infestation. Mr Chairman, climate adaptation requires a collective effort. As we chart our next-bound efforts in strengthening our water, heat and resource resilience, everyone can play their part. This is a vision for today and for the future. There is no time to waste. Everyone, from Government to industry to the community, can help build a liveable Singapore today and for many years to come.”
“The spirit of shared responsibility and collective action must extend to how we take care of our common spaces. I thank Mr David Hoe and Ms Lee Hui Ying for raising the topics of high-rise littering, second-hand smoke and pest management as these are important issues that require everyone to play their part. To address persistent feedback on high-rise littering, NEA is piloting an enhanced partnership with Town Councils. Under this initiative, each Town Council is provided with two surveillance camera deployments per month to enable faster and more targeted intervention for high-rise littering cases. Since the pilot started in October 2025, 39 cameras have been deployed with a 30% catch-rate, an encouraging result from our closer collaboration. To reduce public exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke, NEA has progressively expanded smoking prohibitions to over 49,000 public places across Singapore, up from 32,000 in 2021. These measures are supplemented by targeted enforcement, including more than 900 thermal camera deployments in HDB common areas with persistent feedback since 2019. These cameras effectively detected smoking offences in about 44% of deployments. On vector control, NEA has tightened its enforcement against rat-related lapses. About 1,200 enforcement actions were taken by NEA and SFA against premises owners and managers for rat-related lapses in 2025, of which about 560 were for refuse management lapses. NEA will also continue to support effective vector control, working with stakeholders to raise service standards and enhancing capabilities through training and information sharing. To suppress the mosquito population, NEA has also expanded Project Wolbachia, which will cover 740,000 households by March 2026, up from 580,000 households in April 2025.”
“They will either serve the beverages in cups or glasses without containers or serve the drinks with the containers, with the understanding that customers leave them behind or at the tray return point after consumption for collection by the outlet. To help diners easily identify these outlets, they will display signages and decals prominently. For the customer, this arrangement is similar to the current dining experience. However, it will require additional effort and some operational adjustments for F&B operators. We will therefore provide a one-time support of $500 per food shop on application. For restaurants and food shops not participating in the Return Right F&B scheme, the default arrangement will apply – beverage containers will be sold with the 10-cent deposit. In short, the 10-cent deposit follows the container, and the responsibility then to deal with the container and recycle it. This default arrangement is also more suitable for certain settings, such as hawker centres and most coffeeshops. In these settings, takeback arrangements could be quite challenging due to the porous nature of the dining areas and the presence of multiple drink stalls within the same area in the case of hawker centres. Most HDB coffeeshops will be within a five-minute walk from an RVM. For hawker centres, which serve as high-footfall community gathering points, an RVM will be placed either within the premises or nearby once the RVMs are fully deployed. Recycling is a shared responsibility, and everyone has a role to play. We can each do our part in making beverage container return work. This does require some adjustments. But every small effort counts, and together, we can build a greener and more sustainable Singapore.”
“Some of these additional RVM locations have already been identified and the remaining ones will be located based on return patterns, and feedback from the community and other stakeholders. We recognise that some seniors and persons with disabilities may require additional support to adapt to the scheme. We will therefore work with community partners such as TOUCH Community Services, Tzu-Chi Foundation (Singapore) and the Singapore Environment Council to reach out to these groups, to better help them understand the scheme and address any challenges they may face in returning their beverage containers. We are also working with SG Enable to improve the return experience. I have spoken about purchasing beverages from the supermarket or a retail shop and returning them at the RVMs. But what happens when we order a beverage while dining outside in a restaurant? The F&B landscape in Singapore is very diverse, with different settings and operating models. To address this, we have identified two main typologies, which will be clearly differentiated for consumers’ ease. Some restaurants and food shops have indicated that they plan to collect back the containers of beverages consumed during dining-in and hence they will not charge their customers the 10-cent deposit. These establishments will be known as Return Right F&B outlets. Because they will take care of the beverage containers, they are taking on the responsibility and so, they will not transfer that responsibility on to their customers. They will not be charging their customers the 10-cent deposit when you are dining in.”
“Return Right would require all of us to make some adjustments – producers, retailers, consumers, food shops and more. Based on the experiences in other countries, it will take time for the scheme to settle into a steady cadence. While the scheme starts in April, containers bearing the scheme’s deposit mark will gradually enter the market over the transition period, with widespread availability by August and September this year. This will give everyone some time to transit to a new way of recycling. In the coming weeks, we will expand outreach efforts with partners, scale up online publicity and see materials at stores explaining how the scheme works and where to recycle. Major supermarket operators have come together to provide greater clarity in price displays for consumers. They have collectively decided to display beverage prices on shelves without including the 10-cent deposit, and reflect that the deposit will be charged at checkout. We will continue to work closely with the industry to ensure transparent pricing for consumers. We are also working with BCRS Ltd to make recycling as practical as possible, while keeping the cost of operations reasonable. Efforts are underway to deploy over 1,000 Return Right reverse vending machines (RVMs) by 1 April, where consumers can get their 10-cent deposit refunded via SimplyGo EZ-Link cards and concession cards and DBS PayLah!. At launch, there will be roving ambassadors to assist consumers in the use of the RVMs. We will progressively increase the RVMs deployed to 2,000 within the first year as more containers with the 10-cent deposit mark enter circulation.”
“In addition, under the Resource Sustainability Act, new commercial and industrial buildings that generate large amount of food waste are required to segregate them for treatment and reporting. One waste stream that deserves particular attention is packaging waste, of which plastics is a significant component. The amount of packaging waste generated in Singapore forms one third of our domestic waste generated. Our overall recycling rate is low, and for plastics, it is only around 5%. This is why we are strengthening circularity for packaging. Ms Hany Soh and Ms Lee Hui Ying asked about our efforts to tackle this waste stream. In July 2023, we implemented the Disposable Carrier Bag Charge. Since then, participating supermarkets have reported a 70% to 80% reduction in the number of bags issued at checkout. Mr Dennis Tan also asked if we will expand our Extended Producer Responsibility scheme to enhance producer accountability in managing waste. We had recently discussed in the House our second EPR, the Beverage Container Return Scheme. In a few weeks, the scheme will launch with the tagline “Return Right”. Return Right began as a recommendation by a Recycle Right Citizens’ Workgroup in 2019. This House supported legislative changes to enact the scheme in 2023. Subsequently, a consortium of producers came together to form BCRS Ltd to operationalise the scheme. With the scheme, we expect to recover over 16,000 tonnes of material every year for recycling. Through Return Right, we hope that Singaporeans will also become more mindful of the packaging they consume, dispose of waste properly to keep our shared spaces clean and practise good recycling habits, which will reduce the contamination in our blue recycling bins.”
“A win for the environment and long-term cost savings, without compromising on thermal comfort. I encourage Members to visit the common spaces of our integrated hubs, such as Our Tampines Hub and Wisma Geylang Serai, as well as our community clubs, such as Yuhua Community Centre and Kebun Baru Community Centre. They have pledged to Go25 and installed hybrid cooling systems, which include a combination of fans and air-conditioning, to keep our shared spaces comfortable. As we adapt to climate change, we must also work to mitigate our impact on the environment. For households, residents can use vouchers under the Climate Friendly Households Programme to purchase energy and water efficient household appliances. Ms Hany Soh asked about our plans for this programme. Next month, we will expand its eligibility to include five-tick clothes dryers and induction stoves. Creating a circular economy is another key enabler of climate mitigation. By shifting towards mindful consumption and sustainable habits of reducing, reusing and recycling, we can minimise the amount of waste disposed of. 8.30 pm I thank Mr Abdul Muhaimin, Ms Lee Hui Ying, Ms Poh Li San and Mr Pritam Singh for their interest in waste reduction and recycling. Since launching the Zero Waste Masterplan in 2019, we have introduced segregated recycling to complement mixed recycling through the blue bins. For example, we introduced Singapore’s first Extended Producer Responsibility scheme in 2021 to ensure proper end-of-life management and the recycling of e-waste. For food waste, the Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, which commenced in 2025, will facilitate the donation of surplus food to beneficiaries.”
“This new bound of research builds on work that we have done over the years, bringing together researchers and agencies to co-create innovative solutions. For example, under the Cooling Singapore 2.0 project, researchers have worked with Government agencies to develop an island-wide Digital Urban Climate Twin to simulate Singapore's urban climate and assess the effectiveness of various cooling strategies. This will guide agencies in testing and implementing heat mitigation strategies. As we chart out our next bound of research efforts under the RIE2030 Heat Resilience R&D Programme, we call for researchers and industry to join us on this journey. The Office will also lead international engagements and collaborations on heat resilience. We will share our efforts and learn from other countries' best practices. This is not new, but will now be more coordinated. For instance, following the success of the Digital Urban Climate Twin by the Singapore-ETH Centre, local authorities in Brazil are piloting the tool to simulate city- and district-level climate change scenarios. This heat resilience strategy also works alongside existing efforts, such as the Go25 national movement. Launched last year, Go25 encourages behavioural change by getting residents to set the indoor air-conditioning temperature at 25 degrees in their homes, offices and buildings where possible. The aim is to tackle overcooling and reduce energy use, without sacrificing thermal comfort. The campaign in 2025 saw strong participation from around 200 industry partners who committed to reduce over-cooling, adopt sustainable practices and build long-term heat resilience. The energy efficiency pledges will translate to at least $6.4 million in annual savings.”
“The Office will work with Government agencies to engage businesses and communities on these important issues and explore how we can build heat resilience in our local spaces and communities together. I thank Mr Ng Shi Xuan, Ms Valerie Lee and Mr David Hoe for their suggestions. They are practical and worth taking a closer look with the relevant agencies. We will take these onboard as we engage our stakeholders and develop our Action Plan. Coordinated oversight of our research and technology efforts for heat resilience is also needed so that we continue to build capabilities and deepen our knowledge. This ensures that the measures under the Action Plan are backed by science. We will launch the RIE2030 Heat Resilience R&D Programme, to advance capabilities and investments in heat resilience research through two complementary pillars – one focusing on infrastructure interventions and the other on understanding and managing impact of heat on society. As part of this programme, we will launch a $40 million "Adapting to Heat Impacts" Funding Initiative, which will step up research in emerging areas, such as heat impact and community heat resilience. Mr David Hoe asked how our heat resilience plans will cater to vulnerable groups. This will be a key area of our research under the new Funding Initiative. We will devote more resources to study and protect those who are more vulnerable to heat, such as the elderly and the very young and those who are more exposed to heat, such as outdoor workers. We aim to better understand how heat affects us all, and develop tailored guidelines and solutions to help everyone thrive in a warming world.”
“We had also prepared the national heatwave response plan involving over 30 Government agencies and Ministries. As climate change impacts intensify and heat continues to affect all segments of the society, we need to tighten whole-of-Government coordination and enhance our heat resilience strategy so that we holistically address all impacts of heat, including those to the economy and society. We are happy to announce that MSE has established a new Heat Resilience Policy Office. The new Heat Resilience Policy Office will bring together efforts across various agencies, including the Ministry of National Development, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Manpower and the Ministry of Social and Family Development, to chart the way forward for our heat resilience efforts. We will do so in three main ways: coordinate action, oversee research and represent us internationally. The Office will develop a Heat Resilience Action Plan across the infrastructure, health, economic and social sectors. The Action Plan will identify priority areas and develop measures to address them, including by extending proven solutions to other sectors. This will also prevent duplicative efforts and ensure that our principles are aligned, while working with individual agencies leading the various initiatives. Some issues that we will need to deal with include, which areas, sectors or population segments are most at risk and how can we further support these groups? What additional research is needed for sectors to develop effective, tailored measures? How do we balance the need for additional cooling against the need to meet our emission targets?”
“We have commenced construction of Changi NEWater Factory 3 and expect works to be completed in 2028. PUB is also carrying out a feasibility study of a potential sixth desalination plant. With climate change, NEWater and desalinated water are key weather-resilient sources that especially strengthen our water resilience. Our water distribution network also remains one of the most efficient in the world, with water losses at about 8%. PUB achieves this with regular maintenance and technology, such as sensors to detect and respond to pipe leaks early. As we invest in building and maintaining our water infrastructure, we should also persist with our water conservation efforts to moderate the growth in water demand. We will continue to work closely with stakeholders, from households to businesses, to shape behaviours and promote sustainable water use. To address rising temperatures, we have developed a science-based, multi-pronged heat resilience strategy. As mentioned by Ms Valerie Lee, this is a whole-of-nation effort – academia, Government agencies and the community must come together so that Singapore continues to be a vibrant, liveable and dynamic city. Mr Ng Shi Xuan asked how we will harmonise standards and share best practices across existing heat resilience efforts. Tackling heat has been an ongoing work of the Government. For example, MSE has been enhancing public awareness on heat stress prevention through the Heat Stress Advisory and communication campaigns and the Ministry of National Development has been incorporating cooling strategies into our city's urban planning and building design, such as wind corridors to optimise wind flow and trees to provide shade along key pedestrian routes and public spaces.”
“Mr Chairman, we are experiencing the effects of climate change today. We must therefore take decisive action to adapt to the new realities we face. Hence, we designated 2026 as the Year of Climate Adaptation. This requires a multi-pronged approach, which includes enhancing water resilience, heat resilience and resource resilience. At the heart of all our adaptation efforts is the importance of collective action. Government agencies, businesses, community groups and individuals, all of us have a part to play. Ms Valerie Lee asked about our water resilience efforts. Our water story is an inspiring one. We are a small island nation with limited natural water resources. Through strong national determination, long-term planning and innovation, we have built a robust and diversified supply of water over decades with our four national taps: local catchment water, imported water, NEWater and desalinated water. A recent UN report has declared that the planet has entered global water bankruptcy, with long-term water withdrawals exceeding renewable inflows in many regions across the world. It is crucial that Singapore continues to plan ahead and invest in water infrastructure, so that our water needs continue to be met. We have made good progress. The second phase of the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS 2) will expand the conveyance of used water, which becomes feedstock for NEWater production. Construction of DTSS 2 has progressed well, with the deep tunnels substantially completed. At its terminus, the Tuas Water Reclamation Plant and Tuas NEWater Factory are scheduled to commission in phases from 2027. When completed, the DTSS will also free up 150 hectares of land for other uses.”
“Sir, we can certainly explore the possibility of a location filter in the portal search facility. Currently, users can filter on the basis of training provider, which may be a proxy for location as well, but I take the Member's point that perhaps this is another way in which we can improve the search experience and I thank her for her suggestion.”
“Sir, the short answer is yes, but I suspect the Member is asking whether the structured approach is common across our IHL landscape. In truth, the autonomous universities and the IHLs need to look at the issue of how they integrate practice, research, education and other pastoral duties, for example, as fit for their student population, the courses that they deliver, the industries that they serve and the sort of faculty that they bring in. Some of our IHLs are very research intensive and some of our IHLs are far more focused on practice professorships, for example. So, the promotion and tenure communities, the way in which the senior governance within the IHLs look at these things for their faculty and for their outcomes, it is customised for their campus, if you like. We have oversight from MOE for how they develop these frameworks, but the frameworks that they have for each campus is suitable for their needs.”
“The TAEPP will also be tiered by levels, to better differentiate and recognise adult educators with more years of experience and capabilities. For example, more experienced and skilled adult educators can register as Professional or Senior Professional adult educators. This will help to create meaningful progression for those looking to hone their skills and in turn enable training to be more effective. We are open to considering suggestions on how we can further recognise the work of exemplary adult educators and to showcase the important work they are doing to further uplift the sector. Dr Choo Pei Ling spoke about ensuring that training leads to better outcomes for Singaporeans. We agree that this is important. For training to yield results, the training and workforce ecosystem must continue to work together to provide high-quality training, enable proactive employer involvement to steer training and recognise skills, and empower individuals to make thoughtful career and training choices. Since the start of our SkillsFuture journey in 2015, we have supported individual aspirations in upgrading, empowered employers to take charge of their training needs and developed a vibrant CET ecosystem. The work continues. The merger of SSG and WSG will allow us to connect skills development even more closely with employment and career opportunities, it will allow us to respond more nimbly to new needs and will allow us to better support Singaporeans in their aspirations. The Ministry of Manpower will share more about this. Chair, we will continue to put Singaporeans at the centre of our efforts and ensure that no one is left behind in our journey towards a more skilled and resilient workforce.”
“Specifically on the recognition of micro-credentials across IHLs, we have piloted micro-credential pathways that are built upon courses from multiple IHLs, such as the Institution of Engineers Singapore's Chartered Engineer (Singapore) in Sustainability certification. We have done this in close partnership with industry partners, to ensure that these micro-credential pathways are industry-recognised. Mr Andre Low also asked about overseas micro-credentials. Where there is a clear industry need, like in cloud software solutions, we have worked with employers, via the Singapore Computer Society, to recognise well-recognised overseas certifications for SkillsFuture support. In general, our focus would be to develop the local CET ecosystem to ensure rigorous quality assurance and alignment with Singapore's priorities. Core to our effort in developing a vibrant CET ecosystem are our adult educators. Assoc Prof Terence Ho asked if we could do more to recognise excellence within the adult educator profession. We agree this is important. Over the last decade, we have embarked on a journey to professionalise the adult educator sector. In 2021, SSG introduced a requirement for training providers to ensure that at least 80% of their trainers have the Advanced Certificate in Learning and Performance. This equips adult educators with the core principles and skills for teaching adult learners. Last year, we took another critical step by introducing the Training and Adult Educator Professionalisation Pathway (TAEPP). Under the TAEPP, adult educators must attain at least 80 practice hours and 40 continuing professional development hours every two years, to ensure that their skills stay up to date.”
“They have significantly scaled up CET offerings and developed innovative upskilling pathways for adult learners. With the merger of SSG and WSG, MOE will continue to work with our IHLs to provide high-quality, industry-relevant and accessible training that leads to tangible career outcomes for Singaporeans. Our IHLs are well-placed to deliver innovative and industry-relevant CET programmes. They have deep research capabilities. This places them at the nexus between education and research. So, the IHLs can tap on these capabilities to translate frontier knowledge and new industry applications of technology into curricular. IHLs also draw upon industry networks to ensure that both their faculty and their programmes remain updated on industry developments. For example, it is common for IHL faculty to work directly with companies on industry projects. Mr Andre Low asked about how we would accredit high-quality micro-credentials such that they ensure tangible labour market value. Stackable micro-credentials are a key IHL innovation to improve accessibility in learning for adult workers. Each micro-credential is a discrete unit of learning, with clear learning outcomes, assessment and certification. Learners can earn academic credits which then stack to a CET full qualification. These micro-credentials can already be reflected on the Career and Skills Passport. One example is the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT). SIT's competency-based CET degrees are delivered through stackable micro-credentials. SIT has engaged the industry to design each micro-credential around competencies and skillsets required for specific job roles. SIT continually collects feedback from learners and their employers, ensuring that the competencies can be applied directly at work.”
“This includes TalentTrack, which employers can use to get insights on in-demand skills in their industries and identify suitable training programmes. To support companies in navigating and adapting to rapidly advancing technologies, such as AI, SSG will roll out the SME AI Skills Launchpad Initiative progressively from March 2026 to help workers in SMEs improve their AI awareness and to facilitate the adoption of AI solutions. This initiative comprises two key components. First, SSG will create a comprehensive resource page of AI resources offered by SSG and its partners to make it easier for employers to identify resources for their AI transformation. Companies in all sectors will be able to access curated course recommendations to help them transform their business processes and to upskill their workers in AI. 12.00 pm Secondly, companies looking for more curated offerings in their sectors can also tap on the support offered by SkillsFuture Queen Bees. All SkillsFuture Queen Bees will deliver free AI masterclasses and advisory services for SMEs in their sectors and value chains. This initiative is expected to benefit about 2,000 employers over the next three years. These efforts will provide a good foundation that the new Statutory Board can build on to help companies, especially SMEs, continuously upskill their workforce to meet evolving industry demands and to seize new opportunities. Lastly, we will continue to build a vibrant CET ecosystem. Today, our CET ecosystem includes more than 700 training providers, including our IHLs, as well as industry and union partners that offer a wide range of high-quality, market-responsive programmes. Over the last 10 years, our IHLs have become key players in the CET landscape.”