Jessica Tan Soon Neo
Singapore
“Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I thank the Senior Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. I am also very happy to hear that the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will continue to review that. I agree with the writer that structurally, there are some challenges, and productivity is important.”
“And as global supply chains re-organise, how are we positioning Singapore as a trusted, stable hub so that businesses continue to choose Singapore, create good jobs and keep our economy strong?”
“Caregiving is not only a financial load. It is a time load and a well-being load. Employers have a role to play as well. Incentives for caregiving friendly workplace policies, such as caregiving leave, flexible hours and phased return-to-work schemes, would encourage more companies to adopt practices that keep caregivers employed and prod…”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for her reply. The reason I am asking this is because I have seen an increasing trend of appeals with regard to these kinds of issues, especially mould caused by continuous use of air-conditioning by neighbours.”
“Mr Speaker, I do have a clarification for the Senior Minister of State. He says that the AV is not relevant for retirees. I would say it is relevant with regard to CareShield Life premium because the assumption is that people only retire at 67.”
“Yet, we must ensure that Singaporeans understand that CareShield Life does not stand alone. It is complemented by a suite of targeted schemes like MediSave Care, which allows monthly withdrawals for care expenses; the Home Caregiving Grant, which offsets informal caregiving costs; and the ElderFund, which provides discretionary support fo…”
The complete record
Every one of 823 lines we hold for Jessica Tan Soon Neo, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 5 of 17.
“But, as we advocate for FWAs, we must recognise that, for SMEs, they will require more support than larger organisations in the implementation of FWAs, as they have very lean HR teams and they may not have the capacity and there will be a lot of transition and transformation. Let me move onto the next point of utilisation of parental leave entitlements. I am supportive of the measures to encourage utilisation of parental leave as this will support employees, both men and women, in caregiving as parents. I fully support the drive for both men and women to be actively involved and share in the responsibilities as parents to care for their children, because I think that is a benefit to not just the sharing of load, but really benefit to families and also benefit to the children and society as a whole. But I want to make a point about maternity leave. While the purpose of maternity leave is to allow women time to care and bond with their newborn child, let us not forget that maternity leave is also to allow time for women to rest and recover from the physical changes and strains that she went through in the nine months of pregnancy, as well as childbirth. I agree and encourage men to utilise their paternity leave, so that they can share with the care of the child to allow mothers to recover well during their maternity leave. But let us not forget, when we talk about sharing of leave, sharing of time and all that, let us not forget, women need to take care of themselves. Their bodies have gone through a lot, both physically and mentally. I have three children, and I will tell you, I love all of them, my deliveries were very, very short, my third one was 15 minutes.”
“If any good had come out of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is that it showed that businesses and employees could pivot to variations of FWAs. While there were initial challenges, there were real benefits of adopting FWAs for both businesses and workers. With FWAs, despite the restrictions, operations were able to continue, work could be done and jobs were retained. Beyond COVID-19, employers can also benefit directly from implementing FWAs to achieve productivity; to gain access to a larger talent pool, and I am not talking about just women but men, too; and to have business agility. While not all work can adopt FWAs, do not get me wrong, I am not saying that everything has to have arrangements made for FWAs – and some cannot. But as we look to strengthening the guidelines for FWAs, I think more can be done to encourage businesses to review and incorporate FWAs as part of business norms as there are real business benefits. The approach and mindset of how we implement FWAs will also set the tone and the culture in the workplace. I believe that for FWAs to be effective, it cannot be just about requiring employers to give fair evaluation and consideration to employees' requests for FWAs when they require it. This approach, while seen as supportive of employees' needs for balancing their work-life responsibilities, does indirectly send a signal that FWAs are not the work norm or culture, and, hence, hesitation of both employers and employees to adopt FWAs. SMEs can also benefit from FWAs and, actually, they stand to benefit more.”
“Recognising that women still tend to have the greater responsibility for caregiving, the White Paper has called for companies to provide FWAs to support more women to enter the workforce and progress. Work practices must be supportive of employees' needs but we should recognise that business and operational considerations cannot be ignored. In order to provide good jobs, businesses must be able to operate effectively. I do agree with the balanced approach that the White Paper is taking in advocating for employers to consider FWA requests fairly and properly while recognising that FWAs are not an entitlement. The White Paper outlines that MOM will work with the tripartite partners to put in place a new set of Tripartite Guidelines by 2024, requiring employers to fairly and properly consider FWA requests. My question is: why wait till 2024 to introduce the new set of Tripartite Guidelines? That would mean that it would be a year and a half before this happens. While I appreciate that time is needed to allow for consultation and to work on the new guidelines, if we believe that FWAs will enable fuller participation of women in the workforce, could we not start earlier and learn and refine from these experiences? Apart from the pace of the introduction of the Tripartite Guidelines for FWAs, I do want to highlight a few points on the approach to FWAs. For clarity, let me just refer to what we mean by FWAs. Taking what has been outlined in the Tripartite Standards for FWAs, it is defined as variations from usual work arrangements to include: one, flexi-load, for example, part-time or job-sharing; two, flexi-time, which is staggered hours and compressed work weeks; or three, flexi-place, for example, telecommuting.”
“In Singapore, while the number of women in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) sector has increased to 32.4% in 2020, it is lower in comparison to other sectors. As companies push forward with their efforts to transform their businesses and with the growing importance of technology in business, STEM roles will be in demand. More can be done to understand why women in STEM roles are lower than in other sectors, so that the appropriate actions can be taken in partnership with businesses to attract and retain more women to STEM roles. I am not just saying that the companies need to hire more women, we need to make sure that women want to be in these roles; and we need to understand why they are not – it is increasing, but it is not there yet. Giving equal opportunities to women also has direct benefits for employers. The labour market is tight and businesses are facing challenges in getting the talent they need. Data released last week by MOM reported an increase in the number of job vacancies in Singapore. Job vacancies left unfilled for more than six months increased by 8%, to 35%. A significant proportion of these vacancies are PMET jobs in growth sectors of information and communications, financial and insurance services, professional services, health and social services. Women in Singapore are literate and educated. Since 1980, women make up 50% of the proportion of University graduates. In 2019, the number of women taking science, technology, engineering and mathematics in our local Universities was 41%. It just makes good business sense for companies to hire women in STEM roles. If they are not, they are missing out on tapping on half of the talent pool. Let me touch on the approach to FWAs.”
“Mr Speaker, I rise in support of the shared vision to take collective action and a whole-of-society approach towards making our society in Singapore a fairer and more inclusive one, where men and women partner as equals and can pursue our aspirations freely and to the fullest. We need to acknowledge the progress that Singapore women have made and the journey continues. The White Paper covers five important areas affecting women's aspirations and development, with concrete recommendations for action. I would not be able to do justice to the work that has been done in all the areas covered in the White Paper. So, I would like to focus my speech today on the areas of providing equal opportunities for women at the workplace. There are four points that I would like to touch on: one, why it is imperative for businesses to attract and retain women in the growth sectors; two, the approach to Flexible Work Arrangements (FWAs); three, the utilisation of parental and paternity leave; and four, mindset changes required. I welcome the new workplace fairness legislation to provide a safe environment for women and those facing discrimination or harassment at the workplace to speak up without fear. Having role models to inspire women and greater participation of women in leadership and board positions are important. Beyond these actions, I would like to bring attention to the need to attract, develop and retain more women in the growth sectors. Why is this important? Growth sectors offer better job prospects, growth and remuneration. If not as many women are participating in growth sectors, then, eventually, it will lead to a gap in the progress and development between women and men in the workplace.”
“Companies will have to understand and track the impact of their business on the environment. Businesses need to also review and relook at how they produce their goods and deliver services, their supply chains to reduce waste and impact on the environment. This will require new skills and know-how as well as new systems and tools to manage. What are the Government's key efforts to support businesses to transition and to capture value in the green transition? What is the Government doing to enable businesses to adopt more sustainable operations and develop sustainability as a competitive edge? 7.30 pm”
“Thank you, Mr Chairman. Budget 2022 has outlined Singapore's ambitious plan to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 or around 2050. To achieve this goal, there will need to be an accelerated pace of transition. The green economy announced last year as Singapore's Green Plan 2030 sets out Singapore's objective of sustainability as a new engine of opportunity and growth for Singapore and investments to be carbon efficient. What is the Government doing to enable R&D to grow the capabilities of our industries to develop low-carbon alternative such as hydrogen and to advance other low-carbon sustainable technology and solutions? What support and investments has Singapore made and will make to support the growth of businesses in the green economy in areas such as green ICT, carbon services and trading hub and goods and services related to low-carbon project development, project financing, trading, consultancy and measurement, reporting and verification? My next cut. Uplifting Enterprise Competitiveness Mr Chairman, becoming more sustainable is not just about compliance for businesses. While companies will need to be able to address compliance, which often relates to regulations on emission, waste management, energy efficiency and labour practices, compliance also concerns investors' and consumers' decisions. Hence, businesses need to understand the benefits, competitive advantage and growth opportunities of being a sustainable business. With the unpredictability and instability in energy cost and supply, there is also direct business benefits of reduced cost for businesses to be more energy efficient and in having more sustainable operations. But we know that to become greener and more sustainable does not just happen. Businesses need funding but also much more.”
“I thank the Minister of State for sharing about the formal programmes to develop talent and tech talent and also to bring institutions as well as companies together. What I did suggest in my cut – and I did appeal – was for MCI and related agencies to look at communities of learning and communities of practice of tech talent coming together. You can say that they can come together today on their own. But I think that if MCI can play a key role in facilitating that and supporting those, it would allow for a lot of learning amongst a very rich base of tech talent and digital talent that already exists in Singapore. I hope that I can get some response to that.”
“Cyber security risks will compromise data security and threaten access and availability of services. To sustain our digital economy and way of life, how can Singapore ensure safe and reliable use of such infrastructures and technologies? How are our digital infrastructures able to minimise the impact of disruptions to enable businesses to continue to operate and with more digital transactions and operations, business critical information and personal information are exchanged? How are we strengthening the security of our digital infrastructures in Singapore to protect our data?”
“In my Budget debate speech, I spoke about the fact that, beyond specialised tech roles, the broader workforce will need to be equipped with the knowledge and ability to use technologies in the workplace as an increasing number of jobs in non-ICT sectors are disrupted, digitalised and require the use of technologies. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, workplaces were starting to transform to leverage technology to enable virtual work arrangements. If implemented effectively, digital workplaces, including a hybrid of physical and virtual work arrangements, can benefit from increased productivity and improved business results. But to realise the opportunities and benefits of the digital workplace, it will require the workforce to be proficient with new skills. This is not about developing deep tech skills but rather how to use with confidence new and ever-changing technologies to be able to do their work. The ability of the workforce to effectively use virtual and cloud technology, analytics and social and augmented reality tools will enable workers to do their work more effectively, faster and enable them to better communicate their ideas. How will MCI support the uplifting of the broader workforce's digital capabilities? Digital Infrastructure Resilience With the pace of digitalisation, how we work, live and play is increasingly digital. Hence, trusted, secure and resilient digital architecture and technologies are essential for Singapore and Singaporeans. Digital connectivity plays a critical role. As we invest in future technologies for increased access and speed, we need to also invest to strengthen our digital infrastructures to address unexpected surges in demand against cyber security risks, as well as threats to the resilience of our digital infrastructures.”
“These companies have the talent development programme as well as expertise to provide learning and the business environment to build and to scale digital capabilities and I believe that these companies can play a very big role in building a bigger pool of talent base than they need and they should play that role. SME Digital Skills”
“45 pm These include schemes like: (a) the Industry Digital Plans (IDP), which are industry-specific, step-by-step guides to digitalisation; (b) InvoiceNow, which enables businesses to digitalise the way they transact; (c) Better Data Driven Business (BDDB) or Business Intelligence (BI) tools, help SMEs gain deeper insights by converting business data into visual dashboards for easier data analysis; and (d) the Singapore Trade Data Exchange (SGTraDex) – which is an open digital infrastructure that facilitates trusted sharing of data between supply chain ecosystem partners. Can we have an update of how many businesses have participated and utilised these initiatives? As part of Budget 2022, an additional $200 million will be allocated to enhance schemes that build digital capabilities in businesses and workers. What are these new initiatives? And how will they build on and complement the current initiatives? Apart from these initiatives, I urge MCI and related agencies to consider nurturing "communities of learning and practice" for digital and tech talent. I believe that this will catalyse an ecosystem for tech talent to share perspectives, experiences and to learn from each other and this will build the vibrancy of the tech community here in Singapore. MNCs and Local Large Enterprises (LLEs) can play a bigger role in developing digital and tech talent in Singapore. How can we encourage these companies to incubate smaller companies and workers to develop digital/tech talent?”
“Mr Chairman, libraries play a special role in igniting the joy of reading and nurturing curiosity and enquiring minds. The ability to read is fundamental to enable access to information and encouraging lifelong learning in the young and old. Reading helps develop imagination, creativity, speaking and communication skills. My residents, young and old, shared with me their fondness and desire for a library in our estate. With the pervasiveness of digitalisation, digital literacy is as important as reading for access to information and lifelong learning. Our network of public libraries has continued to innovate and transform to stay relevant, including offering digital services. How is MCI leveraging our libraries to encourage a self-directed learning culture and spark curiosity among the public to improve their proficiency in digital skills and literacy? While digital access allows access to content and programmes, beyond that, the physical libraries do provide community and social spaces for people to come together to learn. A highlight of National Library Board's (NLB) LAB25 are installations called Nodes, to serve as new entry points into NLB's wide array of content. Will NLB consider the installation of Nodes in estates like Simei that do not have a library? Actually, given the important role that libraries play, it would be even better to have a library in Simei. Building Business Digital Capability To help our SMEs stay competitive, innovate and seize opportunities in the digital economy, there are a host of initiatives and resources to make going digital simple and easy for all. 1.”
“Against this changing landscape, how will local enterprises be supported to grow and build capabilities to compete globally? How will we foster stronger partnerships between MNCs and SMEs to help our enterprises collectively seize new opportunities in the global economy? The Local Enterprises Funding Platform was part of last year’s Budget. The objective was to help selected large Singapore firms transform and expand internationally. What is the progress of this initiative? In Budget 2022, Minister Lawrence Wong announced a new initiative, the Singapore Global Enterprises, to provide bespoke support to promising larger local enterprises in areas of innovation, internationalisation and partnerships with other companies. How is this different from the Local Enterprises Funding Platform?”
“In Budget 2022, Minister Lawrence Wong highlighted that we have a window of opportunity for us to invest in building new capabilities to establish leading positions in key market segments. What are the growth and emerging sectors and how can companies seize opportunities in these sectors? Last year, the Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs) were refreshed as part of a new plan over the next five years and included three new thrusts: incorporating the recommendations of the Emerging Stronger Taskforce, closer integration with research and innovation, and greater focus on jobs and skills. What is the progress of the ITMs? Can MTI share that? The pandemic has also heightened the need for companies to digitalise and accelerate the pace of adoption of digital and technology solutions. The current pandemic has shown that businesses that had invested and adapted digitally were more prepared for the disruptions and changes in operations. What investments has the Government made and will make to encourage and groom Singapore companies, especially SMEs, to transform and adopt digital or tech solutions to be competitive? And what support will the Government provide to firms to do so? My second cut on enterprise development. Enterprise Development Helping companies grow outside of Singapore has been a strategy for many decades. In recent years, with the disruptions, market shifts and, most recently, the pandemic, businesses do need to build new capabilities to compete globally. Increasingly, the market opportunities are across sectors and industries. When companies venture overseas, apart from access to new markets, market insights and regulations, businesses require access to capital, supply chains and talent.”
“Mr Chairman, can I take my two cuts together?”
“Mr Chairman, as Singapore emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, Singapore must become stronger economically and socially. Singapore is well-positioned to become a key carbon service hub. This can generate new opportunities to create new businesses and jobs in Singapore. To do this, Singapore will need a coordinated approach and effort to support the transition of businesses to become more sustainable and to take advantage of the opportunities presented. Policy, infrastructure, connections, know-how, innovations and support are needed for businesses to participate and make the transition to a more sustainable future. What initiatives are MOF and its agencies driving to enhance Singapore's business ecosystem to help our businesses, especially SMEs, innovate, access and build the capabilities to participate in these new green opportunities and skills? A business ecosystem to support environmental sustainability and inclusive growth will not only help grow our businesses and create good jobs but will improve the environment. This benefits the health and quality of life for Singaporeans and protects our environment for future generations. 6.00 pm Positioning Our Future Business Ecosystem”
“Mr Chairman, the pandemic has accelerated the pace and the scale of digitalisation, impacting the way we live, work and play. Increasingly, we find that to participate in common everyday activities, like accessing information, booking services, making an appointment, making payments, requires digital access and the skills to use digital technology. Even access to many Government services is digital. At the launch of the Smart Nation Initiative in 2014, Minister Vivian Balakrishnan stressed the priority of Smart Nation as, I quote: "Really, it is about people, it is not about technology for technology's sake. It is about focusing on jobs, quality of life and society", unquote. Seniors and persons with disabilities often struggle to access digital services. Digital inclusion is more than access and affordability; it is about having the skills and confidence to use technology. To make digital more inclusive, I believe that we must design digital services and content with the requirements of seniors and persons with disabilities at the centre. This would make it more intuitive and reduce barriers to use digital services. And, more importantly, ensure that no one is left behind. Can the Minister share how we are promoting digital inclusion and bringing people with different needs along our Smart Nation journey?”
“If we focus only on economic growth, our people will just leave Singapore and go where the economic opportunities present themselves. Budget 2022 sets out to "charting our way forward" I thank Minister Wong for a Budget the aims to "realising our vision of a fairer, more sustainable, and more inclusive society", to "see through the pandemic today" and more importantly, "to build a better Singapore tomorrow." I support the Budget.”
“With digitalisation and the drive for sustainability, can we rethink how we prepare and enable matured and senior workers – who want and can work – to actively participate in quality jobs in the growth sectors in the post-COVID-19 economy? I welcome the enhanced announcement in Budget 2022 for the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS). The rise in qualifying income cap from $2,300 to $2,500, and the extension to younger workers aged 30 to 34 will definitely benefit workers and the increased payouts for each tier will provide more support for lower-wage workers. I do, however, want to appeal to Minister Wong to reconsider the introduction of the minimum income criterion of $500 per month. This will impact older low-waged workers or those who are caregivers and need to the flexibility of part-time work. For this group of workers, while they can and do want to work, part-time work may be more suitable for them. Let me give the example of one of my residents, Mdm Lee – this is not her real name. She is 69 years of age and works as a relief programme coordinator at an eldercare centre. She covers the duties of staff who are on leave or medical leave. Her estimated monthly income ranges from $200 to a little over $500 a month. She is currently eligible for WIS and is appreciative of the support. However, with the minimum income criterion, Mdm Lee is concerned as she will not be eligible for WIS. Will Minister consider a review of the minimum income criterion for WIS, as it will impact those that the scheme is intended to support. Mr Speaker, I started my speech touching on the importance of economic growth. Economic success is necessary, but on its own, it is not sufficient for Singaporeans to make Singapore home.”
“So, as we talk about cost pressures and one of the biggest cost pressures that is now facing us is fuel cost. As a taker, I do also say that individuals and businesses, apart from asking for support – and I will continue to ask for support for businesses and individuals, we all need to do our part to also finds ways to conserve, to be greener. Otherwise, it is just addressing cost but not finding better ways to do things; otherwise, it is not sustainable. I am not talking about "green". I am talking about being able to fund this. Let me move to my last point about inclusion and ensuring that no one is left behind. Mr Speaker, Singapore has a rapidly ageing population, the employment landscape of our workforce has changed. Those above 55 years of age make up 25.7% of the workforce in 2020. As part of PAP.sg efforts to better understand senior employability, in the last quarter of 2021, we conducted an online survey with seniors aged 50 years and older; 934 people responded to the survey and 98% of respondents are Singaporeans, 60% are currently working and almost 60% of them have post-Secondary education. We have a balance of male and female respondents. The respondents are from a variety of industries, working in a diverse range of occupations; 98% liked the work they are doing, citing meaningful work and having relevant experience; 60% of respondents who are working face challenges at work, with about one-fifth of them citing challenges like needing to learn new skills, dealing with changes and new norms. Amid the challenge of learning new things, the most commonly cited skills-gap is in learning new digital skills.”
“A point that I have raised previously is the application of the AV criterion for those who live with their extended families in properties with annual value above $21,000. These persons could be elderly parents or siblings who live with relatives as they need care or cannot afford housing. In some of these cases, they do not have means but because of their residential address, they do not qualify for any support. An example is the COVID-19 Support Grant (CSG). Those who have lost their jobs and meet the CSG eligibility criteria, but live in a home of AV above $21,000, regardless of ownership, are not eligible for the COVID-19 Support Grant. With the trend of smaller families and people marrying later, we do have more couples who have to provide for both their young children and senior parents or relatives. Some call this the "sandwiched generation". I do have such families in my constituency who live in private properties with annual value between $21,000 and $30,000. In the spirit of renewing and strengthening the social compact, Minister Wong has said: "we want every Singaporean to know and feel that he or she has a stake in our society, and that they will not be left to fend for themselves when times are down". I would like to ask if there can be refinement of the use of the AV criterion for eligibility of support schemes? I am not asking for the AV to be removed but rather can it be refined to apply to home ownership rather than residence for extended family members or higher AV for the "sandwiched generation". I must make a point here. As we look to the Government to continue to provide and support Singaporeans when they need it, as part of the social compact, we too, need to do our part and balance that with what each of us can do.”
“Minister shared that broadband access speeds will be increased and investments made in future technologies. Can Minister Wong also share what investments will be made to strengthen the reliability and the security of our digital infrastructures? Let me move on to the point about strengthening our social compact. I thank Minister for a Budget that has heard the challenges and recognised the current cost and inflationary pressures that Singaporeans are facing and for delaying the start of the GST increase to 2030, with the two-step implementation. I would like to make a few points about the Assurance Package. While the support in the Assurance Package should and does provide more for the lower-income, the Assurance Package does also signal the Government's intent to also cushion the impact of the GST increase to include more middle-income households. This is demonstrated in the components of the Assurance Package of Cash Payout, Additional GST U-Save Vouchers, GST Cash Vouchers for seniors in the Senior Bonus, Medisave Top-ups; and the Community Development Council (CDC) Vouchers to address essential expenditure of families in areas of utilities, groceries, education and health. A subtle but important point to note is that the cash payout eligibility is on assessable income and property ownership, rather than the annual value of residence. Annual value (AV) of the property is used as the main criterion for means testing and eligibility for many support schemes. While I do not disagree that the value of the property reflects one's means, it does not always mean that all who live in these properties have the means or have more.”
“The feedback from companies across industries is the difficulty to meet their manpower needs. These range from tech talent to roles across different segments. This is impacting their ability to operate effectively. The impact of the pandemic on manpower and the level of Omicron infections has made the situation even more pressing. As business picks up, the situation will not allow our businesses to address demand and will impact their ability to grow. What targeted support can be given to allow viable businesses to address these current manpower constraints to transform and more importantly, to grow? Minister Wong in his Budget Statement stressed the need to "redouble our efforts to invest in new capabilities". Technology and digitalisation have picked up pace across all sectors in Singapore. Workers even in non-tech jobs need to understand and know how to use technology in order to do their work. This is not just about how to use the latest technologies and devices as they will continually change. While there will be an additional $200 million to fund enhanced schemes to build digital capabilities in our businesses and workers, I think we also need to look at what support will be given to companies to help workers, especially those in the workforce gain the knowledge and skills they need in this new world of work. These skills are not about having deep technology skills in artificial intelligence, data analytics, or any future technologies but rather how to work with these new and ever-changing technologies to be able to do their work and thrive. With the greater reliance on digital, the security and resilience of our digital infrastructures are crucial. We need to continually invest and strengthen our digital infrastructures.”
“We have seen that companies that had invested in digital were better able to pivot and do business in the pandemic. For companies to become greener, it will require not only funding but more importantly know-how, rethinking of how work is done, how goods are produced and services delivered. Processes and, more importantly, behaviours need to change. We do not want to have to wait for another crisis for our businesses to become more sustainable. Digital can also help with more sustainable business practices. The two are not mutually exclusive. The ambition, as outlined in the Budget, is to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. How can we ensure that we do not leave our small businesses behind? With the new carbon tax, if businesses do not transition and invest in clean technologies, they will definitely find it hard to survive. Businesses tend to see sustainability as the need for compliance and cost. What can be done to help businesses understand the benefits, competitive advantage and growth opportunities? In the joint study that was done by Economic Development Board (EDB) and Enterprise Singapore (ESG), it outlined the role that Singapore can play to become a key carbon service hub. Carbon services can generate new businesses and jobs in Singapore. The estimates are that economic opportunities from carbon services could create a projected gross value added (GVA) of between US$1.8 billion to US$5.6 billion in Singapore by 2050. What can we do to help our businesses build the capabilities to participate in these opportunities and more importantly, to thrive? Let me now touch on a more immediate challenge that businesses across many sectors are facing, that is, getting the manpower to meet the business demands.”
“Mr Speaker, thank you for allowing me to participate in the Budget debate. We are still dealing with the pandemic and it has been challenging for business and individuals. We need to continue to support those still impacted. But we must position Singapore for the future and we must grow our economy to provide opportunities and quality of life for Singaporeans. Beyond growth, we must also ensure that Singaporeans and Singapore have the capability to seize these opportunities. I will focus on three topics in my speech today. One, investing for growth and the future. Two, strengthening our social compact. Three, inclusion and ensuring that no one is left behind. Investing for growth and the future. In the Budget debate last year, I spoke about the need for Singapore to grow and to step up the momentum for businesses and individuals to build capability to seize opportunities when the economy opens up. One year on, this call is more urgent. While COVID-19 is still with us, Singapore continues to attract investments in electronics and biomedical manufacturing, as well as new investments across sectors such as agri-food, chemicals and materials. These create new jobs and opportunities. Many of these new jobs are PMET jobs and require relevant skills and competencies. But to be able to seize these opportunities, our businesses and workforce must have the relevant capabilities. Let me touch on building capabilities. The pace of digitalisation has accelerated as businesses were propelled to go digital to adapt in order to be able to operate in the pandemic. Many are still in the midst of their digital transformation. Now, with climate change, high global energy prices and the Ukraine situation, there is a pressing need for businesses to become more sustainable.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have two clarifications. On the point of what the Senior Minister has said, the focus is to get the expanded agreement in force. So, I guess the question is what is being done now to ensure that those agreements will come into force? How do we get these three agreements into force? On another question: the Minister for Transport had indicated that these agreements, like the FIR, will benefit Changi Airport and Singapore. But could the Minister provide more information and details on how these would benefit both Changi Airport as well as Singapore?”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am very heartened to hear from the Minister that TRECS will be extended and also that there are more fixed monthly plans available to the SMEs; the shocks have been quite real for our SMEs because some were hit about three times. While we all understand that, we are takers of energy prices. So, on Minister's last plea, can I ask this question of MTI: what measures are in place to support our companies and, especially our SMEs, in terms of moving to more sustainable practices as well as better energy consumption practices? The reason I ask this is because in resource-scarce Singapore, where we are moving more to automation and digitalisation, our companies are actually relying more on energy. So, it is good that we are focusing on reliance, resilience of our infrastructure – and we must – but we need to also help our companies pivot and move to being more energy-efficient as well. I hope the Minister can share with us what measures will be in place to support them.”
“Question No 41, please. The Second Minister for Trade and Industry (Dr Tan See Leng) (for the Minister for Trade and Industry): Mr Speaker, may I have your permission to answer Question Nos 41 to 45, as well as the Parliamentary Question filed by Mr Saktiandi Supaat1 that has been scheduled for a subsequent Sitting?”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. My supplementary question is for the Minister of State Low Yen Ling. As we talk about rising costs, businesses are facing those rising costs which then translates to rising costs for the consumer. So, what is MTI doing to assist with the rising costs of businesses?”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have a related supplementary question for the Minister in terms of energy stability as well as security. Today, 95% of Singapore's electricity still comes from natural gas. The Minister talked about the pre-emptive measures of stockpiling as well as enabling the standby fuel facilities for gencos to be able to use this capacity. But from the high prices that we have seen for natural gas, how sustainable is this measure? I know that it sounds like supply is sufficient, but how sustainable is this, given the consumption and the heavy reliance on electricity? At the same time, my second supplementary question is on the status of the genco supply and generation capacity. Does EMA monitor this and what is the current status of this capacity as well as that supply?”
“I thank the Minister for his reply and it is very heartening to hear that senior employment has stayed stable despite the COVID-19 situation. Could I just ask one supplementary question of the Minister? While re-employment has stayed steady, is there any data to share whether the kind of roles and the jobs are also similar or have they had to take a cut or part-time employment?”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for his reply. Can I just ask two supplementary questions? I understand that there is deliberation in terms of improving the whistle-blowing protection. But, currently, what can be done if employers do not provide that safe environment for employees to speak up? What actions can be taken against employers who victimised employees and not just for dismissal but, usually, different treatment. The second one is, what recourse do employees have, if they do face retaliation for reporting discrimination? Because it is somewhat an unequal relationship.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister as well as the Senior Minister of State for their comprehensive replies as well as the reassurance that we will continue to improve the processes and measures. I would like to ask two supplementary questions. With the increase in cases and home recovery as the default care management measure for COVID-19 positive cases, there is no discharge memo that will be given after they have recovered, after the 10 days. What help can individuals get in terms of getting TraceTogether status cleared? I have got quite a few requests for help because many have got their TraceTogether still indicating that they are not cleared and they cannot proceed on to even just do necessary daily activities. The second supplementary question is, for seniors who are sent to the CCF, what is the support given, especially to those who are not so digitally savvy and they need help at the centre? They are alone and are not able to be accompanied and several of them may be over 80. I also had several requests for help because some of the seniors did not know what to do and even how to ask for help or use some of the simple facilities.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Senior Minister of State for the comprehensive reply. I have one supplementary question. I understand the need for LQS and the intent to uplift the wages of lower-wage workers. The Senior Minister of State did talk about the need for PWMs to complement that. I am concerned, however, and I am asking the Senior Minister of State how do we ensure that LQS does not become the maximum wage for lower-wage workers in companies that hire foreign workers.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have one supplementary question for the Senior Minister of State. He has touched on the importance of the testing regime. So, I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State, with the greater use or dependency on the Antigen Rapid Test and self-testing by individuals and organisations, how can MOH ensure the integrity of the system and the results do not prevent any undermining of the ongoing efforts to combat the current pandemic?”
“The COVID-19 Mental Wellness Taskforce was formed late last year to review the impact of COVID-19, to take stock of the various initiatives introduced by the Government to support the mental needs of Singaporeans and to identify the gaps. Can the Minister share if more support will be given to help individuals cope with the stress and pressures brought about by the long-drawn pandemic? What help can be given to employers to put in place the appropriate employee support programmes to promote mental health and wellness? What more can be done to provide appropriate support for individuals? Mr Deputy Speaker, this is not an easy time for everyone. To overcome the challenges that this pandemic brings requires all of us to do our part to keep Singapore and everyone safe. Despite the current outbreak, we have made progress and I am confident that, together, we will emerge stronger. I support the Supplementary Supply Bill.”
“So, as businesses transform, they may need less space or may need to relocate due to the changes in the type of space required. Rental release and cost-sharing among stakeholders are welcomed in the short term but what help can there be to allow businesses the flexibility for amicable restructuring of tenancy contracts without significant penalties while cushioning some of the impact for landlords? Let me now touch on the COVID-19 Recovery Grant – Temporary or the CRG-T scheme. The expansion and the coverage of the scheme is intended to provide short-term support to lower- and middle-income employees and self-employed persons who suffer from sudden and significant income loss during this period. Given that the pandemic has been ongoing for a year and a half and still is with us, the impact of COVID-19 on individuals has been prolonged and not just during this period of heightened alert. Just like businesses, employees and self-employed persons have been dealing with the many waves over the last one and a half years since the outbreak. Can consideration for eligibility be given to individuals who meet the eligibility criteria for the CRG-T scheme and need the support but live in properties with an annual value above $21,000 but do not own the property or own only one property? Let me now touch on my last point on mental wellness. As Minister Lawrence Wong had highlighted in the Ministerial Statement, "This has been a long and difficult journey." People have had to deal with the stress of adjusting and living with the restrictions and disruptions brought about by this pandemic. This has affected everyone in the way we live, work and play.”
“To survive and to get back on track, businesses must be able to continue to do business. The ways of disruptions have shown us that COVID-19 will be with us for some time and the new normal will include living with COVID-19. I am thankful that the Ministers in their Ministerial Statements yesterday gave us a view of the roadmap of opening up. This gives some idea of the steps and a line of sight of how businesses can expect in terms of going forward, albeit the caveat is still that we may continue to still face bumps or some bumps along the way. The cost of doing business. We have to recognise that the cost of doing business has increased with the additional actions needed for the safe management measures. Just to name a few, this includes additional manpower to ensure customer compliance with SMMs and regular testing of staff. For the safety of everyone, SMMs are needed. So, while giving relief to businesses to deal with the impact of COVID-19 has helped in the intermediate and the interim, we do need to find ways to better handle the cost of operating in the new normal as SMMs will still be required on an ongoing basis. Can the Minister share if there are any measures to reduce and effectively manage the costs of SMMs required of businesses in the new normal? How can the cost of routine antigen rapid tests (ARTs) or the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests and the ART self-test kits be made more affordable for businesses as they will be ongoing costs? As businesses pivot and adapt with the new business models, there may be a need to also rethink the use of physical spaces. For many businesses, rental cost is usually a major part of the operating costs.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, thank you for allowing me to join the debate. There are three areas that I wish to touch on in my speech today: one, helping businesses cope with the disruptions of COVID-19; two, the COVID-19 Recovery Grant – Temporary scheme, to help lower- and middle-income individuals whose income has been impacted; and, three, mental wellness support for individuals and businesses. With more than a year and a half of living with COVID-19, while businesses are now more ready to adapt to the disruptions, demand and business volumes have taken a beating when operations have had to stop or scale back due to the various phases and, most recently, the Phase Two (Heightened Alert). For consumer-facing businesses, for example, food businesses, gyms, personal services, many have not been able to do dine-in or to continue offering their services during the Phase Two (Heightened Alert) and Phase Three A or have had to scale back significantly. However, overheads and ongoing business costs still need to be paid. Manpower and rental are major business expenses. The Jobs Support Scheme (JSS), rental relief and access to credit have been critical in supporting businesses tide over. The support is important for businesses to stay afloat, adapt and pivot for the new normal as well as to enable workers to stay employed. The support measures announced for Phase Two (Heightened Alert), Phase Three (Heightened Alert) and this current Phase Two (Heightened Alert) are timely and much needed. Managing costs, however, can only go so far. This prolonged disruption and the uncertainties have and will continue to impact cash flow for even the most prepared and sound businesses if demand and capacity to operate are significantly lower over a prolonged period of time.”
“I thank the Minister for elaborating on the impact of Pillar One and Pillar Two. I specifically have a follow-on question with regard to tech companies in relation to what the Minister said about the digital economy. Given both Pillars One and Two, and the impact of that – although I know that there are still a lot of uncertainties – how can Singapore, specifically, for the tech hub status, how can we continue to be attractive because both Pillars One and Two, could have significant impact on Singapore's tech hub status. I would ask the Minister if he could elaborate on some of the key levers we would need to strengthen. I know he talked about the whole breadth of it but what would be some of the key pillars for the tech sectors specifically, given the impact of digitalisation?”
“I thank the Minister for his response. I do have just one supplementary question. With regard to the industries, I know that the marine shipyard, construction and process industries have been most impacted. But I am also concerned about the small and medium enterprises or SMEs in terms of the services and their ability to continue to operate outside of these industries. There are some jobs – especially for Work Permit holders – that many of these SMEs are facing difficulty in terms of the ability to renew the Work Permits for, as well as to get sufficient workers for jobs that they are finding hard to fill, even as they look at alternative sources in Singapore. So, my question to the Minister is, in terms of the extensions for existing Work Permit holders or S Passes for workers in Singapore, can that be considered, especially for the SMEs, because one or two workers make a big difference for them in terms of their ability to continue to operate?”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I have two clarifications for the Minister. The Minister spoke about the impact of digital disruptions on the news media industry. While digital investments and funding are important to maintain quality local news media, this clearly is not enough. In fact, SPH has actually grown its digital footprint as well as its viewership. The challenge has been viability. So, what will be different for the CLG to achieve the digital pivot, that the Minister has said is required? A clear strategy to transform and to drive digital innovation is required and so, how will this new entity achieve that? My second question is a different one but an important one to maintaining the quality of local journalism, and that is really its people. In this case, it is the journalists themselves as well as the experienced team that produces the content. So, what is being done to ensure that that this retention of talent is there, as well as, more importantly, the ability for the new entity to attract new talent required for it to do the pivots it requires?”
“Mr Chairman, there is a greater reliance on digital and tech across Government, businesses and individuals for connectivity, information access and exchange, and operations. Vast amounts of sensitive and personal or commercial data are used and stored digitally. This increases the risk of cyberattacks, which could result in loss and unauthorised use of personal and sensitive data and disruptions to operations and activities. COVID-19 has driven the increased use of e-payments, mobile apps and e-wallets. Smartphones are effectively becoming mobile financial transaction hubs. With higher volumes of e-commerce transactions, strengthening of supply chains is important as cyberattacks on supply chains are increasing. Can the Minister share how are we strengthening Singapore’s cybersecurity? With the importance of cybersecurity, how are we growing our cybersecurity local talent base? Cyberspace and Data Flow Governance”
“Mr Chairman, COVID-19 has heightened the importance of connectivity to enable people to continue to work, live and play. Working from home arrangements, home-based learning and even communicating with family and friends would not have been possible without digital connectivity during this pandemic. 5G network technology can enable significantly enhanced connectivity and new capabilities. What is key about 5G is scale, low latency and high speed. 5G hence can transform and make possible connections previously not available, delivering new level of services, business models and experiences. 5G can make possible mission critical communication for infrastructure, emergency, security, medical and healthcare services. While the benefits of 5G are vast, implementation of 5G is complex and involves multiple stakeholders. Increased connectivity and reliance on 5G networks will also increase cybersecurity risks. What is Singapore's approach and plans for 5G to ensure that consumers, businesses and the wider society benefit from 5G deployment while minimising the associated risks? Our Digital Innovation Eco-system”
“I have two clarifications, one is for Minister Tan See Leng who mentioned the point about the review on the ITMs to ensure their relevancy. Is any work being done to also look at the ITMs and the age adjacencies across ITMs because there could be new opportunities and new business models that could be taken up from those opportunities? The other question is for Minister Chan with regard to his point about not just looking at the sunrise industries, but also a very important focus is also on entrenching and embedding ourselves within the global value chain. Can the Minister also share some of the key priorities in what is being done in this space and where are some of the key focus areas?”
“How can we encourage more SMEs to transform and adopt digital solutions to improve productivity in the face of manpower and cashflow challenges? What support will the Government provide to SMEs intending to digitalise? With the many different schemes to support businesses, understandably, there is also a myriad of support schemes. So, how can Government support schemes be streamlined and made more accessible for businesses, especially our SMEs? A key part of enterprise development is access to talent. How is Singapore developing our pipeline of local tech talent? What resources are being directed towards improving the training and upskilling of local SME workers for technology-related roles and innovation? Returns from Past RIE Expenditures”
“With climate change and the drive for sustainability, there is increased emphasis on sustainable products and services. With these trends, what are the growth and/or emerging sectors for Singapore? How are we developing these sectors? How can we enable active participation of our local businesses in these sectors? Internationalisation Mr Chairman, accessing new markets can be challenging for any company, large or small. With a small domestic market, increasing digitalisation and competition, Singapore companies cannot ignore the need to look beyond Singapore to grow. Budget 2021 has introduced the new Local Enterprises Funding Platform to support large local enterprises and enhanced the Venture Debt Programme to help SMEs access necessary capital to expand overseas and to seize opportunities. Can Minister share how more local businesses can be supported to internationalise, grow and build capabilities to compete globally? Apart from capital and funding support, these companies need to develop their talent. And beyond talent, what support is available for our Singapore companies to access systems and platforms, know-how and networks to enter new markets. Similar to how Alibaba’s Tmall has enabled global startups access the China e-commerce market. How can Trade Associations and Chambers of Commerce or other bodies be encouraged to play a stronger role in helping businesses overcome internationalisation challenges? Enterprise Development Mr Chairman, with digitalisation and the structural changes in industries, can Minister provide an update on the progress of businesses transformation of companies especially SMEs in the adoption of digital solutions to improve productivity in the face of manpower and cashflow challenges?”
“Mr Chairman, the manufacturing sector contributes 21% of Singapore’s GDP and employs over 450,000 people. With the growing importance of and the economic shift to Asia, Singapore is well positioned to be a more resilient and advanced manufacturing base in Asia for the world. Many leading global companies have located their operations in Singapore. Singapore’s Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI) catalysed the transformation of companies in the manufacturing sector around the three pillars of Industry 4.0 – around process, technology and organisation. The Assessment Matrix has helped companies start, scale and sustain their Industry 4.0 transformation. How is Singapore continuing to promote Industry 4.0 adoption? Against the backdrop of the current COVID-10 pandemic, how will Singapore continue to be an attractive manufacturing base and move up the value chain for these companies? And how will Singapore continue to instill confidence for companies to build on their investments in production, headquarters, R&D and supply chain manufacturing functions in Singapore and to make Singapore the Asian node for their operations in the region? What is the future of our manufacturing sector? And how can Singapore ensure that our supply chain remains resilient in a post COVID-19 world? Emerging Sectors The world is becoming more complex and there is greater inter-relationship across sectors and adjacent opportunities. We are seeing the growing importance of Asia as an engine for growth. Digitalisation is accelerating and the growth of the digital economy has gained greater momentum with the COVID-19 pandemic. The disruptions have also highlighted the importance of resilience in our supply chain.”
“Mr Chairman, can I take my four cuts together?”