Josephine Teo
Singapore
“The Government's risk-calibrated approach to data security in artificial intelligence (AI) systems was explained in a written reply, given on 9 January 2024, to related questions asked by Dr Tan Wu Meng and Mr Gerald Giam.”
“Access to frontier models is helpful for specific use cases, such as advanced research and cybersecurity. However, these form a small proportion of artificial intelligence (AI) demand. For most industry, Government and research uses, capable models are already available.”
“The Government tracks the development of technical standards for identifying artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content, including watermarking and digital provenance approaches, as part of broader efforts to manage AI-related risks.”
“Upon receiving a valid report of intimate image abuse, the Commissioner of Online Safety is empowered by law to direct Online Service Providers (OSPs) to disable access by Singapore users to the specified harmful online material. This direction may be extended to cover identical copies found on the platform.”
“The Government is committed to keeping children safe online. We have announced plans to extend age assurance requirements to designated social media services, including requiring platforms to keep users under 13 off their services.”
“Under the Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act 2025, the Commissioner of Online Safety is empowered to issue directions to platforms to remove specified harmful content, including intimate image abuse.”
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“The flow of vehicles can be designed to reduce the risk of an attack to crowded areas and minimise or even eliminate the need for bollards. The security requirements under the Bill also apply only to designated buildings, and not all buildings. Based on the proposed criteria, we expect a handful of new developments each year to be affected. In past projects where security-by-design was implemented, the cost of security measures was between 0.2% and 3% of the total construction cost. But I should add that not all of this cost is attributable to the design process per se, since all buildings have to be fitted with some security measures in any case. Also, given that MHA will try to make known as early as possible which buildings need to undergo security-by-design, developers will likely factor in the cost of security measures in their bid price for the land. Mr Darryl David is right to point out the need to ensure that buildings which are not designated as Special Developments and Special Infrastructures are also protected. Directives and orders offer a calibrated way to safeguard these buildings when a specific security risk has been identified, without having to impose security-by-design on all buildings. They can be used to require security measures, such as those mentioned by Mr Darryl David, including security checks and bollards. To help manage the costs, MHA will engage building owners on what security measures would be effective and practical. Directives will be issued only as a last resort where owners refuse to take action and there is a risk to the public. Let me now provide some clarifications on Special Developments and Special Infrastructures.”
“Mr Speaker, let me thank all the Members who have spoken up in support of the Bill. They raised many useful points which I shall address. Let me start by talking about the cost of the security measures, which Ms Joan Pereira, Mr Desmond Choo, Mr Louis Ng and Mr Melvin Yong highlighted concerns about. Terrorists have imposed many costs on society. I think Members agree that all of us bear a share of that burden. Much of the cost of strengthening protection and enhancing security response is borne directly by the Government. Members will agree that safety and security are not only in our collective interest, they also impact the bottom line interests of businesses. Therefore, businesses must also contribute. In this high threat environment, building owners and developers recognise that ensuring the security of their buildings is part and parcel of carrying out business. A recent survey by the World Economic Forum found that business leaders in Singapore see terrorist attacks as their top global risk. Their concerns are not misplaced. They know that if the security of the building is breached, the damage to property could be much more costly. This is why even without the Bill, many buildings today already put in place security measures, like CCTVs and vehicle barriers. Most of these security measures do not involve complex systems and are maintained as part of the buildings’ other facilities. In fact, security-by-design can offer cost savings to businesses in the longer term. When security measures are properly planned and seamlessly integrated into the design of the building, the use of technology, such as CCTV and access control systems, coupled with the appropriate processes, can help save on manpower cost.”
“Mr Speaker, TAFEP is an organisation that relies on a number of methods to encourage and support employers who are able and willing to adopt progressive workplace practices. One of it, of course, is by making them more aware of the benefits of doing so. Another is that it is able to look into complaints that are levelled against certain employers and refer them to MOM for investigations if warranted. Through this process, TAFEP will either work with the employers to change their practices and, if the employers are not cooperative, to find other means of pushing the employers to change their practices. There are tools within MOM's available resources. For example, if the companies truly are unwilling to comply, in some instances, we may blacklist them. If we blacklist them, then their work pass privileges may be curtailed. It is something that we will continue to explore better ways of doing. But bear in mind that, firstly, there are laws in existence. In addition to the laws which employers must comply with, we also have tripartite guidelines and, over and above that, there are tripartite advisories. We are introducing the Tripartite Standards as an additional measure to make the adherence to progressive workplace practices more attractive for the employers to do. So, all of these measures are available to us. It is not always the case that you have to come down hard on the employers. In some cases, a combination of persuasion and finding the right incentives for them to do so may work better.”
“Mr Speaker, may I ask Mr Saktiandi whether he is talking specifically about recruitment practices or TAFEP's ability to enforce in general?”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the hon Member for his feedback and I agree with him that it is a matter of good practice and I do believe that employers who have automated their application systems are, indeed, able to do so. So, I think this is a matter of work in progress. We certainly encourage more employers to come on board.”
“The Work-Life Grant provides employers with funding of up to $160,000 each over four years to help employers defray the costs of implementing and sustaining flexible work arrangements. In addition, the tripartite partners are jointly developing a Tripartite Standard on Flexible Work Arrangements, which will help job-seekers and employees identify progressive employers with strong support for flexible work arrangements. Mdm Speaker, our vision is to make Singapore a Great Place for Families. This requires not just policy measures but also the support of employers, co-workers and family members. In conclusion, I thank Mr Louis Ng for highlighting the needs of parents who may need additional support and care. We hear you, we appreciate the extraordinary trials and tribulations that you go through and you have my personal assurance that we will study ways to better support your families and we will seriously consider all of Mr Ng's suggestions. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn." (proc text)] Adjourned accordingly at 5.31 pm.”
“For practical reasons, we will always need to balance between providing support for employees with caregiving needs and employers' concerns. Beyond parental leave, there are also other measures in the Marriage and Parenthood Package which support parents, including those with multiple or premature births. As Mr Ng noted, the Baby Bonus cash gift and Child Development Account co-savings are given on a per-child basis. All children receive the Medisave Grant for newborns of $4,000, and are covered under MediShield Life from birth, including for any congenital or neonatal conditions. These measures help to defray the costs of their children's healthcare and medical needs and provide parents with greater peace of mind. Parents have given the consistent feedback that while the parenthood support measures are helpful, they also need employers to provide a family-friendly work environment. I am glad to hear from the examples that Mr Ng cited, that many employers are, indeed, understanding and helpful. We encourage more employers and co-workers to show understanding towards parents who may have extenuating circumstances and require more time to care for their children after birth. For example, private companies can join the public sector in taking the lead to provide additional unpaid leave to parents of infants. According to a survey by MOM, in fact, more than half, 54% of establishments in 2016 provided unpaid leave of more than one month for employees to attend to family or personal matters. Another useful form of support is flexible work arrangements. Employers can tap on various resources to implement flexible work arrangements.”
“Fathers now have two weeks of paternity leave and can share up to four weeks of their wife's maternity or adoption leave, as shared parental leave. Our parental leave provisions are also fully paid. In comparison, while some other countries provide longer periods of leave, much of the leave provisions are paid partially or not at all. Even so, as Mr Ng has highlighted, parents may have greater care-giving needs when their infants are born prematurely, or if there are two or more babies at one go. During the Committee of Supply debate this year, I had announced that the public sector will test the viability of longer parental leave for parents of infants, through a three-year pilot. Public sector officers can get an additional four weeks of unpaid leave when they have children below the age of one. This will give parents the option to take more leave if they need to. In total, couples with at least one spouse in the public service can have up to six months of leave between them. Depending on the outcome of the pilot when it ends in 2020, we will assess the possibility of a nationwide rollout in future. In the meantime, given the significant enhancements made to parental leave provisions recently, we will need to give employers some time to adjust before considering further legislative changes. While more leave could be useful for parents who have multiple or premature births, we have to be mindful that we do not inadvertently affect their employability if they are absent from work for an extended period of time. Employers have provided feedback that increasing leave provisions could have an impact on manpower and administrative costs, especially in a time of business uncertainties.”
“Mdm Speaker, first let me thank Mr Louis Ng for a very candid speech on his recent experience with the birth of his preterm twins. He spoke from the heart and won us over with not just the strengths of his arguments but also the intensity of his conviction. And I think I can reasonably speak for everyone in the House that we are all very glad to hear that Katie and Poppy are back home from the hospital and that the whole family is doing well, notwithstanding your lack of sleep. I have a lot of sympathy for all the challenges that parents like Mr Ng go through, having had twins myself and also nieces who were born prematurely. Not everyone appreciates the unique challenges Mr Ng highlighted. After all, multiple births constitute just 3% of all children born in Singapore. In 2016, there were 561 sets of twins and eight sets of triplets. Likewise, the number of preterm births at 35 weeks or below is relatively low, about 4.5% of births. These numbers have remained stable over the past decade. Although the numbers are not large, the impact on each family is significant; I think we heard from Mr Ng. For this reason, I agree fully with Mr Ng that there is scope to consider how we can better support parents with preterm babies or who have to manage multiple births. The Government is strongly committed to supporting Singaporeans in their marriage and parenthood journey. In fact, we have progressively enhanced support measures over the years, which include legislating new leave provisions. For example, maternity leave has been increased twice: in 2004, it went up from eight to 12 weeks; in 2008, from 12 to 16 weeks. To support fathers in playing a more active role, paternity leave and shared parental leave were introduced in 2013 and were enhanced just this year.”
“The various onboarding programmes have helped foreigners better understand and adjust to living in a multicultural, multiracial and multi-religious Singapore. However, integration takes time and cannot be achieved through one-off programmes. We will need the continued support of Singaporeans and foreigners across all parts of society to work together to foster social cohesion and integration.”
“Mdm Speaker, there are a number of programmes and initiatives that seek to better integrate foreigners working or living in Singapore with the local community. For example, upon their arrival in Singapore, all new Work Permit holders receive guidebooks that cover Singapore laws, employment regulations and social norms. In addition, all new foreign domestic workers (FDWs) attend a Settling-in Programme, and new foreign workers from the Construction, Marine, Process and Metalworking sectors attend Safety Orientation Courses, both of which cover aspects of Singapore laws and our social norms. Annually, these compulsory programmes cover close to two-thirds of all new Work Permit holders coming to Singapore. Other pass holders can easily access online resources that help them appreciate local laws and norms. In addition, the National Integration Council also partners the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) to offer the Workplace Integration Programme which provides training on supervising multicultural teams. Our schools, polytechnics and autonomous universities also organise numerous activities that facilitate integration of international students in our educational institutes. These include orientation programmes, buddy schemes and host family programmes. Through the Character and Citizenship Education curriculum in schools, foreign students also learn about our values and norms. Security awareness is equally important for locals and foreigners. Through activities in the neighbourhoods, schools and workplaces, the aim is to promote widespread awareness and vigilance among all residents, both local and foreign.”
“Mr Ng, roundtable or not, we will meet with them. I have shared earlier MPA's inter-agency response. Some of the inputs that NGOs have given us include the use of non-toxic oil dispersants and also in terms of where we will prioritise the containment activities. What we have done is to say we will protect the areas that have got greater bio-diversity value. So, I think the conversation continues.”
“Mr Ang is not just a good Member of Parliament, he is also a very good adviser to the union. Indeed, the union has been in discussion with us and has highlighted the concerns. There are about 8,000 to 9,000 local port workers who, from the year 2021, will start to have to move as the Tuas Terminal gets its first few berths operational. We are very keen to make sure that the land transport options will be good ones. We are in discussions with other agencies and also with PSA which remains the biggest employer there. So, please be assured that this is very much on our minds.”
“It would be very difficult to schedule services. We watch all of these developments very closely, including the Kra Canal, which has been talked about for decades actually. The short answer to your question is that we monitor all of these. We do analyse what their impact could be. But, as I have said in my earlier speech, we cannot stop others from upping their game. We just have to do everything within our power to stay ahead.”
“Mdm Chairman, the Member asked a very interesting question. The China-UK freight train has started off in Yiwu and it has traversed across China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, Belgium, France and then to the UK, to London. Twelve thousand kilometres. It took them 18 days, which is about half of what it would take if the same set of containers were to have to travel by ship. So, there is obviously some value in that because there may be some types of cargo which will be too expensive to transport by air. But, if you transport it by sea, then it takes twice as long. So, items could include things like prototypes that you want to deliver to the market very quickly. But this type of transportation − rail transportation − is constrained by the scale. This particular voyage that was undertaken, if I remember correctly, involved 40-foot containers − bigger boxes − but there were just 344 of them. If you compare that to what one of the mega-vessels would take these days, that is, closer to 18,000 to 19,000 TEUs, the scale that can be transported is completely different. From that perspective, as a transhipment hub that serves quite a lot of the Asia-Europe traffic, for the moment it does not appear that the China-UK freight link is going to be a game-changer. But the landscape is always evolving and we will have to pay close attention. One other area that really deserves close attention is the Arctic Circle. With the melting of the icecaps, I think Mr Dennis Tan would know that the northern sea route offers something compelling, too. It is just that, in the foreseeable future, it is not likely. In the foreseeable future, it is not likely that even though you are able to sail through, you can cut up to 60% of the voyage time.”
“Madam, I think Mr Yee might be referring to the case of Changi Airports International (CAI). CAI does not, in particular, hold intellectual property rights with regards to, say, technology. What they do have is great operational insights. When it was set up, the idea was that, as part of Singapore enterprises internationalising, there was also benefit in having CAI offer their expertise to airports elsewhere that would like to tap into this expertise. But I take the Member's point; we want to keep some of the crown jewels. The entities that are involved in this are equally mindful about it.”
“The Bunker Convention puts the responsibility on the shipowners. Mdm Chairman, to conclude, our aviation and maritime sectors not only provide critical connectivity for our economy, but are also growth engines that create exciting and rewarding job opportunities for Singaporeans. We will strive to strengthen the competitiveness of our air and sea hubs through Smarter Ports, more Vibrant Enterprise Ecosystems and Systematic Manpower Development. Through initiatives, like the Aviation Challenges and MPA Living Lab, we will help the businesses in these sectors help themselves by deepening their capabilities and developing innovative products and services. Through tripartite cooperation and enhanced funding support, we will help Singaporeans acquire and master the deep skills that are needed to stay relevant. Our officers have been working quietly but tirelessly, and I am mighty proud of them. Whether in 10, 20 or 50 years, we still want to be leading aviation and maritime hubs. Our businesses and workers will have every opportunity to be at the frontier of the industry transformations and ride this wave of growth.”
“A 2016 operational trial showed that, on average, each aircraft saved about 300 kilogrammes of fuel burn. With more than 150,000 landings at Changi each year, the cumulative effect on the environment is quite significant. On the maritime side, MPA already has the Maritime Singapore Green Initiative with five programmes − the Green Ship, Green Port, Green Technology, Green Awareness and Green Energy Programmes. To promote the adoption of cleaner marine fuels, MPA will soon pilot LNG bunkering operations in Singapore. MPA has been working with industry and like-minded ports around the world to harmonise LNG bunkering processes and to grow a global network of LNG-ready ports. It is no use if we are LNG-ready but other ports are not. The ships cannot move this way. These efforts have seen good progress, with authorities in Japan, Korea and Norway recently coming on board. Mr Louis Ng asked about our response to oil spills. We are highly vigilant towards environmental incidents and have a well-established, multi-agency response plan which is regularly exercised. During the oil spill off Pasir Gudang in January, agencies responded swiftly and effectively. Within hours, MPA, which is the coordinator for the inter-agency response, had already modelled the spilled oil's trajectory and worked with the agencies to take measures, such as laying out oil-absorbent booms, to prevent its spread. As a result, traffic in the East Johor Straits and Singapore's port operations were not affected. Affected beaches were quickly cleaned up and key biodiversity areas at Pulau Ubin, Coney Island and Pasir Ris were protected. They were not harmed. We are now working with the insurers of the vessels responsible for the incident to compensate the affected parties, including the fish farms.”
“So, tripartite involvement and commitment will be key. Mdm Chairman, even as we strengthen the competitiveness of our aviation and maritime hubs, we should remember that our fortunes are closely tied to those of the region. We will, therefore, continue to promote a region that stays open and connected. In aviation, last year, all 10 ASEAN countries ratified all the ASEAN open skies agreements. ASEAN has also started negotiations on an EU-ASEAN Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement which would be the first bloc-to-bloc air services agreement in the world. Open sea lines of communications, too, are critical to trade. Today, almost half of the world's seaborne trade by tonnage passes through the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, and we must ensure that these waters remain safe and secure for ships. Through MPA's Safety@Sea campaign, the number of marine incidents has been kept low. There was only one major shipping incident in our waters in 2016, no easy feat, considering that Singapore is one of the world's busiest ports with over 130,000 vessel calls every year. We also look to more environmentally-friendly and sustainable growth. For example, CAAS has worked with neighbouring airports to develop an Air Traffic Flow Management System. It sounds a bit abstract − Air Traffic Flow Management System. But what it really means is that you want to regulate the flow of aircraft even before they take off from the departure airports. Why? Because we want to have more certainty in managing, at the receiving airports, the incoming flights. 2.15 pm To passengers, what this would mean is that you could spend less time circling in the air before landing because the airport is congested. But to airlines, the fuel cost savings is very much appreciated.”
“For fresh school-leavers, CAAS and MPA are working with the Institutes of Higher Learning to develop new industry-specific training schemes. Two SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programmes for passenger service agents and ground operations specialists at the airport were introduced in October 2016. The next intake for these two programmes is scheduled for April this year. Three other Earn and Learn Programmes were launched last year for port operations officers, deck officers and marine engineers. We are also helping mid-career Singaporeans switch to maritime and aviation careers. To prepare them for roles in flight operations, baggage, catering, maintenance and cargo, Professional Conversion Programmes (PCPs) will provide structured training and career progression, with corresponding salary increases. PCPs for more occupations will be launched in due course. For Singaporeans already in the aviation and maritime sectors, we will help them progress in their careers. MPA will enhance the Maritime Cluster Fund for Manpower Development to support a wider range of training. This will enable Singaporeans to be trained in new and increasingly important areas, such as data analytics and new maritime technologies. We expect this to benefit some 5,000 locals annually. To help Singaporeans better plan their careers, we will develop Skills Frameworks that help them identify those which are relevant and necessary for advancement. The Skills Framework for the Sea Transport sector, which was developed in consultation with the industry and unions, will be launched in April. A Skills Framework will also be developed for the Air Transport sector. But let me make clear that we cannot make this work without the companies taking an active interest and the workers being willing to adapt.”
“We believe this could be a game-changer for Singapore, bringing together technology developers and industry players to anchor their innovation activities in Singapore and help our sea hub stay ahead. Let me turn now to manpower development. Smarter ports and more vibrant enterprise ecosystems bring many more good jobs. All in all, we expect some 13,000 new jobs in the air and sea transport sectors by 2025. The jobs created over the next decade will be markedly different from today. The increasing deployment of smart technologies means that new jobs will be more knowledge-intensive. At the port, more data scientists and operations research analysts will be needed to optimise shipping routes, port operations and vessel traffic management. At the airport, we will require data scientists skilled in air traffic operations research and analysis, to optimise our runway and airspace capacities through modelling and simulation. Technology will also transform existing jobs into higher skill, higher value-added jobs. For instance, port equipment engineers today are responsible for maintaining and repairing the port's equipment and facilities. With the introduction of AGVs, they will also plan and design operations to segregate manned and unmanned activities and to synchronise the AGVs' operations with other automated equipment. We are also investing in baggage and cargo robotics systems at the airport that will leave the more repetitive tasks of lifting and loading to the machines, freeing up our workers to oversee other parts of the operations. We are committed to helping Singaporeans make the most of the exciting and rewarding career opportunities, by working closely with our tripartite partners.”
“A likely shift towards digitalisation in the aviation and maritime sectors can give more start-ups like Ascenz their big breaks. You know, this is serious stuff, when even an established giant like AP Moller-Maersk decides to nominate as its new Chairman someone with a track record as "Mr Digitalisation". This is going to be a harbinger of major industry transformation. Interestingly, the maritime sector is not usually thought of as a beacon of innovation. But I am bullish about the prospects for Singapore because the market here for innovative products and services is significant and quickly evolving. As their innovations gain market acceptance in Singapore, start-ups will be in a stronger position to internationalise. PSA has already taken the lead by launching PSA unboXed last year. And what PSA unboXed does is to invite start-ups and potential partners to propose technology solutions for the port, in which PSA unboXed may then decide to take an equity stake and try to make a success of them. I have asked MPA to work with SPRING to see how best to expose more local start-ups to opportunities in maritime businesses. To give a further boost to innovation, MPA will set up the "MPA Living Lab" at our port by the end of this year. The MPA Living Lab will provide the essential "live" operating conditions that will facilitate the test-bedding of potential innovations. Because this is critical − you can have a great idea, but if you are not able to prove the concept in "live" operating conditions, that would be a gap in the innovation journey. Areas being explored include autonomous vessels, multi-purpose drones and next-generation vessel traffic management systems.”
“But we should not leave this process unchanged. We searched all over the world for solutions, but found none that would fully meet our needs. So, we resolved to develop our own solution. As we speak, five teams from industry and academia are developing prototypes to automate this laborious process. Platforms like Aviation Challenges are attempts by CAAS to bring together the best minds to develop innovative solutions for our airport. But these attempts will not succeed unless we have a vibrant enterprise ecosystem to draw on. The first two challenges have drawn on the capabilities of over 100 engineers and researchers from several entities. We are involving local companies, such as Cyclect Electrical Engineering and ST Dynamics, and I have asked CAAS and CAG to bring more on board. It is not just the airport that will gain from the innovations. Businesses, too, can capture value through deepening their capabilities and spinning off other innovative products and services to support their internationalisation. Start-ups are also getting into the action. Take, for example, Ascenz Solutions which started in 2008 as a two-person show. With co-funding from MPA's Maritime Innovation and Technology Fund, Ascenz created a system called Shipulse that collates data from sensors installed on board ships and transmits it back to shore. Shipulse allows shipowners to remotely analyse a ship's speed and fuel efficiency in real-time and then instruct the crew to adjust the ship's route or carry out energy efficiency measures to save fuel and improve vessel performance. Shipulse has been installed on over 400 vessels and thousands more could use it. Having expanded to a team of more than 30 with operations in nine countries, Ascenz is now eyeing the European market.”
“Through new joint ventures with PSA, major shipping lines, like CMA-CGM and China COSCO Shipping, are shifting more of their activities to Singapore. It is helpful that both CMA-CGM and China COSCO are also leaders in the ever-shifting landscape of alliance partnerships among the container lines. When the companies open up new lines of businesses, it enables our aviation and maritime hubs to capture emerging opportunities and stay relevant. Take, for example, the movement of time- and temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products. Singapore will be the first in Asia to build up a cluster of businesses certified by the International Air Transport Association in pharmaceutical handling. With this, companies like Global Airfreight International, SATS and SIA Cargo will be better placed to benefit from the growth in pharmaceutical trade as the region becomes more affluent. Similarly, the recent acquisition of the Baltic Exchange by SGX will allow Singapore to take active part in the fast-evolving landscape of maritime risk management. But perhaps the biggest value of vibrant enterprise ecosystems is that they help Singapore's drive for innovation. This year, we will see the results of our first two Aviation Challenges, one of which focuses on automating baggage handling for narrow-body aircraft. As Members know, the process today is largely automated − screening, sorting, storage − but still has some parts that require manual handling. Behind the scenes, bags have to be transferred from a baggage carousel to a baggage trolley which is towed to the aircraft. They are then unloaded and moved into the aircraft belly hold, which, for a narrow-body aircraft, is 11 metres deep but just one metre high. We ought to salute our baggage handlers who do this back-breaking work.”
“For Singapore to extract the full value of our smarter ports, we will also need vibrant enterprise ecosystems and systematic manpower development. Let us talk about vibrant enterprise ecosystems. With well-connected ports as anchors, our maritime and aviation hubs have grown far beyond PSA and CAG. Today, Singapore is ranked as the world's top international maritime centre, with a diverse maritime services cluster comprising over 5,000 establishments. In aviation, Singapore is home to world-class air freight, aerospace, and maintenance, repair and overhaul companies. When we ask companies why they choose to be in Singapore in spite of our higher costs, they tell us that it is the value of being plugged in into a vibrant network, a thriving ecosystem, if you will. 2.00 pm Through this network, they can be closer to their customers and gain quick access to market intelligence which helps them make timely decisions to respond to market shifts: pricing, what to do with the commercial arrangements − all of these require intelligence. They can also find good partners more easily to share risks in business ventures or jointly develop new projects. A vibrant enterprise ecosystem is a natural magnet that attracts and retains more businesses to weave a denser network. That makes it harder to replicate. This is why we actively seek to anchor key players across many types of aviation and maritime services in Singapore − to stay relevant and strengthen our hub competitiveness. Our international maritime centre continues to grow in breadth and depth. New companies, like LH Shipping from Switzerland and the West of England Protection & Indemnity Insurance Club, set up shop in Singapore last year, while those already here, such as K Line and Marubeni, expanded their operations.”
“Beyond what passengers see, at the back-end, T4 will have automated baggage screening, sorting and storage. Smart cleaning initiatives, centralised support functions for retail and F&B will further reduce the manpower needed. Mr Ang Hin Kee will be pleased to know that, at steady state, we expect T4 to realise up to 10% in manpower savings due to automation. The experiments at T4 will also shape what is possible at T5 in future. And I think that is where the bigger savings have to be. Our existing terminals, too, are raising their performance and productivity. CAG and CAAS are bringing airport stakeholders onto a common collaborative decision-making platform to share operational data. For instance, airlines and ground handling agents now can view real-time flight movements on the airfield. This helps them efficiently deploy resources to quickly rectify problems. Since its implementation last year, one benefit has been the reduction of aircraft taxiing time by 90 seconds during peak hours. We are talking about each aircraft. This may seem negligible − just 90 seconds − but we must remember that we have about 1,000 aircraft movements in our airport every day. So, the cumulative impact on runway productivity and, of course, for the airlines, fuel cost savings are really not trivial, not at all. Why does it matter that PSA and CAG develop smarter ports? Ultimately, their customers, the shipping lines and airlines − and the end users − the shippers and passengers − they all vote with their feet. To keep the customers and end-users coming back, scale must be matched by superior connectivity, efficiency and reliability. This is what will help Singapore to build a sustainable edge, which is exactly Mr Lee Yi Shyan's question.”
“Here we do transhipment, where we do connections for shippers, and the vessel calls involve mind-boggling permutations of synchronised unloading and reloading. And when 30 million containers are moved each year, even a small margin of error is highly problematic. And imagine, at Tuas, we are going to get to double that volume − 65 million. The complexity of container movements will increase as we enhance the connectivity of our port and attract higher volumes. That is why PSA is studying the use of data analytics that will generate insights about the flow of vessels and containers, and test-bedding automation solutions that will optimise processes and the use of equipment. What we learn at Pasir Panjang will be used in the planning of Tuas Terminal which, when fully developed, will have a capacity bigger than Tanjong Pagar, Keppel, Brani and Pasir Panjang Terminals combined. Likewise, the bigger challenge for us at Changi is Terminal 5 which, Members may recall, will have an eventual capacity bigger than Terminals 1, 2 and 3 combined. This will enable us to host more flight connections and tap the growth of civil aviation in the Asia Pacific region. Miss Cheng Li Hui asked for an update on developments at Changi. T4 will begin operations in the second half of this year. There is a lot of testing going on. Planning for T5 is on track, and CAG will soon begin to identify the architects to take on the challenge of designing it. T4, which is smaller than the existing terminals, is, in some ways, a testbed for T5. On opening day, passengers will have a full suite of self-service and automated options for check-in, bag drop, immigration clearance and boarding. Airports elsewhere may have implemented some of these components, but not the entire suite as far as we know.”
“Given that it will take some time for the Malacca Gateway project to be fleshed out and the uncertainty surrounding the Kra Canal project, it is still too early to determine their impact on us. But international competition has never been far away from our aviation and maritime sectors. Our starting point is that others can and will up their game. Whatever the analysis, the only response that will serve our long-term interests is to keep improving to stay ahead. Therefore, it is not enough to build bigger ports. We will need smarter ports. We have two strong industry champions − PSA in maritime and Changi Airport Group (CAG) in aviation. So, what kind of smarter ports are they developing? Put simply, our smarter ports will apply advanced technologies to achieve scale that is matched by superior connectivity, efficiency and reliability. You need scale but what you really want is to deliver superior connectivity, efficiency and reliability. That is what the customers want. In our seaport, it will not simply be about buying automated guided vehicles or installing automated cranes. Rather, it will be about advanced planning and optimisation of equipment deployment to allow the seamless transfer of containers from vessel to wharf, then to truck, then to yard and then vice versa. It may sound easy but is actually very difficult to execute. As a transhipment hub that is connected to over 600 other ports − if you take Shanghai, they are connected to under 300 ports; we are connected to over 600 ports − container movements here are much more complex than ports that mostly handle origin-destination cargo. In other words, cargo that is either coming out from your own port city or going into your port city.”
“Mdm Chair, I thank Members for their interest in the continued success of our air and sea hubs. The aviation and maritime sectors contribute around 10% of our GDP and provide nearly 250,000 jobs. They are anchored by well-connected ports that link Singapore to the rest of the world. As noted by Minister Khaw Boon Wan, they are both pillars and enablers of our economy. Our approach has been to plan ahead and yet remain responsive to new developments and market opportunities. We invest heavily to develop infrastructure and human capital so that Singaporeans can take up the good jobs created. Over the next 10-15 years, many of our infrastructure investments will take shape. With the new Tuas Terminal and Changi Terminal 5, we will have the capacity to comfortably handle twice the volumes of passenger and container traffic today and still have room for growth. However, we will not need twice as many people. Innovation and the intensive use of technology will transform the way people work and companies do business. Miss Cheng Li Hui and Mr Lee Yi Shyan asked about the two sectors' Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs). CAAS will launch the Air Transport ITM in April this year, while MPA will develop the Sea Transport ITM over the course of the year. My response to Members' cuts will outline the three key strategies embedded in our ITMs that will strengthen the competitiveness of our aviation and maritime hubs. They are: smarter ports, vibrant enterprise ecosystems and systematic manpower development. I should, of course, add that when we say manpower development, we include woman power also. Let us start with smarter ports. I note Mr Ang Wei Neng, Mr Zaqy Mohamad, Mr Yee Chia Hsing and Miss Cheng's concerns about the regional port developments.”
“Hence, we are partnering UN agencies and others to support the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. This year, we will collaborate with the UN Habitat to deliver an international programme in urban governance for mayors, governors and provincial leaders of African countries. Closer to home, we are increasing our efforts to help fellow ASEAN countries bridge the development gap by offering capacity building beyond traditional classroom training under the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI). We plan to upgrade the current IAI centres in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar to integrated development platforms called "Singapore Cooperation Centres". Besides classroom training, these new centres will rope in other Singapore agencies with development expertise, such as the Centre for Liveable Cities, Singapore International Foundation and Singapore Cooperation Enterprise, to offer technical assistance through various consultancy services and volunteer projects. These will form part of our efforts to support Singapore's ASEAN Chairmanship in 2018. Mr Chairman, I will now turn the floor over to Senior Minister of State Dr Mohamad Maliki.”
“In addition, MFA contributes annually to key international organisations that oversee and spearhead humanitarian efforts. These include the UN Central Emergency Response Fund and the International Committee for the Red Cross, among others. Since 2015, we have also been partnering the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) in providing joint training courses to strengthen the disaster risk management capacity of Small Island Developing States and other developing countries. Members can be assured that even with limited resources, MFA has a system in place to provide humanitarian assistance in a prompt and coordinated manner. At this juncture, we prefer not to divert further resources to set up a separate department or agency for humanitarian assistance. Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef asked about ways to improve the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) and how it has helped other countries. Singapore has benefited from the advice and experience of the UN and other countries, and the SCP is our way of giving back and paying it forward. This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the SCP, our primary platform for sharing our developmental experiences. We now run, on average, more than 300 programmes for some 6,500 government officials from over 170 countries annually. Over the 25 years, more than 112,000 foreign officials have participated in the SCP. As Singapore continues to develop our capabilities, the SCP will also evolve its programmes. For example, we now offer high quality programmes in cybersecurity, digital economy and sustainable development. To address Miss Cheng Li Hui's question, the SCP also enables us to cooperate with other countries and international agencies to address global issues, such as sustainable development and climate change.”
“Not only is Europe a key market, we can also learn from various European countries in innovation, education and skills development, areas critical for the next phase of our economic development. We intend to maintain the momentum of our high-level exchanges. For example, the Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Germany, and the President will make State Visits to Poland and the Czech Republic later this year. We look forward to hosting President François Hollande of France in Singapore later this month. While the EU has its own domestic preoccupations, we are hopeful that the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agree (EUSFTA) will be ratified so that both sides can benefit from it. We have been actively engaging the EU and member countries on this. Mr Louis Ng asked about Singapore's humanitarian assistance to other countries and whether MFA should set up a new department of Foreign Humanitarian Aid, akin to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Singapore takes our international responsibilities and commitments seriously. As a small country with resource constraints, we want our contributions to humanitarian relief to be both sustainable and useful. Our humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts are well coordinated within MFA, across relevant agencies, such as MINDEF and SCDF, and with external partners. Recent examples include our contribution to the recovery efforts after the earthquake in Ecuador in April 2016, the floods and landslides in Sri Lanka in June 2016 and Hurricane Matthew in Haiti in October 2016. We also contributed to the humanitarian and relief efforts for the victims of irregular movement of persons through the ASEAN Secretariat in September 2016.”
“With our deep friendship and mutual trust as a strong foundation for our bilateral relations, we will forge a path forward with new areas of mutually-beneficial cooperation. We will further strengthen our special ties with China as we write the next chapter of our bilateral cooperation. Our ties with China are in good working order, resilient and well-primed for the future. As Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli summarised eloquently at the close of the JCBC, our bilateral relations will attain new heights. Mdm Chair, Minister Vivian Balakrishnan spoke about our relations with several key partners, including India, Australia, Japan and the EU. Let me elaborate on others. (In English): As Mr Zainal Sapari mentioned, besides Japan, we also have a deepening partnership with the Republic of Korea. We share similar challenges, such as an ageing population and low birth rates. As we embark on the Smart Nation Initiative, it is also useful for us to learn from Korea, which has a clear edge in IT and innovation in Asia. 7.30 pm Further afield, the Minister spoke about our partnership with the EU in response to Mr Saktiandi's question. Indeed, Brexit is a turning point for the EU and has global consequences for trade. Much will depend on the new relationship the UK establishes with the EU and how the UK replicates the existing agreements that the EU has with partners like Singapore. We will maintain our excellent ties with the UK, a long-standing partner in sectors, such as trade, defence, science and technology, and education. On the economic front, Singapore companies continue to have strong interest in the UK.”
“In 2004, we recognised China as a market economy and supported its participation in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the establishment of dialogue relations with ASEAN. We are one of the earliest supporters of China's Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and Belt and Road initiative. We are very encouraged by President Xi's comments at the World Economic Forum in Davos and United Nations in Geneva that we should promote inclusive globalisation against the backdrop of a volatile and uncertain world. The strong reservoir of friendship and goodwill allows both sides to speak candidly with one another and discuss concrete ways to elevate the relationship. This is seen in our discussion on China's Belt and Road initiative. Singapore has proposed three suggestions to our Chinese friends. First, the Southern Transport Corridor linking Chongqing to the ASEAN region via Beibu Gulf in Guangxi can help connect the overland Silk Route Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Second, greater trade, digital and financial connectivity along the Belt and Road will create investment opportunities and enhance the flow of goods and capital. Third, Singapore and China can explore cooperation in joint training for officials from third countries along the Belt and Road. Such development in human capital will catalyse growth and help accelerate the Belt and Road projects. These ideas were welcomed by our Chinese counterparts at the JCBC and both sides have agreed to flesh out the proposals. The title of Deputy Prime Minister Teo's recent interview with Xinhua, "New Initiatives to deepen Singapore-China Friendship(新中友谊深, 共创新思路)” captured the friendship and future cooperation between our two countries very well.”
“They agreed that the exchanges at the Forum on Leadership are valuable in addressing common challenges, such as a rapidly ageing population. Minister Zhao also agreed to Deputy Prime Minister Teo's invitation to attend the 6th Forum on Leadership in Singapore this year to continue the exchanges. Besides the JCBC and Forum on Leadership, the Singapore-China Social Governance Forum was launched in 2012. The third round of this Forum was held in Singapore in May last year, co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Teo and Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary Meng Jianzhu. We exchanged learning points on strategies to maintain security and social harmony in an increasingly urbanised society, the use of big data and IT to improve governance, as well as ensuring access to justice and the rule of law. The depth and intensity of our bilateral cooperation, which includes the three G-to-G projects and three high-level bilateral mechanisms, underscores the fundamental point that our relations have always kept up with the times, taking into account China's changing needs. Other non-government organisations, such as the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry as well as Business China, have also made important contributions to the development of bilateral relations. Indeed, this spirit is encapsulated in the "All Round Cooperative Partnership Progressing with the Times" agreed to by Prime Minister Lee and President Xi in 2015. Singapore has been a consistent and strong supporter of China's peaceful development and engagement of the regional and international community. We supported China's accession to the World Trade Organisation in 2001.”
“The warm and long-standing friendship between our two countries owes much to the foundation laid by Mr Lee Kuan Yew and Mr Deng Xiaoping and the continued efforts by successive generations of leaders and officials from both sides. I was fortunate to have been involved in building our relations with China from a fairly early stage. As a young EDB officer in the mid-1990s, I was posted to Suzhou for two years to help develop the SIP project. The early days were fraught with difficulties. But the process of working through many challenges together made our relationship more resilient. Today, the SIP is one of China's top development zones and townships and a model for other industrial parks. I have also made many good Chinese friends and we still keep in touch. When I was CEO of Business China, I saw first-hand the foresight of our leaders. With guidance from Mr Lee Kuan Yew, many Ministers contributed to efforts to groom a bilingual and bicultural group of Singaporeans who could understand and interact effectively with China. In MFA since late 2015, I now see the intensity of our engagements from another lens. We have one embassy and four consulates-general in mainland China, which is the highest number of overseas missions we have in a single country. The regularity of high-level visits and the frequency of bilateral consultations with China are also unmatched by any other country. I am glad that these exchanges with Chinese officials and cadres are continuing. For example, the China-Singapore Forum on Leadership was launched in 2009 and has held five meetings thus far. The co-chairs of the Forum on Leadership, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, and Central Organisation Department Minister Zhao Leji met recently in Beijing on the sidelines of the JCBC.”
“The size of the delegations on both sides and the range of agencies involved show just how broad our cooperation is. Especially in economic cooperation, the ties are also very deep. Since 2013, Singapore has been China's largest foreign investor and China our largest trading partner. Financial cooperation has also deepened. Singapore is now one of the largest offshore RMB centres outside Greater China. All three of our Government-to-Government projects, namely the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city and the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity or Chongqing Connectivity Initiative, CCI in short, have supported China's developmental priorities at different stages of their growth. At the JCBC meeting, both sides agreed that China's Belt and Road initiative presents new areas for fruitful cooperation, such as in infrastructure development and third-country capacity building. In particular, the CCI serves as a priority demonstration project for the Belt and Road initiative by developing transport corridors linking western China and Southeast Asia. Apart from physical connectivity, we are discussing ways to enhance financial connectivity to support the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank's initiatives, as well as human resource development, to uplift capabilities in countries along the "Belt and Road". I will elaborate on these areas in Mandarin. Mr Chairman, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Singapore has been a steadfast and long-standing partner and friend of China. Bilateral relations started long before the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1990.”
“Similarly, with Laos, the launch of SilkAir's direct flights last October, along with the implementation of the Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement this January, will create more opportunities for trade and investment. I also made a working visit to Vietnam in July 2016 to explore opportunities for our companies to invest in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and to promote further liberalisation of our bilateral Air Services Agreement. We encourage businesses to seek out opportunities for trade and investment in all our ASEAN neighbours. Their projects add substance to our relations. Businesses should also respect the laws and local officials of their host countries and strive to be good partners. If I may add, countries from outside the region are increasingly keen to partner Singapore companies for projects in Southeast Asia because of the local knowledge and the familiarity with these markets. These partnerships are the best way to ensure that Singaporeans and Singapore companies continue to be welcomed and ties between our countries continue to grow. I will now elaborate on Minister Vivian Balakrishnan's comments on our cooperation with China and address Ms Sun Xueling's question on navigating the opportunities and challenges in our bilateral relations with China. Singapore has been a steadfast and long-standing partner and friend of China. Several Ministers and I have just returned from Beijing where the 13th Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean and Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli was just concluded. Vice Premier Zhang and the Chinese leaders we met called Singapore an "old and good friend" of China.”
“Mr Chairman, let me start by addressing Mr Liang Eng Hwa's question on links with fellow ASEAN countries. We have kept up strong links with our Southeast Asian partners through high-level exchanges. Last year, we hosted visits by newly inaugurated leaders such as Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, Vietnam President Tran Dai Quang and Myanmar State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Often at the request of our friends, we shared our developmental experiences in diverse areas. For example, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is keen to relocate street hawkers and upgrade wet markets in Yangon. Therefore, when Minister Vivian hosted her to breakfast, the location was at Ghim Moh Market and Food Centre so that Daw Suu could experience a typical Singapore hawker centre for herself. Besides hosting incoming visits, our leaders make regular visits to ASEAN neighbours. These include President Dr Tony Tan's recent State Visits to Cambodia and Laos and Minister Vivian Balakrishnan's introductory visits to Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. In October last year, both President Tony Tan and Prime Minister Lee visited Thailand to pay their last respects to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Reflecting our strong people-to-people ties, many Singaporeans joined in to mourn the revered late King. Our leaders also warmly congratulated the new King Maha Vajiralongkorn when he was anointed. Mr Baey Yam Keng asked about strengthening our economic ties with Southeast Asian countries and how businesses can help. We made good progress on this last year. For example, Singapore and Myanmar mutually lifted visa requirements last December. There are now no visa requirements for all ASEAN nationals travelling to Singapore.”
“Mdm Chairman, I must say that this question comes as a surprise to me. As I have mentioned in my reply, the vast majority of all adult new citizens have lived in Singapore for at least five years before naturalisation, which means that they would have witnessed at least an electoral cycle, usually. When we are in an election, I do not think in all of the elections that I have taken part in as a voter has the issue of electoral fraud been prominent. The secrecy of the vote, I think, is something that I have learnt as a little girl, watching television, from young, come election time, there is a television advertisement that tells you, "Your Vote is Secret". I have learnt that my entire life and I do not know of many other fellow citizens who would doubt that. I urge the Member not to be overly worried about this. If there is anyone that he comes across that has any further doubt on this, they can certainly visit our Elections Department's website and be reassured.”
“But Mdm Chairman, the Member just said he also asked about the secrecy of votes and the knowledge of such amongst all citizens, not just new citizens. So, it has nothing to do with new citizens per se. Is that the correct understanding?”
“So, may I confirm then that this issue has nothing to do with new citizens per se?”
“Mdm Chairman, may I seek a clarification from the Member? Is it the Member's view or contention that citizens born in this country know that the vote is secret, but for some strange reason, our new citizens do not know that their vote is secret? Is that your contention, Sir?”
“We hope more employers can implement flexible work arrangements to enable employees to manage their career and family commitments. We also hope co-workers can show mutual understanding and support when their colleague needs to take time off work to care for their young child or elderly parent. There is an African idiom, "It takes a village to raise a child". We need to mobilise the whole community and encourage more ground-up initiatives, such as parent support groups and family activities, so that millennials can be assured that parenthood is achievable, enjoyable and celebrated. (In English): To conclude, families are the foundation of society and our efforts to strengthen these foundations must never cease. Last year, I outlined our vision to make Singapore a Great Place for Families, where marriage and parenthood are achievable, enjoyable and celebrated. We remain strongly committed to this vision. The package of enhancements to be implemented after this year's COS will benefit an estimated 25,000 families annually, when fully rolled out, and cost the Government an additional $140 million a year. This comes on top of the $2.5 billion each year that is set aside to support marriage and parenthood. The enhancements will help couples get a place of their own sooner, have more peace of mind in the care for their infants and enjoy greater workplace and community support. We know it is not enough for the Government to act alone. Everyone − family, friends, employers, co-workers and the community − must come on board. Together, we can assure that millennials experience Singapore as a place where they can achieve their dreams, enjoy their families and careers, and celebrate their children with their communities.”
“(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mdm Chairman, we are committed to "Making Singapore a Great Place for Families". To better support millennial families, we will adopt a three-pronged approach to encourage Singaporeans to form families and have children earlier. First, housing. From the feedback gathered, we know that many Singaporeans would like to have their own homes before having children. Hence, our priority will be to help young couples who wish to settle down to get faster access to public housing. Second, as more women and grandparents are remaining in the workforce, some young parents are worried that they will not have anybody to care for their children when their maternity or paternity leave ends. Hence, the Government will increase the capacity and enhance the quality of centre-based infant care, so that parents will enjoy peace of mind when they return to work. Third, new parents would like better workplace and community support, so that they can manage both career and family commitments. Hence, we will work together with businesses and community organisations to better support millennial parents. The Government will launch a pilot where public sector officers and their spouses will be guaranteed six months of parental leave per couple, so that they will have more time to adjust to the new addition in the family. Parents who need to send their child to centre-based care could then do so with greater peace of mind, when the child is older. The package of enhancements to be implemented this year will benefit up to 25,000 families annually when fully rolled out. The Government will set aside an additional $140 million per year to implement these measures. However, it is not enough for the Government to act alone.”
“They dovetail nicely with the many 100-day showers Ms Sun Xueling has attended. PA will share more in a few weeks. We also have plans to make our public transportation more family-friendly. MOT will give more details at next week's debate. With your permission, Mdm Chairman, I would like to speak in Mandarin now.”
“The data shows that two in three employees worked in companies that provided at least one form of FWAs. Anecdotally, however, as Mr Saktiandi Supaat has suggested, many employees do not feel the impact of such support. In any case, our survey last year revealed that eight in 10 married respondents cited having FWAs as an important consideration when deciding which company to join. So, it appears that companies still have some catching up to do. The Government will continue to support them through various resources, including MOM's Work-Life Grant, which provides up to $160,000 to help companies implement FWAs. More recently, the tripartite partners have published an advisory which guides companies through the process of introducing FWAs. MOM is studying ways to encourage more companies to come on board and will share more details later in the year. Let me now turn to community support. I agree with Mr Alex Yam that Government action alone cannot bring about a mindset change. They say it takes a village to raise a child. And, in Singapore, we want the entire kampong to chip in. 4.45 pm Supportive communities can greatly enrich family life. Take, for example, the Trivelis Babies group, a ground-up initiative by residents of Trivelis estate in Clementi. The group started when a few young parents were looking for mutual support in their parenthood journeys, and has grown organically to about 150 members. What was originally a "virtual kampong" to exchange child-minding tips is now a fairly tight community that comes together regularly to celebrate the Mid-autumn Festival or dress up for Halloween parties. The People's Association (PA) has some ideas on how we can bring communities together to celebrate families in a bigger way.”
“Under this pilot, supervisors in the public sector, which includes Ministries and Statutory Boards, will no longer be able to say "maybe yes, maybe no". The leave provision is gender-neutral. Both male and female public officers are eligible to apply. As long as they have been given reasonable notice, supervisors will have to accede to all applications for such parental leave and make the necessary work adjustments. The public sector pilot will also be for a longer period of three years so that we can adequately test the impact of longer parental leave in a variety of work settings. These experiences will be useful in assessing whether a nation-wide rollout is practicable in future. But I would like to add a word of caution here. We should not under-estimate the challenges of such a move. As it is, some employers face great difficulty in accommodating staff with childcare needs. Some parents also tell us of the pushback they experience from co-workers. Extending parental leave can, unwittingly, be an added source of tension at the workplace. Therefore, I hope Members will help to rally support for the pilot and give us suggestions on how we can improve its chances of success. Needless to say, while we are piloting this measure in the public sector only, we hope some private sector companies will also join in to lead the way. I should also add that parental leave provisions can only do so much. As many Members have pointed out, what employees want, increasingly, is flexibility. I thank Mr Desmond Choo for his suggestions on how technology can be an enabler for this. MOM has a useful way of thinking about flexible work arrangements (FWAs) − flexi-time, flexi-place and flexi-load.”
“Today, both working parents, together, can enjoy 20 weeks of paid leave in the first year after their child is born, and two weeks of unpaid leave. Even though infant care centres are able to take in babies from the time they are two months old, most parents feel more confident when their babies are about six months or 26 weeks old. For such parents, there could be a caregiving gap of around four weeks. We want to provide better workplace support for these parents, while balancing the need for businesses to adjust to the recent parental leave enhancements. Therefore, the public sector will take the lead to pilot a scheme to close the potential caregiving gap. Under this pilot, public sector officers and their spouses will be guaranteed six months of parental leave per couple. From July this year, the Public Service will provide an additional four weeks of unpaid infant care leave per parent, to be taken within the child's first year. This means that as long as one parent is working in the Public Service, the couple can have up to 26 weeks of leave, or six months, between them. Members may ask if the additional leave can be paid rather than unpaid. Our observation is that even with paid parental leave, some parents have not been utilising them in full. Some do not need all the leave provided; others face pressures at work that prevent them from taking more parental leave. Further paid leave does not benefit these parents. Instead, parents want better assurance of workplace support, that they can take all their parental leave provisions if they need them. This is why we have decided that the main objectives of the pilot in the Public Service are to test the general viability of longer parental leave and to require all supervisors to facilitate such leave.”
“It also includes a module to help both the employers and their helpers establish a common understanding of how the infant should be cared for. SEED and KK Hospital plan to offer 100 training places through this pilot. If the response is positive, the pilot could be scaled up. Other caregivers, such as nannies, babysitters or even parents themselves who wish to receive caregiving training, can use their SkillsFuture credits to attend several infant and childcare courses already available in the market. Turning now to workplace support. Besides housing and childcare, the third important area of focus is workplace support. Millennials, both men and women, want to have meaningful careers and fulfilling family lives. Indeed, both sets of aspirations are worthy of support. I share Ms Sun Xueling's view that we should look at support from the lens of a young parent and plug the gaps so that the transitions at each stage of the parenthood journey can be more seamless, and young parents can manage both family and work successfully. Take parental leave, for example. We have introduced a number of enhancements in recent years which are welcomed by parents. From this year, the law provides for a second week of paternity leave. Enhancements to shared parental leave and adoption leave will also come into effect in July. Parents are happy to have more time to care for and bond with their infants, and fathers can also play a bigger role in raising their newborns, all while remaining in employment. However, even with the latest enhancements, the return to regular work may still be tough for those without strong family support and who need centre-based infant care.”