K Thanaletchimi
Singapore
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I just wish to highlight that one or two of the schools, they built lifts near to the gym. A gym is supposed to be where students exercise and they are supposed to be climbing the stairways. But instead the lifts are built alongside and not at the mainstream classrooms' column.”
“I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the reply. I just wish to know, when lifts are built, are the teachers consulted on the locations where the lifts are to be built? Is there any consultation or review with the teachers in the school before it has been planned to be built?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to thank the Senior Minister of State Dr Amy Khor for the reply. Dr Khor mentioned that the Skills Framework will be out at the end of this year. May I know which profession or category of jobs in the Skills Framework will be out? Is it particularly nursing, allied health or all the other categories of jobs?”
“I would also like to ask the Minister if the Primary Care Network clinics are considered to be on par with the general practitioner clinics, so that, under the EA, the medical certificates (MCs) are recognised and also, they are able to get reimbursements from the employers.”
“I would like to ask the Minister a follow-up question on those companies on the FCF Watchlist. Are they still eligible for Government funding, such as Adapt and Grow and all the others, to improve their businesses? Are they still eligible to apply for those kinds of fundings?”
“Can the Government review and consider for a second wave of PG Package for those who missed out on the last wave? Healthcare needs are major concerns of our older citizens. We need to look after their needs adequately.”
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“Sir, PCP encourages Singaporeans to pick up skills and knowledge in different industry sector. With new schemes, such as CTP, it will be helpful to plug the gap in skillsets in certain important fields by supporting the transfer of skills from foreign specialists to fill the talent shortage, eventually to Singaporeans. Other Career Support Programmes (CSP), such as Work Trial and the new Career Trial Scheme, can be effective means for bold career switchers to not only switch industry, but also switch to different jobs to try them out before deciding to take on the job as a career. We should also identify the success rate of schemes like PCP and CSP in each and every ITM sector by focusing on it sector by sector. For sectors where PCP or CSP is less popular or the dropout rate is high, we should address those concerns and put in place measures for these schemes to grow. Conducting focus group discussions could be one way to better understand why certain schemes are less popular before we could tweak the programmes for better acceptance. Some other improvements could include mentors to provide support and longer work trial periods for better job assessment. For example, of the 223 Singaporeans from non-healthcare sectors who enrolled into the healthcare conversion programmes between 2009 and 2011, 82% completed their training and were successfully placed into a healthcare job. Among those successfully placed, 92% remained in their jobs after the end of the minimum service period. Can we define the minimum service period – the retention period – to be at least two years, so as to deem PCP as a successful placement? For the 18% not successfully placed in the sector, what are the options for them? What are the reasons for their unsuccessful placement?”
“The Public Service, being the largest employer, must ensure Public Service employees are also given appropriate training to adopt, adapt and stay relevant for future jobs. No one can escape the waves of change in the digital world. It is, therefore, important that the Public Service and its agencies keep up to the speed of change. The Public Service and its agencies, too, should take stock of jobs at risk and future jobs in demand so as to ensure that workers of today and tomorrow are placed in future jobs. I am contented to hear that the Public Service is taking the lead to invest in strategic capabilities, such as digital, data, engineering. May I request the Deputy Prime Minister to provide an update in this area? What are some of the capabilities built in the Public Service to prepare Singapore towards the digital economy? One of the strategies under the Committee of the Future Economy is to build strong digital capabilities. What are the future plans to further build such capabilities within our Public Service to enhance delivery of public services to our citizens? On the whole, how is the Public Service responding to technological disruption? Salaries”
“Sir, last year, at the Public Service Leadership dinner, Deputy Prime Minister Teo shared the need to prepare Singapore and Singaporeans towards a Smart Nation. In working together, the Deputy Prime Minister highlighted that the digital and future economy can drive growth, innovation and productivity. Digitalisation will transform the way we work and deliver public services and create many new economic opportunities. It is important for the Public Service to continue to evolve and reinvent itself to meet the needs of Singaporeans today and in the future. The digital government strategy is not far-fetched. However, it is imperative that the Public Service attract the right talent and retain them so as to better prepare the rest of the workers for digitalisation. The inauguration of Government Technology Agency (GovTech) is a clear signal to show the Government’s drive towards growth, innovation and productivity in the digital world and future economy. GovTech aims to provide engineering support to Smart Nation projects as well as to rejuvenate old e-Government services. Hence, we can look forward to more citizen-centric services through the use of technologies, such as data science and analytics, thereby transforming our Public Service delivery. Within the public sector, there is a need to transform processes and strengthen digital capabilities of our public agencies, the employees and Singaporeans as a whole. While the public sector embarks on this journey, there must also be parallel efforts to ensure that the public servants as well as Singaporeans at large are not left out, especially those who are mature and seniors. Essentially, they must also be willing to be behind this change.”
“Sir, I have a clarification. In regard to AIC that is being the focal point of bringing all the ILTC institutions together, there are different forms of ILTC institutions. Some are VWOs, some are privately-owned, some are kind of supported by MOH. How can they among themselves cross-learn the best practices and, at the same time, be more cohesive to be able to transfer skills and share skills where it is needed, because there are small and big institutions within the ILTC sector?”
“Let us embrace and employ "different strokes for different folks". Mr Speaker, Sir, with this, I conclude. 2.20 pm”
“Office building owners, which have not used up the permissible gross floor area will be able to tap on the funding to put in place the facilities. However, the take-up rate is very slow. Can we do more to increase the take-up rate? Let us make Singapore a socially responsible society at all levels. Make every workplace a family-friendly workplace. On women in the STEM or Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics industry. Lastly, the employment and employability of women, especially in the STEM industry is a major concern. With a shrinking workforce, the reliance on women to set foot in all industries becomes dire. I certainly would like to believe that there is no gender-specific or gender-biased industry at present in Singapore but more so the preference of women to be working in certain specific sectors. I urge the Government to do more to nurture the next generation of female students to be well-geared in STEM subjects and, at a later age, join the STEM industry. We must do all we can to change the mindset of parents, employers and workers. There is a growing need to grow the workforce in the STEM sector as future jobs are more likely to be generated in this sector. While we embark on the Return-to-Work (RTW) Programme, especially for mature women, we need to be more targeted. I would like to suggest that we work on each of the 23 industry sectors to customise the approach of training and induction as well as work trial. Mentors are of great help in those identified professions as they can handhold the individual, providing them with confidence and assurance. There should be a longer work trial period for complex jobs. I hope the Government can do more for the Return-to-Work Programme so that it can be more pervasive.”
“] The third issue which I would like to raise specifically for women is to mandate the allocation of lactation rooms in all new commercial buildings, as well as industrial workplaces where offices are located. Can the Government consider calling on owners of the buildings to set aside a certain percentage of the gross floor area for a lactation room, as well as offering some incentives to building owners? For existing buildings, we should evaluate and identify the possibility of creating a space for this purpose. By having lactation rooms, we are promoting the benefits of breastfeeding and, at the same time, branding such workplaces as workplaces that are conducive for female workers who are mothers with babies or infants. We need the Government’s support on this issue. The rate of gestational diabetes mellitus in Singapore is among the highest in the world. Mothers with this condition are also seven times more likely to develop Type-2 diabetes. However, a longer period of breastfeeding showed a correlation with a reduction in the risk of women developing Type-2 diabetes. (In English): We need companies to understand this. Studies have shown that a mother should breast feed her infant for the first six months and up to two years of the child's life for the benefit of the child and mother. With four months of maternity leave, mothers tend to give up breastfeeding and switch to baby formula because of the lack of lactation rooms at the workplace. We should not allow this to happen. Currently, the WorkPro Work-Life Grant – Developmental Grant allows owners of post-1990 buildings to tap on the funding, capped at S$20,000, to put in publicly accessible lactation facilities.”
“Not many employers are adopting such good practices where staff feel cared for and, in return, employers will get 100% loyalty and support from the staff when the company needs them during dire situations without counting hours worked. Generally, the behaviour of many staff will fall into the category of “good deeds beget good deeds”. As a developed country, while we are concerned about economic growth, it should not be at the expense of social needs. About 50% of our population are women and, increasingly, men, too, are embracing caregiving roles. It is, hence, essential for the Government to look at this from a broader viewpoint. The third issue which I would like to raise specifically for women is to mandate the allocation of lactation room in all new commercial buildings as well as industrial workplaces where offices are located. Can the Government consider calling on owners of the buildings to set aside a certain percentage of the gross floor area for lactation rooms, with some incentives given? For existing buildings, we should evaluate the possibility of creating space for this purpose. With lactation rooms, we are promoting breastfeeding and, inadvertently, branding the workplace as a baby-friendly workplace. We need the Government’s support in this area. Singapore has among the highest gestational diabetes rates globally. Women with gestational diabetes are up to seven times more likely to develop Type-2 diabetes. However, longer durations of breastfeeding showed a correlation with reduction in the risk of women developing Type-2 diabetes. Now, in Malay, Sir. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.”
“These women will need support throughout their lifetime if they are not working or fall out of employment for such reasons. On mandating the right to request for flexible work arrangements, I urge the Government to commission a study on the plight of these working women so as to better understand the issues faced by different industries. I agree there must be progressive efforts made to create awareness. There is also a pressing need for sharing best practices in a more pervasive manner. We must have a change agent, early adopter, amongst companies and industries that have successfully rolled out FWA to share with the rest of the sectors and be a catalyst for change. I also call upon the Government to consider mandating the right to request for flexible work arrangements if all efforts – I repeat – if all efforts to persuade employers in this aspect fail. Time and tide wait for no man. Therefore, we must change before more women at child-bearing age fall out of employment. This will surely pose social problems as our population ages. On caregiving leave. A young mother, whose child was admitted to hospital due to several bouts of epileptic attacks, had to take leave to care for her child. Her supervisor was unhappy that she took too many days of leave to care for her sick child. Having been bogged down with KPIs, such as waiting time, the supervisor gave the young mother an ultimatum to resign from the job if she failed to make other childcare arrangements. The young mother needed her job so that she could continue to support her family and her child’s medical expenses. She approached the union for help and managed to settle the issue amicably with the union’s intervention. This brings me to my point about Government mandating caregiving leave.”
“The relationship with her Reporting Officer (RO) became strained after her RO refused to grant her flexible work arrangement as she could not find any person to take up parts of her duties. She related her experience to the union but decided not to take it up with the human resource department as she did not want to cause any trouble. Sir, I shall speak in Tamil. (In Tamil): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] At this juncture, I would like to share a case of a nurse whom I know working in a healthcare setting who had to give up her job because she was not granted flexible work arrangements as she had to look after her children. The relationship with her employer became bitter after her reporting officer refused to grant her flexible work arrangements as she could not find any other nurse to take up part of her duties. She related her experience to the union but decided not to take it up with the higher-ups as she did not want to cause any trouble. (In English): Similarly, another female staff, who devoted most of her working life to one employer had requested for flexible work arrangements as she has to look after her school-going children and ailing mother-in-law. She, too, had had her request turned down. What do these anecdotal stories tell us? While the top management of most companies are supportive of flexible work arrangements in principle, however, it does not seem that such support trickles down to every level within the organisation. Departments and supervisors do not know exactly how to implement flexible work arrangements successfully. They have KPIs to meet and, therefore, tend to take a hard stand with such requests. In both cases, they typically involve women who are burdened and who are financially strapped.”
“This is all the more important as we are seeing an increasing number of healthcare professionals bringing healthcare services to patients at home. As the home setting is an uncontrolled environment compared to a controlled hospital setting, we need to equip our healthcare professionals with the relevant skills to deal with unforeseen situations and in managing their emotional and mental well-being. Let me now touch on the topic of Women at Work. As a society, we embrace inclusivity and, as corporations, we should embrace corporate social responsibility where human capital, regardless of gender, has to be nurtured and retained. I concur with Labour Member Desmond Choo that more can be done to help our young parents thrive in the new economy. It is particularly challenging for women who often have to juggle work and family commitments. I will be speaking mainly on family-friendly workplaces and the employment and employability of women. Value the family behind every worker. The topic on family-friendly workplace has been a discussion point without much yield. The slow adoption of the Tripartite Standards on Flexi-work Arrangement is rather concerning. Singapore remains a rather conservative country when it comes to caring for and valuing the family that is behind every worker. The burden of caring for the young and elderly often fall on the shoulders of women. Companies in various sectors can do more to help female workers. I would like to share a case where a nurse working in a healthcare setting had to give up her job because she was not granted flexible work arrangements as she had to look after her children.”
“First, provide opportunity for workers in other industries who are potentially in danger of retrenchment or whose industries are in the sunset industry. Work with the relevant stakeholders, licensing body, IHL and professional group to review the current training programme and provide them with bite-sized curriculum. Two, invite non-practising nurses to return to nursing, especially in community nursing and the ILTC sector. Provide them with the specific skillsets required for community nursing and allow flexible work arrangements. Though the return-to-work programme has been fairly successful in healthcare, we can tweak it to make it more attractive for such groups of non-practising nurses who are mainly housewives. Third, tap the mature workforce to create supporting roles, such as healthcare assistants or healthcare attendants. Provide training for them so they have the relevant skills. These are decent jobs that will allow our mature workers to join the healthcare sector. Last but not least, I would like to put forward the idea of setting up a Healthcare Academy at the Tripartite level with the participation of relevant stakeholders. I mooted this suggestion at the last Budget debate. I would like to re-ignite this, especially after having gathered more ground feedback from various professional groups of workers and relevant stakeholders. The two key objectives of the Healthcare Academy are: one, to provide enhanced skills training to all healthcare professionals identified in the Healthcare ITM; and two, to standardise the foundational core skills training for identified healthcare professionals, especially in the ILTC sector. The verticals of the skillset training must be seen in parallel with the horizontals of the soft skillset.”
“This should not be the case if we truly embark on skills-based PWM and elimination of the glass ceiling. Next, it is also crucial to identify jobs at risk and work out feasible plans for affected employees to ensure smooth transition of employees from existing jobs to new jobs by engaging MOH, public healthcare clusters and various healthcare institutions. For example, the jobs in medical records departments in various healthcare institutions would be replaced by National Electronic Health Record (NEHR). Essentially, we need to engage the relevant stakeholders early to minimise disruption to employees’ livelihood. While we look at existing jobs at risk, it is equally important to identify future jobs to work out the skills and training required. In addition, other support schemes, such as the Professional Conversion Programmes (PCPs), Career Support Programme and Work or Career Trial, would supplement the existing efforts in attracting local talents into the growing manpower demand in the healthcare industry. We need to find ways to shorten the PCP programmes and improve the quality and standards of healthcare professionals, especially for career switchers. In this aspect, we need to draw in the expertise and wisdom of the professional licensing body. It is critical for us to change so as to attract more locals into the healthcare profession. It would also be worthwhile to conduct a study on the nearly 4,000 non-practising nurses to understand their reasons for exiting from this profession and what would make them return as a practising nurse. With the shift to community nursing and the focus on the Intermediate and Long-Term Care (ILTC) sector, we will need more nurses with the relevant skillsets and attributes. I would like to suggest three ways to embark on this.”
“SkillsFuture Singapore has started its work on the development of the skills framework for six healthcare professions, namely, Physiotherapy, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Nursing, Patient Service Associate and Pharmacy Technician. We should continue to look at other healthcare professions, such as Therapy Assistant and Community Nurse, in view of the shift towards community care. We should also consider other job positions in the administrative job group to ensure that the relevant skills and training are mapped out for their career progression. There is fear amongst administrative and ancillary staff group, like the health attendants, that, with automation and robotics, will their job be redundant. One way would be to embark on the progressive wage model (PWM) across all levels of healthcare professions. PWM will help to increase wages of healthcare employees through skills upgrading and productivity improvement. Another way would be to gradually move away from only recognising academic qualification to purely skill-based remuneration to break the glass ceiling. Hence, the shift towards modularised training is highly recommended. The Institutes of Higher Learning (IHL) should develop such modules to deepen the skills of healthcare employees. In return, the healthcare institutions, both public and private, should embrace and recognise these skills attained by the employees and remunerate them accordingly. Let me share with you the plight of such a group of workers who felt their career is stagnant. These are the secretaries for the clinical department in the hospitals. They have no room for growth or career advancement unless they obtain higher academic qualifications, that is, diploma or degree.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of Budget 2018 presented by Minister Heng Swee Keat. I am heartened that the Budget is all-inclusive and it embraces both the short-term and long-term needs of Singapore. Sir, I will be speaking on two broad areas, that is, Industry Transformation Maps and Women at Work. On operationalising Industry Transformation Maps in our journey of economic transformation, I agree that the approach of Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs) for the 23 industries was a good start. We need to work on the strategies to operationalise them. The ITMs were a product of Tripartite efforts and should be treated beyond a paper exercise. All relevant stakeholders should continue to come together and implement the ideas on the ITMs. This should be an ongoing effort. On 8 November 2017, Minister Gan Kim Yong, launched the Healthcare ITM which mapped out the key strategies to steer the healthcare industry and workforce towards better skills and better work, so that they can deliver better care for Singaporeans. The Singapore healthcare system is confronted with an ageing population with increasing chronic conditions, coupled with a slower workforce growth and rising healthcare costs. Minister Gan presented three "beyonds", that is, beyond healthcare to health, beyond hospital to community and beyond quality to value to ensure our healthcare system meets the three core objectives of accessibility, quality and affordability. The future directions for the healthcare industry have been put forward clearly in the ITM. Therefore, it is important to operationalise the ideas effectively. I shall now speak on national skills framework. First and foremost, there is a need to develop a national skills framework for current skills in demand and future skills.”
“In regard to near-misses, is the Ministry considering mandatory reporting of near-misses of certain specific injuries since they are quite frequently happening at workplaces? And how do we encourage employers to document near-misses or register near-misses to MOM?”
“In the areas of training, the Government may consider grants to encourage individual personnel to take up cybersecurity courses or programmes to refresh their knowledge and to be updated on the latest advancements, as the industry transforms rapidly. This can be tied to SkillsFuture cybersecurity upskilling grants. To enhance governance and oversight, it would be worthy to introduce an accredited framework for auditors to perform checks and provide guidance or advice on what companies can do to have a more secured portal. Establishing a national cybersecurity audit to check on the stakeholders of the 11 sectors will provide a high level of assurance for those who engage in services in the specific sector. Effective communication mechanism or efficient connectivity to promptly inform stakeholders and companies of the specific sector or sectors that could be potential target and how to take timely precaution will serve to act as preventive means. Companies or individuals who proved to have unintentionally violated the requirements in the Bill, should be made to go through relevant cybersecurity programmes and this should be made compulsory. In fact, it would be useful to ensure that all staff of the industry be made to attend awareness programmes in this field, so as to better protect the critical information. Sir, I fully support the Bill that raises the level of resilience in our efforts to prevent and combat global cybersecurity attacks that periodically threatens us, especially when we least expect.”
“With this as backdrop, I am, indeed, heartened to see the Government’s inclusive effort to garner stakeholder’s feedback and support on the Cybersecurity Bill. It is, indeed, notable that the public consultation on the Bill, which was originally scheduled from 10 July to 3 August 2017, was extended to allow respondents more time to provide feedback on such an important Bill that is pertinent to safeguard the people of Singapore in all aspects. The importance of working with the various stakeholders cannot be over-emphasised and it is equally pertinent to ensure the relevant sectors work closely with one another to implement the intricacies of the Bill and to ensure the proposed requirements are adhered to. I believe implementing it would be more challenging than enforcing the Bill. Licensing cybersecurity service providers may not be a popular move but a necessary one to ensure that they meet the security needs. In this regard, I would like to propose the following suggestions for consideration. There needs to be a structured means of briefing the companies, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs), on guidelines to encourage them to adhere to the cybersecurity measures. SMEs may not have the resources and capabilities to adhere to the measures, unless they are given the impetus and financial support to put in place the necessary requirements. They may also need borrowed expertise to put in place the secured means of protecting information as they serve as a third-party vendor to some clients. It would be good for the Government to grow and provide a pipeline of those talents to assist these companies which will need them.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I stand in support of the Bill. It is, indeed, a step in the right direction in light of more and more sophisticated cyber threats which have crippled a country's CII, such as that which happened to NHS in the UK, as the Minister has alluded to. The terrible impact of the cyberattack devastated hospitals and GP clinics in the UK. Its Cyber Security Centre was working round the clock to bring its systems back online when this attack resulted in surgeries being cancelled, ambulances being diverted and patient records missing after it became the highest-profile victim of a global ransomware attack and was faced with renewed concern about the strength of its infrastructure. This malware blocks access to any files on PC until a ransom is paid. This could have been a situation in Singapore if we are not better prepared. The concern over cybersecurity becomes more imminent with the Ministry of Health’s (MOH's) direction to move into NEHR for patients, which is an excellent initiative. With access to one patient record across public and private healthcare sectors, framework, structure, audits, cybersecurity governance and oversight, including educating the stakeholders and providing relevant continuous training, becomes paramount. Our country’s information infrastructure has to be protected and well-preserved from infiltration and attack in the name of cyber-terrorism. The special focus of the 11 key sectors, such as Government, security and emergency, healthcare, telecommunications, banking and finance, energy, water, media, land transport, air transport and maritime, demonstrates the critical nature of the sector that could cripple the entire Singapore in terms of economy and threaten our lives to its devastation.”
“Similarly, in Germany, legislation allows for fake news or illegal content in social network to be removed within 24 hours. In concluding, my belief is that the Select Committee appointment is a step in the right direction and I support this move.”
“I would like to applaud the efforts of tertiary institutions, such as Singapore Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the Singapore Management University (SMU) that have introduced lessons to help students differentiate fact from fiction, where students are taught to do credibility checks on sources, cross-referencing and use of authoritative sources. Secondary schools could also include media and digital information literacy in their curriculum, where students learn to pick on cues to uncover misinformation, question misleading sources and resist the temptation of believing just simply. Eventually, we hope to cultivate a generation with a healthy scepticism on the online information. Lastly, on legislation. We should monitor the situation and consider various effective means of curbing and preventing deliberate on-line falsehood. Legislation and tighter controls must also be considered to combat the “virus” of falsehood. As for foreign influence, we need to have some gate-keeping mechanism to know the source of the news, who is the sponsor, what is the intent of the action, as what the Minister for Law has mentioned earlier. We should learn from the experiences of other countries and study what actions have been taken to overcome those challenges. France, Germany and the US are also similarly working to overcome the problem of fake news. The proposed law in France requires websites to make public the identities of those who sponsor content. It also provides for emergency procedures introduced during elections, providing judges the ultimate power to remove content, close websites that publish false information or fake news.”
“The recent online survey scam that NTUC FairPrice was rewarding customers with a $400 gift card voucher in celebration of its 45th anniversary is a clear example to demonstrate the spread of falsehoods online. I suggest that an online platform be created for public to complain about factual inaccuracies and to check the validity of the news. Currently, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has an online platform to feedback on specific concerns or complaints with the healthcare service providers or the Ministry. There could be an additional category to include feedback on online falsehoods relating to public health safety issues for MOH to investigate and clarify with members of the public. This is one such example I could give and other Ministries could also have a similar kind of arrangement. This would mobilise the public energies to police lies and distortions with a web-based open system listing journalists, publications, news channels and other websites. On public engagement. Given the diverse demographic of our Republic, it is important to embrace diverse viewpoints. Singapore Conversations was a good way to engage Singaporeans openly on policies and the rationale behind them. The Government could continue to sharpen their strategic communication efforts and media activities to be able to rebut false stories and to be believed, and it has to be responsive and timed. Education and mind set change. This is a very important topic that many Members have also spoken about. Ultimately, the focus could be on educating our citizens on media and digital information literacy.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Motion for the formation of the Select Committee to study deliberate spread and impact of online falsehoods. With the rise in technology and digitisation, the online space has been widening and is certainly one area of concern for every right-minded people and organisations, including the Labour Movement, given the multinational, multi-racial, multi-religious composition of the people and members that we have. Sir, as I support the appointment of the Select Committee, I would like to put forth the following recommendations. I support the appointment of a Select Committee to study the issue of deliberate online falsehoods, that is, fake news, and make appropriate and well-balanced recommendations as to how, as a nation, we should respond and how to cultivate the values of accountability and responsibility, especially when posting materials on social media. It is imperative for the Committee to study this issue in depth and solicit responses from the public and various interest groups as a ground-up inclusive move, as compared to introducing legislation alone without consultation. There is a fine line between satires, deliberate online falsehood or differing yet genuine opinions that may not resonate with the State's views. I propose that the Select Committee comprise different parties in the community and professionals from the digital media sector with relevant knowledge and experience. Accountability on online platforms. Online platforms could create tools to help stem the spread of falsehoods. Technical steps could be taken to remove or limit access to propaganda outlets using the conditions of use of most Internet service providers and "report/block content" buttons.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I have a supplementary for the Senior Parliamentary Secretary with regard to the training providers who have attained ATO and Accredited Training Provider (ATP). Could the Ministry consider ranking these training providers based on the quality of teaching? Very often, we hear of the main trainers to be ACTA accredited but then, if they are not there, the relief trainers do not have that certification.”
“I would just like to seek a clarification on internship. Do we really monitor the quality of internship programme? And do we evaluate it because companies may seem keen to provide internship but who does the monitoring, evaluation and feedback?”
“In clause 9 section 27(4A), it is laudable that our society is gradually being receptive, inclusive and embracing ex-offenders by giving them second chances, in support of the Yellow Ribbon Project initiatives. However, will there be any exceptional provision where such persons will be barred or disqualified forever, even if their charges are spent? Section 9(27)(1A)(II) is relating to anti-terrorism. There have been some worrying perceptions on the ground about charities acting as a conduit for money laundering and terrorism, and this may be unfounded. Perhaps, one should take note so as to not overly mention religious charity groups in its publicity, as opposed to other charity groups. In conclusion, on the whole, this timely change to the Charities Act is a move in the right direction, and I fully support the Bill.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Bill. The amendments will bring about stronger regulation of charities in order to gain better public trust and confidence. The requirement for accountability would help to ensure that all fundraising activities are subjected to thorough scrutiny and abuses as well as exploitations are avoided. Sir, though I support the Bill, I would like to seek the following clarifications. Is there any way to make the usage of the funds more transparent, as the Minister has said it will be regulated, especially for Institutions of Public Character (IPCs)? How can we encourage donations among Singaporeans for a more regulated cause as compared to crowdfunding which is via Internet in an uncontrolled form? For charitable organisations, is there crowdfunding ethics developed for greater transparencies and improved public trust that the funds raised are put to good use and for the intended purpose? Earlier, Minister had shared there is going to be a Code of Practice on crowdfunding. I welcome this and also wish to know when this will be implemented. With reference to clause 8(c) section 25(4)(4A) and clause 9(9) section 28, have there been previous cases or incidents where disqualified persons still remained in key positions and have there been any adverse impact or misuse of donations? If so, how have these been managed? It is natural for public to be disappointed and alarmed to hear that such disqualified persons still remain in those key positions or continued to assume key positions in one or more charities without being removed from the position or barred from being in one. And I welcome the changes in this Bill.”
“Are the officers given sufficient training to help them better handle the expanded and enriched responsibilities? On protection for the officers, are the officers better protected against complaints and legal actions from a suspect who may be injured as the officers restrain the suspect? And so, how much and how well are the officers protected? Will there be a consideration to enhance workplace insurance or workplace injury compensation for the officers with this enhancement of job responsibilities? Sir, notwithstanding this, I support the Bill.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Bill. The amendments provide greater empowerment to ICA officers critical in dealing with any cross-border threats. In order to perform their duties better in their expanded role, the ICA officers need to be well-trained in protective security, especially during emergency situations. With the enhanced responsibilities comes the need for upskilling. As such, would the career path for ICA officers be similarly enhanced? Will there be a review of their career progression? Second, it is commendable that the ICC would be better equipped to deal with any checkpoint incidents with minimal delay. This is essential to manage threats against Singapore, and citizens, too, would realise the importance of being vigilant against security threats. It is, indeed, the joint responsibility of both authorities and our citizens to ensure and enforce stringent checks at the border. On this note, how can civilians play their part in identifying and reporting potential threats? How can we better train them to be, by passing information that is relevant? The collection of information of transit passengers is of significant importance for security and traceability. How will the information be shared readily, responsively and constructively with the other agencies to circumvent threats and adverse incidents? Are there cross-border collaborations to better optimise data use and information? On the inclusion of the new section 51AA, subsection 10(b), the ICA officer may use all reasonable means necessary to make the arrest if the person to be arrested forcibly resists or tries to evade the arrest. I would like to seek clarification on what is considered as "reasonable" or what constitutes "reasonableness"?”
“There should be clear guidelines on which data can be shared and which data cannot be shared among public sector institutions, for instance, in healthcare. There should also be a mechanism in place with adequate safeguards where the public sector and private sector are able to share relevant data to benefit Singaporeans and Singapore as a whole. Financial governance is related to corporate governance and it is extremely pertinent to have proper management of financial resources. There should be clarity on who is responsible and accountable for what matters. Statutory Boards should work closely with their respective Ministries to implement Government policies and deliver public services effectively so that public confidence is further strengthened. In addition, there should be a strategic resource plan accompanying the Annual Budget to deter unreasonable and excessive spending. There should also be rigorous financial reporting, in compliance with the AG. In conclusion, though I support these changes, we need to be mindful there should be a balance between standardising practices and allowing a supportive and nurturing environment for innovation and creativity to evolve. There must also be a fine balance between rigidity and flexibility, as well as simplicity, to minimise bureaucracy. Sir, notwithstanding this, I support the Bill.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I welcome the changes to the Public Sector Governance Bill. It is notable that the amendments are mainly for the purpose of streamlining and standardising the corporate governance provision across the various Statutory Boards. The requirement for accountability and clear responsibility would support the greater whole-of-Government approach. Along with Smart Nation drive, citizens should have a single platform access to relevant information on Government policies. The changes to the Bill also signal a timely need to have better data control for more efficient and effective processes. On corporate governance, generally, the public has high regard for the Singapore Public Service. It is well-known for its efficiency in terms of its rules, practices and processes. However, at times, Government agencies run into excessive bureaucracy when working with one another. Therefore, it is important for our Public Service to keep up to date on their rules, practices and processes to continuously uphold public trust and confidence. Secondly, as the nation drives productivity and innovation in the private sector, it is equally imperative for the public sector to take the lead in productivity and innovation. Some of the practices and processes could be irrelevant in the current context and, with a digital economy as the future, the public sector should embrace digitisation wherever possible and reflect them in their practices and processes. On data governance, we often hear the word, "Big Data" as we move towards a digital economy. Data collected can be used to make more informed decisions and formulate policies more effectively. It is important to protect these data as they can be subjected to misuse.”
“From the preventive health perspective, it is important that, as a society, as a caring community, we must put in all efforts to stop our young from being preyed upon by the smoking habit which will result in more chronic and critical illnesses, if left unchecked. Similar to the "War on Diabetes", HPB could consider a "War on Smoking" to stop this social ill and to mitigate against rising healthcare costs in the long run and reduce the environmental risks smoking poses. Mr Speaker, Sir, notwithstanding the concerns, I support the Bill. 3.50 pm”
“HPB pro-quitting campaign in 2014 was useful in the sense that it had moved away from the traditional campaign model of focusing on "anti-smoking" publicity as well as displays of debilitating and ill-effects of smoking on the individual and those around them by instead focusing on empowering individuals who had quit smoking. One should feel "more cool" not to smoke or quit smoking completely. Perhaps, the Government can consider a campaign that is specifically targeted at youths below 21 years old and understand the psychology of preventing them from catching the habit of smoking at an early age. In addition to that, there could be more effective publicity put up in public spaces and crowded areas with the hotlines or alternative avenues, such as support groups or services, which current smokers can dial or visit if they ever want to consider quitting. Our home is the first defence for our youths to stay away from cigarettes. Schools and social places where youths congregate should help in the education and sharing of testimony from fellow youths who had quit smoking and the start of an empowering journey of self-realisation for many other youths who have the intention to embrace smoking. Importantly, public education campaigns will have to be met with sufficient funding so that the media components can achieve the necessary outreach to be effective. Perhaps, there can be more local research convened to study the ill-effects of smoking on the fertility of both genders and the effects on foetal development in pregnant women in the local context. Such facts can add to the realisation of not picking up the habit and, if individuals have done so, there is a possibility of such individuals dropping the habit due to better understanding of the perverse outcomes of smoking.”
“One possible way to "effectively" pass a law to eliminate smoking or its onset in youth could be to introduce stiffer or greater penalties or punishments for the "middlemen" or social sources. There are existing laws in Singapore as deterrent that penalise underage teens who are caught smoking and teenagers or adult peddlers and commercial stores which sell them illegally. However, there is no safeguard from temptation; temptation aroused by social sources or acquaintances that continually provide easy access to tobacco or cigarettes as a form of temptation. Introducing financial penalties that will progressively get harsher could be one way in which the state can not only ensure cigarettes are not sold to underage teens, but also ensure a reduction in access to social sources. Raising the age limit may potentially be a cosmetic deterrent that will not be effective enough if the availability of cigarettes from social settings in social events is not addressed. Secondly, more needs to be done to change the image of smoking being "cool". Experimental smoking can stem from peer pressure, as a form of coping mechanism, but likely because these underage teens still think it is cool to smoke, and the Government needs to tackle mindset change in the way they view smokers. Many youths look upon celebrities to be their role models and, therefore, it is important for such celebrities to be promoting abstinence from smoking. A series of public awareness campaigns and testimonies by famous sports talents and celebrities will be more impactful and a force to be reckoned with. It would also be worthy to consider helping individuals make their own decision to stay away from the smoking habit so that they feel empowered.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Motion. Increasing the MLA for smoking from 18 to 21 is a move in the right direction and making it an offence to own tobacco substitutes, such as e-cigarettes, will surely prevent potential addiction to those substitutes. Many youths today succumb to smoking for social acceptance by friends or peer pressure or falsely believing that it would reduce stress and for other reasons which they feel are justified. There is much anecdotal evidence, which we often heard, that the young male adults picked up smoking habits while serving National Service. Youths below 21 tend to be more vulnerable to fall into such undesirable and unhealthy habits as presently; at 18, they are able to purchase cigarettes freely. Research has shown that young adults would be less likely to start or be addicted to nicotine after the age of 21. However, there is apprehension whether by increasing the MLA, will the desired effects and intended outcome of having fewer young people being addicted to nicotine be realised in the local context. Increasing the MLA will increase the social distance or age gap from social sources who can buy the cigarettes for them legally, but it may not deter teenagers who have been smoking daily. The main effect of doing so may simply be to drive 18 to 20 year-olds to find other means of obtaining tobacco, legally or illegally. For instance, purchase of cigarettes from commercial stores by this age-group will see a decrease, but this will mean that they will simply turn to their social sources, that is, soliciting help from someone who is 21 or above or being offered tobacco by relatives, friends or strangers.”
“Can there also be punitive action taken against employers who do not have processes or measures in place to protect employees from such abuses or do not act on clear alarm raised with due diligence? With an increasing number of abuses and harassment over time, it is important that more needs to be done in this aspect. Call it education awareness or mindset change, but nothing beats legislation and enforcement. Mr Speaker, Sir, notwithstanding this, I support the Bill.”
“Moreover, besides penalties, there should also be rewards to motivate organisations and individuals to practise WSH as a way of life and as a DNA of its organisation. Penalty can be in the form of added tax. Incentive can be in the form of tax rebates. Employers can then plough back this amount to institute additional safety measures or health programmes for employees, including for their mental health well-being. Lastly, I would like to raise a dire concern of workplace abuse and harassment. Even though the Protection from Harassment Act provides an avenue for individuals to take civil or criminal action against perpetrators, there is still the hovering concern that such post-incident penalty does not reduce the number of such incidences over time and neither does it provide impetus for employers to put in place the required awareness, knowledge and training element, as well as preventive or deterrent measures, to protect employees from such abuses and harassment at the workplace. Different employers have different levels of measures implemented, and some have none at the workplace. Besides, such incidences not only affect the physical but also the psychological and emotional state of individuals if it happens. To present greater weightage to this issue of abuse and harassment at the workplace, can there be a more defined inclusion of workplace abuse and harassment incorporated into the WSH requirement and obligation by employers so as to provide a safe work environment for the employees? Can WICA include such forms of inflicting injury caused by abuse and harassment that are proven with evidence, instead of individuals taking up a costly civil case against perpetrators?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, safety and health should be more than an integral part of a company’s culture, including SMEs. It should be engrained in the DNAs of the organisation for us to achieve our vision towards zero accident. Our working people need to have a safe environment, as well as good health, to do their daily work efficiently and contribute at their optimum capacity. Safety and health can affect an individual’s and a company’s productivity and, hence, influence the economic output of the company and the country as a whole. It is vital to strengthen industry ownership of WSH outcomes. Workplace incidents vary across industries and, hence, there should be more platforms for industries to come together at the sector level and share incidents and learning point for everyone to better understand the issues. The Bill sets out to allow the Commissioner for WSH to make public a detailed incident learning report before any prosecution. However, we need to have a clear purpose and measurable outcomes to see if this initiative translates into intended outcomes on enhancing workplace safety. There should be clear links between such practices leading to a reduction in workplace incidents at the sectorial level. Having said that, it is essential for all stakeholders to understand that such report sharing should not be a finger-pointing exercise where stakeholders may form a preconceived notion of the cause of the incident even before the investigation is conclusive, instead of using such case sharing to learn and to avoid similar incidents from occurring. Enhancing deterrence through more stringent WSH penalties is welcomed. However, the maximum penalty amount does not seem to be much of a deterrent, especially when there is loss of life or lives.”
“The challenge is to sustain the effort and, essentially, to remind ourselves that the threat is constant and psychological preparedness is key. With this, I support the Motion.”
“Second, companies must be encouraged through tax rebates or incentives to set up mental wellness or mental health counselling sessions for employees who are undergoing stress, depression or psychological challenges. The availability of professionals, such as psychotherapists, psychologists and professional counsellors, will certainly be of great help in identifying individuals who are much affected, both mentally and behaviourally, so that early intervention will certainly defuse potential explosive threats from taking place. It will also prevent such vulnerable individuals from being preyed upon by terrorist cells. Third, we must ensure that workplaces are better prepared to provide first-aid or first line rescue, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and be equipped with automated external defibrillator (AED) devices. When incidents happen, the workers have only themselves to help one another until rescue comes. Companies must invest in this effort to train their employees for the possible eventuality. Companies should also encourage their employees to support blood donation and be prepared to do so when called upon. Lastly, the relevant Ministry to continue to promote workplace integration and the use of the available funds for companies to establish a framework that includes sustainable diversity management programmes and promote the establishment of "Diversity Ambassadors" to ensure unity in diversity and to propagate the message of workplace integration and workplace harmony. The unions in the unionised companies can partner this effort. Mr Speaker, Sir, in conclusion, I would like to commend the Government for its effort to bring about SGSecure and its resolve to make it pervasive both in the community and at the workplaces.”
“Companies must be better prepared with contingency plans or business continuity plans in the event of being succumbed to terrorist acts. The employees must be trained to be conscious of their surroundings and be better prepared to identify potential dangers, such as strange behaviours of their fellow employees or strangers loitering at the workplace. There must be an independent channel for staff to raise alert should there be a likelihood of threat, and that companies must be willing and be prepared to deal with such alerts. Workplaces must continue to maintain harmony, and it is the corporate social responsibility of every employer to do so. In the event such threats should happen despite much vigilance, companies must have the means to deal with the recovery to attain the normalcy state swiftly. For this, it is crucial for companies to have professionals who could better address the psychology of employees who are affected. Incidences at workplaces should not divide a society or stigmatise people based on race, religion or nationality. We need to preserve harmony and industrial peace, as societal disruption is a perfect recipe for a country's downfall. Therefore, I would urge the Government to encourage and, where required, mandate the following to prepare workplaces better to confront terrorism. First, regardless of multinational companies (MNCs) or small and medium enterprises (SMEs), companies should be urged to perform SG Secure drills or at least tabletop exercises minimally once a year. Companies must be well-connected and work with various Government agencies, such as the Singapore Civil Defence Force, Home Team, as well as healthcare institutions at a geographical cluster level.”
“He can concur that the kind of enthusiasm, high spirit and atmosphere of gotong royong amongst the staff of all races and nationalities dressed up in the traditional Malay outfits were, indeed, highly commendable. The above example is an illustration of how organisations can weave in the workplace integration efforts as part of their staff inclusiveness in the social setting. In fact, I fully support the launch of the Community Integration Fund by the National Integration Council in September 2009 to support organisations in implementing ground-up integration initiatives. I urge that more organisations should step forward to tap on this fund, not only to lessen the financial burden of these events' costs but, essentially, with the altruistic objective of promoting inclusivity and social well-being amongst employees. In addition, I personally feel that the organisers need to put in dedicated time to design the programme in a style that the audience can capture the essence of workplace integration and harmony. As we go through the major economic transformation, it is vital that we focus on both the hardware and the heartware so that our social fabrics at workplaces are strengthened. Similar to how we treat health and safety as an important value and culture at our workplaces, likewise, workplace integration and harmony must be regarded and treated with equal importance for Singapore's progress, not only in today's global climate, but also for tomorrow. While we place great emphasis on workplace integration and inclusion, it is of paramount importance that we always stay guarded against the potential threat that confronts us, be it in the community or at the workplaces, and be better prepared to confront the threat and overcome the fear.”
“There should be platforms for the employees to understand the local culture, and this should be an integral part of the organisation, such as during employee orientation. For example, I would like to quote some positive examples from Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. As the President of Healthcare Services Employees' Union (HSEU), I have attended as an invited guest to their festive celebrations, such as Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Puasa, Deepavali, to mention a few. I am so heartened and impressed by the efforts put in by the management of all levels, including doctors, to integrate their staff from various cultural backgrounds. It is strongly supported by the Chief Executive Officer and the Senior Management staff. The event is designed in a manner that the audience understands the rationale as well as the practices of each culture. The entire event, including the emcees and performers, are employees of Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. The organisers, who are employees themselves, take a deep interest in trying to understand the cultural practices and translate them into easily comprehensible acts or performance to the audience, that is, their diverse employees. For instance, during the period of Ramadan, non-Muslim employees were encouraged to fast for one day so that they can participate in the fasting process with their Muslim colleagues and, at the same time, understand the reasons for doing so. In this case, it is beyond theory but also in action, showing the unique practices of each culture. In fact, at this year's Hari Raya Puasa celebration at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, our hon Parliamentary Secretary, Mr Amrin Amin, was the special guest at the event.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, for more than five decades, Singapore has created a multiracial and multi-religious society not by chance but by choice, delicately balancing meritocracy with multiracialism. Since young, through education, every Singaporean has been continuously reminded that the peace and stability that we enjoy should not be taken for granted. Today, we often hear the word, "terrorism", both offline and online. There are a number of incidences, including the recent attacks in London, reminding everyone that there is a need not only to be vigilant but also a pertinent need to be resilient. I welcome the SGSecure initiative. It is vital for all of us to look out for security threats and to know how to respond to such threats. We should acknowledge that terrorism is not far away and it can come to Singapore in both physical and psychological forms. We should not think of it as "if it happens", that is, if terrorism comes to Singapore, but rather think of it as "when it happens", what do we do? Are we prepared to confront it or hide behind the veil of fear and trepidation? Our Singapore workforce constituents comprise a combination of local and migrant workers. Hence, it is not only important to inculcate the value of multiracialism and multiculturalism among Singaporeans, but also to the migrant workers from various countries. In the case of the healthcare industry, other than the Singaporean Core, the industry is supplemented by migrant workers from the Philippines, Myanmar, China, India and many other countries. With such diversity in the workplace, it is pertinent to place emphasis on workplace integration and management of diversity.”
“Though our median wage has risen beyond $3,000, it is imperative to note that as the population continues to age, the burden on children in smaller families grows exponentially, even more so, as our average lifespan increases beyond 80. I suggest we consider increasing the annual income criterion set at $4,000 for individuals with dependants to be reflective of cost of living and rising healthcare cost. Fourthly, working mothers' child relief to be similarly extended to the fathers in recognition of shared parenting responsibility. If we are true to the values and culture of shared parenting, then the whole-of-Government policies should demonstrate the essence of cultivating such behaviours, attitudes and values of both parents caring for their children with equal responsibilities, both emotionally and financially, and, thus, the tax structure should also support such values to grow. Lastly, the personal income tax rebates should continue as long as the Government's fiscal position remains strong. A review of the corporate income tax rebates will certainly help to offset cost of restructuring which is much needed for industries to transform. Sir, notwithstanding this, I welcome the Bill.”
“As for clause 12 in the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill to amend section 14DA, tax-exemption for R&D is important in encouraging innovation even in a slowing economy to empower the continual transformation of our industries and economy. We cannot afford to put off or delay development in R&D. Instead, we need to do all we can to encourage such efforts in the hope of making great breakthroughs. While I welcome the proposed changes to both corporate and income tax rebates despite and in light of economic uncertainties, I would also like to take this opportunity to suggest further review and consideration of the following. Firstly, I would suggest additional tax rebates for vulnerable groups, such as caregivers, as the last review was done in YA2015. This would be of great financial relief to those caring for the aged and persons with disability, in addition to the relief that comes from the setting up of the Disability Caregiver Support Centre, as planned in Budget 2017. Secondly, to also consider a review and increase, of course, fee relief, which is at $5,500, as well as to review the type of approved courses, possibly linked to those approved under SkillsFuture. In addition, I would like to urge the relevant Ministry to allow for courses not directly related to current employment or profession to be allowed course fee relief for the purpose of them obtaining new skills and embrace lifelong learning for future jobs, future skills and future career. Thirdly, consider increasing parental relief to better reflect rising cost of care and reduced family size.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Bill. The amendments relating to third-party voluntary contributions to the MediSave accounts of private sector employees and self-employed persons (SEPs), is a much-anticipated move. The increase in the maximum tax deductible amount for both employers and self-employed persons would encourage voluntary contribution towards MediSave. This is essential for the self-employed persons to build up their MediSave account as well as to encourage companies to make voluntary contribution for their contract employees. One of the several concerns that the Labour Movement has on freelancers who are on contract for services is the long-term savings adequacy of these individuals, especially for their medical care and retirement. These amendments are timely as we see a gradual statistical increase in self-employed and freelance numbers. These will surely encourage employers and companies, especially larger organisations, to help their employees and self-employed professionals, like taxi drivers, insurance agents and freelancers, to build up their MediSave and help these individuals build better safeguards for future healthcare costs. This is also certainly in line with the Government's move to place greater emphasis on health management and healthcare. I, indeed, hope that there will be regular reviews of the adequacy of the long-term MediSave savings and such tax reviews to allow for tax exemption, if required, so as to encourage more of such categories of individuals to top up their MediSave accounts. This is essential as the healthcare cost continues to rise with the rising demands of an ageing population.”
“Is there any mitigating plan if property prices were to rise as a result of this change? Secondly, if the Government were to extend customer accounting to counter fraud, particularly for mobile phone retailers, would this drive up business cost for such SMEs? Will there be any form of transitional grants to help these companies to ready them for adoption of standards/technology to counter the impact of this change? Thirdly, on clause 9 of the GST Bill to amend section 60 for the monthly penalty of $200 to kick in if GST is not filed within one month after the end of accounting period, instead of two months, to be equitable to taxpayers who pay on-time, perhaps consideration can be made for the filing period to be two months after the accounting period as SMEs may have lesser resources and more difficulty in meeting the deadline. Speaker, Sir, in conclusion, notwithstanding this, I support the Bill.”
“Speaker, Sir, it is, indeed, commendable that the Government conducted public consultations prior to debating the Bill in this House and I welcome the Bill in its entirety. Of the 41 suggestions received, 30 of which were accepted with consequential revisions made to the draft text of the Bill. I applaud the consultative effort that went into proposing a well-calibrated amendment. I support the move towards electronic notifications as changes to the framework for such tax notifications to be digitalised allows for alignment towards the National Smart Nation goals and aspirations. Having said that, it is imperative for us to recognise that not the whole of the society will be ready for a total transformation to digitalisation and, therefore, no one in the society should be left isolated and helpless. As such, it is good that the options for physical copies are still made available, especially for those who face challenges with the digital medium or are unable to catch up with the changes and can still have the traditional form of notification. For this, I would like to suggest a deeper engagement with the community and also with the unions so as to assist in communicating the opt-out plans for less tech-savvy residents to continue to receive hardcopy notifications. This may minimise or prevent further administrative delays resulting from late tax returns should the less tech-savvy residents be unaware that the notices had been sent. Sir, though I welcome the Bill, I would like to seek the following clarifications. Firstly, if GST treatment for sale of Government land is to be based on approved use of land and not building, does this translate into higher cost for businesses and individuals? How would property prices be invariably affected?”
“In conclusion, there should be an ecosystem where professional engineering practitioners could thrive and progress. PEB should also work closely with other stakeholders, especially buyer of services, to ensure the PEs are subject to fair treatment and remunerations without being subject to undue commercial pressures, unfair and untenable contractual terms. Perhaps, there should be a watchdog to monitor industry practices on the above. Sir, I stand in support of the Bill.”