Lina Chiam
Singapore
“But we must take into consideration the effects of real-time information. These days, both passengers and drivers have access to applications that can work out the balance between demand and supply. The most efficient way to match demand and supply in the short term is by allowing prices to surge.”
“The lapses in the management of tenancy contracts, procurement and engagement of external operators by PA form one such example. Moving forward, conducting regular training is something that the Ministry ought to be looking into to ensure procurement officers in public agencies understand procurement best practices.”
“An example would be the case that happened in May 2013. An employer, Lee Yew Nam, had caused public outrage last May after he was shown allegedly slapping his worker in an online video in his office. It was only after another colleague uploaded this video that MOM took notice.”
“One suggestion is to require companies or researchers to post all raw data and results to the Government website, even if the treatment being tested is never approved or if they cannot make it for scientific publishing. This promotes more vigorous scrutiny from MOH should there be any wilful suppression.”
“To what extent will national funds be committed in this multilateral development bank and will Parliament have the powers to check on this creature later on? Mdm Speaker, AIIB may boost our country's stand as a capital banking hub in Asia and, of course, our GDP growth.”
“For the safety of drivers and passengers, I would suggest the recommendation to legislate technology companies operating taxi booking apps to compulsorily provide taxis with a strong, adjustable holder and handphone solely dedicated for use on the apps system only.”
The complete record
Every one of 275 lines we hold for Lina Chiam, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 2 of 6.
“I have two questions for the Senior Minister of State. The first one is, what are the safeguards the Ministry will have in place to prevent the abuse of the proposed SkillsFuture scheme by third party companies and/or firms looking to profit by providing fraudulent or ill-will consultation services? And, second, would the Ministry consider introducing penalties for companies who apply for the scheme with the intention of abusing it?”
“There should be equitable terms for the employers of foreign domestic helpers on the MOM contract between the employer and the domestic worker under the termination and repatriation clause, which states that the employer has to bear the cost of repatriation fees of sending the maid home by air, even if she terminates the contract of two years by herself and not the employer. There are no clauses under the MOM contract to indemnify the employer over repeated breakage of expensive items worth hundreds or thousands of dollars, or when the foreign domestic worker causes other preventable damages to the house through carelessness. Page: 114 There is no guarantee she might request a transfer before working for three months, disadvantaging working parents with young children who need a maid. How about stolen money? The employer cannot recoup the money and the only way he or she can do this is to repatriate the foreign domestic worker, which will incur more costs to the employer. It is high time that MOM reviews some of its clauses to give more equitable terms to employers under the terms and conditions. Workplace Safety and Health”
“Mdm Chair, we should rightly uphold the rights and dignity of foreign domestic workers, just as with any other human being. Nonetheless, the process of contracting them for work is run just like any other business. This calls for some equity and fairness for the employers of domestic helpers too, so that they themselves are not left in the lurch. Employers have received repeated calls from employment agencies to increase the salaries of foreign domestic workers in order to attract them to Singapore. Yet, each time, the placement fees of the foreign helpers will be raised as well. High placement fees are a disincentive to foreign domestic helpers as they have to work more months to cover their loans from their employers. Recently, the agency fees for hiring a new maid has been raised to as much as $4,000, equivalent to eight months of their salary, which has resulted for calls to cap fees collected from foreign domestic workers. The reduction of the foreign domestic worker levy does not seem to be of much help here. Employers feel the impact as they are the ones who have to make the advance payment for the increased placement fees, without any guarantee on the character of their new helpers. Most working couples feel the "pinch" when they have to put up such a large amount of money upfront and there is no guarantee that they will not leave the next month. Engaging a maid should be fair to all stakeholders.”
“Yes. The role of TAFEP though has got to be enhanced so that it can better enforce fair employment and not be seen just to bark, but also to bite when necessary. SkillsFuture Credit”
“Are the efforts of the older workers who keep themselves upskilled appropriately considered by employers when they have to decide on matters like retrenchment and salary adjustments? Besides training throwing money at the problem of ensuring an appropriately trained workforce, what else can the Government do to ensure that the older workers, especially Page: 45 mid-career employees who know the value of continuous upgrading, do not get the short end of the stick by human resource policies of some companies which may be discriminatory? TAFEP is a good platform the Government has been properly addressing some of these problems to all workers, especially older workers, face —”
“Madam, training and retraining are especially important for older workers to ensure that they remain relevant and useful to the needs of businesses. Towards this end, I support enhanced subsidies for mid-career older Singaporeans aged 40 and above. 1.15 pm In view of the fact that the Government schemes to support staff training and re-training may have been abused, we have to ensure that there are enough checks and balances in the enhanced subsidies schemes to ensure that they are not abused. There is anecdotal evidence of how personal enrichment courses, like swimming lessons, are disguised as staff training by errant companies to unethically benefit from such schemes. Most mature workers in Singapore are not averse to train and retrain, so that they may upgrade their skills and have multiple skillsets in order to stay relevant in the workforce. But in an environment where most companies are reluctant to pay older workers equitably because of age bias, the incentives to train and re-train are lessened. With confusing comments like, "Worker training is like trying to hit a moving target", "The technology and skills required today are likely to be different from those needed five to 10 years from now" made about training given by establishment figures, it is understandable if our older workers are confused about the need and necessity to be trained appropriately in skills for the industry. It was reported that our ongoing economic restructuring has squeezed more workers out of the workforce and that PMETs, especially, have below average re-entry rates. It was also recently reported that it is industry practice to reduce the pay of older workers.”
“I am heartened to note that Singapore is studying the feasibility of the Hong Kong scheme for the elderly to re-enter the classroom where the seniors can take classes in participating universities and schools during the weekends and at night for tertiary education or life skills, such as basic computer use and crafts. Hong Kong's scheme receives subsidies from the government. Hopefully, the Government will work out some form of enhanced subsidies for courses to fund the programmes under the one billion SkillsFuture plan for continued education for the future. Providing seniors with a tertiary education will certainly help keep individuals mentally alert and raise their self-esteem. Journey of continuing education is not smooth-sailing but the highs outweigh the lows if one is patient enough. Lifelong learning is just not about achieving another qualification for jobs but our lives will be enriched, too. Quote: "The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realise the less I know". Internships”
“Lifelong learning is the pursuit of knowledge for either personal or professional reasons which enhances social inclusion, active citizenship and personal development but self-sustainability rather than for competitiveness and employability. Lifelong learning can also be seen as something that takes place on an ongoing basis from our daily interactions with others and the world around us. As Singaporeans are living longer these days, they can make use of their added years in ways that please them especially when they have time on their hands. If their counterparts in Hong Kong who embrace lifelong learning can enter the classroom, there is no reason why our elderly should not emulate them if they have the interest, energy and desire to live a more enriching and fulfilling life through continuous education. For seniors, who for various reasons had to stop their studies during their younger days, learning opportunities for them will be most welcomed and should be made available to them. Learning opportunities should also be provided to needy elderly in recognition of their Page: 45 contributions of the generation who built up Singapore and who have survived difficult times in the past and have advantage of life experience. Intergeneration learning in class is unique and beneficial, in that both the younger students and the senior ones can learn from each other through interactions and also to overcome apprehensiveness with each other in the classroom. We are living in a globalised world and with constant scientific and technological innovation, some seniors can even pursue courses of higher learning online either in homes or offices.”
“With its lack of sufficient support for Singaporeans wishing to pursue University education to the schemes to encourage employment beyond age 65, Budget 2015 sets the vision for most Singaporeans to be employed after attaining their ITE or Diploma qualifications and to stay employed to a ripe old age. Perhaps, Budget 2015 has tried to entrench the "work till you drop" mantra because the current Government is concerned that competitors are out to steal the lunch of Singaporeans and that it is better for us to guard our lunch. So, yes, from "no free lunch" to "guarding your lunch", there has been some progress and Budget 2015 highlights this and I thank the Finance Minister for his hard work on this Budget. Mdm Speaker, I support the Motion. 3.32 pm”
“Driven by technology advances, these are the Singaporeans who should be most interested in the SkillsFuture initiatives which aim to encourage continuous learning to master the skills relevant to their work or pick up new ones or, hopefully, lift up their wages. I hope the SkillsFuture initiatives will take a targeted approach by identifying the skills required by each sector to support their development. More details on the SkillsFuture credits should be more forthcoming to fund their training costs. Attrition risks may put firms off SkiilsFuture Credits and I would caution that the SkillsFuture initiatives may not lead to more job loyalty or higher pay increase because most Singapore employers are rather stingy or because they really cannot afford to pay. In fact, I would think SkillsFuture may lead to more job hopping! Page: 80 Also, $500 SkillsFuture Credit for every Singaporean 25 years and above can also be accumulated for future years may not be ideal. What should be noticed is the Special Employment Credit (SEC) and the additional SEC which provide employers with a wage offset encouraging Re-employment beyond age 65. What can be deduced from Budget 2015? It has taken incremental steps in addressing some of the inequality in our society. But incremental means unnecessary inconveniences and hardships for those who are affected now by these problems and need solutions to them now and not in the future. Budget 2015 recognises that many Singaporeans clamour for a more egalitarian society where income inequality is further reduced, but has attempted to address them not in a holistic manner but with tokenism.”
“Page: 79 Singaporeans have expressed that concerns, especially manpower issues, are not adequately tackled in the Budget. Most importantly, the issue of rising costs of business and high rental costs for SMEs was not addressed. Every type of costs should be reviewed, from skills levy, utilities, hiring of workers. For example, some restaurants cannot cope with customers because of the worker crunch. This problem may lead to a dip in productivity or for it to stay flat for sectors, such as construction, retail and food and beverage. We need to micro-manage the system of hiring Work Permit holders not just by giving monetary incentives to boost productivity for companies. Productivity incentives should not be positioned as subsidies. As I mentioned in my Budget speech last year, the firms with low productivity should be allowed to be restructured, acquired or even closed down. As Singapore faces economic uncertainty and global competition like other counties, we need to foster deep skills and innovation to be positioned amongst the leaders in Asia and globally. The next stage of economic restructuring is to keep the economy vibrant by pushing for innovation beyond productivity. To meet our future economic and social needs, Singapore is investing in infrastructure for the future, such as embarking on the development of Changi Airport's new Terminal 5. Middle-income families in Singapore are the group that forms the bulk of the community who are generally viewed as helping to maintain society on an even keel. It is the middle-income group that we want to look after. They are also the active stakeholders with investments in infrastructure. They feel the squeeze in the rise of their monthly income, compared to households from the top and bottom of the ladder.”
“Fourth, include capital receipts, which include revenue from sales of land and capital goods and other capital receipts, as revenue receipts. Education. The Budget announced several measures for students from childcare to Polytechnic education, for example, the new partner operating scheme, lifting of examination fees and so on, but it stopped short of making major announcements for tertiary students, except for the top-ups to Post-Secondary Education Accounts which the Finance Minister said could be used for offsetting course fees for ITE and Diploma students. This is probably because of the Government's concern about the graduate glut which it feels could result in "over-educated and under-employed" workers. I am all for the Government's initiative to build a foundation and create an environment for lifelong learning which empowers each Singaporean young or old to chart their own journey in life and to gain fulfilment at work and even in senior years. I myself obtained my BA in Communication and Media Management last year from UNISA. I think I am one of the oldest Members in this House and all the Ministers are my younger brothers. The Government appears to be offsetting the effect of increased interests for CPF accounts for the first $30,000 in CPF accounts from the age of 55 by increasing the contributions of employees aged 55-65 for both employees and employers. In total, we believe this signifies the Government's intention to stick to a more conservative approach to the CPF. We continue to urge the Government to move towards more flexible options for the usage of CPF savings. This is increasingly the case because Singaporeans, starting from their late 50s, cannot afford to be cash-strapped.”
“To help cushion the impact on the lower income earners, we should exempt GST on certain necessities, such as milk powder, diapers, medicines, health supplements, mobility aids and exercise equipment for the elderly. Apparently, the usage of diapers was rationed in some nursing homes to reduce costs. In my opinion, this is very unhygienic for the wearer. Yesterday, Nominated Member Ms Chia Yong Yong cautioned not to lean too much to the left, lest we have nothing much left in social spending. While this idea seems intuitively correct and is consistent with the popular narrative of the economy, I would also like to point out that between countries like Sweden which spends about 30% of its GDP on social spending and others like Hong Kong which spends about 3%, there is a middle path. Finding the middle path is what Singapore has to get right. The need to raise revenue to meet the rising social spending, though, is real for the Government and it should consider the following measures. First, raise the top-marginal income tax rate to 25%. I think it will raise a lot of eyebrows, but this would still be one of the lowest top-marginal income tax rates in the world and, at Page: 78 the same time, would raise our revenue of $500 million to $1 billion. The Finance Minister said that the change to top income rates is expected to raise additional revenue of $400 million per year when it comes into effect. So, if it is raised by a further 3%, the additional revenue would be about $1 billion. Second, reinstate estate duty at 5% for total assets, without differentiating between residential properties or other assets between $10 million and $15 million, and 10% for amounts above that. Third, raise the casino tax rates to 22.5% for non-premium players and 7.5% for premium players.”
“The Budget halves the Foreign Domestic Worker concessionary levy – from the current $120 to $60 – to help families who are taking care of the elderly from 1 May. The concessionary levy will also be extended to households with children aged below 16 – up Page: 77 from below 12. This levy could be totally waived for the first Foreign Domestic Worker for households who employ such workers to care for senior citizens. This would not only further lessen the burden on such households, but will also help the elderly to age in place rather than in a nursing home. The Budget announced that the top marginal income tax rate will go up to 22% from the current 20% for the highest income-earners with a chargeable income of above $320,000. There will also be smaller adjustments made to raise income tax for the others in the top 5% bracket. I suppose this is done presumably to meet the rising social expenditure. The Budget will be funded by the top 5% of income earners from 2017. We have got another two more years to go. What will happen when the economy hits a recession? How do we fund it then? Tax increases may also affect people's confidence in Government policies when overdone and might affect Singapore's competitiveness. The Government has to find a balance for it. Some analysts have predicted that the Government will further raise indirect taxes, like GST, to fund the rising social spending. GST is a regressive tax and the Government should not only maintain the GST at the current 7%, but should also identify essential goods and remove the GST on these essential goods.”
“At the time of introducing the curbs on car financing, the Finance Minister said that the measures were not permanent and were meant to keep a lid on inflationary pressures and rein in borrowing. As concerns of inflation have now lessened and as car loans are not unsecured, the Government should lift the cap on car loans at up to 60% of the purchase price. The Government should also consider removing the Certificate of Entitlement system, which curbs car ownership, to a system which is premised on car usage. In the Our Singapore Conversation, job security emerged as the top three concerns of Singapore. In a recent Nielsen survey, job security topped the list of concerns for Singaporeans. Even if the unemployment rate in Singapore among citizens remains relatively low at 2.6%, the unions reported that: "At the national level, 7,710 workers were retrenched in the first three quarters of 2014, based on figures from MOM. This is higher than the 7,220 laid off in the corresponding period a year before, as more workers were retrenched in the services sector last year." The Budget could have called for the establishment of an insurance scheme as a safety net for middle-income Singaporeans for whom the security of continuous employment is increasingly being thrown into question. The Korean Employment Insurance Scheme (EIS) should be studied as a model. The Budget will provide for a Personal Income Tax Rebate of 50%, with a cap of $1,000. It must be noted that the majority of Singaporeans, about 55%, do not pay income tax. So, even if most squeezed middle income families will not cheer this tax rebate, it will, nevertheless, benefit a sizeable number of middle-income and the high-middle income families.”
“Many citizens over the age of 65 have contributed much to Singapore in their younger days. The Government could have recognised the contributions of these older citizens by a Senior Citizen Allowance Scheme which will give all citizens above the age of 65 years $500 two times in a year. Such a scheme will be on top of the Silver Support Scheme. The scheme should cost the Government about $450 million in the first year. Budget 2015 should also mention the Social Service Sector, an important sector which provides for social and community services in Singapore. The Government should help this sector to achieve sustainable economies while using resources productively, instead of just depending on charity for funding their objectives. Since the intent of HDB's resale levy is to reduce the second subsidy for second-time HDB flat buyers, it is a fair policy to have. It is the desire of many middle-income families to move to a slightly larger HDB flat. To a considerable number of citizens who aspire to Page: 76 upgrade to a bigger flat, the resale levy, which has to be paid upfront, remains an obstacle. The resale levy policy could be revised where the levy of between $15,000 and $50,000, depending on the type of first flat owned, is added to the price of the second flat and the second-timer is given an option to either pay upfront in cash, or monthly, throughout the duration of his mortgage loan. Car ownership. In Singapore, car ownership is a necessity rather than a luxury for needy commuters. They need a car for various reasons. The bigger upfront fees, cap on car financing loan and deposit quantums mean many middle-income commuters who want a car will be priced out of the market.”
“Mdm Speaker, Budget 2015 is innovative, comprehensive and also seeks to reduce income inequality. Page: 75 Yes, Budget 2015 is a breakthrough Budget, but there is a need to identify whom this breakthrough is for. "There is no free lunch" has been the mantra of this Government for a very long time. In keeping with this mantra, for about 50 years, assistance schemes have been kept measly and targeted at a small group of people. The reality, however, is that, in any society, some people need free lunches. After pressures from various quarters and, especially from the people of Singapore, there seems to be a mind-shift in the top echelon about doing more for the less-abled. So, the breakthrough is more for the ruling Party, the Budget is a testament to that and, so, it must be welcomed. The Silver Support Scheme is a permanent feature of Singapore's social safety net which gives assurance in retirement. The scheme will disburse annual payouts targeted at needy elderly Singaporeans who comprise the bottom 30% of the lower-income and sandwich class aged 65 and older. It will cost $350 million for the first year and will likely rise over the years when more Singaporeans turn 65 and the cost of living rises. The scheme is especially welcomed. It is a signature scheme which the Government officially acknowledges that there is a sizeable number of senior citizens who receive a meagre income for sustenance. About 150,000 people will benefit from the scheme. The scheme should be reviewed every four years for future batches of the elderly to prevent under-declaring their income, which defeats the purpose of promoting strong work ethics. While the Silver Support Scheme is commendable, it benefits a relatively small group of senior citizens.”
“I thank the Minister of State for answering the question. Is it possible to know the percentage of void deck space – both at the constituency of Potong Pasir and Lorong 8 Toa Payoh – that has been used for commercial purposes? What is the percentage being used?”
“I thank the Minister of State. I still have a few more supplementary questions. What is the timeframe? Did I hear wrongly and you have actually answered my question? And also what are the reasons for the delay for LUP completion in Potong Pasir? I just want to know this, for the constituency of Potong Pasir. There are still a lot of flats undergoing LUP.”
“I have another supplementary question for the Minister of State. As mentioned in my Parliamentary Question, under (b), what are the constituencies that have benefited from NRP after 2011?”
“I have four supplementary questions in regard to the NRP. What was the first constituency chosen as the first batch or sites to have undergone NRP in 2007, and when were these flats built? Can the Minister of State let the House know who are the people comprised in the Committee to decide which sites in a constituency are eligible for NRP? Why is Toa Payoh Lorong 8 first, although some of the flats were built as early as 1974? What is the timeframe for public consultation by residents for feedback for NRP?”
“Do these restrictions truly reflect the will of the people? More data and effective public consultation from social outreach and recommendations is definitely needed before this House arrives at a decision to pass such a Bill. Mdm Speaker, I am not agreeable to the proposed laws of this important Bill concerning national policy together with its regulations and restrictions that do not entirely reflect the will of the people of Singapore. I feel that this Bill has been hastily drawn, leaving such a short notice for the House to debate properly and being also so close to the coming Chinese New Year period. I propose this Bill be committed to a Select Committee for further scrutiny, taking into consideration all recommendations by Members of this House before this Bill is passed. 3.28 pm”
“It is very strange that the people whom would be most affected by the Bill were not consulted. I understand that many of them may be transient workers, but transient workers count too. I believe they definitely need to be represented in the consultative process. It is, indeed, very strange that for a Bill which would affect millions, less than a thousand were consulted. This is a miniscule sample size that should not be construed to represent the views of the general population. For a Government that has recently went on record to say that it would be in touch with the ground, this would defeat the Government's attempts to reform the relationship between the people and the Government. Upon closer examination of the process, I was surprised to discover that those giving feedback were not given an option to reject restriction during Phase 2. They only had the choice to decide on varying forms of restriction, but were not given the choice to reject all forms of restriction, even if that was what they believed in. This is a fundamentally flawed methodology of choice. Page: 46 Setting aside the miniscule sample size and the fundamentally flawed methodology, MHA also proclaimed that more than 83% of respondents supported the proposed Bill. However, within 24 hours of the First Reading, only less than 20% of 9,000 polled in The Straits Times survey supported the proposed laws. In other words, more than 77% of respondents were not supportive of the Bill. I must concede that neither the Straits Times Poll nor MHA's public consultation have sample sizes big enough and methods to reflect the will of the people, but this discrepancy in results only begets the questions: do these proposed laws truly have "broad support" as claimed by MHA?”
“Just like in Singapore, most of these above-mentioned cities also passed laws to restrict the consumption and supply of alcohol to combat public drunkenness and public disorder associated with the consumption of liquor. For example, the New South Wales government passed the new laws as "part of the New South Wales government's crackdown on drug and Page: 45 alcohol-fuelled violence". Mdm Speaker, all these cities have comparable degrees of alcohol restrictions comparable to the restrictions in this Bill and yet their alcohol consumption rates are almost five times that of Singapore's. Also, why do we not make a comparison on how alcohol is prohibited in neighbouring secular countries like Thailand and Malaysia where social, political and cultural influences are similar? What happened to the "Asian Values" Mr Lee used to talk about? Or do we practise selective comparison to make this Bill appear attractive? Is there a growing trend of crimes in Singapore linked to alcohol that MHA warrants such strict restrictions? During the First Reading of this Bill on 19 January, MHA claimed that after conducting two public consultation exercises, discussing with 180 stakeholders and reviewing more than 300 pieces of written feedback, there was strong support for the proposed restrictions. Before we examine the public consultation itself, the number of people consulted for a bill that would have such far-reaching effects is disturbing. If we were to assume that everyone who had taken part in the consultation process is unique, it would mean that only 1,000 were involved in the consultation process, out of which, only a mere 180 were stakeholders like grassroots representatives and business owners.”
“Also, under these laws, foreign-worker dormitories will be designated as public areas for the purposes of enforcing laws on drunken behaviour. These draconian laws may potentially deprive the poor workers of the source of solace and trample on their dignity. I will understand if the dormitories have their own rules and regulations, but to turn it into a law that comes with fines and jail terms, is very harsh. Most of us have homes to go back to drink, but the dormitories are the foreign workers' homes yet they are subjected to the proposed rules, where there might be checks and penalties which are higher than their monthly wages. As most, if not all, these foreign workers only have one day off per week, I would like to seek an amendment from the Minister for the cut-off time for consuming alcohol at public places be extended to 11.30 pm, instead of 10.30 pm, on weekends. Drinkers who frequent hawker centres and coffee shops will also welcome this change of time. While we may draw parallels with other countries which have similar control liquor zone but do we face the same problems plaguing the cities to warrant such a heavy-handed approach to curb drinking issues? According to the World Health Organization's report, Singapore has one of the world's lowest rates of alcohol consumption at two litres per capita. In comparison, Australia, United States and the United Kingdom's alcohol consumption rates are 12, 9.2 and 11.6 litres respectively. While United Kingdom and Singapore both have control liquor zones, but what is notable is that United Kingdom's Alcohol Consumption Rate is more than five times that of Singapore's. Our partial restriction may be comparable to that of cities like Texas, Sydney and Prague.”
“Little India is also a place for a lot of tourists who want to be entertained. There are a lot of backpackers and hostels and they love to stay around Little India and they too spend their evening having their drinks. So, if the ban is imposed daily, then I am sure it will make a lot of difference for businesses in Little India, which will also affect the tourism industry." I would like to ask the Minister how will the Government help these businesses which will be affected by the proposed restrictions. The number of public order offences in Little India for the whole year of 2013 was 25 and this number has decreased after increased policing in 2014. Testifying before the COI for the Little India Riots, former Commissioner of Police, Mr Ng Joo Hee said in a passionate plea that, I quote him, "a deployment of 300 pairs of boots on the ground should bring noticeable police visibility to both locations." He also added that, "My planners tell me that police presence is defined as a police patrol passing a point once every 15 to 20 minutes...This is a useful benchmark, but one which we cannot come close to achieving in either Little India or Geylang on present levels of resourcing." Page: 44 If increased policing can solve the problems this Bill aims to tackle, why do we not focus our efforts on increasing the strength of the police force instead of passing over-reaching legislation? In this view, I believe that the proposed Liquor Control Zone is nothing less than a legislative overkill. We do not need to use a sledgehammer to kill a fly. Just like how we do not ban drinking because a minority of drivers drive under the influence of alcohol, imposing a Liquor Control Zone in a place where only a miniscule number of people cause disorder is disproportional.”
“I believe these abovementioned clauses have not been well thought out and I am not convinced about the extraordinary powers bestowed upon not only Police Officers but even APOs when a smaller power would serve the same purpose. This clause also states that the officers may seize the alcoholic drinks even if they are not being consumed. This does seem rather odd and unfair. Hypothetically, let us assume, say a layman buys a bottle of beer at a convenience store after a long hard day at work at 10.29 pm. Does it mean that he would be in breach of a law if he did not finish the entire Page: 43 bottle of beer within the next minute? The Minister may designate an area as a Liquor Control Zone where there is a significant risk of public disorder associated with excessive consumption of liquor. To date, Little India and Geylang have already been demarcated as Liquor Control Zones. In 2013, there were 49 public order offences – such as serious hurt, rioting and affray – in Geylang, making it a less safe place in that regard when compared to other areas of congregation, such as Clarke Quay, Boat Quay, Chinatown and Joo Chiat. Little India was second on the list with 25 public order offences. However, correlation is not causation. Yes, both Little India and Geylang might have the highest number of public order offences and areas where people congregate and consume alcohol, but there is still a lack of data to show that these public order offences were caused by alcohol. Businesses in these Liquor Control Zones will also be heavily affected. A key stakeholder, Mr Chandra, the Chairman of the Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association raised objections. I quote him, "If this policy is going to be in place every day, then it is going to be terrible for the stakeholders.”
“Mdm Speaker, the ill-effects of the consumption and the over-consumption of alcohol are well known to all Members of this House. Like the Minister of Home Affairs, I too want to see the eradication of public drunkenness and alcoholism. I am agreeable to the gist and intentions of this Bill but have reservations in regard to the implementation of it. However, in attempting to do so, we must aim to tackle the root of the problem and not resort to a legislative overkill. It concerns me that this Bill is not only properly drafted as it leads to many ambiguous areas in the law and there also seems to be a lack of quality public consultation by MHA prior to the drafting of this Bill. In response to queries about enforcement, a spokesman for MHA said that the Police will be able to "take a more calibrated approach ...based on the circumstances of the situation". This gives too much discretion to policemen and auxiliary policemen which would lead us to uncertainty in the law. Clause 22 of this Bill outlines the powers of the police and APOs to inspect individuals. Specifically, clauses 22(1)(b) and (c) empower officers to conduct strip searches on individuals that they reasonably suspect to be in breach of the clauses set out in this Bill, which include not only consumption of alcohol but also mere possession of it. I take issue with this as I believe that Police Officers and APOs should not have the power to conduct strip search, as it infringes on the modesty of individuals. Also, why is there a need for a strip search when a pat search would suffice at the airport? I would also like to seek a clarification from the Minister on what constitutes "reasonable suspicion".”
“Thank you, Deputy Speaker. I would like to seek a clarification from the Minister. In my speech, I mentioned that the CPF Board is allowed to engage legalised debt collectors to collect the outstanding premium payments. Did I hear the Minister say Page: 137 "loan sharks"?”
“Also, the provision of affordable healthcare facilities must be accepted as a social responsibility by the Government, and I believe promoting healthier lifestyles is more important than the best insurance schemes. Mdm Speaker, I support the Bill.”
“The discretion to force payment of MediShield should be the responsibility of an independent board, looking at all the financial circumstances. In normal course of events, defaulting should not happen since it is tied to the collection of CPF. Under clause 11 of the Bill, the CPF Board is allowed to engage legalised debt collectors to collect the outstanding premium payments. In light of the questionable collection practices by such debt collectors, as shown on social media, would CPF Board take any precaution to prevent its agents from putting unnecessary pressure and trauma to collect debts from citizens who have financial difficulties in paying premiums for MediShield? Page: 86 Also, why should penalty charges be imposed upon non-payment which would further worsen the financial status of those in need? These are areas in the Bill that need to be carefully reviewed. To be a truly inclusive society, no one should be left out of insurance coverage because of one's inability to pay premiums or to be financially handicapped from costly medical bills. This brings me to the point of premium loading in the Bill. Given that MediShield Life Scheme is a Government-initiated and non-profit insurance scheme, why are citizens penalised for their pre-existing conditions? The very idea of a compulsory nationwide insurance plan is to allow fellow citizens to chip in to help those in need and not to leave people born of poor health to their own means. In conclusion, the Singapore People's Action Party places a very high premium on the health of all Singaporeans for all illnesses. Perhaps it is time for the Government to take real responsibility over medical cost issues and not simply stop the buck at the citizen level.”
“There is a recovery action from defaulters leaving Singapore under clause 16 of the Bill, which states that the Police and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) have powers to arrest and prevent the defaulter who is about to or likely to leave Singapore if they have not paid all the outstanding premiums or furnished security for the payment. Again, the Minister for Health, Mr Gan Kim Yong, in his reply to my question about arrears in patients bills at restructured hospitals said that there were about 136,000 bills of $48 million in total arrears outstanding for two months or more in the first 10 months of 2011. However, in his reply to me, Mr Gan did not elaborate on how much the 23,120 bills in arrears by foreign patients amounted to. Is this particular clause for recovery action a response to growing arrears by medical tourists to Singapore? And on that point, are Singaporean patients paying the bad debts of medical tourists in terms of increased healthcare costs charged by the public and restructured hospitals? According to CEIC Data, healthcare costs in Singapore have risen faster than inflation in recent years; up about 40% since 2000, compared to just over 25% for consumer prices. Therefore, with healthcare costs at such a high rate of increase beyond the interest rate offered by CPF on Medisave, would the younger generation of Singapore today face a much dire situation compared to their parents? Will the Minister consider forming a committee to look into the impact of rising medical costs in an otherwise uncontrollable medical industry with runaway medical fees? There is an immediate need to control and cap medical fees charged by public and restructured hospitals.”
“For those above 80, they should still be covered without having to continue paying the premiums especially if they no longer have any source of income and every cent in their savings is needed for their living expenses. As a compulsory insurance medical scheme which spans the entire population, the premiums should be much lower than the existing MediShield premium provided by the private insurers. The actuarial study on MediShield should be made public so that we can see whether future projections of premiums to claims will continue to give yearly surpluses since the MediShield started. Through information released by the Minister for Health, Mr Gan Kim Yong, in 2011, it was revealed that the MediShield surplus between 2001 and 2010 was $850 million and in 2011, only $280 million of MediShield claims were made. Given the figures of the surplus collected by the Government, is the financial estimation for premium collection excessively high, putting unnecessary financial burden upon the insured? And does MOH intend to put the surplus from the MediShield funds for the healthcare use or simply into the Government's reserves? Also, does the projections by MOH on the premiums, take into account the $2 billion the Government would be putting into the MediShield Life Fund Scheme? I would like to suggest all excess premiums collected should be ploughed back to the MediShield Life Fund under clause 7 of the Bill to help lower the premiums payable by Page: 85 Singaporeans and Permanent Residents (PRs).”
“Ailing elderly people will need to utilise their children's Medisave accounts to pay the deductibles, which could deplete all their children's Medisave savings and become a problem that snowballs as each generation has fewer children and individuals will find it harder over the years to pay for the increasing premiums due to medical cost inflation and increase in age. How does the Government plan to help the two-third lower-income group with the premium rises after the transitional period of subsidy is over in 2019? Would premiums increase yearly to as much as 189% by 2019, bearing in mind that there are over 1.65 million or 45% inactive CPF members out of 3.53 million CPF members who may not have sufficient money in their Medisave account to pay for MediShield Life premiums or should the unemployed have lesser schemes than the employed? Page: 84 How are the self-employed, retirees and housewives who do not have sufficient Medisave balances going to pay for themselves? Furthermore, Dr Amy Khor had said to the local media that the permanent subsidies for lower- and middle-income Singaporeans needing help with their MediShield Life premiums will be given out automatically as far as possible to keep premiums affordable for all by using one's household income per capita as the determining factor. But why is one's household income per capita used as the determining factor instead of one's individual income? While a family will help to contribute to a family member's medical expenses or premiums, overburdening the family might lead to conflicts between the family members. In my opinion, there should be a plan for a "cut-off age" for MediShield Life's premium payment. A reasonable "cut-off" age, like 80 years, should be applied.”
“Mdm Speaker, I am in favour of the revised MediShield Life Scheme which seeks to provide a compulsory medical insurance to give the pioneers better peace of mind and comfort about their healthcare bills and ease the burden of caregivers and family members. We believe that the aged will always rely heavily on long-term care services. It is a step in the right direction, like what Mr Png Eng Huat said. However, in the former and current proposed MediShield programme, medical coverage still does not sufficiently cover the predictable wear and tear operations due to ageing. This is because MediShield plans have a high deductible of $1,500 to $3,000, which is the only item unchanged in the new proposed Scheme. Operations such as prostate, gall bladder, stents, knee replacements and so on, are the types of operations people need most and are likely to suffer from as we age. When MediShield was first introduced many years ago, it was designed to cover catastrophic cases like cancer. Now, the Ministry of Health (MOH) is aiming to make it a universal healthcare system. But the question is: has the coverage increased such that it covers most of the operations you would encounter as you age? While universal coverage under the new MediShield Life will benefit insurance holders, it also implies higher premiums. With MediShield Life, while the elder generation may be provided with relatively lower premiums than the rest of the age brackets, the cost of the subsidies is being passed on to the younger generation. This in turn depletes the Medisave funds of the younger generation and is simply passing the buck to future generations.”
“Mdm Speaker, we must change our mindset and treatment of migrant workers and treat them as guests, by helping them to improve their basic working living conditions and, in turn, it will lead to better productivity and skills, which will benefit Singapore in the long run. 4.28 pm”
“Who is the dormitory inspector and what is his role? How will he or she be trained? The Bill mentions that if the dormitory officer or inspector believes that any offence under this new Bill has been committed, he or she may break open any door or window of the premises for inspection. He or she also has the power to arrest and detain someone for up to 48 hours. Why does the Bill give such broad powers to inspectors when we already have existing legislation, such as the Criminal Procedures Code (CPC) and the Police Force Act? According to sections 7 and 25 of the Bill, not having a licence to run a dormitory is an arrestable and detainable offence. What kinds of offences under this proposed Bill could be so serious that it is necessary for such actions? I would like to ask the Minister: where are the workers in the marine and process sectors, including the chemicals and pharmaceutical sectors, going be housed when HDB flats are no longer allowed to house them after May 2015, which is only a few months away? The new larger purpose-built dormitories will only be ready in two to three years' time. The new housing framework will lead to rising costs of doing business and, in turn, higher rentals. Is there a way to cap rentals from escalating, to prevent shortcuts in the housing standards for migrant workers? Page: 61 In conclusion, the Bill is a step forward in the right direction for the Government to continue its enforcement on the new licensing framework policies and to achieve overall improvement on the welfare of the migrant population. I would also like to thank all those involved in the policymaking of this Bill.”
“I am also concerned that without clear guidelines and standards, enforcement officials will enforce these provisions arbitrarily. What safeguards are there to ensure this does not happen? Who will police the licensed operators? Is there a hotline for migrant workers to complain? As described earlier, accommodation standards for foreign workers vary across different types of housing. The Bill would have been a good opportunity to standardise accommodation standards for our migrant workers across different housing types, such as Page: 60 factory-converted dormitories and worksite housing. What are the reasons for not considering it? Also, are the existing provisions listed in the Bill sufficient to ensure they are properly housed and taken care of? A comprehensive Bill for dormitories would ensure consistent standards in terms of structure of the housing, proper beddings, adequate ventilation, sanitation, number of persons per room, security of belongings, sufficient privacy, laundry and cooking facilities, waste management and access to health care. Does the new law also apply to smaller dormitories? While we see these conditions for purpose-built dormitories as the "favoured" migrant worker housing solution for the future, we urge authorities not to overlook smaller dormitories. I am glad the Minister had addressed this issue when he introduced the Bill earlier. We also urge the authorities to build more dedicated migrant worker recreational centres in areas with larger clusters of dormitories not covered by the Bill, ensuring the availability of right amenities and services to our migrant workers, regardless of the size of their dormitory accommodation. I am also deeply concerned about the powers which have been given to dormitory inspectors in this Bill.”
“There are no facilities, such as lockers for workers to store their personal belongings and there is hardly any privacy for them. It is also common for workers who are living in buildings under construction to be housed in the basement. When it rains, the area in which they are living in will flood. I urge the Government to reconsider allowing such forms of housing. The Foreign Employees Dormitory Bill relies on existing regulations with regard to ensuring adequate living standards for foreign workers. They are mainly the Building Control Act, the Control of Vectors and Pesticides Act, Environmental Public Health Act, Fire Safety Act and the Planning Act. One of the key features of this Act is the setting out of the licence conditions for a dormitory operator. I am happy to see that the licence conditions include provisions which concern the physical, mental welfare and security of foreign workers, including their meals. Standards concerning bedrooms, bathrooms and standards to prevent overcrowding are also mentioned in the Bill. Clause 11, under conditions of licence, I would like to ask the Minister whether he will consider making the licensed operator keep a register of all the occupants and also to submit a monthly report to MOM. However, these standards, which will have a positive impact on their workers' well-being, are not defined. How does this Bill, for instance, propose to look into the mental welfare of foreign workers, since it is one of the criteria? Counselling should be made available to cater to their emotional needs and others. Provisions should also be made to facilitate privacy and proper sleep for the workers. For example, lights and music should be switched off after 10.30 pm.”
“For instance, the standards which have been set for workers living in permanent buildings under construction are far lower than that for workers living in temporary buildings on worksites. I would also like to ask the Minister whether it is legal for construction workers to live in buildings under construction which may take two to three years to complete. Buildings under construction are often dusty, sandy and often pest-infested, with inadequate sanitation, inferior bath and shower facilities. I have heard of dengue outbreaks which have affected construction workers at these sites. The regulations for such housing are minimal and far lower than that of purpose-built dormitories and temporary housing structures. For example, in BCA's "Use of Buildings under Construction as Workers' Quarters Regulations 2008", it only ensures that the building is structurally safe and the rooms workers are housed in are of sufficient height and land space. Standards of ventilation in the regulations are vaguely worded. Sanitation facilities are inadequate. The Code of Practice in Environmental Health stipulates that there should be one toilet bowl, one wash basin and one shower for every 25 male workers, whereas International Labour Organization standards stipulate that the same facilities should be available for every six persons. Are our current codes and regulations in compliance with international standards with regard to worker's welfare, comfort and hygiene? I urge the Government to review our existing legislation. Page: 59 Workers living in permanent buildings under construction also do not have adequate electricity at night and are usually not protected in the event of a thunderstorm.”
“It is ironic to find foreign workers being housed in such appalling conditions while, at the same time, working hard to earn a meagre salary, with no minimum wage, to build luxury apartments and bungalows for Singaporeans and expatriates. A Straits Times report by the Dormitory Association of Singapore Limited have revealed that there are approximately 200,000 bed spaces in purpose-built dormitories. According to MOM statistics, there are approximately 770,000 foreign workers in Singapore. Where are the rest of the 570,000 living? About half of them are Malaysians, who commute to work daily across the Causeway. But the rest of the workers are likely to be housed in factory converted quarters, shophouses, private apartments, bungalows and construction sites which are often poorly managed without proper supervision and likely to be at the mercy of Page: 58 their own employers. Our liberal immigration policies have affected the welfare of the foreign workers themselves. In order to save on costs, many employers will squeeze foreign workers, sometimes 10 to 15 of them in a small room with hardly any space to move around, although URA regulations stipulate that walk-up apartments and shop houses should not accommodate more than eight persons in one unit. By going into any apartment and shophouse in Geylang and Little India, one will find these regulations widely flouted. The problem has existed for many years, but little has been done. Enforcement of existing housing standards is inadequate to ensure that such overcrowding does not happen. Overcrowding can be fatal, as we have seen from the recent tragic deaths of four Malaysian workers and eight injured last month when a Geylang shophouse caught fire. Housing standards vary across different types of housing.”
“Mdm Speaker, this Bill seeks to regulate operators of foreign employee dormitories with a new licensing framework to manage larger purpose-built dormitories with self-contained facilities to meet migrant workers' social and recreational needs outside work. It is a step to complement the various existing measures to manage foreign workers' housing. Mdm Speaker, I welcome this timely, long overdue Bill. Madam, foreign workers play a very important role in our society. They do the jobs which many locals would not or cannot do because of the poor working conditions of long hours and low pay. I am sure Members of this House will agree that without them, our economy might run to a standstill. In order to recognise their contributions to the nation, it is important for us to uphold their rights and take care of their interests and welfare while they are working in Singapore. For a developed nation which boasts of having one of the highest GDP rates in the world, the way we house our foreign workers leaves much to be desired. Way back in 2008, the then Minister for National Development, Mr Mah Bow Tan, had told the media that there were between 80,000 and 100,000 foreign workers who did not have proper housing. Why did we allow a floodgate of these migrant workers to work in Singapore without ensuring and giving them a decent place to live in? Was it an oversight or poor planning? NGOs I have spoken to, such as the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (HOME), told me that many foreign workers who approached them for assistance live in conditions which are crowded, dirty and full of pests, such as cockroaches, bed bugs and rats. Are there slums in our First World Singapore? Yes, by looking at the living conditions of many of our foreign workers.”
“I just want to know whether the Senior Minister of State would consider introducing online pawnbroking, as is done in the US since 2009, in future.”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for all the answers. I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State about online pawnshop broking. Is it possible that Singapore can establish one?”
“In the old days, I would see women crying when they lose their valued belongings, for example, a heavy gold bangle given as a dowry, just because of Page: 58 their inability to redeem them. Pawnbrokers will be required to provide an indicative valuation of a pledge to a pawner twice – at the time of pawning and at the end of a redemption period. I would like to propose that pawnbrokers use the service of a certified gemologist or a certified valuer to give a fair appraisal of the valuation of the pledge for optimal value, which is also a service to the public. Pawnbrokers are required to maintain a minimum paid-up capital of $2 million for their first branch, and an additional $1 million for every subsequent branch. The security deposit which licensees are required to furnish is $100,000. Could I ask the Minister, does the Bill also mandate insurance cover against burglary or fire within the pawnbrokers' premises for storage of pledges? Will the interest rate be capped lower than the 1.5% per month after the removal of the existing auction system, as pawnbrokers are likely to pass on the resultant cost savings which may be in the form of lower interest rates? Finally, will the Minister consider introducing online pawnbroking, as done in the US since 2009? Madam, we have an online gambling Bill, but should there be another schedule for online pawnshops under the Pawnbrokers Bill in future? 3.25 pm”
“Mdm Speaker, it was revealed in July last year the number of pawnshops grew to 204 from 163 in 2010 and the pawnbroking loans granted last year was $5.5 billion. In the same period, 95% of the pledges were redeemed. It is, indeed, a very lucrative business for the pawnshop industry. The Pawnbrokers Bill provides the legislative basis for regulating pawnbrokers in Singapore with updated laws governing the pawnbroking industry to ensure they remain relevant, keeping pace with changes in the moneylending and financial industry in general. MinLaw has proposed further amendments to the Bill, such as removing the auction system, improving protection for pawners, strengthening governance of the pawnbroking industry and updating technical changes to various provisions in the Act. I support the Bill generally but wish to seek clarifications and make proposals for the Minister to consider. Can the Minister clarify why there is a need to remove the existing auction system when there were only 5% unredeemed pledges last July? How does it result in cost savings for pawnbrokers to benefit pawners through getting a higher valuation upfront from the pawnshops? Clause 61(1), under forfeiture and effect, I would also like to propose for the Minister to consider giving a longer extension period of three months from the date of the notice to redeem their pledge before pawnbrokers take action. It is only fair the pawners be given time to find a way on how to redeem their pledge as these belongings may have a lot of sentimental value and attachment to them, some of which items cannot be duplicated in the market and would be lost forever.”
“I thank the Minister for the comprehensive answer. I would like to ask a supplementary question. Were there any other occasions where the Government paid for language classes for officials from another nation's government?”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank the Minister of State for answering the question. I have two supplementary questions. First, postal rates have been rising steadily throughout the years, from 10 cents to 30 cents. SingPost's net profit showed an average of nearly 3% increase per annum. I would like to ask the Minister of State whether there would be another round of increment to local and international rates in the future years, even when SingPost shows continuing profits, bearing in mind that SingPost is a public listed company that operates a monopoly for the essential postage service in Singapore. Secondly, how is the $100 million service improvement plan disbursed? Is it disbursed in stages throughout the years?”
“Concerns that legislated protections and entitlements for victims of trafficking may be exploited can be addressed by the introduction of a robust victim-identification process. Victims are the most important people in identifying human traffickers, their customers and the larger criminal networks that operate behind them. These criminal actors depend upon weak or under-enforced victim protections to conduct their businesses. This is why very few mid- to high-level actors in trafficking rings are ever apprehended and why human trafficking remains a low-risk, high-reward activity. Additionally, international criminal organisations are often involved in not only human trafficking, but also other crimes, such Page: 100 as drugs and weapons smuggling. Implementing a victim-centred approach to human trafficking increases the chance of identifying higher level actors and severing an income stream that can fuel additional trafficking and other crimes that threaten the security of Singapore. NGOs, such as HOME, have found that potential victims of trafficking are hesitant to report their cases because they see very little benefit from doing so. While reporting is crucial for the Bill to have the punitive and deterrent impact that is intended, victims gain little from it. Singaporeans should have the moral courage and obligation to report when they suspect a case of human trafficking. I hope that this House will move towards a more victim-centred approach and for future amendments to be made to this Bill to curb human trafficking. Mr Deputy Speaker, I support this timely Bill. 6.22 pm”
“This can only be achieved when victims feel supported through the investigation and prosecution processes. Legislation is necessary to ensure that the system of victim protection and entitlement is transparent, accessible and consistently and effectively implemented. A legislated framework will assist those working with victims of trafficking to give accurate and consistent advice. The alternative approach of developing "guidelines" and assessing victim entitlements on a case-by-case basis leads to inconsistency, a lack of transparency, potential discrimination and a situation in which victims are required to prove if they are "deserving" of certain protections. Rather than relying on the criminal justice system to identify victims, HOME recommends the adoption of a victim-centred verification process. Frontline officers will make an initial determination that there are "reasonable grounds" for suspecting that a particular individual is a victim of trafficking. A suspected victim’s immediate needs must be addressed at this point, for example, by the provision of shelter and counselling. Following this, a process of further investigation should be implemented to determine within a specified timeframe – 30 days is recommended – that "on the balance of probabilities" the person is a victim of trafficking. Entitlements, such as a right to work and to legal aid, would then follow this conclusive determination. Extensive guidelines on a victim-centric approach to identifying trafficked victims exist and are enforced by many countries around the world, including member countries of the EU, Australia, UK and the United States. The burden of proving that trafficking has occurred should not fall on the shoulders of a victim.”