Louis Ng Kok Kwang
Singapore
“It does not matter whether the report was made to the Police or the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau. Can the Senior Parliamentary Secretary clarify whether an individual who reports an offence under the Bill to the Police will be similarly protected by the whistle-blowing protections under section 53?”
“In my Adjournment Motion six years ago, I shared the story of Emma, a single unwed parent who came to see me at my Meet-the-People Sessions, together with her two-month-old daughter. They were both living in a shelter. As I shared previously, when I asked why Emma did not shed a tear, she told me that she no longer had any tears left.”
“It is not just Nee Soon East cleaners who pay kickbacks. This, again, is a widespread problem that we have not done enough to detect and tackle. To tackle this more effectively, we need to treat kickbacks as seriously as corruption. We need our laws to have a more deterrent effect to have any chance of wiping out kickbacks.”
“Sir, I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for answering my cut on second-hand smoke. And I am sure he expects me to clarify further. But I think the Senior Parliamentary Secretary mentioned that there is no current technology to catch someone smoking at home and, so, because of that we cannot legislate a ban.”
“Madam, for years, I have spoken up repeatedly in this House, calling for the Government to take action to protect the lives of fellow Singaporeans from second-hand smoke. I have spoken up so much that Senior Minister of State Amy Khor once said that she is immune to me already. But on a more serious note, this is a serious issue.”
“We should end the discrimination and allow them to qualify for the PPHS. Mandate Sterilisation of Pet Cats I have spent a good part of my life calling for HDB to allow the keeping of cats in HDB flats. Many have called for this and I am glad the Government has finally changed our policies and allow the keeping of cats in HDB flats.”
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“It does not matter whether the report was made to the Police or the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau. Can the Senior Parliamentary Secretary clarify whether an individual who reports an offence under the Bill to the Police will be similarly protected by the whistle-blowing protections under section 53? If not, what is the rationale for limiting the protection to individuals who make the report specifically to an inspecting officer? Notwithstanding these clarifications, Sir, I stand in support of the Bill.”
“The step-in arrangements may include appointing another individual to be the person-in-charge of the social residential home, appointing another licensee to operate the social residential home or transferring residents to another social residential home. These are exceptional powers that should be used as a last resort. Can the Senior Parliamentary Secretary share whether MSF will have a framework for deciding when the step-in powers will be exercised and which arrangements will be ordered? For step-in arrangements involving another licensee, can MSF also share how it will prepare another licensee to take over the operations or residents of another social residential home? This is especially given that many social residential homes may not be operating with significant spare capacity. For instance, will there be a process for MSF to gradually prepare other social residential homes to support step-in arrangements where an social residential home operator appears unable or unwilling to comply with regulatory actions? My final clarification is on whistle-blowing protections under the Bill. Section 53 provides that a person who suspects that an offence has been committed may notify an inspecting officer of the relevant facts and circumstances. It also provides that the identity of the person is protected from disclosure in proceedings. However, a person who suspects an offence relating to a social residential home may not necessarily have access to or make the report to an inspecting officer. An informer may instead make the report to a Police officer or any other MSF officer. Under the Prevention of Corruption Act, as long as the complaint relates to an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the identity of the informer is protected.”
“Sir, this Bill proposes to strengthen safeguards for the safety, welfare and well-being of residents in social residential homes. The Bill introduces a licensing framework for social residential homes, which raises standards of care and strengthens enforcement when these standards are not met. I have three points of clarifications to raise. My first clarification is on the approval required to deploy individuals to carry out certain prescribed duties. Under section 19, prior approval of the Director-General is required to deploy an individual to carry out certain prescribed duties. During the public consultation on the Bill, respondents expressed concerns about reduced autonomy and potential hiring delays. MSF responded that it will work closely with the social residential homes to streamline the approval process and partner the social residential homes in recruitment planning. Given that the social residential homes often already face manpower challenges from high staff turnover, the new requirement for pre-approval may further constrain the social residential homes already limited manpower resources. Can the Senior Parliamentary Secretary share the duties that are likely to require pre-approval for deployment? Can the Senior Parliamentary Secretary share the likely timeframe for such pre-approval? Can the Senior Parliamentary Secretary also share more details on the approval process and how it will support the social residential homes in recruitment planning? My second clarification is on step-in arrangements. Part 6 of the Bill provides for step-in arrangements for licensees where necessary to ensure the safety, welfare and well-being of residents.”
“I hope MSF can also share their plans on how they will increase the manpower and resources at the Child Protective Services. ComCare and Health of Lower-income Group”
“In my Budget speech three years ago, I shared about how social workers were overworked and many were burnt out. I said: "Being a social worker is not easy. It is like riding a bike, except the bike is on fire. You're on fire. Everything is on fire." Three years on, and social workers continue to share with me about their crazy workloads and how not much has changed. I tried to have lunch with a social worker and for the entire hour, he was outside the restaurant trying to help a client's family over the phone. In the end, he packed his lunch, and I doubt he had time to eat it later on. The reality is that social workers are passionate about helping others, but they, too, need help. They need MSF to help them do a deep review of the funding model of the family service centres, provide more funding for headcount and introduce a cap on the number of cases a social worker can handle. Increase Child Protective Services Manpower Over the past 10 years in Nee Soon East, I have seen so many children's lives get destroyed. For me, that has been the most painful part of being a Member of Parliament – to see children get neglected, abused, raped; children whom I have seen grow up over the years. In these cases, the Child Protective Services step in and I am grateful for the work of our Child Protection officers (CPOs). Our CPOs handle about 40 cases at any point in time. As Senior Parliamentary Secretary Eric Chua shared: "I also think that 40 is a little bit too high. We are trying to bring the number for the caseload down." CPOs are superheroes but they have a limit, and I know many are way past that limit. I hope MSF will help our CPOs and ensure that there is a cap on the number of cases each CPO can handle.”
“In my Adjournment Motion six years ago, I shared the story of Emma, a single unwed parent who came to see me at my Meet-the-People Sessions, together with her two-month-old daughter. They were both living in a shelter. As I shared previously, when I asked why Emma did not shed a tear, she told me that she no longer had any tears left. She was not asking for sympathy. She was simply looking for a roof over her head and her baby's head. I am glad that single unwed parents can finally rent and buy a flat from HDB. Emma finally got her rental flat, and I am glad to share she finally purchased her very own Build-To-Order (BTO), but the playing field is still not level. I am not asking for single unweds to be given more, but for it to be fair. I am asking for them to be given the cash component of the Baby Bonus, the Parenthood Tax Rebate and the Working Mother's Child Relief. The cash is a lifeline for them, and all these will help reduce the stigma and discrimination that single unwed parents face.”
“In my Budget speech two years ago, I shared about how nurses' workloads are heavy, their shifts are long and they get little time to rest. I spoke up, calling for MOH to ensure that nurses have sufficient rest time. I ended that speech with a quote from a nurse, "We are called back for overtime when staff is down, when we don't go to work because we are tired, the management counts the number of times and mentions it in our appraisal for not being a team player and marks us down for it. These are just sad realities. We end up feeling burnt out and essentially hating the very job that we started loving. People leave because they see no end to this dark tunnel." I know there is light at the end of this dark tunnel and MOH has been doing a lot to address these issues. Can the Minister share what steps have been taken to ensure that nurses have enough time to rest during their shifts and between their shifts. Seniors Age Well Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim (Nominated Member): Madam, promoting healthy ageing among seniors, especially older women, is vital to ensuring their well-being and dignity. In this context, what initiatives are currently in place to promote healthy ageing among seniors, particularly older women, ensuring they have access to resources and programmes that support their physical, mental and social well-being? How is the Ministry collaborating with other Government agencies and community organisations to create a comprehensive support system specifically for older women, ensuring they can age with dignity and security?”
“All Singaporeans need parent care leave and depend on us to legislate this so that all companies will provide parent care leave just like how childcare leave is provided and mandated. Workplace Support for Caregivers”
“Many in the LGBTQ+ community are relieved that Minister confirmed that discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is covered under the Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices (TGFEP). This position is now reflected in Hansard on the Parliament website but strangely, not on the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) website. When someone faces discrimination or is handling a complaint about discrimination, do we really believe they will search the Parliament website on whether the discrimination is covered or will they search the TAFEP website? It would mean the world to the LGBTQ+ community if the TAFEP website can finally explicitly state that discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is covered under TGFEP, along with the other characteristics that TAFEP already lists on its website, including age, race, gender, religion, marital status and family responsibility. Legislate Parent Care Leave Next, many of us in this House have been fighting hard for parent care leave. We have been asking serious questions of why legislate childcare leave but not parent care leave. Are we signalling that looking after our children is more important than looking after our parents? Why provide parent care leave to all civil servants but not others? It cannot only be that civil servants need to look after their parents. The Government has said repeatedly that we are an ageing population. The younger generation not only has to bear the tax burden but they will also need time to look after their parents, especially when they are ill.”
“It is not just Nee Soon East cleaners who pay kickbacks. This, again, is a widespread problem that we have not done enough to detect and tackle. To tackle this more effectively, we need to treat kickbacks as seriously as corruption. We need our laws to have a more deterrent effect to have any chance of wiping out kickbacks. The current penalties are just too low. We should increase the maximum sentence to five years of imprisonment and a fine of $100,000, matching the maximum penalty for bribery cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act. I have been calling for this for many years now. To our migrant friends, I know you will be afraid to step forward to report the kickbacks you are forced to pay. Again, it is this fear that makes it so difficult to detect kickbacks and ensure that justice is served. MOM has provided assurances that you will be protected and like our Nee Soon East cleaners who not only faced no repercussions for reporting the kickbacks, they also got their money back. You can report kickbacks by calling MOM at 6438-5122.”
“Sir, many Singaporeans are tired, stressed and burnt out and it is time to give Singaporeans more time to rest and recharge. It has been 57 years since we reviewed our minimum entitlement of only seven days of annual leave. It is time to review this to help all workers, especially the 18,800 employees who receive only seven days of annual leave. They receive such a low number of annual leave likely because the minimum entitlement is only seven days for the first year of service. It is a fact that lower-income workers are getting less annual leave. It is time for the Government to increase the minimum entitlement of annual leave and level the playing field for our lower-income workers. Tackle Migrant Worker Kickbacks I have seen first-hand the impact kickbacks have on migrant workers. I was there with our Nee Soon East cleaners as they told me about the kickbacks they were forced to pay. As I shared in my Adjournment Motion three years ago, "These workers were terrified when they spoke to me. They feared the repercussions of reporting their bosses. What would happen to their job, family and debts? What would happen to them? I could see their hands trembling as they spoke." 6.30 pm I was also there with our cleaners again, before MOM interviewed them and I saw how terrified they were. A crime had been committed against them, yet their first emotion was not anger but fear. Many have asked why it takes so long to detect kickbacks. The answer is simply, fear. This fear, coupled with the power imbalance, defeats our current whistle-blowing mechanisms. Kickbacks are a widespread problem and the cases we have detected are just a tip of the iceberg. MOM has done well to publicise our efforts in tackling kickbacks, but we need to do more and now walk the talk.”
“We should end the discrimination and allow them to qualify for the PPHS. Mandate Sterilisation of Pet Cats I have spent a good part of my life calling for HDB to allow the keeping of cats in HDB flats. Many have called for this and I am glad the Government has finally changed our policies and allow the keeping of cats in HDB flats. There is still an outstanding issue of people breeding cats and abandoning them, and this puts our new policy in jeopardy. Cats reproduce very quickly and unsterilised cats caterwaul. These are two important issues we need to resolve and we can do this through mandating the sterilisation of pet cats as a prerequisite for the keeping of cats in HDB flats. If this still cannot be done, then the Government should at least be given the power to mandate that someone has to sterilise their pet cats if the cats are found to cause disamenties in the community.”
“Sir, I once said in this House that I am a housefly when it comes to asking for more. Even as Minister Indranee swats and shoos me away, I keep coming back for more. I should clarify that the Minister actually does not always swat and shoo me away. On the issue of breastfeeding, I am grateful for her and her team for consulting and working together with the Breastfeeding Mother's Support Group to effect changes that will help so many breastfeeding mothers. I am glad we will amend the Code on Accessibility in the Built Environment to lower GFA requirements for lactation rooms which will benefit many breastfeeding mothers. I am glad our voices have been heard, and many current and future breastfeeding mothers will benefit from this change in policy. So, for once, I shall not ask anymore. Thank you to the most sympathetic Minister, Minister Indranee. Help Single Unweds with Housing And now, I will ask for more. It is 2025 and we should finally ensure that all our housing policies are inclusive and do not discriminate against single unwed parents. Why do single unwed parents still not qualify for the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS)? Why is their application on a case-by-case basis? Single parents who are divorced or widowed qualify for PPHS, so why not single unwed parents? I can imagine how stressful it is to be a single unwed parent and our policies should help rather than discriminate against them. We ought to remember also that when we turn away a single unwed parent, are they really able to just rent in the open market, especially considering that many landlords do not want to rent to people with young children? Single unwed parents should be treated the same as others when applying for PPHS.”
“Sir, I thank all Members who have spoken up passionately and fought hard to improve our policies. I especially thank Minister Grace Fu, Senior Minister of State Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State Koh Poh Koon and Senior Parliamentary Secretary Baey Yam Keng for all their positive responses, except on the issue of second-hand smoke. My persistence on this issue – I have always wanted to say it – is as lingering as second-hand smoke. That is a persistent problem for so many residents and I hope sooner rather than later, we will really fix this problem. I also want to again record my appreciation and thanks, on behalf of all of us, to the staff members at MSE, NEA, SFA and PUB for all their hard work and dedication towards very important causes here in Singapore. With that, Sir, I seek leave to withdraw my amendment. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $2,658,974,300 for Head L ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $1,477,646,700 for Head L ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”
“Sir, allow me to take up the challenge from Senior Parliamentary Secretary Baey that there is no technology available. I have shown this in Parliament before. But this is a photo from an NEA camera, showing someone smoking at their window and there is actually quite a number of photos. So, the technology does exist. The current cameras that we use to catch the litterbugs can catch someone smoking at the windows. So, there really is not an excuse to say that there is no technology. But there is and we can use that again to legislate and help to protect people from second-hand smoke.”
“Sir, I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for answering my cut on second-hand smoke. And I am sure he expects me to clarify further. But I think the Senior Parliamentary Secretary mentioned that there is no current technology to catch someone smoking at home and, so, because of that we cannot legislate a ban. But we do have a law making it illegal to be naked at home if it is in public view, and we can enforce that. So, why can NEA or MSE not then enforce this ban on smoking in your home? Second, I think many of us receive complaints from our residents about second-hand smoke. Many of us do. So, NEA will issue advisories urging that resident to not smoke at the windows and balconies. That often fails. We urge them to try CMC. That often fails, and we try CDRT, and that fails because they cannot gather the evidence. Many times, the case is thrown out. So, if this resident goes through the entire journey and it does not work, can I ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary what help can NEA offer to these residents who are really suffering from second-hand smoke?”
“Madam, for years, I have spoken up repeatedly in this House, calling for the Government to take action to protect the lives of fellow Singaporeans from second-hand smoke. I have spoken up so much that Senior Minister of State Amy Khor once said that she is immune to me already. But on a more serious note, this is a serious issue. It is not about how many people have complained about this issue but quite starkly, about how many people have died. Based on the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study shared by the Ministry of Health (MOH), about one death every other day in Singapore is attributable to second-hand smoke. This is not about the luxury of having fresh air to breathe or nice-smelling air. This is a matter of life and death for so many people who depend on us sitting here to protect them. It is time for us to legislate and ban smoking at windows and balconies so that fewer people will die from second-hand smoke. Cleanliness”
“And finally, how is the Ministry collaborating with international partners and organisations to share best practices and innovations in building sustainable and climate-resilient cities? Building Climate Resilience”
“I am sure Senior Minister of State Amy Khor and Senior Parliamentary Secretary Baey Yam Keng expect me to talk about second-hand smoke and I shall not disappoint them. We have done so well in so many areas except in the area of second-hand smoke. Fresh air is as vital as fresh food, fresh water and a healthy planet. I truly and sincerely hope that MSE can put our hearts and minds towards tackling the issue of second-hand smoke. People depend on us to protect them from second-hand smoke. I hope that in 2025, we will finally change our policies and legislation to protect people from second-hand smoke in their own homes. I know my GPC colleagues and fellow Members of Parliament will be asking lots more questions about the Ministry's other plans for 2025. I look forward to a robust debate. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] Climate Resilient Future Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim (Nominated Member): Addressing climate change will assist and ensure Singapore's long-term resilience and sustainability. As a densely-populated island nation with limited resources, strategic urban planning and promoting sustainable practices and core components of an effective climate change strategy is critical. In this context, how does the Ministry plan to work with business and industry to align their practices with climate resilience goals, and what support is available to help them transition? What strategies are the Ministry implementing to enhance the city's resilience to climate change and how are these strategies being integrated into urban planning and development? How is the Ministry engaging with communities to foster a culture of sustainability and encourage individual actions that contribute to a climate-resilient future?”
“Mr Chairman, I move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head L of the Estimates be reduced by $100". 2.33 pm It has been a privilege chairing the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Sustainability and the Environment who have pushed hard for positive changes, a privilege to have seen first-hand the good work done by our dedicated teams at the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE), National Environment Authority (NEA), Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and Public Utilities Board (PUB). MSE does vital work in safeguarding the food we eat, the water we drink, the environment in which we live, work and play in, our climate and the survival of this planet we call home. I know it is rare for me to stand up here for almost a minute already and not ask questions, call for changes and nag for things to be done. But truly and sincerely, we have seen much progress made in MSE's policies and legislation and I am truly grateful. Many activists are thankful that many of their voices have been heard and our policies, especially on the climate change front, have improved significantly over the years. With the recent passing of the 574 pages Food Safety and Security Bill, we have also improved food security in Singapore and ensured a safer supply of fresh water and food. With the passing of the Good Samaritan Food Donation Bill, we have ensured that we have done more to tackle food waste. In this Committee of Supply (COS), I look forward to hearing more about the progress from the hard work of our teams again at MSE, NEA, SFA and PUB. Thank you again, for your dedication, passion and determination. I almost ended this speech without asking for anything, but you know, that is impossible.”
“Sir, I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the reply. Could I just check specifically what indicators MOE is looking at in terms of studying the extent of social mixing as a result of SBB? Secondly, I know that SBB does increase the workload of teachers. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary mentioned about increasing resources to the schools. Could I check exactly what additional resources are provided to the teachers to help them with this?”
“Thank you, Sir. And I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the reply. I think in reply to my Parliamentary Question (PQ) quite a number of years back, MOE share that there is a positive correlation, which means that students from lower SES are doing not as well in their PSLE as compared to students from higher SES. So, I know the Senior Parliamentary Secretary has listed a whole range of programmes and outreach we have done to try and help these students from lower SES. But if the correlations still exist, I am just wondering what else is MOE going to do to address this to try and at least lower the correlation or make sure that it does not exist in the first place?”
“Thank you, Madam. I have pushed the issue of childcare leave for a number of years now, but can I just have two requests for the Minister? One, can the Government do a public consultation to see how much support there is for the increase in childcare leave and how much is needed by families with children? Two, whether we can do a consultation with businesses to understand again what concerns they have with regard to increasing childcare leave and what kind of support they hope from the Government when it comes again to increasing childcare leave?”
“Supporting Parents with Young Children Lastly, we all want to be there for our children when they are sick, but many simply do not have enough childcare leave to be there to look after our loved ones. I understand the Government's concern when it comes to giving more childcare leave, but surely, childcare sick leave backed up by a medical certificate is a lower hanging fruit and is a necessity. I know the Government agrees with childcare sick leave and that it is needed. After all, we provide all civil servants with this and the Minister recently replied to me that, "The utilisation for childcare sick leave has remained steady at around 50% over the years and remains relevant for officers" – "officers" meaning Public Service officers. The time has come for us to legislate childcare sick leave for everyone and not just civil servants. As promised by Minister Indranee, I look forward to all her sympathetic responses to my cuts.”
“It was a journey filled with pain and anguish, excitement and disappointment and hope and happiness at times. It was financially, physically and emotionally draining." The Government is providing the much-needed subsidies for IVF but we can do so much more to help. IVF is a very time-consuming procedure and couples need time to go through IVF and time to support each other. But many are not given time off work. Many face unsupportive employers and this adds stress to an already stressful journey. I am calling again for the Government to legislate gender-neutral fertility leave. This will support couples, send employers a clear signal and trigger mindset shifts in the workplaces. Support for Older Couples Starting IVF Treatment Many Singaporeans are getting married later and we should not penalise those who find true love later in their lives. But the reality is that we do penalise them. The age criterion for the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) co-funding scheme is currently set at below 40 years of age. As the Ministry of Health (MOH) has shared, "This is based on current clinical evidence, which shows that the chance of conception for a woman who undergoes ART treatment decreases with age, with the success rate being significantly lower after 40 year of age." 4.00 pm I understand this rationale for this policy, but we must also understand the impact this has on many couples who are affected by it. Science is important, but we should also do all we can to help couples who are trying so hard to have children. Can the Government consider providing a lower percentage of co-funding for ART treatments for those who get married when they are 40 years old or older? A Singapore Made for Families must also include those who get married later in their lives.”
“As the Prime Minister said, "Employers and businesses are concerned about managing manpower gaps when their employees are away for an extended period." Can the Government do more to support employers, similar to how the Ministry of Defence supports employers when it comes to reservist obligations? Can the Government work with companies more closely and consider more incentives for businesses to ensure their employees use their parental leave? Supporting Parents with Young Children Three years ago, I asked the Government to provide more support for lower-income fathers to take their paternity leave. I shared that a National University of Singapore study study found that fathers in more labour-intensive jobs, such as machine operators and cleaners, were half as likely to take their paternity leave, as compared to fathers working as legislators, senior officials and managers. I am asking again that the Government conduct a targeted study on the barriers to taking paternity leave for lower-income workers, look into policies to increase their usage of paternity leave and also look into incentivising, again, the employers who support their employees to take their paternity leave? Can we finally do more to help lower-income fathers take their paternity leave? Why should they be denied the time to spend with their babies? Support for Couples Undergoing In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) I love my three children, Ella, Katie and Poppy, and as I have shared in this House, without in vitro fertilisation (IVF), I actually would not have kids today. IVF is not for the faint-hearted and as I shared in my Adjournment Motion four years ago, "Going through IVF was like being on an emotional roller coaster ride.”
“Sir, eight years ago, I delivered my first Adjournment Motion, sharing my painful experience of my premature twins Katie and Poppy's 10-week stay in hospital. I spoke up calling to extend parental leave for parents with birth of multiples and of pre-term babies. I am glad the Government responded positively and introduced The Tripartite Standard on Unpaid Leave for Unexpected Care Needs offering up to four weeks of unpaid leave for parents with births of multiples and of pre-term babies. Minister Josephine Teo shared in her reply that, "He spoke from the heart and won us with not just the strengths of his arguments but also the intensity of his conviction." [Deputy Speaker (Ms Jessica Tan Soon Neo) in the Chair] Sir, my conviction over this issue has intensified over the years and I also remember that Minister Josephine Teo once told me that, "All good things will be considered." It is time for us to upgrade the Tripartite Standard to Tripartite Guidelines so that it is no longer voluntary and every employee will get to benefit from it. This is a good thing to consider. Supporting Parents with Care Needs I took all my paternity leave and I know how important it is to be there for our children when they are born. I treasure that few weeks I could spend with them to welcome them into this world. The Government has sent a clear signal that parental leave is important. We have increased paternity leave and introduced a new Shared Parental Leave. But only about one in two fathers take their paternity leave and not all mothers take their maternity leave. We all know that part of the problem here is workplace culture and support.”
“The business cost truly incurred is outweighed by the very clear message that well-being, mental health, family and rest are equally important for all workers and not just some workers. In conclusion, Sir, our people will always want to do their best. They can only do their best when they are well-rested and have enough time for their loved ones. Importantly, the ability to rest and take care of our loved ones should not be a luxury. Our lower-income workers deserve more days of annual leave. 2025 is MOM's 70th anniversary. It bears remembering that in 1955, MOM started as the Ministry of Labour and Welfare. Labour and welfare must go hand-in-hand. Our workers have worked incredibly hard. In this milestone year for MOM, I hope we can give equal weight to the goal of safeguarding workers' welfare by increasing our minimum annual leave entitlement. With my father, I lost time which I will never be able to get back and recover. I do not want others to have the same regrets that I have. As the iconic Dolly Parton said, "Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life." Many of us live as though we are rehearsing for a future life where we get to spend quality time with our loved ones. There is no real life other than the one we are living now. Along with the handouts that we will give out to help Singaporeans with the cost of living, I sincerely hope that we will finally increase our minimum annual leave entitlement after 57 years, to help Singaporeans have the time for living. Sir, I support the Budget.”
“These countries all have a higher minimum annual leave entitlement: Afghanistan, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, East Timor, Fiji, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tonga, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen. That was nice. All have a higher annual leave entitlement as compared to Singapore. Many of these countries also have a higher number of paid public holidays. We pride ourselves on having a highly-skilled and professional workforce. Our competitive advantage is our expertise and skills. Surely we are not competitive only because our workers are willing to slog for more days and for longer hours than other countries. I know we are also concerned about business costs. I am too and we should be. But when we consider that 90% of our workforce already have more than seven days of annual leave, increasing this minimum entitlement will not significantly cost businesses much more. But for the individual worker, it is hugely significant as additional time for rest and for spending time with their loved ones. We took a supported, phased and gradual approach when we doubled and mandated paternity leave entitlements. We believed it was the right thing to do for parents and we worked with businesses to ensure a smooth rollout. For annual leave, we can do the same and work closely with businesses every step of the way too. We should consult them, understand their concerns and challenges and provide the support needed to successfully implement the increase.”
“Business cost was a concern stated by Senior Minister of State Koh and FWAs were again offered as an alternative to increasing annual leave. I agree with Senior Minister of State Koh Poh Koon that work-life balance and productivity can be addressed from multiple angles. I am glad we have made progress on other areas, such as FWAs, which I have fought hard for too. But for those who cannot access FWAs, increasing annual leave entitlement is one angle that we should not rule out. By keeping minimum annual leave entitlement at seven days for 57 years because we fear business costs and maybe losing productivity, we risk reinforcing the impression that well-being and productivity are trade-offs. This does not have to be the case. We do not lose out when we prioritise people. Instead, I hope we can send the clear message that only by prioritising people, can we grow sustainably and healthily as a nation. We are not less productive when we get more rest. Instead, I sincerely believe that a more well-rested workforce will be a more productive workforce. We are also not any less competitive than our neighbours by increasing the minimum annual leave entitlement. More than 160 countries already provide a higher minimum annual leave entitlement. I am tempted to read out all 160 countries but I know Speaker will kill me, so let us just focus on the Asia Pacific region to give you a sense on how far behind we are.”
“Perhaps we are thinking, maybe this 8% of workers get to work from home or benefit from some other flexible work arrangements (FWAs). After all, with regard to annual leave, the Government has stressed that we are "looking at this from a more holistic way, by ensuring that there are avenues for other forms of work arrangements, including flexible work arrangements". Unfortunately, this is not the reality on the ground. Workers with the least amount of leave are also the ones least likely to benefit from FWAs. These workers are typically in frontline or labour-intensive jobs, such as cleaners, cashiers, security guards and service staff. FWAs are not a realistic alternative to having more annual leave for these workers. Our policies are supposed to ensure sufficient rest. Seven days. A week of rest from a year of backbreaking work. Is that a humane way to treat people? Our law seems to think so. It is our lower-income workers who are suffering the most from our annual leave policy. I hope, we do not have to wait another 57 years to review this policy. My final point is that we do not need to lose productivity and competitiveness when we increase annual leave. Let me remind the House again that the minimum annual leave entitlement has not changed for almost 60 years. Our economic conditions and workforce have changed drastically in that period. It is high time for a review. Senior Minister of State Koh Poh Koon replied to me in 2021 that there were no plans to review the annual leave entitlement. After a very good three years of break and no nagging Senior Minister of State Koh, I asked again in 2024 and Senior Minister of State Koh replied to me again that there were still no plans to review the minimum annual leave entitlements.”
“Where can our people find the time? For so many of us struggling to stay on top of a never-ending to-do list, it would sure help to have more annual leave. This brings me to my next point. For lower-income workers, annual leave is not a luxury and may not even be about rest. For them, it is the only time they have to spend with their loved ones. In Nee Soon East, we have our Helping Hands programme to uplift lower-income families. A strong component of the programme is ensuring that they have family time and I have seen first-hand how parents struggle to find time. When I try to bring children from lower-income families out for outings with their parents, their parents simply cannot take leave. They do not have enough annual leave. One mother, who is a cashier, had only seven days of annual leave and has to work weekends every week with only one day-off a week, on a weekday. Another father, who is a cleaner, also had seven days of annual leave and just does not have time to spend with his children. Both of them are single parents and their children need the precious time with their parents. The problem is not just anecdotal. The data tells us that lower-income workers tend to have fewer days of paid annual leave. In 2023, the average number of paid annual leave for full-time employees earning below $2,000 was 12 days, compared to 17 days for those earning between $2,000 and $4,999 and 21 days for those earning $5,000 and above. 12 days seems low, but even that would be a blessing for 8% of full-time resident employees who receive the very minimum of seven days. Eight percent is 18,800 employees. None of us sitting here would want to be part of that number.”
“He said, "So let there be no doubt: the Government is making mental health and well-being a key priority in our national agenda." Indeed, it is a key priority and we have been talking about reducing burn out, supporting couples on their fertility journeys, encouraging parent-child bonding, building family-friendly workplaces, encouraging a better work-life balance, supporting working caregivers and increasing family support for the elderly. We can walk the talk on all these things we say are important by increasing the minimum annual leave entitlement. Annual leave is important and is needed for so many reasons. Couples undergoing fertility treatments often tap on their annual leave for their treatments. Parents who use up their six days of paid childcare leave have to use their annual leave when their child falls ill or during school closures. Many also take their annual leave to accompany elderly parents for their medical appointments. And let us not forget that annual leave is needed for rest and to spend time with your loved ones. It is for our well-being, the same well-being that Prime Minister Wong said is a key priority. Singaporeans are stressed, tired and burnt out. The Cigna Healthcare Vitality Study 2023 found that stress levels in Singapore have increased steadily since 2021, with close to nine in 10 people reporting that they felt stressed that year, higher than the global average. And just last year, the 2024 Gallup State of the Global Workplace survey ranked Singapore third in Southeast Asia for daily workplace stresses. I could go on with many more studies but I do not think we need any more data to prove how exhausted Singaporeans are. Take care of our parents, be there for our children, make more babies, work hard. But also, take a break.”
“He lost consciousness before I made it to the hospital and so I never got a chance to say a proper goodbye. I made a mistake and took too many things for granted. I wish I could turn back time and have more time with Daddy, but I know this is impossible. Ten years on, I still live with regret. Regret truly is an incurable ache. There are many Singaporeans just like my father. They work hard their whole lives looking forward to more relaxing days with their loved ones, but they never make it there. We go through life preparing for another life that we will eventually get to enjoy. We forget that there only is one life, and every day working is every day not being with the people we love most. This Budget, it is the vouchers, grants and financial goodies that will make the headlines. But I hope this Budget, we can give something even more precious: time. The time that annual leave gives us is important for all and even more important for lower-income workers. In this speech, I will talk about how annual leave will help build a Singapore made for families and for our mental health, how annual leave is particularly important for the lower income and how it is not a zero-sum trade-off against business costs, productivity and competitiveness. First, let me talk about how annual leave can help build a Singapore made for families and for mental health. The minimum entitlement of seven days of paid annual leave was introduced in 1968, before I was born, before Prime Minister Lawrence Wong was born too. It has been almost 60 years. Since then, our national priorities have shifted. We now focus more sharply than ever on families and on mental health. Last year, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong made clear that mental health and well-being is a key priority.”
“Sir, I have spoken up for civil servants, students, teachers, social workers, nurses and migrant workers in my Budget speeches in this House in the past decade. This year’s Budget is a Budget for all Singaporeans whereas Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said, "No one is left behind". In 2018, I said in this House that then Minister Lawrence Wong which is my favourite Minister – I hope he remembers that I am the first to say that. I am glad he became Prime Minister and like my favourite Minister’s 2025 Budget is for all Singaporeans, my speech today is also for all Singaporeans. I am speaking up for everyone and asking for more time for everyone. I am asking that we review our minimum entitlement of only seven days of paid annual leave. I am asking that we review a policy that we have not reviewed for 57 years. That is a long time to not improve a policy. Whether you are a consultant for an MNC, a cashier at a convenience store, a cleaner at a coffee shop, we all have the same 24 hours in a day. We all need time from work to rest for our mental health and for our loved ones. My father was a model employee who worked extremely hard for the company he worked for, for 42 years. He worked hard not just for his company but also for his colleagues and his family. He looked forward to his retirement, when he could spend more time with his family and his grandchildren. My father never got to enjoy the fruits of his labour. He was diagnosed with stage IV prostate cancer when he was close to retirement. Our very first family holiday on a cruise was when my father was already dying. On the day I decided that I would take leave to spend more time with my father when he was in the hospital, he passed away, at the age of 67.”
“I will use the three minutes, Speaker. Again, I just wanted to clarify. The groups that are helping the refugees do want to raise funds publicly. That is part of their activism. It is not just getting the money, but empowering people with the knowledge about the refugee crisis. So, they are not going to qualify for the scheme that the Senior Parliamentary Secretary mentioned. They are hoping to get charity status, just like any other organisation and continue and be able to raise funds overseas. There is a second part of the question, which is the application for the fundraising for foreign charitable permit. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary had mentioned that for higher-risk causes, they will take longer time to evaluate the application. So, could I just ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary whether helping refugees is considered as one of those higher-risk causes?”
“I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the reply. Could I just ask very specific questions? One, whether groups that are helping refugees will be able to get charity status? And two, I think he mentioned that when people are applying for the fundraising for foreign charitable purposes permit, some are considered as higher risk. Could he just confirm that helping refugees is considered a higher risk?”
“The fact that you have been able to speak in Parliament about refugees is something that has empowered ordinary people like us to believe that helping refugees is something we will find support for." I should stress that there is nothing ordinary about Yuan Siang, Brandon, Xiaodan, Mark, Adriel, Chong Wei, Cheryl, Matilda, Chiew Tong, Jade and Clarissa. Many more NGOs like Jesuit Refugee Service Singapore, Relief SG, Singapore Red Cross and many more individuals, many of whom are sitting in the gallery, that also dedicate their lives towards this important cause. They are extraordinary Singaporeans who have chosen a difficult cause to fight for because they believe that everyone deserves a voice. Sir, the refugees need their voices heard. This speech is unfortunately not one filled with happy stories. And the story of Ayas, the little boy I met at the refugee camp in Aceh, is unfortunately not a happy one as well and probably remains so. The last I heard, he is still in a refugee camp. He is now 18 years old and still does not have a place he can call home. Ayas, if you somehow watch this speech, know that many people continue to speak up for you here in Singapore and continue to do their best to help you. Ayas does not have a say in his future but we do. And I sincerely hope we will support the efforts of fellow Singaporeans who are fighting so hard to help to rebuild the lives of refugees and help ensure that they too have a place they can call home and children can have a childhood that is not stolen from them. I sincerely hope that we all remember that there is no us or them. Only us – one human family, connected in ways we sometimes forget. [Applause.]”
“I thank Minister of State Alvin Tan for meeting with the NGOs who are working hard to help refugees. In fact, he just met them about an hour ago. Again, I thank him for listening to their concerns first-hand and seeing how we can help. I am also thankful that in Budget 2024, we announced that Singaporeans will be able to claim 100% tax deduction for donations to overseas humanitarian relief efforts, under a new scheme launched in recognition of people's desire to do good beyond Singapore's shores. The Overseas Humanitarian Assistance Tax Deduction Scheme (OHAS) will run for four years as a pilot, from 1 January 2025. But the issue is that the scheme is scoped so narrowly. To be eligible for tax deductions under OHAS, donations must be made through designated charities. These are the larger charities. We should not forget the smaller groups who do good work too. Charities must also have emergency humanitarian assistance as part of their objectives to qualify. It is likely that the refugee cause that Matilda and Yuan Siang have been fighting so hard for will not be included in this scheme. In conclusion, Sir, I hope that MCCY will one, amend our Charities (Registration of Charities) Regulations to allow the registration of charities whose purpose is not beneficial wholly or substantially to the communities in Singapore; two, streamline the process of applying for a Fund-Raising for Foreign Charitable Purposes permit; and three, waive the 80:20 Fund-Raising rule for all humanitarian causes and not just on a case-by-case basis. Sir, in his email to me back in 2020, Yuan Siang shared with me that, "I have read on the news that you have been involved with and have given support for refugees.”
“Let us be seen to not just venture into other countries to compete, to take, but also to give and to help. Also, if members of the public want to donate to a foreign charitable cause, why should the Government make it difficult to do so? We should let the public, rather than the Government, decide on what and who people want to donate to. The Government should of course ensure there is due diligence and that funds collected are properly accounted for and audited. However, we should not stop or restrict Singaporeans from raising funds to help others in other countries. Sir, in Yuan Siang's case, I spoke to the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), and I am glad they eventually approved his permits but with many conditions. Despite the difficulties, he was amazing and shared with me the impact of their efforts. Singaporeans supported him and he managed to raise $59,500 and awarded 48 scholarships to mainly refugees; 65% of the students managed to score four or more As in their IGCSEs. One student shared, "Because of your generosity, I was able to fully concentrate on my studies. This scholarship instilled a sense of responsibility in me to perform better, to gain better outcomes and to ensure that the money put forward by the organisation and the donors do not go in vain. Besides that, this scholarship has boosted my self-esteem which will benefit me immensely in the future when I am continuing my further studies." Yuan Siang hopes to continue his efforts, but he needs the support not just from fellow Singaporeans but also from the Government. Before I end, I should stress that the Government does care about this issue and we have made progress, but as always, this housefly hopes that more can be done.”
“" He further shared, "it is hard not to get the impression that our application might be experiencing all this delay and scrutiny because we are trying to help refugees. With each day that passes, we get more worried that rejection is inevitable." Sir, I too understand the need for due diligence but we should streamline the processes. Helping refugees, again, is incredibly difficult work, so why should we make it any harder? I am sure the Government agrees. In an effort to keep the regulatory burden to a minimum and ensure a business-friendly environment in Singapore, Deputy Prime Minister Gan is already overseeing a "thorough and proactive review of our rules and processes, and prune them back where possible". My second recommendation is that we streamline the process of applying for a Fund-Raising for Foreign Charitable Purposes permit and make it much easier to get. My third and final recommendation is that we waive the 80:20 rule for all humanitarian causes and not just on a case-by-case basis. This is where 80% of the funds raised through a public appeal have to be applied for charitable purposes within Singapore. The remaining 20% of funds may be for overseas charitable purposes. In Yuan Siang's case, if he did a public appeal for a scholarship for refugees, it would not make sense to use only 20% of the funds raised towards the scholarship. Why restrict our NGOs? The Government is providing funds to help firms internationalise and build capabilities to operate overseas. We should provide the same kind of support to organisations wanting to help other countries, to do good there. We should support our local non-profit organisations who internationalise, who fly the Singapore flag proudly overseas and who lend a helping hand to our neighbours.”
“It is not a zero-sum game and we can and should have charities focusing on the communities in Singapore but also have some focusing on communities outside of Singapore. My first recommendation for this Motion is that we amend our Charities (Registration of Charities) Regulations to allow the registration of charities whose purpose is not beneficial wholly or substantially to the community in Singapore. It is AFR's 10th year anniversary this year – 10 years on, Matilda and AFR are still going strong. Imagine what more they can achieve with charity status. Sir, I also met Yuan Siang, another young Singaporean who wrote to me in 2020. He was a final year law student and was trying to set up a scholarship programme for refugees. He co-founded a society named Monolith with his friends, Brandon, Xiaodan, Mark, Adriel, Chong Wei and Cheryl. They wanted to start a scholarship, which will cover the costs of the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examinations, similar to our "O" levels, for about 80 to 90 refugee students. Unfortunately, they ran into problems in getting the necessary permits. He submitted the application for a Fund-Raising for Foreign Charitable Purposes (FRFCP) permit in mid-August 2020 and after 2.5 months, the application was still being processed. The typical time needed to process an FRFCP is 30 days. Yuan Siang shared with me that he understood the need for due diligence and did his best to keep in touch with the person-in-charge. He shared that, "We typically get a question every two to three weeks, to which we reply as quickly as we can, only to get another question two to three weeks later.”
“Over the past decade, I have had the privilege of working with many Singaporeans who are trying so hard to help the refugees. This speech is dedicated to all of them. In 2016, I met Matilda, a young Singaporean who has spent the past decade speaking up, mobilising people and giving the refugees a voice here in Singapore. She mobilised a group of Singaporeans to go to Aceh to help the refugees and I joined that trip. I saw first-hand her passion, commitment and devotion towards this cause. I know it is not an easy cause to speak up for. It is an uphill battle, but Matilda has never given up. She set up Advocates for Refugees (AFR) in 2015 and has gathered a strong group of individuals, all wanting to do more. She said, "AFR exists in Singapore because I believe that collectively we can do more from Singapore to rally support from within, to uplift communities in our neighbouring countries." She wanted to officially register a charity, but it is close to impossible to get charity status for an non-governmental organisation (NGO) working on a foreign cause. Why should it be this way? Why make it so difficult for the younger generation to set up a cause here in Singapore and fight for what they believe in? To register as a charity, your organisation will need to meet the conditions set out in the Charities (Registration of Charities) Regulations: "Purposes of your organisation must be beneficial wholly or substantially to the community in Singapore." I understand that we want the focus on Singapore but in the current charities landscape, we have plenty of charities focusing on the community in Singapore and I have no doubt they are here to stay.”
“But even more than the numbers, it is the individual stories I heard that broke my heart. I asked about the scar on the arm of a little five-year-old girl. Shockingly, it was a bullet wound. A child of five should not even know what a gun is, let alone being shot and hurt by one. I saw a father weep as he spoke of watching his nine-month-old baby being stabbed to death. I sat down to listen to a group of women who were in tears as they told me how they were raped and how they watch their husbands and babies get killed. I met a mother and her young children. They arrived at the refugee camp the same time that I arrived. I arrived on a mini-bus, but they had walked for weeks to reach the camp. Her husband was killed, and they hid in the forest in fear for days before walking for weeks to cross the border and find refuge in another country. There was just emptiness in her eyes. I just cannot imagine how she would explain to the little child she was carrying and an older child she was holding hands with, about what is happening. Where is daddy and why did they have to leave their home. And I met a young man in the prime of his life at 22 years old who is facing up to a future without his entire family: all seven were killed. He was in tears as he showed me the video of the dead bodies. A video I wished I never watched and a video I will never forget. We cannot erase the horrors these people have faced. But we can all do something to help to prevent their further suffering. Sir, this speech is not just about the refugees but equally importantly about Singaporeans like Chiew Tong, Jade and Clarissa who have devoted their time and energy towards this very worthy cause. Singaporeans who have responded to the call for help from the refugees.”
“Many lost their lives trying to flee on these boats. According to media reports in 2015, "People were thrown overboard as the refugees fought for their survival, according to accounts of one of the grimmest episodes to emerge in a spiralling humanitarian disaster in south-east Asian waters." No one would put their children in a boat unless water was safer than land. Despite all the dangers, it did seem for the refugees that water was ultimately safer than land. Ayas, his brother and mother finally arrived at a refugee camp in Aceh, and this is where I met him. I met this little boy who had his childhood ripped from him, who lost his father, lost his home, who survived an arduous journey where he almost died and probably saw other people die. But I also met a little boy who was so eager to learn, who had learnt English and wanted to practise it with me, a little boy who wanted a place he can call home. I was humbled by Ayas. Ayas is one out of hundreds of thousands of refugees all trying to find some semblance of peace. I met many more refugees, but nothing could really prepare me for what I saw, heard and felt in the refugee camps in Bangladesh. It is suffering on a scale and to a degree that I never could have imagined. The Bangladesh government is doing their absolute best in absolutely difficult circumstances, and they too need help. In the Cox's Bazar region of Bangladesh, 656,000 Rohingyas, including 355,300 children, sought sanctuary in the past few months before my visit back in 2018. The numbers today are considerably larger. During my visit, I also met some of the 36,373 children who lost at least one parent. A staggering 7,771 innocent little ones lost both mommy and daddy. The numbers are staggering.”
“Sir, I am ashamed that for so many years, decades actually, I have lived in ignorance. Ignorant that there was a refugee crisis right here in Asia and that so many people were suffering and needed help. Singaporeans alerted me to this crisis and many of them are sitting in the gallery here in Parliament with us this evening. It was Chiew Tong, a student who was doing a documentary about the Rohingya refugees who first shared with me about the plight of refugees. This was more than nine years ago and I remember listening vividly to her as she spoke passionately about her school documentary project together with two other students Jade and Clarissa. I visited them in Aceh while they were filming, and met the refugees and listened to their painful stories first-hand. But, Sir, painful does not actually sufficiently describe the stories I have heard. A huge part of me just cannot imagine the amount of pain the refugees must feel and the amount of suffering they have gone through. In the refugee camp, I met Ayas. A little boy I will never forget. He is Rohingya and used to live in Myanmar. He was only eight years old when he, his 10-year-old brother and mother fled on a boat in 2015. The conditions of these boats were appalling. Sir, my daughter is 11 years old this year and I cannot imagine having to put her on a boat and flee like that. Ayas' father had left on another boat and landed in another country earlier. They have since lost contact and he will probably never see his father again. As a father and a son, I cannot imagine how painful it must be, to be in this situation. Ayas' mother was worried that they would die if they stayed in Myanmar any longer. And so, they too left and they spent at least three months on an overcrowded boat in the open ocean.”
“Your extended childcare leave is gone in just the first month of the year. What about all the other days of primary school closure or early closure? For example, on Youth Day, National Day, Teachers' Day, PSLE marking days, Honours Day and Primary 1 Orientation, just to name a few in my own daughter's primary school. Do we really think that primary school students can go home and stay home on their own when schools close or close early? We must remember that not all children go to student care and not all families have helpers to look after their children. There is a gap in our policy and for the sake of working parents, we ought to address this gap and extend childcare leave to all children up to the age of 12. Being a parent is the most rewarding and also the most demanding job. As every parent knows, every day, you make so many difficult decisions and impossible decisions: choosing between sleep, work, time for yourself and your spouse, chores and your children. There is always a compromise and you feel like you are never doing enough. I hope we can do a little more for all parents by increasing our childcare leave provisions and providing it on a per child basis. Again, this we have not reviewed for over a decade now. Let me end with this quote which I love, "Parenthood: a constant battle between wanting them to stay little and the love of watching them grow. It is wishing to rewind time, while begging for more. It can be a struggle. It can be confusing. But what a beautiful mess it is." In a "Singapore Made for Families", I hope that every parent can be there for their child in moments that will last a lifetime. Sir, I support this Motion.”
“He would have no more leave left if any one of his three children fell sick again at any point in the year and we are only in January. There are 11 more months of the year. Just over the past week, I also received a letter from my daughter's primary school informing us that there are HFMD cases in school. We were strongly urged to immediately seek medical attention if our children are not feeling well and to allow them to rest at home until the end of their medical leave. This is common sense and good advice from a public health perspective. But this can also be incredibly difficult for working parents who do not have sufficient leave entitlements. Without sufficient childcare leave, parents who run out of childcare leave then face a choice between being there for their sick child or go to work. They could, of course, take their annual leave, but many do not have sufficient annual leave too. I hope we can relieve more parents from the stress of this decision by increasing childcare leave and providing it on a per child basis. This would make sense. My second ask is that we extend childcare leave for all children up to the age of 12, instead of the current age of seven. Your six days of childcare leave entitlement is lost when your youngest child enters primary school. You now get extended childcare leave of only two days, again, if your youngest child is in primary school. But us parents know that a primary school kid cannot look after themselves when they are sick. What happens when the school is closed for the day or ends early? Just in January, most parents would have used up two days of their extended childcare leave. For those not in Primary 1, school is closed on 2 January. School also ended early at 10.30 am on 28 January 2025 for Chinese New Year celebrations.”
“We give parents six days of childcare leave and childcare centres close for about seven-and-a-half days. Think about it. For couples, who have a combined 12 days of childcare leave, almost more than half is already wiped out from school closures. What about parents who have children in kindergarten and also in primary schools? The school closures might not coincide and they face an even more severe shortage of childcare leave and, for them, having childcare leave on a per child basis is very much needed. Second, our policy seems to suggest that our children will fall sick all at the same time. We know that cannot be true. They fall sick at different times and so, again, how sure are we that six days of childcare leave for all our children is sufficient? Just over the week, a parent shared with me about how his child contracted the dreaded hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). On Monday, the child contracted a fever and went to the doctor. The child was not diagnosed with HFMD and was given a medical certificate (MC) for three days. On Monday night, very night itself, spots started to appear on the child and he suspected it was HFMD. On Tuesday, he brought her back to the doctor and her HFMD was confirmed. She was given six days of MC until Sunday. On Sunday, the child was cleared of HFMD, but had an infection due to an insect bite and was given another five days of MC. I feel tired for the parents just by sharing the above but that is the reality for many, many parents. At one shot, this would have wiped out 10 days of his leave. What about leave for the six days of annual school closures? I should add that this parent has three children. He would not have any leave left if his other two children subsequently contracted HFMD, which does have an incubation period.”
“Sir, parenthood has been the most fulfilling journey of my life. This is a journey of laughter, joy, tears and exhaustion. Sometimes, all at once. I cannot imagine life without my three girls – Ella, Katie and Poppy. They feature a lot in my speeches in this House over the past 10 years because they are a part of almost every aspect of my life. I love seeing the world through their eyes – their pure, untainted view of the world and how they view the world without lens of discrimination. In a "Singapore Made for Families", I hope more couples can experience this for themselves. Over the years, we have made great progress in our parenthood policies. We have our slew of financial assistance, we have increased parental leave and we have made FWAs a reality. As we celebrate what we have done, there is yet more that we can do. Today, I am continuing to speak up for parents to have more time with their children. It has been more than a decade since we increased our childcare leave provisions. I hope we can increase childcare leave and provide it on a per child basis. I also hope we can extend the current childcare leave provisions of six days to all children up to the age of 12 years. My first ask is that we increase childcare leave and provide it on a per child basis. Yes, I have asked for this many, many times now and I am asking for it again because I know how precious time is. Working parents with children under seven years old can take up to six days of childcare leave every year. This is six days, no matter whether you have one, two, three, four or more children. How does this make sense? It does not make sense for two reasons. First, we must remember that most childcare centres are closed for about seven-and-a-half days a year.”