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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“I do understand that it is common for arbitration institutions to require the appointing authority to appoint all three arbitrators if either the claimants or the respondents are unable to come to an agreement on an arbitrator. However, there is a permutation on this model under article 8(1) of the 2020 London Court of International Arbitration Rules. It says: where all parties have agreed in writing for each side to nominate a single arbitrator, but one side is not able to come to an agreement on a nomination, the other side is free to make its nomination. Party autonomy is a significant feature of arbitration. To ensure that parties’ agreements are given consideration, can the Minister confirm that the appointing authority should take into account the agreement reached by parties on one side on their arbitrator when appointing the three arbitrators? My second clarification is on the amendment to expressly recognise the powers of the arbitral tribunal and the High Court to enforce obligations of confidentiality. This amendment is welcome and will assist in tightening the process and preserving confidentiality of the proceedings. That said, despite the express recognition, the Bill does not codify confidentiality obligations that the Minister mentioned. Given that one of the main draws of arbitration is the confidentiality of proceedings, and codifying confidentiality obligations will assist in reducing uncertainty and potential disputes over these obligations, can the Minister clarify the reasoning behind deciding against codifying confidentiality obligations? For a good example, we can take a look at the arbitration scene in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Arbitration Ordinance expressly provides for a statutory duty of confidentiality in arbitration.”
“Sir, Singapore has emerged as one of the leading hubs for international arbitration in recent years. In 2019, the Singapore International Arbitration Centre or SIAC set a new record with 479 new case filings and parties from over 59 jurisdictions chose Singapore as their destination for arbitration. The amendments in this Bill will further strengthen our international arbitration regime and raise Singapore’s profile as a global centre for international arbitration. Parties who require arbitration services will also have access to a wider range of options best tailored to their needs. That said, I have a few clarifications on the Bill, many of which, Minister Edwin has already clarified on. My first clarification is on the default mode of appointment of arbitrators in multi-party arbitration. It is good that we recognise that we need to provide for the appointment of arbitrators in multi-party disputes which are on the rise. They occur, for instance, in disputes involving joint ventures, mergers and oil and gas acquisition. The new section 9B details the default mode of appointment for multi-party situations. There is some concern about point 4 of this section, which states: if either the claimants or the respondents fail to appoint an arbitrator, the appointing authority must appoint all three arbitrators. The authority can also reappoint or revoke any appointments made. It is unclear why the failure of just one side to appoint an arbitrator means that the appointing authority must now step in to appoint all three arbitrators even if the other side managed to agree on their arbitrator. Essentially, this means that failure to agree by one side, makes the agreement reached by the other side ineffective.”
“Thank you, Sir. I thank the Minister of State for the reply as well. I understand that the foreign domestic workers or FDWs can be deployed outside their registered address if they are looking after the young children and the senior parents or the elderly parents of the employers. Could I ask whether moving forward, MOM can require a documented consent from the FDW if they are going to be deployed outside the registered address? That way, I think it can sort of resolve some of the disputes that have been raised at MOM level.”
“Thank you, Sir. I thank the Minister for the response. I note that we are now at about 50% of our work-from-home policy, but I think Minister Lawrence Wong originally said that we should embrace working from home even after the circuit breaker ends. So, can I just check whether the Government still stands by that statement? Second, I think working from home has allowed more fathers to play an active role in child care-giving duties. I am just wondering whether the Government has studies or will be studying whether our work-from-home policies can contribute towards levelling the child care-giving duties at home and hence, tackling this gender stereotype?”
“Second, what percentage of these complaints are resolved with the rental relief being subsequently provided to the tenants and sub-tenants respectively? Third, as some tenants and sub-tenants, especially again the coffeeshop stallholders, still appear to be unaware of their rental relief rights under this framework, can the Minister share if a more comprehensive communication mechanism could be put in place urgently to inform eligible tenants and sub-tenants of such reliefs? If not, can landlords and tenants be made responsible to show evidence that they have informed their tenants or sub-tenants respectively of their rental reliefs? Fourth, given the additional rights of the assessor to vary the relief amounts pursuant to this new Bill, can the Minister share what safeguards will be put in place to ensure that tenants and sub-tenants have sufficient clarity from the outset of the rental relief and amounts that they should be entitled to? Similar to my earlier point, how will MinLaw be communicating this to the tenants and sub-tenants? Sir, notwithstanding these clarifications, I stand in support of the Bill.”
“Sir, I stand in support of the Bill. I thank the Ministry for the rental relief afforded to many tenants and sub-tenants under the Act. It has, indeed, been a lifeline for many SMEs in these difficult economic times. I just have a few quick clarifications to seek. On my recent market walkabouts, I found that some sub-tenants, especially coffeeshop stallholders, are not benefiting from the rental relief framework. They are not aware of the laws that have been passed and the rental relief they can get. It is good that eligible tenants and sub-tenants do not need to do anything and, instead, the landlords are obliged to notify their tenants of the rental relief. However, I understand that some landlords are not notifying their tenants and some tenants are also not notifying their sub-tenants. In addition, some coffeeshop stallholders in Nee Soon East are aware of the rental relief but did not know that it was for four months. Some only got one month of relief. They also do not know where to seek recourse. Not requiring eligible tenants and sub-tenants again to take any further steps to obtain rental relief is a well-intentioned measure. However, it may be a double-edged sword if it is not accompanied by proactive communication and enforcement of the relief measures to tenants and sub-tenants. We need to take a more proactive approach to ensure that the rental relief is reaching those who need this lifeline the most. Sir, I have four clarifications. First, can the Minister share how many complaints the Ministry has received with regard to landlords or tenants not providing the two months of rental relief that is supported by the Government to tenants and sub-tenants respectively?”
“Thank you, Sir. Two clarifications for the Minister. First, I think she mentioned there are 1,200 companies on the FCF Watchlist. Could I ask how many of these companies are there because of discrimination against women and on family responsibilities? Second, on the earlier suggestion that I made this week, on whether we can legislate these guidelines on fair employment practices. I think it makes a bit of sense. If you discriminate against Singaporeans and hire foreigners, we will restrict or curtail your work pass privileges; we do not allow you to hire foreigners. That sort of makes sense. But if you discriminate against women and mothers, and the penalty is that you cannot hire foreigners, then I hope the Minister agrees with me that that does not really make sense. So, the question is whether we can legislate these guidelines, have proper penalties in place that will serve as a better deterrence against discrimination against women and mothers.”
“A giraffe is much cuter than a housefly and so I am very glad to reply to people now that I resemble a giraffe. Sir, I have spent the last two decades of my life speaking up and I will continue to speak up in this Fourteenth Parliament and stick my neck out for the common good. I will continue to fight for a more caring, compassionate and inclusive society, and one with a strong heart-ware. We are still in the midst of a pandemic, and it is our hardware and software that will save lives and livelihoods. But it is about being inclusive and our heartware that will determine whether we will get through this pandemic as One People, One Nation and One Singapore. Sir, I support the Motion of Thanks. [Applause.]”
“I am glad to share with everyone that she is now doing her diploma, and she proudly sent me the results of her first semester. She had scored straight "A"s for all the modules. If we remove the label and give her a chance, help her like any other person rather than discriminate against her, then like any person, she can succeed as well. Sir, last year, my daughter and I took part in the Giraffe Singapore Community Art Exhibition organised by the Central Community Development Council (CDC). I was invited to use a giraffe sculpture as a canvas to "share about any cause you would like to champion for or any related thoughts or ideas". My idea is a simple one. Sometimes, we need to view the world through the eyes of our children. So, instead of me painting the giraffe, my daughter painted it. Here is the description of the giraffe she painted that was published: "My five-year-old daughter Ella painted this. She views the world as a rainbow with colours mixing. There is beauty in looking at the world through the eyes of our children. They view the world without labels we adults created. Ella has been with me to help refugees, cleaners and many others. To her, they are not refugees or cleaners but simply, her friends. Children remind us that there is no us or them, only us, one human family connected in ways we sometimes forget." Sir, I am often asked which animal I resemble the most and I have always replied "a housefly", mostly because a housefly is very persistent and never gives up. Or, as my sister would say, I am as irritating as a housefly. Some people now say I look like a housefly, so I am glad and very humbled that Mayor Denise Phua has named me a "Giraffe Hero" for sticking my neck out for the common good.”
“I hope that residents will see them not just as a cleaner but as a person. My third recommendation is that Members will host more inclusive events, again, when it is safe to do so. In Nee Soon East, we had a beautiful barbecue party hosted by Hanif. Together with our cleaners and residents, we celebrated the birth of his son. Together, we celebrated as one Yishun family. Sir, I truly hope that we can remove the labels that we have created and be truly inclusive. These labels should not define who we are or our place in society. These labels lead to discrimination. Let me end my speech with an update. For the past three years in this House, I shared the story of a Singaporean sex worker. Her story was in my speeches on the Women's Charter (Amendment) Bill and the Massage Establishments Bill. I shared that, "She was only 19 years old when she became a sex worker and did this for four years. Her parents divorced when she was five years old and both parents did not want her. She was left with her grandmother who raised her. For her entire childhood, she was constantly reminded that she had no parents. I cannot imagine the impact that had on a young child. She did not do well in her studies and could not get into a polytechnic. She tried to enroll in a private polytechnic but did not have enough money to pay the tuition fees. She tried to get a bank loan but failed, as she could not find a guarantor. Not knowing where else to go for help, she ultimately entered the sex trade to fund her education." Many have discriminated against her as she was labelled a sex worker. Many did not view her for who she really was and the difficult journey she was going through.”
“" When asked how he felt knowing that his son may not see him for a long time, Hanif replied, "We are poor people and to survive we have to make these kinds of sacrifices." During that trip, I also invited all our Nee Soon East cleaners' families to lunch in Dhaka. We arranged for them to do a video call with their loved ones in Singapore. It was heartbreaking to see them cry as they spoke to their husbands, fathers, brothers and sons. I met our cleaner's, Mazibur, daughter who was seven years old and he has never met her. She has never hugged her father. I met Newton's daughter who was about a year old, and she too has never met her father, and it will be years before she meets him. To be honest, I felt bad that their daughters had met me before meeting their fathers. As a father, I cannot imagine not being able to meet my daughters for so many years. We should show a lot more appreciation to our cleaners for the work they do for us. I have three recommendations. For the past five years, I have been bringing our cleaners, both local and migrant, out for outings almost every quarter. I learnt this from Mr Speaker, when I was serving with him in Kembangan-Chai Chee. We bring them to explore Singapore to see a different side of our beautiful country that they seldom get to see. I see how much they value these outings. Many do video calls during the outing to share the experience with their families back in Bangladesh. My first recommendation is that Members of this House join us and organise these outings for our cleaners once it is safe to do so. My second recommendation is that Members will also help humanise our cleaners. In Nee Soon East, we have placed posters at every block to share who the cleaner for that block is and also their personal stories.”
“Sir, this pandemic has made people who are often invisible in our society much more visible. Our cleaners are now called essential workers. They put themselves at risk during this pandemic to keep us safe. They are labelled as cleaners, and worse and ironically, the people who give us a clean environment to live, work and play in are sometimes labelled as "dirty". Most of these cleaners are our migrant workers who do the work that many Singaporeans do not want to do. As Senior Minister Shanmugaratnam said, "It is because of foreign workers that 57% of Singaporeans have been able to become PMETs. They clean Singapore, they build our Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats, they handle our waste management, they form the base of our economy. And therefore, they are helping us build our prosperity." Sir, last year, I joined our Nee Soon Town Council cleaner, Hanif, on his trip back to Bangladesh to welcome his first child into the world. Our plans failed slightly as his wife delivered early and he missed the chance to be there when his son was born. He was already absent for the whole pregnancy. In Bangladesh, I saw first-hand how difficult it is for our cleaners to be so far away from home and so far from their loved ones. It was both a heartwarming and heartbreaking experience. Hanif has worked as a cleaner in Singapore for 14 years. In Bangladesh, I saw how much his family loved him and missed him. Hanif's wife, Tania, said, "Sometimes, I think, if he can come back to Bangladesh, how amazing that would be. I feel sad and I miss his presence. However, reality is very tough, so he has to work hard abroad for us. I have compromised and accepted this. Obviously, I feel sad for my son, that he will be deprived of his dad's love and affection.”
“They shared their worries about what would happen to their children when they pass on. Who will look after them? Will they be left alone and be abandoned by society? They have to think so far ahead, and I can see how worried they are. They are fighting hard for their children who have mild to moderate developmental delays, to enter a mainstream preschool because this helps their children integrate into society. Ultimately, they hope that when daddy and mummy pass on, they would pass on knowing that their child would be respected and valued members of our society. But the reality is they are finding it difficult to find preschools that accept their children. They face constant rejection, which does not help in the already difficult journey they are in. The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) has worked hard to make our preschools more inclusive, and Mayor Denise Phua has spoken passionately about this. Sir, I have two suggestions to make. First, I hope the Development Support and Learning Support programme, which provides trained specialists, can be extended to all preschools rather than just some and extended also to nursery-level children. Such specialists provide in-class support to the mainstream teachers to integrate the differently abled children in various group settings. Second, I hope that as part of their professional development, all new pre-school teachers undergoing courses at the National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC) are offered modular courses and top-ups that train them to support differently abled children in their classrooms. By supporting the integration of differently abled children, I hope we can make schools more inclusive. My third and final point is about an inclusive community.”
“Second, we need to legislate to give employees the right to access flexible work arrangements, which employers can turn down only for valid business-related reasons. This pandemic has given fathers more opportunities to be involved with childcare at home. It has enabled both men and women to feel they can contribute at work and home equally, and this change is good. We should legislate this flexibility to work from home, so that we can facilitate this change and help break the gender stereotype. Let me end this part with a success story that I am proud of. In Nee Soon East, Ziqing, our constituency manager was considered for promotion when she was pregnant with her second child, received the promotion to deputy constituency director when she was on maternity leave and took up the post when she came back from her leave. She was judged on her ability and competence, and I am privileged to have her in my team and for her to lead the passionate staff and volunteers in Nee Soon East. Our workplaces can be more inclusive, and our schools should as well. My second point today is about more inclusive schools and the label of being a child with special needs or, a more progressive term which I will use, a differently abled child. Sir, we have said that every school is a good school, and I believe that wholeheartedly. We need to make sure that every school is also a good school for differently abled children. I am glad we are abolishing streaming, which will encourage more social mixing across socioeconomic statuses in our schools. We need to work towards more social mixing with differently abled children, starting with our preschools. I met a group of parents with differently abled children last month. Their children were only five to six years old.”
“But Sir, one of the main causes of this problem is the assumption that women are supposed to take care of the children. I saw this problem first-hand when we built the Oasis Water Park in Nee Soon East, which opened just last year. I made sure that the water park is family friendly. We have a nursing room, a nappy-changing room, hot-water dispenser, child-friendly toilets, the whole deal. But what I forgot was this gender stereotype. The builders installed the nappy-changing room inside the women's toilet. When I asked them why, they said women are the ones who change nappies. We managed to resolve this by installing a second nappy-changing station in the disabled toilet so men can help change nappies as well. And we men should. But these builders are not alone in thinking that only women take care of babies. Such an attitude makes it harder for women everywhere. Sir, I have two suggestions on how the Government can reduce this gender inequality. First, we need to legislate to make it illegal for employers to ask interviewees and employees about their marital status and whether they have or plan to have children. Our Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) guidelines are clear and state that questions related to marital status and family responsibilities should not be asked during an interview. But these guidelines are clearly not being followed. We really need to go beyond guidelines and follow the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, China and Hong Kong to legislate and make it illegal for employers to ask about marital status and child-bearing plans when hiring.”
“One lady said, "I have faced bias because my daughter was under the age of one when I was applying for a job with a large corporation and they said that while I was extremely qualified for the role, they needed someone who could travel at short notice and was therefore unencumbered. Nobody asked me if I was willing to travel even with a young child. They just assumed. 'Unencumbered' also gave the impression that my child is a burden." Another shared, "I have been asked in an interview before if I am planning to have a fourth kid in future. The hiring manager said he is not a sexist but if he had to choose between me and a male candidate, he would choose a male candidate over me as I have three children." Even worse, another lady shared, "At a final interview with a local bank (with HR sitting in as well), they blatantly told me that I should not get pregnant if I were to take on the role." There are many more stories, and the numbers paint the same picture. Out of 255 female respondents to the public consultation, about half said they were asked whether they had or planned to have children at the point of recruitment. Over 60% felt they were unlikely to be hired and over a third felt they would be offered a lower salary if they had or planned to have children. The unfortunate reality is that study after study show that at job interviews and at work, many women are second-guessed for no other reason than being a woman and a mother. MOM's figures also show that there is a problem. On average, women earned $342 less than men for similar work. Our female labour force participation rate has stagnated for the past five years. Last year, it was 61%, far below the 77% for men. I know MOM is working hard to address this problem.”
“Sir, four years ago, I gave my maiden speech in this House. I emphasised that we needed to become a more caring and compassionate society, that the heartware of this nation is just as important as the hardware and software. My focus on a caring and compassionate society will continue in my second term as an MP. I will speak up for a more equal and just society where discrimination becomes a thing of the past. I will push hard for an inclusive society without labels. Today, I will speak about how we can make our workplaces, schools and community more inclusive and how we need to remove the labels. The first label we need to remove is that of being a mother so that we can have more inclusive workplaces. "I cannot find a job"; many Members would have heard this over and over again from our residents. Our unemployment rate is at its highest level in a decade. In this economy, we need to do our best to help Singaporeans find new jobs. But some will find it harder than others. Women, in particular, will face unique struggles. Last month, a female resident shared worrying concerns with me during my market walkabout. She said, "I have just been to an interview. The human resources (HR) personnel called me a 'mother' before they even called me by my name. I am in the line of recruitment and such stories are a dime a dozen. My take is that the focus should be on whether we are up for the job. It should not be on whether we are a mother and then assumed that we are not able to do the role." Was this a one-off incident or a more widespread problem? I took to social media to do a public consultation and the results were alarming. Many more people shared about the bias they faced.”
“I hope the Government will consider introducing a Government-paid COVID-19-related childcare leave and provide it at least until the end of Phase Two of the re-opening after the circuit breaker. Many parents are calling for this and I hope the Government will support them. “Spend time with those you love, one of these days you will either say I wish I had or I’m glad I did.” Let us give our working parents the time they need to spend with their children during this pandemic and let us all value the precious time we have with our loved ones. Sir, I support the Budget. Together, we will beat this virus. 12.21 pm”
“Sir, we will not be the first country to provide a COVID-19-related childcare leave. Other countries have already taken steps to help working parents facing childcare challenges as a result of this pandemic. In the US, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act expands paid leave options for working parents who are unable to find childcare arrangements, entitling them up to 12 weeks of partially paid family leave. This includes parents working from home. Businesses whose employees take this leave pay for it through a refundable tax credit administered by the Department of Treasury. In Canada, working parents are entitled to job-protected leave of absence for up to 16 weeks under federal law, allowing parents to attend to childcare and eldercare needs while protecting them from being fired or penalised. In Italy, the government extended annual parental leave by 15 days for parents with children aged up to 12 years. In Belgium, the government introduced a special parental leave for parents of children under the age of 12 where parents can take leave in the form of 1/2 or 1/5 reduction of working time. This means working half time or one day off a week, taken in any combination of weekly or monthly blocks. Other countries have adopted a variety of measures – tax credits, protection against discriminatory firing, increase in annual leave and flexible leave. I believe some combination of these solutions would provide our working parents the support they so desperately need. Sir, in conclusion, we cannot leave it to employers and employees to work out amicable arrangements to balance business needs with childcare needs in this difficult time. In this difficult time, the Government has to step in. We should; other countries have already done so.”
“An educator in a childcare centre shared with me that, “On the ground, parents tend to negotiate with teachers if teachers were to reject children from entering schools due to respiratory symptoms with reasons that they are unable to get leave from work or no one to take care of their children”. Some parents, “would suggest to teachers to keep children at the sick bay the entire day until the parents end work”. Let us not forget that there are also school closures due to positive COVID-19 cases, Leave of Absence or Stay-Home Notices. As I have previously stressed, our current childcare leave entitlement is already insufficient during a regular year. Now, in the most irregular year, how can parents possibly have sufficient childcare leave? The only option left for many parents is unpaid leave. Indeed, many parents have shared that they are doing just that. But in this business climate, parents fear losing their jobs if they continue to take unpaid leave. To help parents, I hope we can introduce a Government-paid COVID-19-related childcare leave for parents whose children need to stay home due to COVID-19-related issues. By calling for it to be Government-paid, this would ease the financial burden for employers, whom I know are equally stressed. Sir, this leave is critical for those who are unable to work from home. This includes parents working in essential services who perform a duty for our nation, who keep us safe. We need to make sure that they are looked after, too. For parents who are working from home, this COVID-19-related childcare leave can help take off the pressures of balancing competing work and childcare responsibilities. They can take this leave when needed, such as helping their child catch up with HBL and their school work.”
“Parents truly appreciate this opportunity to work from home. As Zyen, another parent, shared, “WFH with an infant is really no joke. Always have to work till midnight to complete the work. But I do, really cherish and appreciate. I‘ve been there when she flipped, sat up by herself and now standing with support. Gonna miss this bittersweet timing”. Sir, more than anything, parents feel guilty that we cannot give our children the attention they need even though they are right there in front of us. I am not the only one with kids climbing on my shoulders. Amelia shared that, “My son climbs onto my shoulders while I work, too. I feel guilty for being impatient with my daughter who asks questions or wants to share something with me while I’m rushing my work”. I know there is no easy solution, especially during these difficult times. I know employers are equally stressed. But we need to give parents some breathing space and help them balance both work and family commitments. It is good that the Government has asked employers to be more empathetic to the challenges working parents face but we need to do more than that. We cannot leave this important issue to the discretion of the employer. The Government needs to step in to help and to mandate like how we have done so in so many areas in tackling this pandemic. We need to remember the issue does not just stem from alternating weeks of HBL. What about parents whose children are required to stay home because they are exhibiting COVID-like symptoms? Many pre-schools rightly ask a child to go home if he or she shows a single symptom. But a lot of parents are affected because of this.”
“00 pm to ensure nine hours of healthy sleep. Super tiring. Yet, we endured for the sake of our children". Many parents are especially worried about how they will cope with alternating weeks of HBL for non-graduating students. It will be difficult for parents who are unable to work from home. Who will look after their children? Not everyone has grandparents who can help and even for those who do, they might not be able to help during this period. Another parent shared with me, "I have two Primary school going kids. Primary 1, Primary 2. Who is available to guide them on HBL days during Phase One? Grandparents aren’t computer literate. If there isn’t any HBL plus Google meet plus video call, I will choose to deposit them at my parents house easily. If I have to take annual leave to guide their HBL, employer won’t allow." I know Minister Ong has stated, "Schools will be prepared to extend limited care to young students on HBL but without childcare arrangements". It will also be difficult for parents who can work from home. They are expected to meet their bosses' deadline and to be equally productive, even as they try to give their young ones attention and guide them on HBL. Do they please their employers or the children? I know firsthand how difficult it is. For the past two months, I worked from home with three little ones who had HBL. Ella is now six years old and Katie and Poppy are three years old. You cannot leave them to do HBL on their own. It is impossible. They have also attended many of my Zoom work meetings, climbed on my shoulders when I am clearing emails, and pulled my hands and legs, wanting me to play with them when I am drafting speeches. This happened when I was drafting this speech last Saturday.”
“Sir, I join many Singaporeans in thanking the Government for the Unity, Resilience, Solidarity and Fortitude Budgets. The support measures introduced will help ensure that we can all get through this pandemic and most importantly, get through it together. I am thankful that the concerns of those on unpaid leave or reduced salaries have been addressed through expanding the COVID-19 Support Grant to help this group of Singaporeans. I am thankful we are proposing to help the SMEs with further rental waivers and allow tenants to repay their arrears through installments. I am also thankful for all the hard work by MOM, all the other Government agencies and the NGOs who have worked tirelessly to help our migrant friends. Our migrant friends have worked hard to build, clean and maintain Singapore as the shining red dot we are today. I am glad we have not left them behind and have committed to improving their living conditions. I raised all these concerns in my previous speeches and I am thankful to everyone who has taken the time to share your concerns, feedback and suggestions with me. Thank you for speaking up. Sir, we have given a lot but as I raised in my previous speeches, there is one more thing we need to give out. We can and we need to give time. Time for working parents to spend with and look after their young children during this difficult period. During this pandemic, many parents are feeling the stress of trying to balance work and looking after their children, especially helping their young ones with home-based learning (HBL). As Zack, a parent, shared with me, "Imagine working from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm. Reached home about 7.00 pm. Have dinner until 7.30 pm. And only having this time, 7.30 pm to 9.00 pm, to check on the kids' HBL. Kids must sleep at 9.”
“Sorry, Sir, there really is just a remaining concern which is what will we do with the excess packs? I think I understand we might be donating them or giving them to some other groups. But many are asking what are we doing with the excess funpacks that are not collected.”
“Thank you, Sir. Let me first thank the Minister for reducing the number of items in the funpack and reaching out to the green groups and listening as well. But could I ask two clarifications? One, I do understand we are producing 80% of funpacks for the Singapore households. So, there is already a reduction but that is based, as Minister said, on estimations and based on past experience. Would it not be better to just ask Singaporeans whether they want to opt out of receiving the funpack, so that we can get a more accurate figure that will reduce the wastage? The second clarification is what Member Cheng Li Hui asked previously, what will we be doing with the excess funpacks that are not collected? Third, let me record my appreciation of thanks to the NDP Exco 2020. I worked with them for the last six months. As what NCMP Leon Perera has asked, we actually have been on the ground for the last six months getting feedback from the green groups and working together with them. In fact, this morning, we had another Zoom call with them to explain why we had a funpack, why we had certain items in there, and it was a very positive conversation that we had. I want to thank the NDP Exco for the forward-thinking, for really listening. It has been a privilege working with the Chairman, Brigadier-General Frederick Choo. In fact, I would suggest that the Minister make him NDP Exco Chairman in 2021 since he did not get to organise a full NDP this year, and he really has done an amazing job trying to find the middle ground and making very difficult decisions.”
“Thank you, Sir. I have a question for with regard to the declaration of last drawn salary. I understand that California has banned this, I think in January 2018. In a study that was published in April 2020, it showed that this ban led to a reduction in the gender wage gap in in that state. So, could I ask whether MOM has studied the extent to which this declaration of last drawn salary contributes to the gender wage gap here in Singapore?”
“The new section 53(3A) applies to vehicles that are moved to a holding yard under section 45 or section 46. Both sections require LTA to give notice of the move to the owner of the vehicle as soon as practicable, if the owner is known. This requirement does not seem to apply where LTA intends to exercise its powers under section 53(3A). Can the Minister clarify in a situation where the owner is known, whether LTA will be required to give notice to the owner of its intention to sell, destroy or dispose of potentially dangerous non-compliant vehicle under the new section 53(3A)? My final point relates to the risks that continue to be posed by non-compliant vehicles held at the holding yards. Even under the expedited procedure introduced by the amendments, there is still a one-month notice period before the LTA can sell, destroy or dispose of a forfeited vehicle that is dangerous or that materially increases the likelihood of an outbreak of fire. Accidents can happen during this one-month period. The danger is compounded when you consider that there are other vehicles in the holding yards that are similarly dangerous or materially increase the likelihood of an outbreak of fire. Can the Minister share what safety measures are put in place to mitigate the risk of fire at the holding yards? Further, in the worst-case scenario that a fire breaks out, who is liable for the damage caused? For instance, in the event that the fire can be traced back to a single vehicle, would the owner of that vehicle be liable for the damage caused by the fire caused by their vehicle, notwithstanding that the vehicle is now in the custody of LTA? Sir, notwithstanding these clarifications, I stand in support of both Bills.”
“Sir, I am glad that we are moving upstream in addressing the hazards posed by active mobility devices by introducing an import controls regime. It is also sensible for us to address the fire risk posed by non-compliant active mobility devices held by LTA before any incidents occur. I have three clarifications to raise on the Active Mobility (Amendment No. 2) Bill. My first point relates to the return of a non-compliant forfeited vehicle that has been deemed dangerous. The new section 53(1A) provides that a non-compliant vehicle forfeited by the LTA under the new section 51(3) may be returned to a person if LTA receives from the person a written objection showing good cause for its return and there is no reasonable cause to believe that the vehicle is linked to an offence. Even if such a vehicle were not linked to an offence, it seems extremely unsafe to return a vehicle that is too dangerous for LTA to retain to an individual. Can the Minister clarify under what circumstances such a vehicle may be returned to the individual? Will the safety of the vehicle be a pre-condition for such a return? My second point relates to the notice requirement before selling, destroying or disposing of a non-compliant vehicle that is dangerous to retain. The new section 53(3A) provides that LTA may sell, destroy or dispose of a non-compliant vehicle if it is dangerous for the LTA to retain custody or it increases the likelihood of an outbreak of fire at the holding yard. LTA may do so after giving one month's notice in the Gazette of its intention to do so. I appreciate that the e-Gazette was made public earlier this year. However, the reality is that publication in the Gazette will not be a meaningful notification for the average individual.”
“Thank you, Sir. I agree with the Senior Minister of State that our policies should be based on science. But science also tells us that stress faced is a key factor in determining whether an IVF is successful. I think a lot of the couples are very stressed because of the finances involved in an IVF cycle. If MOH can then provide the subsidies, reduce the stress, then, maybe we will have a higher percentage of success for IVF cycles for those age 40 and above.”
“Thank you, Sir. Could I also ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary whether NAC is also reaching out to the buskers? I believe the buskers have been quite heavily affected. They have been unable to perform for the past two months and likely, will be unable to perform for the next few months as well.”
“Thank you, Sir. A last question. Why is it that we have one agency, NParks, that says that actually, we cannot keep these turtles as pets because of a disease transmission concern; and all of a sudden, that disease transmission concern disappears when it comes to the wet market? So, can we align the views of the two agencies and to synchronise them? Second, I just want to share that the Salmonella infections can actually be fatal. So, it is not a thing that we can just brush aside. But if you get the Salmonella infection from the turtles, it can actually kill you.”
“Thank you, Sir. I thank the Senior Minister of State for the reply but the point that I am trying to make here is that there is a risk. The risk is very similar to what might have led to this whole COVID-19 pandemic in the first place. These animals are also wild-caught, which means they came from another country and we do not know what diseases they might be carrying. From the point of capture to transport, to where they are starved in Singapore, they are terribly stressed, which would weaken their immunity, increase the chance of disease again. The most important point is, this is not a staple food. So, why are we as a Government taking this risk? Again, bearing in mind what we have gone through with the COVID-19 pandemic. So, from a human health standpoint, can the Senior Minister of State clarify why we want to take such risks?”
“Can the Minister share what measures will be implemented to ensure that voters, polling agents, and counting agents can be familiarised with these new initiatives to ensure smooth roll out on polling day itself? How will training be conducted if on-site sessions cannot be conducted, for example during circuit breaker periods? Fourth, clause 6(2)(b) provides that the hours of any poll at a special polling station must not be less than four hours as set by the Returning Officer, and must close no later than the close of poll on polling day in Singapore. It is likely that the voting process will be slower because of the additional safety measures taken, the new technology used and the potential need to transport electors to special polling stations. Can the Minister share what plans there are to address any potential delays in the polling process that might affect electors’ ability to vote before the close of the poll on Polling Day, whether at a regular polling station or a special polling station? Lastly, as of 2015, there were 10 overseas registration centres in Canberra, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Dubai, New York, San Francisco and Washington DC. Many of these cities are currently and may in the future have high rates of disease transmissions and may be in varying states of lockdown. While overseas electors may form a small proportion of the voters, they too are citizens of Singapore and it is important to preserve their right to vote as far as possible. Can the Minister share what the COVID-19 special arrangement plans are in relation to overseas voters? Sir, notwithstanding these clarifications, I stand in support of the Bill.”
“The explanatory note elaborates that such an elector may remain in his or her room at the boarding premises, be delivered the ballot paper to mark secretly, and return it using a secure method to the Returning Officer. This is a very significant departure from in person voting at polling stations and is not subject to the usual protective measures at polling stations to ensure the secrecy of votes such as the presence of polling agents, the sealing of ballot boxes and the supervision of a presiding officer. Where votes are collected from individual electors’ rooms, as opposed to where votes are cast at a single location, there are many more points where the secrecy of the vote may be undermined. There are measures that can be taken to ensure the secrecy and integrity of the vote and the Explanatory Note states that the regulations need to be consistent with principles such as secrecy of the vote and one-person-one-vote. Can the Minister share what are some of the protective measures that may be introduced in regulations if it is necessary for an elector to vote from his or her room? Third, as early as November 2018, the Elections Department (ELD) announced new technology and processes to be used at the next elections. These include counting machines, electronic registration, and self-inking pens. The ELD announced in November 2019 that it would hold roadshows ahead of the next General Election to familiarise voters with the new equipment. The ELD also announced that it will organise sessions for political party representatives to try out the new digital services and provide feedback. Training would clearly also need to be carried out for counting agents who will have to operate the counting machines.”
“Sir, it was Dr Anthony Fauci, an infectious disease expert who said of the COVID-19 virus, “You don’t make the timeline, the virus makes the timeline”. I am supportive of planning for all contingencies to enable as many eligible Singaporean voters to cast their votes as possible in a General Election. At the end of the day, we do not want a situation where we are forcing Singaporeans to choose between their right to vote and their health. We need to have plans and back-up plans. We need to have resources to ensure that we can implement our plans. We also should ensure our message is clear that those who are not well should stay home and that those who are well can safely vote because we have taken all necessary precautions. Sir, I have five clarifications on the Bill. First, this Bill is intended to have effect until April 2021. We can try to predict but it is difficult to say for certain how the number of infections will unfold. In the event that the number of people subject to COVID-19 Stay Order Regulations and living at boarding premises increase significantly, more special polling stations will be required. Can the Minister share the measures taken to ensure that we have sufficient resources to operate special polling stations and, if necessary, to transport electors such that every elector subject to the COVID-19 Stay Order Regulations and living at boarding premises will have access to a special polling station? Can the Minister also share what public health and safety measures will be implemented at special polling stations to prevent disease transmission? Second, clause 6(3) provides the Minister with the power to make regulations allowing electors subject to COVID-19 stay orders to vote without leaving their boarding premises.”
“Thank you, Sir. Let me start by thanking MOM and all the agencies and NGOs on the ground for helping the migrant workers and for all their hard work. I think they are doing a lot to help with the food, the sanitation, the healthcare, but I hope that Minister Josephine can also look into the gross floor area that I raised in my Parliamentary Question. At the current 4.5 sqm – which, if you break it down, is about 2.1 by 2.1 metres and that includes the kitchen, the dining and the toilet areas. It is very hard for some of the workers to practise safe distancing. And that is my worry. If we have a second wave of infections and the workers go back to this 4.5 sqm, then I think that we will get large clusters in our dormitories again. Could I ask Minister Josephine if we can review this urgently?”
“Sir, I thank the Minister for the reply and I especially thank him for being on the ground to help the homeless people. I understand that, as the Minister mentioned, a lot of the homeless people are now seeking shelter at the places of worship because they are empty at this point of time. But when they go back to their usual function, could I ask whether MSF has plans for housing for this group of homeless people?”
“Clause 28(2)(b)(ii) provides that parties' consent must be given for a factual witness to give evidence through remote communication technology. In contrast, consent of parties is not a prerequisite for expert witnesses to give evidence through remote communication technology under 28(2)(b)(i). I can appreciate that a possible reason is that it is more important for the Court to be able to see the body language of factual witnesses in person as opposed to independent expert witnesses. Body language may not come across fully through remote communication technology. Having said that, there are a number of cases that would involve overseas witnesses and there is no telling how long border restrictions will be in place. Lawyers have expressed to me the concern that trial timelines will be unnecessarily prolonged and the backlog of cases may result if parties unreasonably withhold consent to the use of remote communication technology for factual witnesses. Can the Minister clarify if the Court would have oversight over the reasonableness of a party withholding consent to the use of remote communication technology for factual witnesses in appropriate cases? If so, can the Minister share how the oversight will be exercised? Sir, I understand the Government is doing its best to extend assistance to as many Singaporeans as possible. I like to thank the Government for all its efforts and hope my recommendations can be considered. Sir, I stand in support of the Bill.”
“30 pm My fourth point relates to assistance to freelancers from contractual obligation, in particular, obligations under long-term vehicle leases. Clause 5 of the Bill will help individuals who are unable to meet their obligation under a hire purchase agreement for commercial vehicles for the prescribed period of six months. Commercial vehicles are defined under the Schedule of the Bill. However, the definition of commercial vehicles does not appear to extend to freelancers, such as property and insurance agents, who leased their vehicles for business-related activities. This concern was raised to me by a resident who is a property consultant who uses a car for property viewing and business-related activities. Her car is on a long-term lease. Her business has been affected by the pandemic but it is not feasible for her to cancel her long-term lease as she would need the car to recover from this downturn. She has requested that the vehicle leasing company defer her monthly lease payments for a few months until her cash flow has stabilised. However, she was informed by the company that as the Government did not announce any measures relating to vehicle leases for freelancers like herself, the company did not know how to help her and was not obliged to do so either. Freelancers like this resident need all the help they can get right now. Can the Minister share if there are plans to provide some relief for freelancers from their business contracts, including obligations under long-term vehicle leases. My final clarification has to do with factual witnesses giving evidence through remote communication technology in Court proceedings.”
“My second clarification relates to the transfer of benefit of property tax remittance from landlords to tenants. Clause 29(1) requires a landlord to pass the benefit of any profit tax remission related to COVID-19 on to the tenant. It is not clear from the Bill that tenants will be required to pass on this property tax remissions to sub-tenants and sub-licensees. A significant group that may fall through this gap is users of co-working spaces that lease or licence the space from co-working companies as sub-tenants and sub-licensees. The Business Times reported in September 2019 that co-working spaces take up 3.7 million square feet of Singapore's commercial space and it is one of the top six occupier sectors. Can the Minister clarify whether the benefits from property tax remissions will have to be passed on to sub-tenants and sub-licensees. My third point is a recommendation to alleviate the rental burden on tenants. While larger landlords like CapitaLand and Mapletree have announced rent alleviation for their tenants, many other landlords have not. If the economic impact proves to be extremely dire and further remedial measures are needed, will the Minister consider looking into mandating a degree or rent abatement for the tenants? I understand that landlords are not exempt from the effects of the pandemic. However, some are more financially capable of weathering the crisis than others, and measures are required to ensure that economic impact is equally distributed. Rent abatement measures, if necessary, can be calibrated. It can be targeted at larger landlords who are in a better position to shoulder some of the economic losses and smaller tenants who have greater need for such relief. 6.”
“We need to remember that not only do tenants face the very real risk or possibility of winding up, landlords also faced significant risks if tenants are unable to pay at the end of six months and have no choice but to wind up. The Straits times has already reported that retail sales have dipped by up to 8.6% in February alone, at the start of this crisis, before further measures have been taken. With the circuit breaker measures requiring all non-essential businesses to stop operations, commercial tenants are likely to be hit harder than ever. As Minister Vivian noted in his media interview, Singapore took four months to pass the SARS outbreak and six months to recover from its economic impact. He then said that, "This problem and its aftermath, the economic aftermath, is going to last at least a year". Our relief efforts need to take into account the reality that it will not be business as usual after six months. Will the Minister consider an extended period for repayment of rent accrued in these six months? Can we allow tenants to repay this outstanding amount via monthly instalments spread out over a period of time? This would increase the chances of repayment to landlords and of businesses surviving. This has already been done in Germany. The German government similarly passed a Bill to mitigate the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the German Bill, landlords may not terminate lease agreements solely on the grounds that a tenant failed to pay its rent during the period from 1 April 2020 to 30 June 2020. Tenants will have until 30 June 2022 to pay back the rental arrears accrued during this period. Can we consider a similar measure in Singapore, which would benefit both landlords and tenants?”
“Sir, I stand in support of the Bill. The number of COVID-19 cases worldwide has exceeded a million. Locally, cases have succeeded 1,000. While the fight continues to limit the number of cases, it is important that the economic and practical impacts of the pandemic be addressed. This current Bill drafted under considerable pressure and sought to be passed on an expedited basis goes a long way towards addressing that. I have five points to make on the Bill. My first point is on the deferment period for the rent repayment for commercial tenants. Sir, I received the most feedback about this first point. People support this but hope that additional measures will be introduced. Clause 5 of the Bill provides a moratorium for the termination of a lease or licence of property for non-payment of rent for the prescribed period of six months. This will apply to non-residential properties. While this is intended to create some breathing space for commercial tenants, rent will still accrue and will be payable at the end of the six-month period. Many are appreciative that we are proposing this but some do not feel much relief from this protection. One of my residents who is a shop owner shared her concerns with me. Her current monthly rental is $8,000 and she told me that at the end of six months, she would have accumulated $48,000 in rent. Even if she has some relief from paying the rent for these six months, it is unlikely that her business will have fully recovered by that time and she is unlikely to be able to pay off this $48,000 in six months' time. She told me that she might as well wind up her business now. I can understand her concerns.”
“I thank you, Sir. I have four clarifications. One, can I just check whether we can extend the COVID-19 Support Grant to those who are also on unpaid leave? Second, could I ask whether we can introduce a COVID-19 related childcare leave, specifically only for those workers who are in the essential work and the key economic sectors? I also had a question about the foreign workers living in the dorms. I am just wondering whether we can do the swab test, especially for those who have lived in close proximity to those who were infected. I think many are very worried that they are infected at this point. The last question really is can I just confirm that the $300 that we are giving out to Singapore and parents will include the single unwed parents as well.”
“I thank them for responding so quickly to concerns raised by the public and introducing measures that will make a huge difference in the lives of fellow Singaporeans and workers in Singapore. As we march forward with this Supplementary Budget that targets aid at specific groups, we must make sure that no one slip through the cracks. Let us make sure that everyone make it through this crisis together. Together, we will beat this virus.”
“This would assist in definitively identifying those infected and quickly isolating them to prevent a further outbreak. I understand there are limitations for doing this nationwide. Can we do more extensive testing on a limited scale for this high-risk population? This would help to keep Singaporeans safe too and help calm the workers who are extremely worried. Lastly, as with Singaporeans, the workers are also worried about their livelihoods. Minister Josephine has said that MOM will work with employers to ensure that quarantined workers continue to be paid and that their period of absence from work is treated as paid hospitalisation leave, as part of the workers' statutory leave eligibility. This has provided a lot of assurance to the workers and they are very thankful. I hope MOM will follow up and ensure that every worker is paid. Deputy Prime Minister Heng also announced yesterday that we will waive the monthly Foreign Worker Levy due in April and also provide employers with a Foreign Worker Levy Rebate of $750 for each work permit or S Pass holder. This will help employers pay and take care of the upkeep of their workers, and prepare their workforce to restart when the circuit breaker is lifted. Can I ask whether we will be ensuring that these rebates are passed down to the workers and how will we ensure that the workers are paid their salaries and not put on unpaid leave? Sir, I stand in support of this Budgets. My speech was actually much longer, but a lot of the points I was going to raise were addressed by the Government in the announcements made last week and yesterday. I thank all the Ministries and Statutory Boards and all of our frontline and essential workers for working so hard to keep all of us safe.”
“My final point is about our migrant friends, workers who have left their homes to come and build and clean ours. News has emerged that two migrant worker dormitories, S11 @ Punggol and Westlite in Toh Guan have been gazetted as isolation areas. Many Singaporeans have contacted me to share their concerns for the safety and well-being of these workers. I must first thank Minister Josephine Teo for her comprehensive Facebook post on the measures taken to prevent transmissions and to ensure that the basic needs of migrant workers are met including food, necessities, salary and medical care. Migrant worker dormitories are very densely packed and the workers live in very close proximity. I understand that measures have been taken to implement safe distancing measures and to thin out the dormitories. However, even with these measures, the risk of transmission is very high. The issue is the conditions the workers live in. Last night, I received photos from migrant workers living in one of these dorms and the conditions are still far from optimal. We have to do more, much more to improve the current living conditions. This is vital to stop the outbreak in these dormitories. Beyond the measure we are taking now, I also sincerely hope MOM will do a complete review and ensure that our migrant workers' living conditions are improved significantly. I am glad Minister Josephine agrees with this and has given her word that action will be taken. Next, many workers are also afraid that they have been infected with COVID-19. To supplement the measures already taken, can we consider proactively testing the workers in dormitories with infected workers, starting with those who lived in closer proximity to the infected workers?”
“To help such parents, I hope we can introduce a Government-paid childcare leave for parents who are working in essential services or key economic sectors and whose children are affected by COVID-related stay-home requirements. There are currently no protections for them, and we need to bear in mind that many have no alternatives and do not have the money to hire additional help. They desperately need this COVID-related childcare leave so they can keep their jobs and be there for their children. Sir, we cannot leave it to employers and employees to work out amicable arrangements to balance the business needs with employees' childcare needs in this difficult time. In this difficult time, the Government has to step in. My third point is a short and simple one. As part of our Care and Support Package, we are giving $300 in cash to every adult Singaporean who has a Singaporean child aged 20 years old and below. Many single unwed parents have written to me asking if they qualify for this. Can the Government confirm that single unwed parents qualify? I think we can all agree that these dark days are not a time for discrimination, and all parents deserve the care and support regardless of their marital status. Single unwed parents are in an especially tight spot. Their households are single-income. They do not have an additional pair of helping hands. Also, because the median income of single unwed mothers under 35 years old was already $600, they will lack job security and are likely to face losses in wages. They need this cash assistance. They, and many other Singaporeans, will also benefit from all the other measures I mentioned before: more financial support for those on unpaid leave and reduced working hours, increased telecommuting and a COVID-related childcare leave.”
“The reply might be that we are helping employers retain workers through the Jobs Support Scheme but to save at least 25% of salary costs, there might still be employers who will prefer to put workers on unpaid leave. Sir, it is not likely that the damage to our economy will be over any time soon. We should provide some level of wage stability for those lucky enough to find themselves still employed but with zero or significantly reduced income. My second point is about childcare leave. Parents working in essential services and key economic sectors perform a duty for our nation as they continue going into their workplaces in this time of global pandemic. However, there is a big, unanswered question of what happens when the children of these parents are required to stay at home due to COVID-related health symptoms, school closures, Leaves of Absences or Stay-Home Notices. These parents do not have the option to work from home, yet they may have a young child at home during working hours. Some will be lucky enough to have alternative care-giving and caring employers. But what about those who do not? We should remember that the legal entitlement of childcare leave is already insufficient during a regular year. As I mentioned in my speech on the Budget debate, parents exhaust it during mandatory pre-school closures and during their children's sickness. Now, in this most irregular year, school closures and stay-home requirements last for weeks. How can they possibly have enough childcare leave to take? The only option left for them is unpaid leave. Many parents have told me this is indeed what they are taking, but in this business climate, they worry they will lose their jobs if they take too much unpaid leave.”
“Sir, I thank the Government for providing a Resilience and Solidarity Budget that provides increased assistance to many Singaporeans in this time of great need. Many residents have shared how appreciative they are and thanked the Government for this. Sir, I have four points to raise in relation to the Budget. My first point is about those on unpaid leave and reduced working hours. The Resilience and Solidarity Budget provides much support to Singaporeans who have lost their jobs and for the self-employed. But we need to do more for those who remain in employment but have nonetheless taken a big hit in their incomes. Such workers can either be workers forced to take pay cuts or go on unpaid leave, or hourly workers who have lost shifts and hours. I recently received an email from my resident, whose employer cut her hours from full-time to part-time. Overnight she lost 50% of her income. Another resident has been put on unpaid leave for at least three months. Overnight she lost 100% of her income. These are not isolated cases and I am sure all Members in this House have received similar calls for help. The only new scheme applicable to this group of workers in this Budget is the Temporary Relief Fund. But it only provides one-off cash grant of $500. Can the Government provide more financial support for those who have lost income but remain in employment? For a start, we can expand the COVID-19 Support Grant to supplement the monthly income of these workers up to a cap of $800 and up to three months or when they are back to full employment. This is especially important for those put on unpaid leave. After all, those on unpaid leave essentially become unemployed for the months they are on unpaid leave.”
“Thank you, Sir. I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the reply. Could I also just take this chance to ask what the Singapore Prison Service is doing to protect our inmates against COVID-19 as well as the prison officers? As I am aware that in prisons in other countries, there has been an outbreak of COVID-19 and some of the inmates have actually died from it.”