Low Yen Ling
Singapore
“I want to thank Member Cai Yinzhou for the clarification. As far as his historic district is concerned, I want to assure him that the new Place-making Project Office that comes under the Inter-agency Task Force does indeed not only serve Kampong Gelam, Little India, but also Chinatown.”
“A "we first" society needs an active citizenry working together to realise it. When corporates, community groups, and individuals come together, we will be able to create a harmonious, united and progressive home and society that belong to us.”
“I want to thank Member Mr Andre Low. In my earlier speech, I have also responded very succinctly. I want to assure him, as well as Mr Melvin Yong, I think you touch on very similar issues, and you probably heard from the political office holders speaking at the Ministry of Home Affairs COS about their tough stance against scams.”
“Finally, Government agencies, not just MTI, EDB and Enterprise Singapore, under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, will continue to create a pro-business, pro-people environment, building a business environment based on integrity.”
“— family business, as well as the other one on TACs. On family businesses, I want to assure him that earlier on, when we mentioned that we raised the support level for SMEs and non-SMEs and indeed, many of our multi-generational family businesses are in that category.”
“And since the Member asked, price obviously is an important indicator. Another example is if CCS observes the behaviour of the organisations and if we pick up signals that they are coordinating the behaviour to raise prices, to reduce quality, to reduce output, to reduce innovation, CCS will step in.”
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“I recently read a report on Japan's declining birth rate and the ageing problem. One point worth noting in the report is that Japan's Page: 106 employers generally believe low birth rate is the country's and society's problem, not their companies' problem. Therefore, it is not something that workplaces can help to resolve. Singapore's employers may be more proactive in their attitude. However, many employers believe that we can rely on importing foreign workers to solve the problems of declining birth rate and manpower shortage. If we allow this trend to continue, eventually, our society will not be able to develop in a sustainable manner. Our young people will leave Singapore to look for opportunities overseas and start their family there, simply because they cannot find high-quality jobs in Singapore. Our population problem will become even worse then. Hence, I urge companies and employers to make the workplace more pro-family and pro-marriage so that your offices can become a place where employees can marry and start a family with peace of mind. More important than Government policies is the employers and supervisors' flexibility towards employees' needs for family life during different life stages. Employers should help them start a family and contribute their best to the company. Only with the combined efforts of the Government and the companies can we build a youthful, vibrant and hopeful Singapore. 6.26 pm Er Dr Lee Bee Wah (Nee Soon): Mdm Speaker, I rise in support of the Bill. I believe it is good that we are trying to take a broader approach to the issue of compensating especially women who are self-employed so that they do not fall through the net when they have to go on maternity leave. It is, indeed, refreshing that the men are also covered under the Bill.”
“Of course, not all companies can be as well equipped as KK Hospital but all companies should exercise basic understanding and support for our nursing mothers. Nursing mothers not only juggle work demands, they also face unhappiness from bosses or colleagues when they take time out to express milk. As a mother of two young children, I understand the inconvenience faced by nursing mothers. Nursing while at work can take tremendous patience, discipline and lots of coordination. I also struggled to juggle all that a few years ago. That is why it is not surprising that many mothers find it very hard to keep breastfeeding after they return to work. So, let us all give them the support that they deserve. In essence, increasing support for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, and supporting parents and fathers in their family responsibilities are big steps in the right direction. We cannot do less. If we want to reverse the declining birth rate, we need to give strong signals to parents, mothers, men and women thinking of having children that they are not alone in this area of parenting. The state cannot be a nanny but it can assist parents in parenting through setting pro-family polices and creating family-friendly environments in workplaces and taking the lead to set examples for companies and organisations to follow. Mdm Speaker, please allow me to wrap up in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mdm Speaker, I support the Child Development Co-Savings Amendment Bill wholeheartedly. Besides the above-mentioned three suggestions, I also want to emphasise that although the Government provides various supporting schemes, we still need employers' cooperation. Only with their combined efforts can we create a pro-family workplace culture.”
“For instance, are there specific guidelines or regulations to protect pregnant mothers and breastfeeding mothers from risks related to chemical, physical and biological agents, industrial processes, movements or postures that could lead to harm? Do employers carry out assessment of such risks in order to adjust working conditions or hours for pregnant or breastfeeding mothers? Are mothers able to request for a change in job scope or roles so as to protect themselves and their child? The ILO recommends that mothers are given one or more daily breaks or a daily reduction of hours of work to breastfeed her child. These breaks or the reduction in daily hours of work are to be regarded as working time. So, are our workplace environments built to support breastfeeding mothers? Last Friday, an article in The Straits Times brought to our attention how it has now become compulsory for some shopping malls to provide nursing facilities. Likewise, I think we should review the design and environment of workplaces and help them create or modify facilities to support breastfeeding mothers. As SMEs Page: 105 employ over 80% of our local workforce, could we also provide assistance to our SMEs that need funding or expertise in this area? The difficulties that nursing mothers face were widely reported and discussed by several mothers in yesterday's Sunday Times article entitled, "Helping Mothers Express Themselves". Ms Fatimah Abdul Rahman had to endure a smelly and unhygienic staff toilet before she gave up expressing at work and it was so very different when she joined KK Hospital later. In KKH, she found a dream nursing room; it has five cubicles, breast pumps, steam steriliser and the works.”
“The amendment to the Bill now allows for fathers to have one week's paternity leave, as well as share another week of parental leave from the Page: 104 16 weeks' maternity leave provided to mothers. This recognises the important role of the father in a family and the much-appreciated support his physical presence will bring to his wife, especially in caring for a young baby. However, the additional week of shared parental leave will not apply to fathers whose wives are stay-at-home mothers. As MSF seeks to encourage fathers to take on a more active fathering role, I hope the Ministry can consider including this group of fathers so that they, too, can enjoy two weeks of leave to bond with their newborn. The third and last point I wish to highlight to the House today is the protection of pregnant women. The amended Bill will enhance protection for pregnant employees. Working mothers will be entitled to maternity leave benefits from their employer if they are dismissed without sufficient reason or retrenched at any stage of their pregnancy. I support this and I feel that we can do more to protect pregnant women at the workplace. While the Child Development Co-Savings (Amendment) Bill has addressed unfair dismissal and maternity benefits, I hope this House can look into the other areas of maternity protection – such as health protection at the workplace and ensuring arrangements for mothers' breastfeeding and expression of milk. These two areas are part of guiding points provided by the International Labour Organization's (ILO) Maternity Protection Convention 2000 No 183 and Recommendation No 191.”
“Mdm Speaker, I rise in support of the amendments to the Child Development Co-Savings Bill. The amendments demonstrate the Government's commitment to enhance the Marriage and Parenthood Package to encourage the formation of families, support parenting and better work-life harmony. Confucius said and I quote, "The strength of a nation is derived from the integrity of the home." Strong families form the foundation of a healthy nation. Marriage and parenthood play a key part in the future of Singapore. So, as we work towards building a firm base for families to grow, I would like to highlight three key points for the House to consider in relation to the amendments to the Child Development Co-Savings Bill. The first point is on extended childcare leave. The additional two days of leave for parents of children from seven to 12 years old is, indeed, a welcome one. It acknowledges parents' need for time off to attend to their children's needs, especially if both parents are working. The current leave entitlements are provided, regardless of the number of children that a couple have. This does not give them the additional support they would need should they have more children. If we want to encourage parents to consider having more than one or two children, we should try to provide as many avenues as possible to support their child-rearing efforts. So, I hope the House would consider giving couples with more than two children the additional support they need, especially in this area of leave entitlements for parents. The second point I would like to raise pertains to the shared parental leave for fathers.”
“Thank you, Mr Chairman. I would like to ask the Acting Minister whether MOM will consider setting up a dedicated agency to champion the needs and the interest of the mature PMEs or at least set up a special unit within CalibreLink to champion the interest of mature PMEs. The reason I say this is, as we all know, for mature PMEs, for example, 40 years and above, if they lose their jobs for various reasons, it is generally a bit more difficult for them to re-enter the workforce even at a reduced pay. So, it is quite necessary for a dedicated unit to really look at their profile and needs, for example, and also work with relevant Ministries and agencies to ring-fence certain jobs in nascent sectors for them. For example, now that we are growing the social services sector, childcare and healthcare sectors, a dedicated unit can take a more focused approach to ring-fence certain jobs for the mature PMEs.”
“The report found that seven in 10 undergraduates have no plans to actively pursue relationships while studying. I do not know about you, but I was certainly appalled by the prospect of our campuses being devoid of romances. To this end, may I ask the Minister for MSF to share more about the plans to promote pro-family and "family first" attitudes and values? How will the different age groups be targeted? Are there any innovative ways in which we can get to workplaces – not in a hard sell manner – get to workplaces, schools and social organisations to partner MSF to reinforce a positive mindset towards "family first" and family as a key foundation of life?”
“To this end, I would like to ask if the Ministry could look into the needs of this growing group of elderly Singaporeans. Such elderly Singaporeans, especially those who stay alone, could potentially benefit from the formation of a special interest or support group to help them cope with the demands of ageing. Next, on the importance of integrated delivery of services, that has been advocated by many of my fellow parliamentarians earlier, there is certainly an urgent need for integrated and seamless service delivery of services to our recipients of care and assistance. To this end, the needy individuals and their families have complex needs and they often need help from different agencies and Ministries. And it certainly can be very frustrating as highlighted by my various colleagues, to have to navigate various and different Ministries and agencies for help on a single matter. So, to this end, the establishment of AIC (Agency for Integrated Care) has certainly improved the situation tremendously in the past few years. Yet, more can be done in this area, especially where care and services need to be coordinated across hospitals, polyclinics, private clinics, VWOs, Family Service Centres, CDCs, Government agencies and also Ministries. So, other than the SSO, can technology play a greater role in the integration of care and service delivery for social needs? I hope the Minister can elaborate on Page: 189 the MSF's plan to streamline its delivery of care and services to those in need. Last but not least, I wish to highlight the need to promote a "pro-family" mindset – as the Co-Chairman of National Family Committee. You may have read a recent The Straits Times' article on 5 March with this headline, and I quote, "Undergrads don't love the idea of dating".”
“Mr Chairman, the Budgets of 2013 and 2012 have made it clear that the Government is committed to shaping an inclusive society and providing a stronger social safety net for all Singaporeans. There are three key aspects I would like to touch on briefly today. Page: 188 One, greater flexibility in the social safety net. Two, the need for integrated and seamless service delivery. And finally, promoting a "pro-family" culture. More money has been set aside and new programmes have been put in place to meet the growing demands brought by an ageing population. It is, indeed, heartening to know that Singaporeans will now also receive financial help with the cost of healthcare consumables. Many of my residents will be beneficiaries. This would certainly help many low-income elderly Singaporeans cope with the cost of ageing. And this increased flexibility in Government funding is certainly welcomed. I would like to urge the MSF to continue to review its present funding schemes for the elderly and disabled, and in particular, adult children with disabilities whose out-of-pocket healthcare expense is a considerable drain on their parents especially those from low-income families. To this end, are there any plans to extend more help to this particular group? Two, can the Minister provide an update on the progress on the Enabling Masterplan, with regard to Singaporeans with disabilities as well as elderly Singaporeans? Next, in my constituency work, I have been meeting many elderly couples whose children are posted overseas or staying overseas. Oftentimes, the couple or in some cases, the parent lives alone in Singapore, with occasional visits from their children and grandchildren.”
“For instance, in 2001, the size of Primary 1 cohort was over 49,000. Ten years later, in 2011, the size was over 39,000. In view of this, is the current teacher-student ratio in our schools reflective of this growth in the teacher numbers as well as the decreasing number of student cohort? 2.30 pm While classes in lower primary levels have been reduced to about 30 students a class, the overall class size for older cohorts in most primary and secondary schools hover around 40 per class. I hope the MOE will take steps to see how class size can be further reduced, especially for Primary 3 to Primary 6, where younger children can benefit from closer contact and guidance from teachers. I am confident that we can take our children to the future as we seek to help them develop their potential wherever they are. Closing the Opportunity Gap”
“Today, we have a variety of training providers with various levels of competency and knowledge. To prevent fragmentation and uneven quality of training, I urge the MOE as well as MSF to examine the possibility of establishing a national academy of early childhood teachers, just like how the National Institute of Education (NIE) trains the teaching profession now. Should this function come under the NIE, there could be flow-through advantages in training, teaching quality and research that span from preschool to learning in lower primary school. Research has shown that children from poorer circumstances tend to have greater learning needs and difficulties. They not only lag behind their peers in academic milestones, their struggle with behavioural and also family problems often put them in disadvantaged positions. I hope that a substantial portion of the $3 billion injection of funds over five years will go to assisting these children to close the gap. To this end, the Development Support Programme, announced last year, is a key initiative that will help preschoolers with learning difficulties. Can we look forward to having this nationalised eventually? Early intervention Page: 82 and support is certainly crucial before these children enter Primary 1. With regard to preschools for best practices that MOE aims to set up, I hope that MOE can ensure a certain percentage of places set aside for children from low-income families. We want to provide opportunities for all, especially those from disadvantaged positions. Next, on improving the teacher-student ratio. Our teaching force has grown by more than 10,000 or about 43% since 15 years ago. I understand that the size of student cohort has also steadily decreased.”
“Madam, I applaud the move to set up a single Government agency to drive early childhood development. I look Page: 81 forward to the improvements that the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) can bring. For instance, it will have the mandate to level the playing field for all our young children. Efforts to raise the quality of preschool education in the highly disparate preschool sector can now be more coordinated and concerted across childcare centres as well as kindergartens. In terms of policy and long-term plans, I hope we will also benefit from a strong and cohesive direction for early childhood development. This is certainly necessary in order to "future proof" our children in today's fast changing and globalised economy. Parents now have clearer indication as to what is expected at preschool and before entering Primary 1. So, I believe we can look forward to better information flow and uniformity of direction with the formation of ECDA. However, there are a few questions and issues that I hope the MOE as well as MSF can look into as the agency undertakes its important responsibilities. For instance, how will ECDA integrate the overlapping roles of MOE and MSF in the areas of teacher training, professional development as well as pay structure? Will there be synergy in training and curriculum for teachers in childcare centres as well as kindergartens? Currently, the different training routes, qualifications, working conditions as well as pay scales between childcare and kindergarten make career progression and development in this sector an onerous one. One other key area that I hope ECDA can address is the merit of a central or national training school for early childhood educators.”
“There are many courses promoting "T-shaped" competency which equip participants with a broad knowledge of horizontal skills, such as management, finance and business operations. Mature PMETs will benefit from such training and gain the ability to move into adjacent growth areas or new industries more easily. Page: 104 Due to technology and the globalised economy, constant and rapid changes are now the new normal. As life-span grows longer, "60s" are the new "40s". Our workforce has become more educated and exposed to global trends and changes. These mature workers have stood the test of economic restructuring. Many of them have also come through the oil crises, financial recessions in the 1980s and 1990s, and the Asian contagion. If we hire them, we can ensure that these valuable skills and experience can be passed on to the next generation. More importantly, to help mature workers stay employable, we need to keep them in the job market as long as possible, for instance, paid temporary internship is one way for mature workers to move into a new skill or industry. Such programmes will also allow workers to try new jobs while gaining experience and education. Likewise, extending the SME Talent Programme to mature workers will give them a pipeline of opportunity of joining our SMEs and stay in the workforce longer. Time-Share Legislation”
“Our mature PMEs can also provide a boost to our SMEs as we look to develop a stronger base of globally competitive Singapore enterprises. As our life span grows longer, the "60s" is our new "40s". Our workforce has become more educated and exposed to global trends and changes. These mature workers have stood the tests of economic restructuring in the past − many of them have come through the oil crisis, financial recessions in the 80s and 90s, and also the Asian financial crisis. So, extending the SME Talent Programme to mature Singaporean workers will certainly give them a pipeline of opportunity to join our SMEs, and allow them to stay in the workforce longer and contribute with their skills and life experience. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Last Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman, in his conclusion of the Budget debate, highlighted how age discrimination leaves older workers vulnerable. I am deeply heartened by our Government's acknowledgement of the difficulties our mature workers face in finding jobs. There has always been quite a number of older residents coming to the Meet-the-People Session seeking help in securing work. In my maiden speech in 2011, I gave the example of how a resident in his 50s and an ex-General Manager of an MNC managed to find work with our help after some months of searching. He was hired by a local SME in the marine industry to be their Service Manager. The company tapped on his extensive experience to help them deal with their MNC clients. Why is SPRING's SME Talent Programme only limited to the school leavers? WDA has set the foundation for PMETs to move across industries.”
“To this end, I have observed how Korean SMEs often join forces together to seek out new markets and opportunities overseas. This is also how Japanese SMEs tap on each other's strengths to penetrate markets abroad. While I am very cheered by the Senior Minister of State Lee's announcement earlier, may I suggest that IE Singapore look into how it can better support SMEs in this area? In addition to the overseas business trips and the additional initiatives mentioned by Senior Minister of State Lee, can IE Singapore also work out something to ensure that the SMEs will benefit from the presence of a dedicated business representative to market the SMEs' business objectives and products overseas? Mature Workers for SMEs Next, SME Talent Programme. Last Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman highlighted how, and I quote, "age discrimination leaves older workers vulnerable". I am deeply heartened by our Government's acknowledgement of the difficulties our mature Singaporean workers face in finding jobs. In my maiden speech in 2011, I gave the example of how a resident in Bukit Gombak, in his 50s, who was back then an ex-General Manager of an MNC, Page: 103 managed to find work with our help after some months of searching. He was hired eventually by a local SME in the marine industry to be their Service Manager. The company tapped on his extensive experience to help them engage their MNC clients. So, our mature PMEs are, indeed, a very valuable human capital that the SMEs can better tap on. To this end, I would like to urge MTI to consider extending the SME Talent Programme to PMEs 40 years old and above. Why limit the programme to only the school leavers?”
“Madam, as we restructure our economy to keep pace with changes, we also seek new areas of potential to create growth industries for the future. Deputy Prime Minister Tharman's announcement on the expansion of PACT (Partnerships for Capability Transformation) beyond the manufacturing sector is, indeed, a very welcomed one. I would like to suggest that beyond capability building and productivity, Page: 102 there is the potential for new opportunities and even creation of new growth industries. Besides sharing best practices, I hope PACT can lead our SMEs to co-create solutions, conduct R&D and apply the power of business analytics with MNCs or industry partners. There is now unparalleled demand for new products and services brought about by global and regional trends of urbanisation, hyper-connectivity and the rising wave of middle class consumers. New solutions and innovations have the potential to spark off nascent industries. As plans to extend manufacturing into robotics, 3D printing and satellite industries take shape, how can our Singapore SMEs be part of this new growth? I hope the Ministry of Trade and Industry can elaborate on how PACT will advance the collaborative advantage for our SMEs. For instance, are there any specific industries targeted by this programme as it broadens beyond manufacturing? How will such collaborations involve trade associations and business chambers? For micro-SMEs, will there be a chance for them to band together for additional clout? If there should be substantial R&D investments, how will the risks be shared between SMEs and MNCs? Are there prospects for marketing the co-developed product or services internationally?”
“To this end, I hope the Ministry can share with us how it plans to expand its deployment of technology and skills: One, boost public data availability, for example, location apps for our Singapore public amenities and transport alerts; Two, improve digital literacy, which means educate our users about online use or abuse, encourage considerate online behaviour and promote cyber-wellness; Finally, leverage the potential of fibre broadband coverage in Singapore to build a super knowledge highway that will really transform the way Singaporeans learn, interact, communicate and live together, virtually and physically. Social Media Conduct and Media Literacy”
“Mdm Chairperson, to stay at the forefront of knowledge-driven economies, we need to ensure that Singaporeans stand in good stead with regard to information, or what we call "knowledge highways" where Singaporeans can easily search, assess and obtain the data information that they want. These "knowledge highways" can then spawn virtual communities that bond Singaporeans as they interact, share knowledge, even trade expertise and exchange knowledge, whether online or offline. So, the demand for higher speed and greater ease of access to information and knowledge will certainly increase; no doubt about it. The push for telecommuting, flexible work hours and arrangements will also expand our pools of workers who need and use information from wherever they are. We know that Singapore has the highest smart phone penetration rate in the world – 92%. This pervasive use of smart phones is forming an information-on-the-go habit. We are being accustomed to getting information knowledge at the tap or swipe of our phones. Expectations on the amount and types of information we have at hand, how fast and easy we can obtain them, and the shareablity of knowledge will become unprecedented. Page: 84 So, besides the present network of public libraries that serves millions of Singaporeans every year, what are the Ministry's plans to meet this increasing demand for knowledge-on-the-go? How can Singaporeans better access the current rich depository of books, information and films available? How is technology being harnessed to build knowledge highways for Singaporeans at work, study and play?”
“Technology and super computing power is making the knowledge, skills and tools we use obsolete faster. As Thomas Friedman of The New York Times wrote, and I quote, "The winners tomorrow won't just be those with higher IQ. It will also be those with more PQ" – not our PQ, but passion quotient – "and CQ", or curiosity quotient, "to leverage all the new digital tools to not only find a job, but to invent one or reinvent one, and not just to learn but to unlearn and relearn for an entire lifetime." Being "middle age" at this point in history can be advantageous for us. The urge to do something different, to learn a new skill or sport a fresh look is something that is quite welcome in today's hyper-connected world. This is the time for reinvention and for redesigning the work we are doing, for researching new ways to improve early childhood education, and for adopting a new perspective as we restructure our economy for a better Singapore. On this note, I support the Motion. 12.52 pm”
“Other research findings from Australia suggest that children's exposure to natural and green settings can improve social interactions and motor skills, as well as alleviate stress for our children. When we talk of stress, research can also help us confirm what are the top stress contributors on our young children in highly urban Singapore. And how can we tap on our experience of building a garden city to benefit the future of early childhood education? As MOE sets up a few kindergartens to develop best practices, I hope one of them will showcase how physical environment can be maximised for optimal early childhood learning in Singapore. Understanding and applying research findings from early education to classroom practice is an important step in achieving effective outcomes for our children. Educational research findings can improve classroom practice and form the foundation for quality early childhood programmes. In an article on the success of the Finnish model of education, the newspaper TODAY noted – two days ago − the view of the Finnish National Board of Education's Head of Professional Development, Ms Anneli. She attributed research-based teacher education as the factor that accounts for the high quality of teaching in Finland. As the world's speed of change is accelerating all the time, research in learning would keep us at the forefront of the acquisition of knowledge. Page: 25 The way we learn is no longer constant. Previously, it was thought that our educational foundation could last us our whole lifetime. We all know that this is no longer true. In today's hyper-connected world, the speed with which every job and industry changes has trebled or quadrupled.”
“And as the Government increases its investment and resources in this important area, I would like to suggest an area of consideration that could help us to unlock the potential, which is the third P, and passion, the last P, in every child and teacher. As we seek to unlock the potential of the early childhood years, research can play an important role in improving the quality and delivery of early childhood education. While there is a wealth of research available from all parts of the world, we need to boost the repository of our own local research that can deal with the conditions that are unique to Singapore. For example, many of Page: 24 our childcare centres are located in common void decks and some are housed in private estates. The 2013 Budget outlined plans to expand capacity and have more pre-school centres located closer to homes and workplace. This makes it even more important for us to examine the impact of tight space constraints, adapted facilities and limited play areas on our children's development. Research could also reveal how we can overcome the challenges and barriers posed by locations such as HDB void decks and office compounds in a dense and urban environment. What other ways to maximise our physical environment to nurture our children's passion for learning? That is the key question. To this end, researchers from Australia have developed the Early Childhood Physical Environment Rating Scale that is designed to assess the quality of the physical environment of early childhood centres in relation to their potential for children's development and learning. The quality of the child's physical environment has been linked to positive learning.”
“The lessons from such job redesign schemes should be quickly expanded to other segments of the workers, especially those in mid-skilled jobs. Not only can job redesign improve productivity, it can also help maximise resources and improve employability of the workforce. Labour market shortages could be eased by efforts to adapt or redesigning the skills of workers in declining industries to meet the needs of growing sectors. I understand so far the ADVANTAGE! scheme has benefited more than 25,000 mature workers and provided $24 million in funding to companies for job redesign. My question is: could MOM and MOF examine if job redesign can be included as part of the PIC scheme? Second question: would MOF consider increasing the amount of resources and funding for job redesign to be instituted in broad majority of businesses and organisations? Government agencies like SPRING and WDA can also assist by: (a) beefing up the HR sector's capabilities and expertise in job redesign; (b) review how SMEs can be made much more aware of the benefits of job redesign and what it can do for their business; and (c) expand job redesign specifically into sectors with a high demand for workers, such as healthcare and early childhood education. Another key priority that is getting the much-deserved attention is the area of early childhood education. I am greatly heartened by the Deputy Prime Minister's recent Budget announcement on how the Government will dedicate a significant sum of $3 billion over the next five years to the development of our young children. In Budget 2012, I raised the need for more resources and expertise to be invested in early childhood education.”
“As we restructure our economy and workforce, we need job redesign to become an integral part of businesses and organisations. As we all know, due to technology and the increasing speed of change in the globalised economy, business cycles are getting shorter and job roles evolving faster than before. Workers are being made redundant faster and businesses have a shorter response time for workforce re-deployment. Some economists have highlighted how technology has hollowed out the jobs of middle-class workers. An Associated Press analysis of employment data from 20 countries found that millions of mid-skill, mid-pay jobs have already disappeared over the past five years. Economists are wondering whether middle-class jobs will ever return when the global economy rebounds to health, or whether they have been lost forever. The "jobless recovery" in the US has been a headache for its government struggling to improve the labour market. While we do not have such a problem in Singapore right now, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels. We need to re-prioritise the training needs of our workforce and institute job redesign as part of an organisation or company's growth to effectively compete in today's dynamic world. In the larger scheme of things, let us explore how job redesign can be instituted at various levels of the workforce. We want to avoid the scenario of high middle-class unemployment, social discord, falling living standards and unmet aspirations Page: 23 as we can see in Europe and US. Job redesign has so far proven to benefit companies and employees. It has helped older Singaporeans and also women to stay and re-enter the workforce through schemes such as ADVANTAGE! or Flexi-Works!.”
“As this year's Budget rolls out plans to help SMEs with the schemes such as Productivity and Innovation Credit (PIC) and Partnerships for Capability Transformation (PACT), I urge that we also look at how our craftsmen' vocation tradesmen and sole proprietors be engaged to innovate, upgrade their skills and increase their productivity. Take the ITE example. As we all know, ITE has been transformed into a very well respected educational institute today. Likewise, let us move upstream and Page: 22 lead the way for skilled craftsmen to shine in their vocation trade and for society to respect their technical and vocational jobs as valued occupations in Singapore. This will be a mark of a truly inclusive Singapore. The Government or NTUC can set the ball rolling by working with trade associations to raise the professionalism of their vocations, skills and image. Better perceptions of such trade vocations can attract new entrants, create higher quality apprenticeship, like in Germany, and re-invigorate sectors straining under manpower shortages. To realise our vision of an inclusive Singapore where we help each other achieve a better life, we need to make job redesign a key priority, the second P. During last year's Budget debate, I spoke about how redesigning jobs can future-proof our workforce. This year, I would like to highlight it again as I wish to stress the urgency to institute job redesign as a permanent feature or function in organisations and businesses. We not only need to make job redesign a key priority, we need to make it pervasive, across different sectors and industries. Job redesign helps companies adjust to the slowing flow of foreign labour and also better cope with the tight labour situation.”
“Allow me to continue in English. (In English): Mdm Speaker, Singapore is at an inflexion point where the crossroads of review can redefine our purpose, realign our priorities and recapture potential and possibilities. Budget 2013 is a timely effort to restructure and shift our economy for Singapore to achieve quality and inclusive growth. Today, I would like to explore how four Ps could help us move in this direction: Purpose, Priorities, Potential, and Passion. The first one, purpose. Deputy Prime Minister Tharman shared that many Singaporeans hope for, and I quote, "A Singapore with a robust and vibrant economy, with good jobs that enable a more fulfilling pace of life." The inclusive Singapore that we all seek to build has gained much ground, especially in the recent years. Besides taking care of the disadvantaged and lower income Singaporeans and older workers, let us also look at how we can also be inclusive towards the technical and trade vocations. From aircraft engine mechanics to electricians, glassmakers and building maintenance workers, the one who fixed our problems, keep things going and ensure the normality of our daily lives, something that we often take for granted. This year's Budget will, through the expansion of Workfare Income Supplement, help older and lower income Singaporean workers gain higher wages. Some of the craftsmen benefit from this if they fall under this category. The basic monthly wage for rank-and-file jobs under MOM's Craftsmen and Related Trade Workers category ranges from $900 for glassmaker to $2,200 for aircraft engine mechanic. Some of these craftsmen are self-employed, workers or sole proprietors of a small business.”
“Mdm Speaker, I rise in support of this year's Budget. In Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Last year, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to go to Qufu in Shandong province with a group of senior Singaporean management executives studying a postgraduate course. We all know Qufu is the home town of Confucius. In Qufu, I was rethinking a famous quote from Confucius which goes: "At age 15, I was determined to learn; at 30, I stood on my own; at 40, I had no confusion; at 50, I knew what fate was; at 60, nothing can offend me; at 70, I could do as I wished without violating the rules." When I was listening to Deputy Prime Minister Tharman's Budget 2013 speech, this line from Confucius emerged in my mind. We will soon celebrate Singapore's 48th birthday. In terms of human life, Singapore would have reached middle age and would have felt how quickly time had gone by and started to relook at the value of life. Since Independence, Singapore have worked hard in its younger days and achieved much at the age of 30, gaining a presence in the international arena. Going forward, we will be stepping into the golden age when current conditions are better than before. We should explore how to make Singapore even more vibrant and how social development can be more meaningful, more fulfilling and more valuable. Page: 21 Through Budget 2013, I can see how the Government is planning to transform Singapore and make her more attractive, creating more value for her people. Meanwhile, we should also explore how we can develop our middle-age workforce so that they can become a vital force in transforming Singapore into a smart economy with quality social development. Here I would like propose the four Ps – Purpose, Priorities, Potential and Passion.”
“Besides China and India, the Southeast Asian economies are gaining traction and opening up with great potential. As such prospects brighten, the external wing of our economy can further expand, as we intensify our support for Singapore SMEs to go overseas. Singapore is also amongst many countries facing the double whammy of a low birth rate and rapidly ageing population. We are not alone in this problem. And we all know necessity is the mother of innovation. So, as the ageing phenomena intensify globally, new models and novel solutions may spring up. At present, Singapore has good fiscal, financial and institutional resources to help us tackle these issues. What we need now is a good measure of courage, 勇气. Courage to answer hard questions. Courage for "hard talk". And courage is what I think this Government and Singaporeans have. For much is at stake. For the sake of our future and generations to come, let us all not shrink from making hard choices. Let us move forward to face off the enemies of anxiety and re-assert our strength and that is the Singapore gumption and fortitude to beat the odds once more. On this note, I support the amended Motion. 4.50 pm”
“For instance, in the areas of healthcare, eldercare, childcare and even social services – these are the new growth areas that need to ramp up capacity, we all hear. They have huge demand for manpower. So, in these sectors, can we consider identifying or even re-designing specific jobs in these sectors that are well suited for mature workers? This should be work that should not be physically demanding, but it also should be work that will draw upon our mature Singaporeans' strengths. In fact, they have very extensive life experiences. Jobs like healthcare or administrative assistants, carers for the elderly, nannies or childcare edu-carers, or even counsellors, social service jobs. These are possible roles for our mature Singaporeans. Just as attitudes towards mature workers need to change, our mature workers' perception of jobs like the ones that I have mentioned also have to change. If they can be persuaded to see the intrinsic value of these jobs, these positions can actually become a vocation for them, much more than just a job. Through these work, they can form an important network of support for the sick, young and elderly, thereby strengthening our community with their collective wisdom. We are all standing at an inflection point where hard questions on Singapore's future and population plans are being asked and deliberated. Besides current models of development, what are some other areas that could provide the boost that is needed for Singapore's future? I feel and I can see that there are clouds of hope along the way. Page: 95 In fact, the global centre of economic gravity has moved to Asia. Singapore remains in a strategic position in Asia to capture the opportunities emerging from this area.”
“We need to fight the onslaught of age-ism, and, in fact, middle-ageism – and encourage a new mindset that embraces what maturity can bring to a society and an economy. This is a big challenge that all stakeholders can come on board to tackle – the Government, businesses, communities and individuals, every one of us. Can we improve public perception of mature workers, uplift their image and increase the level of respect that they command and deserve? The launch of the "re-employment" ads by the Tripartite Committee on Employability of Older Workers is a good start but we have to do more. We cannot afford to lose this window of opportunity as our workforce gets older every year. Currently, the Page: 94 Government has job re-design assistance and schemes like ADVANTAGE! and the Special Employment Credit to encourage companies to hire older workers. However, there still appears to be gaps in expectations and skills that are required. In Bukit Gombak, I have met residents from 40-plus years old to 60-plus years old, who want a job but find it hard to secure one. They often wonder if this is due to their age or a mismatch on their part or that of the employers'. If our present industries are not able to re-employ or absorb older Singaporeans fast enough, could we pursue or even develop sectors specifically for our mature and older workers? To this end, can I suggest that the Government consider setting an example by launching active recruitment drives and fairs for mature workers on a regular basis? MOM and WDA can work with Ministries and agencies to review and draw up available positions with roles which are suitable for mature workers.”
“The White Paper recognises this gap and has tried to plug it by allowing businesses to hire foreigners. But over time, the use of foreign manpower to kick-start new growth areas may blunt our workforce. So, can I suggest that we consider opening up programmes like the EDB's Strategic Attachment and Training Programme (STRAT), which trains workers for emerging industries, to allow these vacancies to go to mature and older workers too, especially those workers from related industries, for example, from semi-conductor to solar energy industry and not limit them to only school leavers or younger workers? Knowledge transfer needs to take place more quickly and more nimbly. Furthermore, could we also consider having the economic agencies hard wiring into our incentives for companies – the key criteria of hiring a set number of Singaporeans – in order to qualify for Government assistance? I recall that in a forum organised by NUS and the Europe Union Centre last December, Acting Minister for Social and Family Development Mr Chan Chun Sing highlighted that many of our work processes are still designed for employees in their 20s to their 50s. They do not currently take into account many years of experience that mature workers can contribute to the workforce. I hope the Government, the various agencies, can consider factoring in such considerations as it reviews the kinds of businesses and industries that Singapore will pursue and continue to develop in the future. And this leads me to my next point which is age-ism. Third, whether we like it or not, age-ism is found throughout the world. In fact, today's media and the modern culture worship beauty and youth. And this has really spilled over to businesses and the workforce.”
“As Our Singapore Conversations take place, perhaps we can ask participants for their views on what "prosperity" means to each of them and collectively. For instance, could "prosperity" mean having more time to make babies and watch them grow, but perhaps for each and every one of us with less pay and opportunities? And if this were so, would Singaporeans be ready to accept a slower or even no growth in the future? Or even the possibility of fewer jobs? Two, the second point I want to raise is about reviewing the model of engagement. We all know jobs are crucial to any country. The urgency to attract investments and high-value jobs into Singapore has always kept us on our toes. We need Singapore to stay relevant, globally competitive and attractive to investors, MNCs, SMEs and entrepreneurs. New growth areas and nascent industries offer good potential and high value jobs to Singaporeans. However, due to the nascent stage of these industries, specialised skills are required. This leads to such companies broadening their search for talent beyond Singaporeans. For example, Manufacturing Integrated Technology, a company dealing in solar energy, revealed that its biggest obstacle was not business costs, but the shortage of talent. In The Straits Times article on 16 January 2013, the company's CEO said that "the firm is sorely lacking qualified engineers". While 80% of this company's workforce is local, the company had to tap on foreign manpower to fill a 20% gap. Page: 93 Are we the victims of our own success? Perhaps it is time for us to consider re-calibrating the forces of demand with the supply of our local talent pool. The high-value jobs created by investments coming into Singapore are creating a demand at the nascent stage that our locals find hard to meet.”
“For if we could re-invent ourselves, perhaps we could really avert the possibility of a 6.9 million population in 2030 where only 55% of the population are Singaporeans. I would like to suggest three key ideas for your consideration. One, re-defining prosperity. The conventional vision of social progress through endless growth has indeed come under increasing scrutiny across the world, according to Prof Tim Jackson from University of Surrey. Jackson, who is also economics commissioner on the UK government's Sustainable Page: 92 Development Commission, argues that economic growth may not infinitely deliver lasting prosperity. Instead, we need a more coherent vision of prosperity. This is especially so in the wake of the Eurozone problems and the anaemic US recovery. To him, "Prosperity, in any meaningful sense of the term, is really about the quality of our lives and relationships, about the resilience of our communities, and about our sense of individual and collective meaning." Is the desire for "wholesome" growth what Singaporeans want? We are now all experiencing a post-material age where youngsters tell us that they place work-life balance above economic gains. Discussions about the White Paper have posed soul-searching questions on what constitutes success, happiness and growth. Could "prosperity" for Singaporeans take on new meaning? The London-based public policy body, Legatum Institute, has created a unique "Prosperity Index" that assesses national prosperity based on wealth and well-being. Its prosperity indicators are economy, entrepreneurship opportunities, governance, education, health, safety and security, personal freedom and social capital. Are some of these factors the values that Singaporeans associate prosperity with?”
“Mdm Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to take part in this debate. In Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Since the release of the White Paper "A Sustainable Population for A Dynamic Singapore", there has been strong reactions from the ground. I think this is a good phenomenon as it shows that Singaporeans are concerned with our future development and we love our homeland. If people do not care or give little or no responses to such important issues, then that will be a serious problem. Likewise, if a Government does not act in advance to study an issue of far-reaching impact and does not introduce a solution for everyone to discuss and debate in advance, then that is an indifferent and weak government. During my walk-about last weekend, a resident shared this with me, "Introducing a popular policy is to please the people but proposing an unpopular policy needs a lot of courage". (In English): The Population White Paper has thrown up key questions on our nation's identity, psyche and desires. There is worry of how Singapore may change even as our national identity is being shaped. The pragmatic Singaporean in all of us acknowledges that the Government has to plan ahead to deal with the double whammy of a low birth rate and an ageing population. However, the prospects of having more people and increased competition for resources naturally trigger red alerts. Weighing heavily on the minds of many are questions on social costs and the impact of the White Paper. At this point, I would like to ask for Members' indulgence and courage to consider with me how some of the future challenges, related to the economy and an ageing population, could be mapped.”
“Besides building good trade and business policies, our human capital, technological capacity, level of productivity and business cost will hold the keys to future competitiveness of our economy while global headwinds continue to blow. On this note, I support the Bill.”
“So for local companies with the potential to be global champions that could put Singapore on the world map, a flexible and supportive DEI could give them the push they need to succeed. For instance, letting them plough back profits made from Singapore markets into R&D could give them a much-needed source of funds for such activities. A DEI that successfully complements the current grants and support provided by SPRING Singapore and IE Singapore could well boost our Singapore companies' expansion into regional and international markets. Madam, my final point is on the Integrated Investment Allowance (IIA). To grow high-value added activities in Singapore, our Singapore businesses must expand abroad and capture new growth opportunities. Expanding abroad could also often mean relocating lower cost activities overseas. This is where the IIA really comes in handy. It will give our local companies an additional allowance on fixed capital expenditure incurred for productive equipment placed overseas. Page: 102 So, the IIA is a good tool that would allow Singapore-based companies to make long-term strategic decisions for their businesses and operations. In relation to the Bill's amendments, I hope the Minister can elaborate on the type of companies that we wish to attract and target under the scheme and what would be the economic benefits we can expect for Singapore. In conclusion, I believe the EEI amendments will continue to bring positive effects to our local economy and fellow Singaporeans. However, to ensure that we continue to benefit from the gains that investments will bring, we must constantly work at keeping our investment climate an attractive one.”
“Based on the World Bank Group Report, there is growing evidence, and I quote, "tax incentives are a crucial factor for mobile firms and firms operating in multiple markets − such Page: 101 as banks, insurance companies and Internet-related businesses − because these firms can better exploit different tax regimes across countries". In fact, the recent January 2013 Asia Business Outlook Survey by the Economist Corporate Network revealed that companies are relocating their operations more frequently today than in the past. The same report also highlighted that Singapore was losing some of our shine due to factors such as rising costs and labour shortages. Besides relying on incentives like the DEI to attract companies to Singapore, we need to watch out for key factors that could erode our competitive advantage, such as cost of living, inflation, upward property prices and manpower crunch. In addition, tax competition between countries can create a "race to the bottom" that benefits only investors. To avoid such scenarios, we could look into how to further leverage our international or regional trade agreements as alternative tools of attracting investments and jobs. Madam, my second point is related to the application of the DEI for homegrown companies. Besides attracting foreign companies, I would like to urge the MTI, MOF and Government agencies to look into how the DEI could be used with some flexibility to catalyse the development of our own local companies into global champions. Expanding overseas is a hefty investment and involves a long gestation period before companies see significant returns. Similarly, having robust intellectual property and R&D are crucial for our local companies to compete internationally.”
“Mdm Speaker, I rise in support of the Economic Expansion Incentives (Relief from Income Tax) (Amendment No 2) Bill. Singapore has benefited greatly from our investment promotion activities. As the global centre of economic gravity moves to Asia, we will face increased competition in our bid to anchor more strategic functions and regional headquarter activities to Singapore. Hence, the amendments to the Economic Expansion Incentives are indeed timely as we seek to develop a healthy pipeline of higher value-add jobs for the nation. At this point, I wish to highlight three key points for consideration. The first point is related to the longer tax relief period. The maximum period that companies can receive development and expansion incentives will be raised from 20 years to 40 years. This is a significant increase that could further strengthen Singapore's value proposition as a desired location for MNCs and Asian enterprises to anchor their strategic functions, manage their operations and harness opportunities, both in Asia and globally. Having said that, in the course of enhancing the EEI, we also need to carefully consider and ensure that qualifying companies will indeed bring long-term gains to our economy, and benefits that will outweigh the loss of tax revenue. At this point, I would like to clarify with the Minister if there are measures built in to discourage the pursuit of short-term gains or easy pullout by companies. Due to technological advancement and globalisation, companies are able to uproot from one country to another easily.”
“I hope the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Social and Family Development and NCPG can work closely to make this happen. There is a shared responsibility between the gambling industry, the Government and those who gamble to work together to develop policies and procedures that limit harm from gambling. We cannot rely on luck to tackle the gambling problem. Victory shall be ours as long as we put in concerted efforts. 4.50 pm”
“I hope the Ministry of Home Affairs – not just Ministry of Home Affairs – Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), Ministry of Education (MOE), also, Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and NCPG can work closely to make this happen. There is certainly a shared responsibility between the gambling industry, the Government and those who gamble to work together to develop policies and procedures that limit harm from gambling. Next, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech on Pg 1433.] The ills of gambling are so prevalent that even youths who are non-gamblers have been drawn into the gambling web. Some of them act as loan shark runners, collecting debts from gambling addicts and some help put up moneylending advertisements. The prevalence of easy and fast loans from banks and licensed moneylenders also act as a magnet for feeding the gambling habit. There is not much of a problem in getting the money, but trouble starts subsequently. I would like to ask the Minister for Home Affairs if there are plans for the NCPG and the Ministry of Law to work together with the Singapore Moneylenders' Association to prevent gamblers from getting into deeper debt. This could be in the areas of public education concerning the risks of debt associated with gambling and borrowing, and highlighting the available resources of help for troubled gamblers. Page: 1401 If we could take a whole-of-Government approach in dealing with the problem and social ills of gambling, we can build a tighter net of protection around vulnerable families and individuals from being preyed upon by those unscrupulous people.”
“Youths, generally, are especially vulnerable as they are at the life-stage where owning material goods or branded stuff and peer pressure exert the most influence. Page: 1400 So, whether it is through mass media, schools or libraries, we need a targeted drive to reach not only our youths, but also the children with warning that gambling can be addictive and can destroy lives and their future. Equipping our youths with such knowledge can help prevent them from falling into such situations when they are older. Children can also be a positive influence on parents or family members addicted to gambling. In addition, I would like to request for the Ministry to share with us if there are plans for the NCPG and the Ministry of Law to work together with the Singapore Moneylenders' Association to prevent gamblers from getting into deeper debt. This could be in the area of public education concerning the risks of debt associated with gambling and highlighting the available resources of help for troubled gamblers. I would also like to request the Ministry to look into how to extend further public awareness of the gambling hotline. Are there provisions under the CCA that would require the two operators to prominently display the helpline for troubled gamblers and list the help services available? We need to extend the reach of the helplines and information to places where gamblers congregate. If we could further strengthen the whole-of-Government approach, which is happening today, in dealing with the problem and social ills of gambling, we can build an even tighter net of protection around vulnerable families and individuals.”
“Mr Speaker, thank you for allowing me to join in this debate. There have been many stories of broken lives and families due to gambling. One of my middle-aged residents had turned to loan sharks, unfortunately, to finance his gambling habit at the casinos. When he could not repay his debts, he was then forced – according to him – to let them use his bank account for illegal money-lending activities. He was then arrested and imprisoned. He has since lost his life-long livelihood as a security guard due to his criminal record. We are presently trying to help him regain a livelihood. Not just middle-aged residents, but even youths who are non-gamblers have been drawn into the gambling web. They act as loan shark runners, collecting debts from gambling addicts. The prevalence of easy and fast loans from banks and licensed or even unlicensed moneylenders also act as a magnet for feeding the gambling habit. Mr Speaker, Sir, may I have your permission to show a slide? This is a picture that I took at the foot of a 1-room HDB flat two weeks ago, indicating a banner "moneylender, at 1.5% per month" – indicating the phone number. The lure of easy money is too tempting for gamblers looking to feed their addiction. We need a concerted approach to tackle the social ills brought on by the problems of gambling. In addition to the proposed amendments, I would like to urge the Ministry to extend public education of the problems of gambling to youths and children, not just the vulnerable group. This could help increase their awareness of the potential pitfalls caused by gambling and prevent them from being recruited by loan sharks when the opportunity arises.”
“Due to the $10,000 cap, the total tax benefit for a company's spending on training non-certified in-house training would be $6,800 a year. To spur more training by SMEs, I hope the Ministry would be open to considering increasing the $10,000 ceiling so as to encourage more internal training activities by SMEs which may be non-certified in nature. Why is that so? This is because internal training activities are often more affordable, flexible and easily carried out. Due to their size and operations, SMEs face many constraints in releasing their staff for training – from scheduling constraints to costs issues to manpower needs, especially in today's tight labour market. A higher ceiling for non-certified internal training would provide SMEs with more flexibility and opportunities for courses conducted and customised to their needs, pace and budget. The slew of measures announced at Budget 2012 has certainly enhanced the platforms for enterprises to tap on to raise their productivity. While the SMEs acknowledge the leg-up, they have also expressed their desire for more help. In fact, the recent SIM Management Monitor survey conducted by the Singapore Institute of Management revealed that one in two SMEs wished that the Government could "help support businesses become more productive". I hope the Ministry can review the present ceilings on PIC to spur more SMEs into raising their productivity. On this note, I support the Bill. 5.46 pm”
“If I could refer Member to this example [a slide was shown to hon Members], a Singapore company making investments of $600,000 into R&D and, similarly, in Australia, an Australian company making $600,000 of investment into R&D. In Australia, that company, would be eligible to receive $90,000 in cash payout while the Singapore company will receive a payout of $60,000. In Australia's case, there is no limit placed on the R&D cash payout. In fact, if Members could look at the slide over here [a slide was shown to hon Members], as this slide indicates, as the amount of R&D investment increases, the difference between what an Australian company would receive in cash payout, compared with a Singapore company, would be much larger. So, while the new increase in cash payout rate to 60% is significant, the ceiling of $100,000 would still make SMEs think twice about investing heavily – the keyword here is "heavily" – into R&D. So, as the SMEs go through the pain of a labour crunch and global economic slowdown, they would need all the help they can get to raise productivity. Some of them may even be making losses. For such cases, the 400% tax deduction on qualifying expenditure may not even be an attractive incentive. So, if we are serious about getting SMEs to raise productivity, we need more aggressive measures to put more cash directly back into the SMEs' pocket for immediate effect. Page: 1283 This brings me to my next point on the PIC. The new measure to include non-certified in-house training expenditure up to a cap of S$10,000 per Year of Assessment is a welcome development. However, this amounts to 2.5% when compared to the overall cap of $400,000 for training expenditure.”
“So, in essence, we need tax measures that are not only pro-family and pro-children, but also pro-women. If Singapore's mothers decide to devote themselves to caring for the family, we should not only extend them our respect but we should also try to extend them longer purse strings. Page: 1282 The other key area I wish to highlight is with regard to the enhancements to the Productivity and Innovation Credit (PIC) Scheme in relation to SMEs. The SMEs collectively contribute to half of Singapore's GDP and 70% of employment. They are certainly critical to Singapore's economic growth. With increased global competition and shorter business cycles, SMEs face enormous pressure to differentiate themselves through innovation. However, we all know investments into R&D take time to bear fruit – from an idea to proof of concept, to getting market traction and, eventually, building a good viable business and revenue model. Even as the process of R&D takes place, SMEs face the constant challenge of maintaining a healthy cash flow. Therefore, our SMEs need significant support in this area. The move to raise the cash payout rate from 30% to 60% for up to $100,000 of qualifying PIC expenditure for each Year of Assessment is a good one. The PIC covers activities, such as Training, Automation, Design, Acquisition and Registration of IPR, as well as R&D. However, in addition to raising the cash payout rate, could we also look into the possibility of increasing the limit of $100,000 on these PIC payouts, specifically for R&D expenses? In Australia, for example, SMEs are eligible for a tax credit of 45% of R&D expenditure, which is equivalent to about 15 cents per dollar of R&D expenditure. This puts money back into the SMEs – an important factor for their healthy cash flow and viability.”
“In this slide, scenario A, excluding all reliefs, a family with a single breadwinner earning $70,000 would pay $1,950 in income tax, while in scenario B, a dual-income family with husband and wife working, each earning $35,000, would pay $195 in income tax. In this example, coincidentally, the income tax paid by the dual-income family is 10% that of the amount paid by the single-income family. To level the playing field, can I suggest for the Ministry to review and strongly consider increasing the current Spouse Dependency Tax Relief of $2,000. Currently, I understand that individuals who are supporting spouses and who earned not more than $4,000 in annual income in the preceding year are eligible for this relief. Could the Ministry consider, number one, increasing the Spouse Dependency Tax Relief from $2,000 to $7,000, to be on par with that of parent relief? Secondly, increasing the current income cap criteria of $4,000 to provide greater tax relief to families and husbands of stay-at-home-mothers with children under 18 years old. This could provide additional savings to households relying on a single income, especially those belonging to the sandwiched group of lower-middle and middle-income families that have to support and care for the young as well as the old. When contemplating marriage and children, many young unmarried women have expressed their apprehension and dilemma between the desire to be a stay-at-home mother at some point in time for a few years, and the opportunity cost that could come with a single-income family. While the state cannot make all things equal, it can certainly create an environment that is hugely pro-family and supportive of the women's role, be it at work or at home.”
“Mr Speaker Sir, I rise in support of the Income Tax Amendment Bill. I would like to touch on two key areas today. One, the need for greater support for families with stay-at-home mothers. Two, SMEs and the enhancements to the Productivity and Innovation Credit (PIC) Scheme. Page: 1281 The latest changes in the Bill have certainly provided greater consideration to the elderly, handicapped and low-income families. However, I wish to highlight the need for greater support for stay-at-home mothers, a group whose work and contributions deserve greater recognition and sustenance. While working mothers enjoy support in the form of the Working Mothers' Child Relief (WMCR), stay-at-home mothers do not receive any tangible relief or support for the income loss they suffer as a result of stopping work to care for their children. I understand the good intentions behind WMCR, that is, to encourage a higher level of women's participation in our workforce, an important factor in resource-constrained Singapore, especially with today's tight labour market. However, mothers who stay at home to care for their children, whether by choice or circumstances, should not be unduly disadvantaged. The private, unpaid, 24-hour care-giving work of stay-at-home mothers should receive greater support from the Government. Currently, families with stay-at-home mothers are seemingly being disadvantaged by decisions to put the family before career. Why do I say that? Because, in general, everything else being equal, a single-income family that earns the same amount as a dual-income family ends up paying more in taxes. If Members could look at this slide [a slide was shown to hon Members].”
“Sir, I have one supplementary question. I wonder whether MOE has analysed the reasons for the decline in the passing rate for Mother Tongue and what can be done to arrest the decline further. Page: 1215”
“Sir, I thank the Acting Minister. I have two brief supplementary questions. The first one is, with a need to strengthen our childcare infrastructure to encourage family formation, would the Ministry in the medium term have plans to bring down the staff-child ratio for infant care? Number two, like what MSF has put up in its website – quite comprehensive information about the various childcare operators – would the Ministry have the bandwidth to put up at least the details of the staff-child ratio for infant care operators, so that parents can make an informed decision?”
“The Ministry of Communications, Information and the Arts must be commended for seeing through this Bill which is at least a decade in the making. This is also MICA's last Bill. Such a Bill is demanding because of the need to balance the competing and, sometimes, conflicting needs of the different stakeholders. Some of these needs include: the need and perhaps even emerging right of privacy of consumers and individuals; the benefits of enabling information technology to boost marketing reach and capabilities given our aspirations to be a hub for Asian consumer insights; as well as the economic benefits that flow from allowing, within reasonable limits, organisations to collect and use personal data for their business endeavours. I think the Bill does strike an appropriate balance. Sir, there is still a lot to be done for the protection of personal information. As many other Members have raised, should vulnerable groups, like children and the disabled, be provided with enhanced level of privacy protection? What about the prohibition of the trade and sale of personal information? In any case, the developments in this area mean that our laws will need to be constantly updated to keep pace with the changes and the ingenuity of people seeking to mine personal information for whatever advantage, pecuniary or otherwise. This underscores the centrality of personal data in today's world and its status as an asset. Sir, I warmly welcome this Bill and look forward to its robust implementation. 4.51 pm”
“By harmonising the regulatory regime, we will provide a more comprehensive and consistent approach to unwanted correspondence or communication regardless of the mode of communication. Sir, another area of concern relates to whether the Bill covers non-Singaporean organisations if they are collecting or handling personal information with a Singapore nexus. I seek the Minister's confirmation of this, and hope that the scope of coverage to include overseas organisations will not be symbolic. More importantly, such a move will emphasise that it is the personal data of individuals with the Singapore link rather than the location or nationality of the organisation dealing with the personal information that is the primary focus of the legislation. Otherwise, the proposed law will provide an escape clause which will certainly be used, given the portability of digitised information. Page: 854 Sir, surprising as it may sound, Singaporeans can do with a better and nuanced understanding of privacy and the need to protect undocumented personal information. Too often, we see people disclosing their personal particulars, including their National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) numbers, birthdays, without any care or concern that such information could be misused at a time when identity thefts are becoming a lot more common. Sir, I sincerely hope that the to-be established Personal Data Protection Commission, which is provided for in Part II of the Bill, will have a strong public education mandate and that adequate funding will be provided for this role. It is only when consumers value the protection of personal data and their privacy will the proposed law be effective. Sir, I congratulate the drafters of the Bill for their thorough work on this important new law.”