Melvin Yong Yik Chye
Singapore
“But with greater autonomy must come stronger support and safeguards, especially for those who may be less equipped to navigate these decisions. At CASE, we strongly believe that consumer empowerment must go hand-in-hand with consumer protection.”
“Thank you, Sir. I have three questions on the balance between punishment and rehabilitation. One, how will schools be guided to balance disciplinary action with counselling and restorative practices? I think the Minister mentioned it. Whether MOE will track recidivism rates to assess if these rehabilitation efforts are effective?”
“Sir, I thank the Minister of State for his reply, and we are heartened. The Consumer Association of Singapore (CASE) will be happy to work with MAS on consumer protection measures. For consumers, we often use GIRO when we want to so call, "set and forget", recurring payments.”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary have we done a study on the profiles of those PMETs who have been retrenched and also, what are the types of jobs that the market is looking for?”
“Unlike support for persons with disabilities, there is currently no dedicated funding mechanism to incentivise employers to provide workplace accommodations for workers returning to work after serious non-work-related illnesses or medical conditions.”
“Sir, I thank the Minister for her answers. I have two questions. First, whether IMDA currently mandates stress testing or simulation of failover systems under peak or adverse conditions and if not, whether such requirements will be introduced following IMDA's review.”
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“Sir, I thank the Senior Minister of State for his reply. Radin Mas is home to many seniors and I have often received feedback about how difficult it is for them to keep up with the new digital way of life. In fact, to our most elderly, even simple things like renewing their telephone contracts can be a frustrating experience, often having to jump through multiple digital loops and even coming to see their Member of Parliament. I would like to ask how the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) intends to help seniors feel more included in our digital society beyond the Seniors Go Digital programme. At the same time, how can we also better protect our seniors as more and more of them come online, especially against scams and malware? Are there any plans to cultivate and deploy what I call "senior influencers" to better reach out to their peers, in particular, those who are still apprehensive about coming on board? In our push for digitalisation and productivity, we must ensure that our Pioneers do not feel left behind.”
“A malicious actor may test its malware by repeatedly causing nuisance, for example, by constantly creating door faults on an MRT train. Today, we would more than likely treat it as a technical issue, possibly checking that all the electrical wiring and sensors for the MRT doors are in order. But what if it was caused by malware? When, if ever, would we realise something like this has occurred? Could the persistent issues faced by our banks and telecommunications companies, pertaining to their reported service outages in recent weeks and months, have been a cyber-attack on their ops-tech systems? Sir, my point is this: are our agencies geared to view occasional technical glitches with a cybersecurity lens? I hope that CSA could look into this and build up the necessary capabilities to address these threats. Sir, we are living in an era where there is a greater surface area for cyber-attacks to happen. While remote and flexible work arrangements are a boon to workers, it does create additional cybersecurity penetration points for malicious actors. The proposed changes in the Bill will help to expand the toolkits in the Cybersecurity Act to allow CSA to keep pace with cyber malicious actors and help secure our digital landscape. Even as we impose more security requirements, we must have a care on the impact that it has on the usability of our IT systems, particularly for those working in our CIIs. We must also build up our capabilities to investigate operational technology faults with a cybersecurity lens. Sir, with that, I support the Bill.”
“Air gaps isolate critical systems from unsecured networks, like the Internet, to prevent unauthorised access. However, such cybersecurity controls will sit at odds with the usability of the IT systems. The greater the control, the less usable the system would be from the user's perspective. Even air gaps are vulnerable to penetration, as it gives users a false sense of security. In fact, a quick online search will reveal many examples of data exfiltration techniques designed to penetrate air-gapped systems. According to some cybersecurity experts, malicious actors are also increasingly relying on the age-old method of using USB devices infected with malware to attack air-gapped systems, such as operational technology networks. Without compromising on our cybersecurity measures, I would like to ask how CSA intends to protect our CIIs from such security vulnerabilities while ensuring that cybersecurity requirements are not overly onerous to the point where workers and users find our IT systems unusable. Sir, it is vital that we protect our critical operational technology (ops-tech) systems from malware and bad actors, as these can have huge ramifications on society. Imagine if a malicious actor messes with the ability of our Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) train doors to open and shut; worse still, if a cyber-attack on our power grid causes a nationwide blackout. Such attacks on key ops-tech systems have happened. In the United States, the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack in 2021 resulted in a widespread fuel shortage across the entire country. Any successful attack on our ops-tech systems would, without doubt, result in a significant loss of public confidence in our key public infrastructure. However, the penetration of such systems can be extremely hard to detect.”
“7% from 2021 to 2022, and another spike of 47% in 2023. This trend reflects the change in consumer purchasing behaviour. We now live increasingly digital lives and it is now the norm to work, shop and play online. We must, therefore, better protect consumers in the digital space. Sir, the Bill proposes to require companies that provide digital infrastructure services that are foundational to our way of life, such as cloud service providers and data centres, to shoulder responsibility for the cybersecurity readiness of such digital infrastructure. Obligations include adhering to cybersecurity codes and standards of practice, as well as reporting prescribed cybersecurity incidents to CSA. I fully support this. Data centres are a prime target for malicious actors because of the sheer disruption it could cause. According to a 2023 article on CIO World Asia, a cybersecurity breach at data centres can affect major cloud service providers and the customers who use their services. Such an attack can interfere with CIIs, impact our digital society and cause serious consequences. I would like to ask if the Ministry could share details about the incident reporting parameters and cybersecurity codes of practice or standards for foundational digital infrastructure. Does CSA intend to adopt any international standards to reduce compliance costs to businesses, which would invariably pass such costs to consumers? In securing our digital infrastructure, we must strike a right balance between cybersecurity requirements and the impact that these requirements have on the usability of our IT systems. Many organisations today incorporate the notion of an air gap in their computer systems, as part of their cybersecurity measures.”
“Mr Speaker, I stand in support of the Bill, which seeks to update the Cybersecurity Act to keep pace with the developments in our cyber threat landscape and allow CSA to better secure our cyberspace and safeguard our digital way of life. However, I have some questions and suggestions. Sir, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs, e-commerce scams have become one of the top scam types in Singapore. In 2021, there were more than 2,700 cases reported, with about $5.8 million in losses. The number of e-commerce scams more than tripled to 9,783 in 2023, with close to $14 million in reported losses by victims. The rise in e-commerce scams comes despite concerted efforts put in place over the years by various Government agencies to combat this crime. For example, the Singapore Police Force's Anti-Scam Command was established in 2022 to consolidate expertise and resources to combat scams. Shortly after, the Online Criminal Harms Act was passed in July 2023, setting out ex-ante requirements that online platforms must adopt to better protect their consumers. The Act also allows authorities to order the swift blocking of fraudulent accounts or content, to protect other users from falling victim to scams. The fact that we are still seeing a rise in e-commerce scams shows that criminals online have the resources to update their scam toolkit to stay ahead of law enforcement in conducting their criminal activities. And this is a real concern. According to the annual complaint statistics by the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE), the number of consumer complaints relating to e-commerce transactions has been rising year on year. From 2019 to 2020, the number of e-commerce complaints almost doubled from 2,236 to 4,366. This was followed by an increase of about 14.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have a clarification for the Minister of State. According to the 2023 annual report published by the Registry of Co-operative Societies, co-ops in Singapore currently hold a staggering $19.4 billion worth of total assets. However, as we all know, the co-ops vary in sizes and correspondingly, also vary in standards of governance. In 2018, I had proposed to the Ministry to consider implementing an annual ranking or annual grading system for credit co-ops. Such a system would promote better governance and better accountability. With the proposed changes in this Bill, I would like to ask if the Ministry would implement an annual ranking or grading system to be applied to all co-ops? Through such a system, we can recognise co-ops that are better governed while maintaining the necessary checks on co-ops with weaker financial positions.”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for his reply and also his assurances that he is working closely with the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre Association. I think while the intent is clear and the objectives are understandable, I think he has also said that we should strive to strike a balance between security and also the daily operations. The wholesale centre has a whole range of users, from the staff working there which is quite a number, and also the logistics personnel that delivers as well as fetches and distributes the goods there, as well as retail consumers that goes there to buy. I understand that even without the system, during the peak hours of operations, the traffic conditions are already quite a problem. So, we really hope that the SFA will work very closely to monitor, so that the traffic does not become worse because of the system. I saw that the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority recently rolled out a QR code system for immigration clearance at our land checkpoints. The feedback so far seems to have been positive. So, would the SFA consider a similar system for the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre, Jurong Fishery Port and others, and that you are planning to do, to expedite the access clearance?”
“Thank you, Chairman. I would like to thank Minister Masagos Zulkifli, Minister of State Sun Xueling, Senior Parliamentary Secretary Eric Chua and the MSF team working very hard behind the scenes now, for addressing the wide range of issues that Members raised. Social and family issues are deeply complex. What manifests on the surface is often the result of layers upon layers of varied issues. We have learned that there can never be a silver bullet that would resolve the overlapping problems that distress family faces, but I am heartened that MSF and the social service sector are doing their best to support and to help vulnerable Singaporeans and foster a caring society. Their work is often unseen but crucial and commendable. Chairman, with that, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $4,565,896,900 for Head I ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $124,079,000 for Head I ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”
“Thank you, Chairman. I have two questions. My first question is for Minister Masagos. I am very happy to hear that the National Family Week will now be extended to a month-long festival. This will certainly allow for more families to participate and also for more family-oriented programmes to be included. My question is really regarding the lower-income families. How does MSF plan to encourage, to facilitate lower-income families, in particular, families with children living in rental flats, to participate in the family month activities? Perhaps, the FFL can work with SSA, family coaches, even the People's Association, to maybe bring the ComLink+ families to participate in these activities. My second question is for Minister of State Sun Xueling. Given the recent spate of incidents involving the preschool sector, what can MSF and ECDA do to assure parents on the safety and standards of our preschools? Were these incidents a result of insufficient resources deployed by the preschools? If so, what can ECDA do to ensure that all our preschools are adequately resourced?”
“If a couple decides that the mother would not work, perhaps because they wish to spend more time on homemaking, or because the economics no longer works out when they have a sufficiently large number of children, then fees can quickly become burdensome. The statistics bear this out. In 2021, 88% of children aged three to four were not enrolled in preschool. And perhaps more worryingly, this drops to 78% among lower-income families. The gap persists for those aged five to six, where enrolment rates are 95% to 93%, respectively. Yet, it is this specific group, children from low-income households, that will benefit the most from early childhood interventions. 1.45 pm That is why I believe that support for early childhood education should be made much more universal. One strategy is to simply eliminate the distinction between subsidies made available to families with a working mother versus those without, for lower-income households. This distinction, which may be motivated by a desire to ensure that mothers who are able to return to work do so, ends up inadvertently disadvantaging the child which, in turn, diminishes their future prospects for breaking out of poverty. Another approach is to provide lower-income households with vouchers that can be applied to preschools. This is not dissimilar to subsidies in practice but has one added advantage. It also sends a clear signal to underperforming preschools that they need to buck up or they will be relieved of Government financial support. Expanding Help for Infant Care Services”
“Early childhood development entails building the necessary foundation for all subsequent human capital development. Without solid roots deeply planted, one's ability to absorb anything else that follows becomes compromised. Hence, the returns to human capital investment tend to be highest during early childhood. These investments include engaged, supporting parents and teachers, learning cognitive and language skills, promoting social engagements and interactions, as well as improved health and nutrition. The need to promote such investments almost certainly informed the decision to create the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) in 2013. But despite its clear importance and the fact that returns are the highest in these early stages, the costs of sending a child for early childhood education are still higher on average than sending them to higher levels, like primary and secondary school. This is well known to Singaporeans. Many parents look forward to the day when they can finally send their kids to primary school, where fees drop to just $13 a month, compared to hundreds of dollars, especially in the earliest years. But to be clear, there are a slate of subsidies available which alter this calculus. If you are a working mother, and if you earn a lower income, the total amount of subsidies available may be sufficient to fully offset fees. If your child were to attend a typical childcare or kindergarten, there are also special dispensations for higher subsidy support, such as those under ComCare assistance, or if they are non-parent caregivers supporting the child, or if a parent becomes incarcerated. But there are still families who fall through the cracks.”
“Chairman, I was dismayed to hear that Singapore's total fertility rate (TFR) fell to a historic low of 0.97 in 2023. We must do all we can to alleviate the anxieties and worries that couples face, when considering whether to have children. The availability of infant care has been a perennial issue for young couples. Can MSF provide an update on the current supply of infant care in Singapore? How does MSF plan to grow affordable, safe, and reliable infant childminding services as a further option for young parents? Infant care services at institutional Anchor and Partner Operators are currently subsidised by the Government. Can MSF consider extending similar subsidies to those providing home-based infant care to bring the costs to parents comparable to out-of-pocket expense for infant care at Anchor Operators? Can we consider allowing parents to tap on the CDA to further defray cost? Beyond affordability, we need to ensure the quality of home-based infant care. Will MSF be mandating certain requirements for the childminders and operators, such as care ratio, mandatory training and background checks on childminders? Will there be a requirement for home-based childminders to report incidents involving infants under their care? The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) currently has a Household Services Scheme (HSS) that allows companies to recruit migrant workers for basic childminding. This scheme excludes infant care. Will MSF consider extending the HSS to include infant care so as to supplement supply? Vouchers for Preschool Education Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim (Sengkang): There is vast literature on the importance of early childhood education. The economic case for doing so is compelling; the reason is straightforward, as Nobel Prize-winning economist Jim Heckman explained.”
“Chairman, I am happy to learn that children enrolled in Government-supported preschools will enjoy lower fees from 2025. Lower-income families with non-working mothers will also receive higher preschool subsidies, on par with subsidies enjoyed by working mothers. MSF has done much to improve accessibility of preschools. In this term of Government, monthly fees for anchor operators would have come down significantly from $800 in 2019 to $640 in 2025, before Goods and Services Tax (GST). This is a welcome move for young couples, who are often financially sandwiched, as they care for their children and elderly parents. One segment that I am particularly concerned about are children from lower-income households. According to MSF, the 2021 preschool participation rate of Singaporean children aged three to four years residing in public rental flats was about 80%, lower than the national average of about 88%. Can MSF update whether we have narrowed this gap? Beyond financial subsidies, what are MSF's plans to work with the community and social service agencies to support lower-income families in enrolling their children in preschool? The demands on our early childhood educators continue to be challenging. Can MSF provide an update on the number of preschool teachers recruited in the past three years? Have we seen an increase, or has attrition outpaced recruitment? How does MSF intend to improve the working conditions of early childhood educators, step up recruitment and training of new educators, and reduce attrition? A quality early childhood sector must be underpinned by quality educators. Licensed Childminding Services”
“Chairman, I have spoken in this House on numerous occasions on how families are the bedrock of our society. Families are our first lines of support, providing us love, care and refuge when we need them the most. How does MSF intend to expand the Families for Life Movement and galvanise whole-of-society effort towards strengthening families in Singapore? In addition to providing marriage and parenting resources for families, we can do more to promote marriage and reduce divorces. What is the take-up rate for the free marital counselling offered by our Family Service Centres (FSCs)? Can we improve access to such counselling, by offering them, for example, at every community centre? Every year, the Families for Life Council, Registry of Marriages (ROM) and Registry of Muslim Marriages (ROMM) jointly organise a Golden Jubilee Wedding Celebration event, for couples celebrating at least 50 years of marriage. This is a great event to celebrate marriages. Can we organise more of such events to celebrate periodic marriage milestones, such as 10 years, 20 years, 30 years? For our most vulnerable families, FSCs play a critical role in helping them deal with social and emotional issues. The work that our social work practitioners do at the FSC often goes unseen, but they are vital, nonetheless. What are MSF's plans to enhance the FSCs, so that they can better support the vulnerable families in our community? Restorative Justice”
“In this regard, corporate donors and patrons also play important roles in volunteerism. They provide the valuable resources, fundings that enable volunteers to deliver aid to vulnerable families. We can do more to deepen philanthropy by corporates. 1.30 pm According to various surveys conducted throughout the years, volunteerism rates in Singapore has gone through ups and downs. Some 20 years ago, less than 10% of Singaporeans volunteered. Volunteerism rates peaked in 2016 at 35%, before coming down to about 22% in 2023. What is the MSF's plan to encourage all segments of society to play their part in building a kinder, more generous Singapore? The Forward SG report found that Singaporeans want a resilient and united Singapore. As we forge our shared future together, we must strengthen our social compact, so that we can ride through the inevitable challenges that will come our way, challenges that can impact, threaten our unity. Together with the 4G team, I am confident that we can continue to make Singapore our best home for our children and our children's children. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] Strengthening Families”
“How will MSF improve its suite of assistance schemes, beyond adjusting for inflation, so that they remain adequate in helping lower-income families? ComLink is a good programme, but we need to move beyond assistance to empowerment. We need to address service gaps brought about by siloed programmes and move from being programme-centric to be more client-centric. Can MSF share more information about how will the new ComLink+ better support lower-income families in their efforts towards improving their life outcomes and building a better future for themselves? How can we incentivise lower-income families to take on careers that have a long-term wage growth trajectory, rather than defaulting to gig work? The success of ComLink can be attributed to the many men and women who work tirelessly behind the scenes to bring comfort, support and hope to those facing difficult circumstances. Our social workers are the backbone of our community, providing essential services to those who are struggling with poverty, homelessness, abuse, mental health issues and more. It takes a special kind of person to do this demanding and often emotionally draining work and I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to all our social workers out there in the frontline. Thank you very much for the work that you do. Beyond assistance programmes, we must continue to promote active volunteerism and generous giving. Members here would know of countless dedicated grassroots volunteers who work hard, delivering food and daily essentials to seniors, serving as befrienders and giving to local social assistance programmes. As the Chinese saying goes, "有钱出钱, 有力出力". Loosely translated, it means that, "we can all contribute in ways that we can, be it in terms of time, talent or treasures".”
“Chairman, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head I of the Estimates be reduced by $100". In my Budget debate speech, I spoke about how this term of Government will see the Ministry of Social and Family Development's (MSF's) budget increase by about 18%, from $3.9 billion in FY2020, to an estimated $4.6 billion in FY2024. Why is this significant? Singapore's economic structure is now closer to that of a mature economy. Resource constraints are starting to bite. It, therefore, speaks volumes about the caring nature of the People's Action Party (PAP) Government that, despite harder-to-achieve growth, significant additional resources have been provided consistently to MSF – to build strong families, foster a caring society and build resilience among Singaporeans. MSF has done much with the additional resources provided. We have enhanced the Baby Bonus Cash Gift, Child Development Account (CDA) First Step Grant and the Government CDA co-matching. We have expanded ComLink nationwide to cover 14,000 families with children living in rental housing to sustain social mobility. And we have expanded KidSTART, which provides support in the development of children from low-income families up to age six. MSF, indeed, has its work cut out. In the past, Singaporeans could progress up the socio-economic ladder by working hard. Today, economic growth is modest and climbing the social mobility ladder has become more challenging. The Forward Singapore (Forward SG) report found that rising inequality and slowing social mobility could fracture social cohesion. We must prevent this from happening. How does MSF intend to tackle social mobility challenges, so that we can continue to foster a society where no one is left behind?”
“Mdm Chair, our maritime sector has been growing from strength to strength. In 2023, Singapore’s annual vessel arrival tonnage crossed the three billion gross tonnage milestone. Our container throughput also reached a new high of 39 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). What are MOT’s plans to ensure a strong pipeline of skilled workforce to support the industry’s continued growth? How does MOT plan to lower the training barriers so that our existing maritime workforce can upskill and reskill to meet the changing needs of the sector? The continued growth in our maritime sector will be underpinned by the construction of the Tuas Mega Port, which will be the world’s largest fully automated port when it is completed. Can MOT provide an update on the development of the Tuas Mega Port? Are we on track for the target completion date? We started Phase 1 of port operations at Tuas in September 2022. Today, we have some 800 workers working there and this is expected to double to about 1,600 workers by the end of this year. Understandably, there have been some teething transport issues, particularly in terms of public transport accessibility. In response, a working committee was set up last year to look into the transportation challenges. Can MOT provide an update on the plans to improve public transport accessibility at Tuas Port? Can we expedite the construction of the viaduct leading to Tuas South before container traffic is expected to surge due to the operational start date of the Port Plus Hub some time in 2027, 2028? How does MOT plan to make the area around Tuas Port a better place to work so that workers will be attracted to join our maritime companies based there and help our maritime sector continue its growth story? Green Transition in Maritime Sector”
“Mdm Chair, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) launched the $100 million Rail Manpower Development Package (RMDP) in November 2019, to upskill and expand our rail workforce. With the extensive upgrading of our rail infrastructure then, continuous upskilling was needed to ensure that workers kept up with new technologies. I thank the Government for responding to the call by the National Transport Workers’ Union. 3.30 pm Five years on, the challenges remain. Our rail network is poised to grow significantly in the coming years, with the addition of at least 50 new train stations and several new interchanges. We will also see the completion of the Singapore-Johor Bahru Rapid Transit System in 2026. Given that the COVID-19 pandemic had stymied training for about two years, I would like to ask how much funds remain in the RMDP, which is set to expire this year. I hope that MOT can extend, and perhaps even top up the RMDP, so that we can continue growing our skilled workforce to support the expanding and increasingly complex rail network.”
“Thank you, Chairman. I have two questions for Senior Minister of State Zaqy. One, can MOM provide an update on the MAST safe measures that were implemented and what is their effectiveness since implementation? Second, what are the other measures that MOM has put in place to improve workplace safety outcomes and shape the behaviour of both employers and workers?”
“Mr Chairman, over the past three years, the spotlight has been on workplace safety and health (WSH), ever since the COVID-19 pandemic caused a spike in the number of workplace fatalities and injuries. I filed numerous Parliamentary Questions (PQs) and raised two Adjournment Motions on the need to keep our workers and workplaces safe. I was therefore happy to hear from MOM that the annual workplace fatality rate has dropped to 0.99 per 100,000 workers in 2023, five years ahead of our WSH 2028 goal. This was only possible through the collective efforts of the tripartite partners and buy-in from both workers and supervisors on the ground to engender safer work environments. But we cannot rest on our laurels, as it only takes a momentary lapse and fatalities will spike again. How does MOM intend to build on this positive trend to ensure safer and healthier workplaces moving forward? Can MOM share how are the respective sectors doing in terms of major workplace injuries? In October 2023, the workplace safety demerit point system was extended to the manufacturing sector. Has this move been effective, and can MOM consider extending this to other high-risk sectors? Lastly, I hope that MOM will consider my repeated calls for there to be a mandatory WSH representative in every company, regardless of size and industry. WSH must be a foremost concern and priority in every company. Lower-wage Workers – PWM”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for his reply and his assurances. Mr Gerald Giam asked a question on the disclosure of private data. On the same note, I would like to ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary whether MSF knows how Mr Leong Mun Wai came to know about the couple and their personal difficulties? I am just wondering whether there is any information leak from any agencies that had been dealing with the couple? Perhaps the Senior Parliamentary Secretary could clarify that.”
“Chairman, I declare my interest as President of CASE. Price transparency is a core principle that safeguards our consumers and ensures that we make well-informed purchasing decisions. To address the issue of shrinkflation, where retailers seemingly maintain the price of a product but secretly reduces the portion size, can MTI work with CASE to examine the prevalence of this practice in Singapore and encourage local retailers to deploy unit pricing in-store? Since 1 January 2023, CASE has rolled out unit pricing on more than 6,000 items listed on the Price Kaki app. With MTI's support, CASE is prepared to assist retailers to implement unit pricing. According to CASE's annual complaint statistics, the number of complaints relating to e-commerce transactions surged by 47% in 2023. The most frequent issues pertain to failure to receive orders within delivery timeframes and failure to receive refunds. This is deeply concerning. We must take urgent actions to better protect our consumers, particularly as purchasing behaviour has shifted and many consumers now rely on e-commerce. The Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act was last reviewed in 2016, a time when e-commerce had yet to boom in Singapore. I urge MTI to review the Act to account for the evolution in consumers' purchase habits. CASE stands ready to partner MTI on this so that we can all better protect consumers.”
“Mr Chairman, we are currently operating in an increasingly hostile global environment – one that is marked by fear, uncertainty and doubt. For Singapore to successfully navigate ourselves through these uncertain waters, we must ensure that our Public Service officers have broad perspectives so that they are equipped to take on the challenges of the future. I would like to ask how does the Public Service Division (PSD) intend to prepare its officers to expand their perspectives beyond the Public Service? How many Public Service officers have been seconded out of the public sector annually over the past five years? Does PSD plan to allow more of its officers to go on such secondments? Beyond secondments to private sector and civil society, we should also groom officers to better appreciate international viewpoints and equip them with the ability to negotiate globally. Does PSD offer structured programmes for public sector officers to take on attachments at international and regional organisations? I hope that the PSD will provide officers with a structured framework for rotation outside of the Public Service. This will allow future Public Service leaders to better understand the private sector, social sector and the international domain, and factor these perspectives when conceptualising and implementing policies. Reorganising the Public Service”
“Having a skills-based, job-relevant diploma will certainly give a helpful boost to our ITE graduates. NTUC will work with agencies to develop Career Progression Models with specific career and accreditation pathways for skilled trade workers and essential workers. Most recently, MOM launched a Progressive Wage Portal for our lower-wage workers. The portal will allow PWM workers to view their PWM wages and job levels that their employers have placed them on. The Labour Movement commends MOM’s efforts in raising public awareness of PWM requirements. NTUC will continue working with our Tripartite Partners to ensure compliance with PWM wages and requirements. NTUC cares because every worker matters, and we will not hesitate to take strong action against any company which attempts to circumvent these PWM requirements. Mr Speaker, Budget 2024 continues a streak of caring Budgets by PAP. Inflation dynamics are still in flux and concerns about the cost of living will not go away. But I am glad that the 4G team, led by Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, have set their sights on addressing acute challenges that Singapore faces, such as tempering inequality and sustaining social mobility. In building our shared future together, we must continue our tripartite efforts to expand PWM so that workers will continue to have good jobs and a growing income to combat inflation. Mr Speaker, I support the Budget.”
“Despite initial concerns, empirical evidence has demonstrated that the implementation of PWM does not lead to job losses. This achievement is attributed to our tripartite process to establish consensus and buy-in, ensuring that any wage increases are acceptable and feasible for employers, thereby safeguarding against any adverse impacts on employment levels. While the overarching goal of PWM is to improve the livelihoods of workers, achieving parity between their wages and those of university graduates, as suggested yesterday by the hon Member Mr Raj Joshua Thomas, poses challenges. These challenges stem from the need to navigate various constraints, including ensuring that wage adjustments remain manageable for employers, contribute to the sustainable operation of businesses and do not jeopardise overall employment levels. In sum, PWM adopts a pragmatic approach focused on raising wages sustainably. By adhering to this approach, PWM continues to serve as an effective tool for sustaining income progression while simultaneously addressing the diverse needs and complexities of both workers and employers within the broader economic landscape of Singapore. Sir, while we have come a long way for PWM, we must always look ahead. The Labour Movement has proposed for elements of PWM to be expanded to more roles, such as strata management and pest management. Beyond our lower-wage workers, we must also uplift our skilled trade workers to develop their skills, attain mastery and build long-term careers. One of the announcements that stood out to me in this Budget was the ITE Progression Award to empower our ITE graduates to upskill to a diploma earlier in their career. They will get a total of $15,000 in top-ups when they complete their diploma.”
“Mr Speaker, the long-term solution against inflation must be an increase in real wages to ensure that workers keep their jobs and wages keep pace with the rise in prices. At NTUC, we believe that jobs are the best welfare and full employment is the best protection for our workers. This is especially true for our lower-wage brothers and sisters, who have seen their wages decrease in real terms in 2023. I was, therefore, heartened to read how all three of our local banks, DBS, UOB and OCBC, are giving their junior staff a one-off payment to help them cope with cost-of-living pressures. But beyond company-specific initiatives, NTUC has been relentlessly championing for a way to increase wages through upskilling skills and improving productivity. We first conceptualised the PWM for the cleaning sector and expanded it to other sectors where outsourcing practices were common, such as security, landscape and lift and escalator maintenance. Workers have benefited through faster wage growth. From 2022 to 2028, workers covered by PWM can expect cumulative wage increases of up to 80%. Members would have read news that countries with minimum wage policies are now starting to look towards the Singapore PWM, recognising that minimum wage had become a wage ceiling rather than a floor, resulting in stagnant wages in these countries. Mr Speaker, PWM operates within a framework that carefully balances multiple factors, including industry dynamics, economic sustainability and prevailing labour market conditions. It is a pivotal component of Singapore's strategy in pursuing sustainable income growth and plays a crucial role in uplifting the earning potential of workers across a spectrum of sectors and occupations.”
“Together with Price Kaki, this will provide consumers with greater awareness and more choices to help them stretch their dollar. Following the success of the Price Kaki app, CASE realised that, over time, we have built up a substantial number of "super users". They use the app daily and share deals with their family and friends, often by sending a screenshot of what they see on the app across their WhatsApp groups. The Price Kaki team has spoken to some of these super users, who tell us that they hope to be able to share these "lobangs" and promotions within their own neighbourhoods with other users using the app, so that we can build micro-communities of like-minded individuals. I call these users our "Price Kaki Champions" and we value their feedback. CASE will, therefore, enhance the app by launching a community feature in Price Kaki. This new function will be available in a few days' time and will allow users to share reviews, in-store promotions and tips to better stretch their dollar. We will also grow our community of Price Kaki Champions offline, so that we can bring the benefits of Price Kaki to as many consumers as possible. I am happy to announce that CASE will work with the People’s Association (PA) to recruit 2,000 grassroots volunteers across all constituencies as Price Kaki Champions. These volunteers will help to suss out deals within their own neighbourhoods and teach others to use the Price Kaki app to find the best deals. As we grow our network of Price Kaki Champions, I am confident that we will further improve price transparency, promote cost-consciousness and empower consumers to make better value-for-money purchase decisions.”
“Hawkers in my Radin Mas constituency tell me that this has helped to boost business and my residents tell me that the $3 offset is indeed substantive. I encourage more companies to join NTUC and DBS in helping to alleviate the cost-of-living pressures for everyone. Sir, various community initiatives have also sprung up to help tackle the increasing prices of our everyday essentials. In Radin Mas, we launched the "It’s On Me" programme in 2021, where patrons to Redhill Food Centre and Telok Blangah Crescent Food Centre can pay a little extra when buying their own meals to treat someone else, someone who may be in need. Since its launch in 2021, the programme has given away more than 100,000 free meals. Beneficiaries have told me that they deeply appreciate how, as a community initiative, "It's On Me" does not require any means testing. To further assist vulnerable residents, Radin Mas launched the EZ-Meals programme just last month. Beneficiaries can approach more than 80 participating hawker stalls within the constituency to offset $3 from the price of their meals. This helps to keep the cost of food low for some 200 beneficiaries while providing a wide variety of food options. To help consumers find the best deals and stretch their dollar, the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) launched the Price Kaki app in 2019 to allow for an easy comparison of prices of daily essentials. The app has since been downloaded by more than 150,000 users who use it to check the prices of over 10,000 daily essentials and about 75,000 cooked food items islandwide. I am also glad that HDB and Government Technology Agency (GovTech) had recently launched the Great Budget Meal Hunt, creating a portal to crowdsource budget meal recommendations located at HDB coffee shops.”
“In addition to alleviating immediate cost-of-living pressures, Budget 2024 continues the Government's trend of increasing our social spend to cater to a rapidly ageing population and to ensure social mobility. Between 2010 and 2019, we nearly doubled our social spending to $37 billion. During this term of Government, the budget allocated to MSF will increase by about 18%, from $3.9 billion in FY2020 to an estimated $4.6 billion in FY2024. I fully support this, and I will speak more about the good work done by MSF during the COS debate. As we build our shared future together, we must retain our core identity as an inclusive society, a society where no one will be left behind. The private sector and civil society can also do their part in the fight against inflation. I am happy to read about exemplary companies, such as NTUC FairPrice, Sheng Siong and DBS, just to name a few, that have rolled out meaningful initiatives to help consumers stretch their dollar. NTUC has rolled out various measures to help Singaporeans mitigate the rise in cost of living. Initiatives, such as the $8 FairPrice Return Voucher for every $80 nett spend using CDC vouchers and the GST offset on 500 essential items, have helped many Singaporeans defray inflation. At Kopitiam, union members can enjoy a breakfast set starting from $2.20. Transport workers continue to pay 60 cents for a cup of "kopi O" or "teh O" at over 50 canteens operated by the National Transport Workers' Union. I was also heartened to read that DBS has extended its Five Million Hawker Meals initiative, which allows patrons of various hawker stalls who use the DBS PayLah! app to get up to $3 off their meals every Friday.”
“Mr Speaker, I support the Budget, which seeks to tackle immediate cost-of-living pressures, create more paths for social mobility and forge a stronger shared future. Today, I wish to highlight the anxieties that many Singaporeans face in our current employment climate. MOM's preliminary data has shown that retrenchments have more than doubled in the past year and this is expected to rise even further. I will also talk about how we can better support our low-wage workers, by expanding the PWM to other sectors and exploring the Career Progression Model for skilled professions. Sir, Budget 2024 continues the trend where social spending makes up the largest part of the Government's spending plans. It is no secret that Singaporeans are anxious about the steady and unabating rise in our cost of living. All of us would have felt the impact of inflation when we buy our meals at hawker centres and when we pay our monthly utility bills. In NTUC's most recent annual survey on economic sentiments, 63% of respondents felt that their income did not increase sufficiently to match the rise in the cost of living. Our survey also found that older workers felt this more acutely, likely due to the short runway they have till retirement. Many young seniors in Radin Mas have also shared with me their growing worries about retirement adequacy, wondering if their retirement nest eggs can survive being eroded by inflation. I am therefore heartened that Budget 2024 will enhance the Assurance Package by $1.9 billion. The additional CDC Vouchers, the Cost-Of-Living Special Payment, U-Save and service and conservancy charges (S&CC) rebates will go some way in helping Singaporeans defray the rise in prices.”
“We should train and deploy workplace mental wellness ambassadors to help identify early mental health challenges and, where necessary, we certainly need a proliferation of EAP providers to treat and to address mental health challenges. Madam, I support the Motion.”
“This can be achieved through a widespread adoption of Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) providers. EAPs are professionally conducted programmes that are designed to engage employees to deal with their personal and relational difficulties that may impede their work performance. I, therefore, welcome the Government’s current efforts to subsidise the fees of some of these services. However, more can be done to improve the affordability of mental healthcare. We should also grow the industry and increase capacity to reduce waiting times. Assurance must also be given to employees that their confidentiality is protected and it would not affect their personnel records with the company. I urge more companies to adopt EAP services and to engage credible EAP service providers. The Labour Movement has and will continue to help drive the adoption of EAP services at workplaces to safeguard workers’ mental health. Mdm Deputy Speaker, the challenges arising from workplace stress have been on the rise even before the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the issue. It was recently reported that the findings from the 2022 Quality of Life Survey found that Singaporeans have become less happy over the past decade, despite real incomes rising over this period. Even high net worth individuals in Singapore are found to be concerned with their work-life balance, according to a recent study reported in The Business Times. Mental health issues at the workplace affect everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status and designation. We need to tip the balance and advance mental health outcomes at the workplace. We must prevent workplace burnout by doing more for workers to have the right to disconnect.”
“Some may feel a deep embarrassment about being retrenched, even if the layoffs were unrelated to their own work performance. Layoffs also affect the "surviving" employees within the company. Those who are retained often take on an immense amount of additional workload and they constantly wonder if they will be the next to get laid off. I, therefore, hope that companies can recognise that retrenchments should be done as a last resort. So, what can employers do to limit the psychological impact of a retrenchment exercise? First, communication should come from the top, with the leadership team owning the message. But it also needs to be a two-way process, allowing all employees to have their questions answered. Second, every impacted group needs support that is tailored to their needs. Providing more generous compensation packages for retrenched workers can help to alleviate immediate financial concerns. Employers can work with NTUC on job placements and training for new job roles. Third, employers need to think carefully about job redesign and workload distribution for the remaining roles of those who are left behind in the company. Retrenchments are never pleasant, but there are ways for employers to undertake the process with compassion and to treat all employees – whether they are staying or leaving – with utmost dignity. Companies which retrench irresponsibly should not be let off the hook for the stress and mental trauma that they cause. Mdm Deputy Speaker, workers today are subjected to high levels of workplace stress, be it through a retrenchment exercise, a relentless workload or the inability to disconnect after work. I hope that there can be greater support to help with the treatment of workplace mental health challenges.”
“By prioritising, focusing and scheduling downtime, we can reduce stress, enhance our creativity, improve our productivity and, more importantly, lead a healthier and more balanced life. In addition to disconnecting after work, we need to have trained personnel at the workplace that can identify and do basic triage of early mental health symptoms. Deploying such trained mental health ambassadors at the workplace can help employers maintain a well-adjusted and mentally healthy workforce, thereby ensuring high levels of productivity. Union leaders can play this important role of mental health ambassadors. Today, NTUC has trained over 1,700 union leaders in workplace safety and health. And the Labour Movement stands ready to partner with our tripartite partners in training and deploying mental health ambassadors at all workplaces. To help our youths and young adults deal with stress, Young NTUC and the NTUC LearningHub have jointly developed a course to provide peer-to-peer mental well-being support and psychological first-aid skills to distressed colleagues and peers. This course is WSQ-certified and supported by the WSH Council and, I encourage all youths to sign up for this course to become a peer supporter. Madam, lay-offs also contribute a significant level of stress at the workplace. Statistics by MOM show that the number of retrenchments in Singapore more than doubled in 2023. It is now commonplace to read about company retrenchments, due to restructuring and cutbacks. Recent examples include Alphabet, Amazon and Lazada, which show that even the workers in growth sectors, such as technology and e-commerce, are not spared. Retrenched workers are more than a statistic. They are men and women who must deal with a sudden loss of income and a disrupted career.”
“In March 2021, MOM launched a new assessment tool, called iWorkHealth, to help companies identify common workplace stresses among employees. The tripartite partners further refresh the Tripartite Advisory on Mental Well-being at Workplaces in 2023 to include the setting up of a peer-support system to help employers create a supportive environment for employees in need and to de-stigmatise mental health issues at work. These examples show that the close working relationship between the Labour Movement, the Government and the employers have resulted in successful and tangible measures that have helped to advance mental health outcomes at the workplaces. But let us work and agree on a set of Tripartite Guidelines that establish principles on, what a right to disconnect could mean for different sectors and for different job roles. After a few years, we could then review how effective the guidelines are and to consider further action, including legislation, if necessary at the point of time. Mdm Deputy Speaker, in some ways, Parliament, too, recognises the right to disconnect. Standing Order 2 expressly states that, Parliamentary proceedings shall be interrupted at 7.00 pm, unless the Leader of the House moves a business Motion to extend the day's Sitting beyond that moment of interruption. After all, Members should be accorded ample time to rest and to recharge and to prepare for the next day's Sitting. On this, I am sure that all Members would not disagree with me. Individuals, too, can play our part. We only have 24 hours in a day. Lack of adequate downtime can lead to job burnout, decreased job satisfaction and reduced productivity. It is, therefore, crucial for individuals to re-evaluate our approach to work and life.”
“Madam, I have spoken on numerous occasions, both in and out of this House, about the need for workers to have a right to disconnect, one that is contextualised to the realities of our global workforce and one that will help ensure employees have protected time to rest and to recharge. Since I first mooted the idea of the right to disconnect in this House in 2020, several countries have moved ahead with their own versions of the right to disconnect. In 2023, Luxembourg amended its labour code to require that a right of disconnection, outside working hours, must be implemented at the company or sector level. Belgium passed a law in February 2022 that allowed civil servants to disconnect after hours without a fear of reprisals. Closer to home, the Philippines is debating a Bill that seeks to give workers the right to disconnect after work hours. Locally, union leaders have told me that there are exemplary practices at the company level that provide workers with the ability to switch off after work. I am glad that senior public sector leaders in MOM and MOH, just to name a couple of examples, have made it a point to tell staff that they do not need to feel obligated to respond to emails or work messages sent after work hours, unless it is expressly marked as urgent. We should make this workplace culture the norm rather than the exception. In November 2020, we published the Tripartite Advisory on Mental Well-being at Workplaces that set out practical guidance on measures that employers can adopt to support their employees' mental well-being. The Advisory also called on employers to recognise the need for staff to have adequate rest outside work hours, in recognition that the work-from-home arrangement had blurred the lines between work and personal life.”
“Thank you, Mdm Deputy Speaker. I stand in support of the Motion. It is no secret that Singapore and Singaporeans are stressed. According to the 2023 Cigna Healthcare Vitality Study, Singaporeans are more stressed than the global average. The study also reported that, 16% of Singaporean respondents felt unable to manage their stress loads. Another study from the National Youth Council (NYC) and the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) Social Lab, found our young people and young workers experiencing high levels of burnout and that their mental well-being had still not fully recovered from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Union leaders, too, have told me that their fellow colleagues, across all workforce segments – rank and file, PMEs and freelancers – are highly stressed at the workplace. The main reason cited was how it is almost impossible to disconnect from work when we live in a hyper-connected and global world. We must, therefore, do more to prevent, identify and treat mental health-related issues at the workplace. Let me start by commending the Government's launch of the National Mental Health and Well-being Strategy in October 2023. The strategy aims to create an effective mental health ecosystem, comprising accessible and good quality clinical care, with a supportive community and society. Instead of an over-emphasis on mental disorders, the Government has recognised that the state of mental well-being is intertwined with a supportive community. I fully agree with this. And I argue that our workplaces, where most of us spend most of our waking hours, must form a key part of societal support. We need strong upstream measures to address workplace mental health stresses.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for his answer. I note from the Senior Parliamentary Secretary's reply that the number of people who refused entry to NEA officers are relatively small. I would like to ask the profiles of such people who refused entry to NEA inspection officers. Are they predominantly the elderly? This is because, in my constituency, I have a large proportion of the elderly and, during my visits, I commonly hear from my elderly residents that they are very wary about opening their doors to strangers, even to those who seemingly wear uniforms because there are afraid of scams. So, my question is: how does NEA plan to create awareness of the role of the NEA inspection officers and to assuage elderly residents that these officers and their inspections are actually legitimate?”
“Sir, I thank the Senior Minister of State for his reply. I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State if the Ministry intends to issue advisories for Singaporeans planning to travel to countries where mpox is more prevalent, so that they can be better aware of how to protect themselves against the virus.”
“I thank the Minister for her Statement and also her assurance that measures have been taken to strengthen WSH across our waste management facilities. I would like to ask, were there or are there dedicated WSH officers appointed at NEA to look into the risks associated with operating an incineration plant? Was there a proper risk assessment done for such plants and is it a requirement by NEA, even for the privately-run incineration plant? If not, will NEA be appointing dedicated, trained WSH officers for all such facilities? I acknowledge Senior Minister of State Zaqy's earlier response that beyond having a singular person looking at WSH within an organisation, we should also place some responsibility on individuals with oversight of the workplace or the worksite; so, he cited examples of project managers. So, I would like to ask if the key managers overseeing such incineration plants are trained in workplace safety and safety risk assessments? If not, will NEA send them for the proper WSH training?”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Senior Minister of State for his answers. I think the Senior Minister of State would know, throughout the years, I have been calling for a dedicated WSH officer for every organisation so that there is a focus on workplace safety. I would like to ask, for the public agencies, do they each have a dedicated WSH officer? And if no, are there any plans – at least for the Public Service – to start having one to focus on some of these projects that have a higher risk, so that risk assessments can be done properly?”
“It should take no more than a snap of a picture and a short description of the egregious activity on a mobile application for anyone to flag out a potentially life-threatening and unsafe workplace practice. Mr Speaker, the suggestions that I have laid out are simple to follow. By doing what is safe and what is right, we can make our workplaces much safer. The Labour Movement stands ready to partner all our tripartite partners to keep our workplaces safe beyond the HSP. To complement this year's national WSH campaign, NTUC will be launching our own WSH campaign later this week on Friday, with a focus on reporting without reprisal and on reporting without retribution. Workers must feel safe to report any workplace safety concern to their management. Workers can escalate any WSH matter to the unions if the company management fails to act on any safety reports. A safe workplace must be a basic right for every worker. Sir, let me repeat that. A safe workplace must be a basic right for every worker. Sir, I hope that this will be my last Adjournment Motion related to workplace safety. I urge the Government and the industry to take workplace safety and health seriously, work closely with NTUC and do what is safe and right. Together, we can help every worker return home from work safe and sound, every day. [Applause.]”
“A construction company is at risk of being debarred under the Demerit Point System (DPS) should the company have frequent safety infringements. The DPS concept should be expanded to all companies that are licensed in some shape or form by any Government agency. This can be done by inserting WSH-related clauses into their licensing conditions. Sir, today, many large-scale construction projects in Singapore are carried out by joint venture companies – several individual firms pooling resources to establish a new legal entity. In line with this trend, workplace accidents at such worksites are also becoming commonplace. Can MOM confirm if penalties imposed on workplace safety breaches accrue to a joint venture or to the individual companies that form that joint venture? Does MOM have a disqualification framework to disqualify a company director or any associate that he may use as a proxy from setting up a new company after one company had been debarred for safety breaches by MOM? Lastly, I urge MOM to further tighten enforcement of unsafe work practices. Whenever there is a workplace accident or workplace fatality, it is very common to hear anecdotally that that particular unsafe work practice had been happening regularly, sometimes for months and sometimes even for years. While I note that MOM has been stepping up its enforcement operations, there is scope to do more because lives and limbs are at stake. We must step up enforcement checks more frequently to deter companies from cutting corners in workplace safety practices. As I have mentioned numerous times in this House, we must make it easier for workers and members of the public to whistle-blow and flag unsafe workplace practices.”
“Companies that design workplaces for employees' safety will send a strong message to their employees that they care as an employer and will be rewarded with a healthier and more productive workforce. In the US, the Occupational Safety and Health Law does place a continuing obligation on employers to provide a safe workplace, regardless of whether the sector is deemed to be high-risk. I hope that MOM could study relevant overseas jurisdictions and expand regulations to impose safety by design on all employers. Next, all workplaces need a dedicated WSH professional. Mr Speaker, I have spoken for years about the need to impose an obligation for all workplaces to hire dedicated WSH officers beyond the limited settings today. I am confident that mandating a WSH officer to review all aspects of safety in a company will help move the needle in making workplaces that much safer. Even if we cannot immediately move to mandate all workplaces to hire a dedicated WSH professional, we can and we should start by expanding the list of companies that are required to employ one. Take, for example, our logistics and transportation sector, which accounted for four fatalities in 2021, one fatality in 2022 and five thus far this year. Although classified as a high-risk sector, logistics companies are not required to appoint a WSH officer. This is inconsistent with other high-risk sectors. Next, I propose that we should increase the financial penalties faced by companies in the event of a workplace fatality. Currently, penalties for errant companies mostly involve composition fines and Stop Work Orders. I argue that this is insufficient. I propose for all Government agencies to include a WSH clause in every condition of their respective licences. Take, for example, the construction sector.”
“Closure will be hard to find. This is why I have filed my second Adjournment Motion today on keeping our workplaces safe beyond the HSP. Mr Speaker, I have four suggestions on how the Government and the industry can work together to do so. In my first Adjournment Motion last year, I used the acronym "RIGHT" to encapsulate my five recommendations. My acronym today is "SAFE", which stands for: (a) Safety by design; (b) All workplaces to have a dedicated WSH professional; (c) Financial penalties to augment composition fines and stop work orders; and (d) Enforcement checks of unsafe workplace practices. First, safety by design. This is a set of principles that prioritises the safety of workers when designing the worksite. Today, MOM has in place the WSH (Design for Safety) Regulations that specify the duties of developers, contractors and designers. This should be reviewed and expanded. The scope of obligations should cover risks beyond just the construction phase. All workplaces, from blue-collar to white-collar jobs, should have a continuing obligation to design and provide a workplace that prioritises the safety of the workers. "Safety by design" considerations could include simple things such as proper lighting to prevent eye strain and even adopting anti-slip flooring materials to avoid slips, trips and falls. Under our current law, the Workplace Safety and Health (Risk Management) Regulations state that employers are responsible for identifying safety and health hazards at workplaces and taking measures to eliminate or reduce the risks. But, Sir, we must move away from this mental model of looking at risks and hazards as things to be managed away. Instead, companies need to actively put safety at the forefront of designing their worksites and their offices.”
“Notable features of HSP included increased penalties for safety breaches, senior management having to account personally for serious safety lapses and barring errant companies from hiring foreign workers for up to three months. Towards the end of HSP, the Labour Movement was concerned that workplace fatalities could rise if we were to exit HSP prematurely. In May this year, I filed a Parliamentary Question asking if MOM could extend the HSP. I was concerned that the strong safety culture imposed by company management during HSP did not have the necessary lead time to sink in and to take root. Sir, it takes years to build a collective and strong WSH culture. Lifting the HSP after just eight months could undo all our hard work. MOM eventually decided to lift the HSP from 1 June 2023 while retaining some of the HSP features, such as the enhanced penalties and requiring senior management to account personally for serious safety lapses. Unfortunately, my fears seem to be coming true. Based on the National Trades Union Congress’ (NTUC) internal tracking, within just three months of exiting the HSP, 13 workers tragically lost their lives between June and August 2023. I must add the caveat that this is not an official figure as the cases are a collation of inputs from our unions and associations. Subject to MOM's confirmation of the statistics, this would mean that the fatality rate had gone up from about 2.3 cases per month during the HSP to an alarming 4.3 cases per month in the three months post-HSP. Sir, these fatalities are not just statistics. Every worker is a father or mother, son or daughter, brother or sister. They leave behind loved ones who mourn their passing, loved ones who have to deal with the sudden and unexpected loss of a key breadwinner of the family.”
“Mr Speaker, in August 2022, I filed an Adjournment Motion and spoke about the need for us to prioritise the safety of every worker. The Labour Movement was concerned that the COVID-19 pandemic had seemingly undone all the good workplace safety and health (WSH) practices nurtured over many years. The rush that many companies embarked on to clear the backlog of work had resulted in a spike in workplace accidents, injuries and fatalities. In my speech then, I had proposed five action areas to further improve WSH practices: (a) establish safe and easy-to-use Reporting channels; (b) partner the unions to enhance safety Inspections; (c) step up safety Gearing of our workers; (d) mandate Higher management's commitment to safety; and (e) leverage Technology to enhance workplace safety. These five areas make up the acronym "RIGHT". In response, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) instituted the Heightened Safety Period (HSP) in September 2022. I think we can all agree that the measures imposed under the HSP were unprecedented and tough but effective. In his speech at the annual WSH Awards last month, Senior Minister of State Zaqy Mohamad provided an update on the workplace fatality rate. For the first half of 2023, the annualised fatality rate per 100,000 workers was about 0.8. This was a significant improvement from a rate of 1.3 in the second half of 2022 and about 1.6 in the first half of 2022. Clearly, the additional WSH obligations and increased penalties against errant companies imposed by MOM as part of HSP had undoubtedly worked well in driving down workplace fatalities.”
“Sir, I thank the Minister for his reply. I think the pilot clinic is at Alexandra Hospital, which is very near to my Radin Mas constituency. So, the residents have been quite excited over it. It seems that the goal of the Healthy Longevity Clinic seems to have many parallels with the national Healthier SG programme, as both seek similar direction to enhance health spans by preventing and managing chronic conditions. I would like to ask the Minister; can he clarify what are the key differences between these two programmes? As I read from the news article, the Healthy Longevity Clinic has been designed to serve as an affordable alternative to private clinics with more affordable tests and treatments.”
“Lastly, I would like to ask MSF to consider providing adoptive and foster parents with a greater differentiation in benefits under the Act. Adoptive and foster parents often have to deal with a myriad of problems that are more complicated than a traditional family setting. We should, therefore, provide them with more support, such as more Government-Paid Paternity Leave and Unpaid Infant Care Leave. Mr Speaker, it takes a whole-of-nation effort to raise the next generation of Singaporeans. While we acknowledge that the Government has done much in supporting Singaporeans who wish to start a family, we can do more to help shift some of the structural issues that discourage Singaporeans from having children. We should also provide greater support to adoptive and foster parents. Sir, I support the Bill.”