Tin Pei Ling
Singapore
“This is not about building a talent pipeline and reserve for the land, sea and air transport sectors, but also about helping Singaporeans seize more valuable opportunities. (In English): Mr Speaker, Singapore did not inherit our connectivity. We built it deliberately, chapter by chapter, and this House now holds the pen for the next one.”
“Thank you, Chairman. Two questions. One is that I hear that there will be a review of the COE system later part of this year. I would just like to ask if there is a specific timeline that we can look forward to. Second is on land transport overall. It is on the impact of ageing population and ageing infrastructure.”
“Leveraging frontier technologies – automation, advanced sensors, predictive analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) – will keep our infrastructure globally competitive. But we must deploy technology responsibly to augment productivity while managing workforce transitions and reskilling needs.”
“Many thanks to all. I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $3,109,174,200 for Head W ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $13,306,280,300 for Head W ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”
“Can the Ministry consider targeted measures, such as rental relief schemes, tenancy support for heritage and neighbourhood retailers, incentives for landlords to prioritise local tenants or co‑investment platforms that enable local businesses to secure long‑term premises?”
“Internationally, we could forge norms that prevent regulatory arbitrage and ensure cross‑border accountability. Hence, building on existing frameworks, what more will the Government do to strengthen Singapore's role in global AI governance, standards, certification, international coordination and capacity building, to preserve human agenc…”
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“Mdm Deputy Speaker, I support the Online Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill. When social media first emerged, many people saw it as an unadulterated good thing – a new frontier, separate from the real world, offering freedom of speech without ill consequences. Indeed, the founders of many social media companies had good intentions – to connect users from around the world; to give them personal control to express what they desire and exchange ideas; to be free of oppression; to come together and do good for themselves and their societies. Years passed, and alas, we know that the reality is far from the ideal. We have seen how extremism gets propagated online, inspiring and triggering acts of terrorism in parts of the world. We have seen how young lives were lost to dark and depressing content, and irrational online movements such as the "Blackout challenge". We have seen how hate speeches, in the name of free speech, get disseminated and cause great divisions within society. These are worrying trends that we see around the world and countries, including those that uphold democracy and free speech, are facing the same challenges. Singapore, too, is not spared. As a society, we must respond to curb its ills and protect the vulnerable, while allowing the widest possible. So, our legislation must evolve to better protect our people from harmful online content, especially minors who are more susceptible and vulnerable. In this, Singapore is not alone in passing such a legislation. Australia and Germany are some of the first few countries to have done so, and others are either doing the same, or thinking of doing the same.”
“What they need is not just recreational activities, but also social and financial support. How can the Government ensure that every community, whether it is old or new, rich or poor, provides equal services? After all, one can get chronic illnesses regardless of one's status. But one's financial ability affects one's choice in life. Second, I am happy to see that the Government agrees with the importance of mental health. In the White Paper, care protocols are mentioned to enhance the consistency of GPs in the care of chronic illnesses. I hope that the Government will also step up its efforts in the mental health area. Singapore is a high stress environment and mental health cannot be ignored. During the pandemic, many older Singaporeans have become accustomed to staying at home or avoiding the crowds because they have lived at home for a long time. This inevitably aggravates the psychological challenges that they face. So, I think mental health is an issue that we have to deal with sooner rather than later. Can the Government introduce mental health care with the "three highs" care protocols? Overall, the intention of the Healthier SG White Paper is clear and should be supported.”
“To move Singapore's health focus from treatment to prevention is necessary. However, in my view, the key to realising the vision of the White Paper lies in getting the people's genuine buy in. Bai Juyi once said, "feel how other people would feel with your own body and heart". When we rollout Healthier SG, we must pay attention to both the body and mind. Policies play a facilitating role. At present, if we ask Singaporeans whether they should live healthy lives and take preventive care, the answer must be "yes". Ask if they support it, the answer will surely be "yes" as well. But how important is it to them? And whether they will translate it into action, the answers are not so clear. In fact, unless we are sick, we tend to have the mindset that "it will not be me". Health checks or healthy dietary habits are often not on the agenda. Hence, in the White Paper, it is right to emphasise the role of GPs in inculcating good habits among Singaporeans. Building on the existing CHAS network, I hope that all GPs will heed the call and join the Healthier SG initiative to benefit more Singaporeans. For these reasons, I support the Healthier SG White Paper. The White Paper's analysis is meticulous and the measures put forward are suitable. But I have two questions. First, as the existing recreational facilities, community partners and health activities in each estate are not uniform, how does the Government intend to work with various Government agencies and social organisations to ensure that each estate has a basic package with sufficient space and budget, customised according to the needs of the estate? For example, in some mature estates, there may be more elderly people living alone who are old, frail and financially disadvantaged.”
“First, although we are a rapidly ageing population, the increase in public healthcare expenditure can be slowed down and the burden on future generations will also be lightened. Second, good health helps to improve our quality of life, and a good quality of life helps to improve our happiness index. Third, a healthy and strong population means a prosperous country. With good health, one need not fear about the future. Earlier, I heard Assoc Prof Jamus Lim's speech and I have some doubts. I would like to take this opportunity to seek clarifications from him. He talked about listing out consultation fees at private clinics. I believe benchmarking fees against market standards and listing out consultation fees at private clinics are already in practice. Is he looking for greater transparency or better consistency of consultation fees? Second, he talked about MediShield Life. From what I heard he seemed to suggest that more medical services be included in MediShield Life. Can he elaborate on what additional medical services he is thinking of? Today, we are debating the White Paper, does he expect that certain preventive care services be included in MediShield Life? If so, how will that affect the premiums of MediShield Life? How do we help Singaporeans deal with the increase in premiums? Can Assoc Prof Jamus Lim clarify on these points? My general feeling after listening to Assoc Prof Lim's speech is that he still plays a greater emphasis on treatment, but the Healthier SG White Paper is focusing on preventive care. I would like to seek his clarification. Does he also agree that the preventive medicine is better than curative medicine? In the long term, I feel that preventive care is a better option. Now, I would like to return to my original speech.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] As the saying goes, "prevention is better than cure". This wise and well-known quote is apt to describe the Healthier SG White Paper. It also represents a major turning point in our public healthcare policy. Singapore's public healthcare system has always placed a greater emphasis on treatment. From the allocation of Government funds to services provided by civic organisations, there is a clear bias towards the treatment of patients. This is a passive model. Even in the eyes of the general public, to be a specialist is better than a general practitioner. This attitude inadvertently affects the choice of students when they choose their course of study, hence has an impact on our talent supply. It also affects the perception of the public with regard to public healthcare. Of course, when people are sick, we have to treat and take care of them. Like a parent, the Government should not only provide quality medical care for Singaporeans, but also give subsidies to reduce the financial burden from medical expenses. Against the backdrop of an ageing population, it is even more important for the Government to provide quality and affordable healthcare. However, when people fall ill in their twilight years, they may find it hard to enjoy life even if they own a mountain of wealth. Hence it is often said that health is wealth. Because if you are healthy, you will have the energy to travel around, play with your grandchildren, pursue unfulfilled dreams and scale new heights in life. In this way, seniors will not be counting down to the end of their lives, but will be anticipating every new day. Of course, from a long-term point of view, preventive public healthcare will only bring benefits.”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State. I would like to ask about IMH, which is usually the first port of call for the elderly exhibiting self-harm and aggressive behaviours, possibly induced by certain types of dementia, for example. Caregivers are often at a loss. Apart from calling the hotline for remote assistance, sometimes, they will choose to go to IMH. I would like to ask whether there have been instances where they had to be turned away or is the capacity at IMH sufficient to deal with such cases? Related to that, sometimes, caregivers may feel that it is more expeditious to send the elderly to a nearby restructured hospital because, if there is self-harm, there may be personal danger. They may feel that it is safer to send the elderly to those settings. So, are restructured hospitals equipped to support such instances?”
“This can be especially salient in complex family settings that are dysfunctional or where the parents are undergoing acrimonious divorce. Children look up to their parents as role models and they pick up ideas from their surroundings. They must not be led to think that the misdemeanours they are exposed to at home are normal. And more importantly, to ensure that girls in such households and settings are not led to grow up thinking that they are weak and do not deserve happiness like any other. Hence, we must better protect our girls, intervene sooner when necessary, bring them into safer environments sooner, so that they can grow up with the right values and in an environment that brings out the best in them. Notwithstanding my questions raised, Sir, I believe the White Paper holds great significance in our continued journey to support Singapore women to fulfil their fullest potential and aspirations. So much has been said in this House, the White Paper's greatest value is that it sets out specific actions to be taken. Hence, I support the Motion.”
“However, in many instances, the MDWs may have caused more grief than relief to their employers. I had shared the challenges faced by Singaporean families and, indeed, Singapore women, in my Adjournment Motion last November. So, I shall not repeat them here. I should also note that the dire situation has improved as the supply of MDWs have eased. Nonetheless, there are still instances where employers feel that the system is tilted in favour of MDWs when disputes arise and employers are left to prove their own innocence to the authorities while scrambling to pick up the pieces at home. While I understand that MDWs, by virtue of them being in a foreign country, are assumed to be of lesser resource and that over-reliance on MDWs is more a bane than a boon, the reality is that families and, therefore, women of such households need MDWs to support caregiving at home. Hence, I urge the Government to pay greater attention to this matter and be more sensitive to the circumstances and needs of such households, especially those of middle- and lower-income, because time taken to settle these disputes means time away from productive and fulfilling work. Another point I wish to highlight is better protection of young girls from harm. Several of my youth volunteers at MacPherson are passionate about this and recently organised a few webinars under the "Action for Her" movement centred on protection of girls against online harms. Issues explored ranged from body shaming to cyberbullying to sexual harassments. Hence, I believe the actions set out in Area 3 of the White Paper are pertinent and I support them. But I also wish to highlight the importance of protecting girls from violent or sexual misdemeanours at home.”
“The increase in grant may cross the threshold for the household to finally get help, so that the caregiver can take up a part-time job and keep her career on track. It may also mean having funds to get the much-needed respite care, when the stress on the caregiver becomes overpowering and she needs a break. I wish to highlight the importance of enhancing respite care. Caregiving is a 24/7 responsibility. It is mentally and physically draining. Hence, readily available and accessible respite care, especially for full-time caregivers, are important to reduce burnout. However, full-time caregivers would usually have been out of the workforce for some time and suffer relatively weaker finances. As MOH reviews the respite care landscape, I hope that MOH will also consider: (a) increasing institutional capacity for respite care across Singapore, even as MOH explores home-based respite care, because not all homes are suitable and caregivers, usually, prefer to keep their loved ones near as they may have separation anxiety; (b) exploring more flexible financing options, including greater use of extended family members' MediSave, to pay for respite care services, beyond enhancing HCG, which works like a subsidy. On a note related to caregiving, though out of the scope of this White Paper, I wish to again highlight the topic of migrant domestic workers (MDWs). The role of MDWs remains integral to how Singaporean families choose to provide care or supplement caregiving for their loved ones. Firstly, an MDW can offer care one-to-one and, hence, more human touch, more personalised and personable. Secondly, this offers greater flexibility to families with members having to work. MDWs, therefore, help to free women to focus on work and other pursuits.”
“Are there other barriers that are in place, that are prohibiting women from going out there to fulfil their fullest potential? Therefore, with this Paper, and by supporting Singapore Women's Development, I believe it is also about fulfilling the potential that has been untapped. So, this leads to the topic of caregiving. Another feedback that I have heard is whether having a whole segment on caregiving in a paper titled "Singapore Women’s Development" will reinforce the gender stereotype that caregiving is exclusive to women. I fully understand the concern towards this. Anyone can be a caregiver and it is a noble responsibility to care for another life, especially if the care recipient is a loved one. Caregiving should ideally be a shared responsibility, regardless of gender. However, the current reality is that women disproportionately form the majority of caregivers. A recent Government survey, for example, found that women in dual income households were five times more likely than men to be managing housework and giving care. Hence, even as we continue to educate and change mindsets, we must address this caregiving issue now, so that women weighed down by caregiving duties can have the capacity to also pursue their other life aspirations. I am glad that the White Paper recognises this current reality. Furthermore, caregiver support policies are not exclusive to women but benefit male caregivers as well. Notably, the increase in Home Caregiving Grant (HCG) is welcomed. It is a significant increase in support for low-income households. The grant will not fully compensate for caregiving and it is not meant to do so, but it recognises the sacrifices that caregivers make and reduces the trade-offs that caregivers face.”
“Clearly, efforts to champion Singapore Women's Development cannot be to demand women's rights just because it sounds politically appealing. Rather, it is about ensuring fair play and choice. It is to ensure that, for instance, between a male and female candidate of comparable competency or potential, the female one does not get filtered out or be considered as a lesser candidate because of biases, such as "Oh, she is of childbearing age and may have to take time off to give birth" or "Oh, she has young kids and will have to take childcare leave or be distracted now and then". This was something that I experienced in 2015, when I first gave birth. I remember this as a comment during the General Election; this was levelled against me. Or that "women are more emotional, less decisive and harder to follow." Well, we need to address such attitudes and comments. First, there is a need to make the entire environment – employers and society – to be more empathetic and supportive towards women. Second, just as women in Singapore today have control over our own bodies as law enforcement authorities do not turn a blind eye to crimes against women, there is also a need to punish and deter the worst abuses against women at the workplace as well. This is to ensure that women are not disadvantaged for recruitment and promotion. Third, beyond breaking the biases, it is also putting in place support to free up women's capacity, so that they can pursue other worthy aspirations to be an equal partner. We have seen women going places, we have seen how women are able to hold our own and make it out fair, and yet, we have to ask ourselves: is it enough? Is it already levelled?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to speak in this meaningful debate on the White Paper on Singapore Women's Development. This marks yet another key milestone in Singapore's long journey towards removing barriers and empowering Singapore women. This House has seen many exchanges and recommendations on how we can empower and advance Singapore women over the past six to seven decades. Personally, since entering this House in 2011, I have also heard many suggestions made by fellow Members of Parliament (MPs) and seen real policy changes implemented to resolve pain points and provide stronger support to Singapore women. Humbly, I, together with fellow PAP women MPs, have contributed modestly to the cause by moving a private Members' Motion titled "Aspirations of Women" in 2017. Therefore, now that a White Paper is completed and introduced, this is certainly a significant leap forward as tangible actions will be taken to further Singapore Women's Development. And, of course, in this House, I have also covered a range of topics talking about women and place of women in tech, as well as digital competency. But in this speech today, I would like to just share and address two pieces of feedback I have heard so far and some suggestions in the area of empowering women in their careers and protecting girls from harm. One category of comments I have heard is whether we are overly promoting women's rights. Comments include, some jokingly and some not so jokingly, whether we should also have a Men's Charter or White Paper on Singapore Men's Development and whether we should promote women to higher positions for the sake of it, thereby compromising meritocracy potentially.”
“But the Government can direct resources through the right channels in a timely manner to help our youths through difficult times, to help build their resilience. Some of the stress could be mitigated by guiding them in the right direction, such as proactive career counselling and matching, and timely intervention to stop physical or online bullying. But, often times, it is also about letting them know that they are not alone, that there is someone or groups of people whom they can turn to for a listening ear, for positive affirmation, for advice and to nudge them to embrace a growth mindset. That someone may not always be a family member and that is okay. The school and community must be ready. And we must also be mindful to avoid coming across as patronising, but are sincere in wanting to help. So, I would like to ask how is the Government supporting our youths in overcoming the challenges they face and achieving their aspirations? Our youths are our future. They must not feel hopeless and helpless. How will the whole-of-Government, therefore, work together to be present in their lives, to give and show support to our youths as they transition from one stage to the next? 6.15 pm”
“Chairman, a young resident of mine, only 23 years old, committed suicide in June last year. He was a good boy who was always giving, always there to support his peers, to counsel and encourage them to not take their lives. But he himself struggled. He studied in an Arts school and did not take a conventional path. His graduation coincided with the pandemic. His enlistment was affected as the date for enlistment was unclear back then; he could not plan his life and did not know what he could do. He applied for jobs, but could not secure any, partly due to his specialisation and partly due to the uncertainty of when he had to start serving NS. The future felt bleak to him. Finally, he jumped from the block. I saw him not too long before he took his life, as I had only just given out an Edusave award to his sibling. I was at his wake, saw his mother and spoke with his friends who all missed him very dearly. It was absolutely heartbreaking. Imagine the pain the mummy was feeling. So, youths today face many uncertainties and pressures – ranging from body image to grades, to relationships and to whether they have a future. These are exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many youths are also in transition through different life stages. Arguably, if even adults having a few hard knocks in life already struggle when hit with a crisis, what more for youths? Mental well-being has now come to the fore. It used to be a topic brushed away and shunned by many. I spoke on this for years in Parliament and when I was an undergraduate. People hardly wanted to talk about it. But now, we are forced to come face-to-face with it as we endure the pandemic but, thankfully, there is now a general public will to address it. I know stress is not something one can legislate away.”
“(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Arts and culture can help cultivate one's mind, preserve our history and values, and deepen Singapore's influence abroad. The cultures and arts of different races have their own position and development in Singapore, thereby giving rise to our unique arts and culture. Arts and culture require human interactions and space for expression. However, COVID-19 has impeded human interactions. Most Singaporeans in this industry are self-employed and have no organisational support. It is inevitable that they were hit harder during the pandemic. The Government launched the ACRP earlier. How is the progress so far and how is the Government helping arts and cultural workers to hone their craft while sustaining their livelihood? With the rapid advancement of digital technology, how do we help these workers use digital platforms to create creative products and enter new markets? How will the Government revitalise the diverse cultural and arts scenes in Singapore and ensure that Singapore continues to have our unique position in the world?”
“Therefore, I would like to ask how MCCY will continue to enhance the framework to effectively manage community disputes and relations, while partnering Singaporeans to co-create and establish community norms in their own neighbourhoods. Improving Community Dispute Resolution”
“Chairman, community harmony is important to engender a sense of collective and shared destiny. But this can be undermined at times by misunderstandings and disputes. During our constituency work, we would have come across a range of community disputes – noise from neighbours, noise from groups playing at the basketball court downstairs, cigarette smell, incessant high-rise littering, irresponsible feeding, encroachment of common space and the list goes on. In these disputes, one party may be puzzled about why does the other party not understand or comply with the implicit and explicit "rules"; the other party may think that there was nothing wrong with the behaviour and wonder why the complainant is making life difficult. Small disagreements, if left unresolved, can fester into ill-feelings and anti-social behaviours with long-lasting effects. Our community is diverse, with people of different backgrounds. The idea of co-existence is important, though a delicate balance to strike. Community norms, therefore, play a critical role in keeping a certain order and harmony in the community. As time passes or as environment changes, norms could shift. The pandemic has forced us to stay home more. We face one another more and things that used to not bother us can become difficult to bear. So, we need to review, re-establish and/or revise the norms needed in the community. To do so, we need more dialogues and engagements but, most importantly, is that the community must come to a common understanding on the priorities and acceptable behaviours within the community. To this end, the Community Dispute Resolution Framework has been a useful and complementary tool to improve community dispute management.”
“Sir, pandemic has reset all active ageing efforts. While some seniors are raring to resume activities, some have retreated and gotten used to staying home. This leads to significant deterioration in mental acuity, emotional and physical well-being. For instance, I always remember Uncle Lee to be a jovial and active senior who loved to organise day trips for residents and tell me stories. And I would see him with a big smile on his face at our community events. Since the pandemic, I saw little of him as he stayed home. Each time I saw him, he was less engaging and slower to react. In January this year, I visited him again and he just sat in his chair, unable to recognise me. It is heart-breaking. I have also met other seniors who have aged so much faster in these two years. Some of them were pleased when I visited them and as we chatted, they broke down in tears as they articulated how lonely they felt. We must not let our seniors retreat into isolation and wither alone. What is the Government doing to resume seniors' engagements in the community in a safe manner? How can this be expedited? What more can be done to compensate for this "vacuum"?”
“Chairman, buildings account for over 20% of Singapore's carbon emissions. This is significant. With technology and advancement, new buildings today can use green material and smarter designs to reduce emissions. But in a highly built‐up environment like Singapore, we have many mature estates with a high concentration of buildings that are decades old. Many of these buildings are homes to our people. Therefore, how will the Government and BCA continue to support our transition into a low‐carbon built environment? What are our progress and quick wins so far? How can emissions in existing buildings be reduced without affecting homes, where precious memories are forged? The quantum advancement in green technology and digitalisation of energy can allow us to move from reactive to predictive maintenance. These can reduce waste, save energy and enhance user experience. Over the long term, these can lead to cost savings for the public, too. Could the Government give an update on its plans to leverage smart technology and data to enhance the quality of living while preserving the tangible and intangible values of housing estates?”
“Thank you, Minister, Senior Minister of State, Minister of State and Parliamentary Secretary for a very comprehensive reply. I think it is quite clear that the future holds many possibilities, much needs to be built, a lot of balancing to do. And a big thanks to all the officers from MCI, all the Statutory Boards, as well as SNDGG. With that, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $1,549,888,000 for Head Q ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $60,645,700 for Head Q ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”
“I have three clarifications. First, I would like to ask what are the types of harms to children that the new code of practice will be addressing. Second, will views from parents and the community be sought so that the types of harms that children are exposed to can also be addressed in the new code? And third, an update on girls and women in technology, their progress and representation from schools, within the industry and even within the IMDA programmes. Can there be an update on how we have progressed and how we have fared so far?”
“Chairman, Singapore ranks among the top countries for technology infrastructure and adoption. We have the highest average Internet connection speed in Asia and the number of 4G subscriptions in Singapore is almost one and a half times that of our population. Our Government continues to invest heavily and our 5G network deployment is well underway. But even as we do so, other countries are not idling. The current S‐curve is saturated and we need to get onto the next. Hence, to build and sustain a vibrant Digital Economy, what are the next‐bound digital infrastructure developments that Singapore can expect? International Cooperation Given the borderless nature of the digital space and digital threats, it is not enough to rely on domestic levers and programmes to protect Singapore's cyberspace. Moreover, as critical infrastructures are very much interlinked and, as countries and markets become increasingly connected digitally, we have become highly vulnerable to disruptions and exploitations by malicious cyber activities. An attack in one area can have widespread ramifications. Therefore, what is MCI doing in the international arena to address these challenges?”
“Could we, therefore, put in place a support system for skilled gig workers who are trained and well-versed in different operating systems and software, so that they form a formidable talent pool for companies here to tap on? In a way, these are "interoperable" talents. And we also need to continue to be open to good global talents who can and want to contribute. They fill manpower gaps, but are also good people to exchange knowledge, skills and ideas with so that we can grow together. And the third point is on having more role models. Healthy diversity is beneficial to boosting talent supply and business outcomes. Therefore, we must continue to promote girls and women in tech. Having enough women in tech can shape how girls think of a career in tech – that it is not just for the boys – and give them confidence to give it a shot. Hence, what is the female representation in tech jobs and tech leadership positions in Singapore? What is the female representation in STEM‐related courses in IHLs in 2021 and across IMDA's talent programmes? Is the figure stable, decreasing or increasing? Similarly, we need more stories of successful Singaporean tech leaders who could be role models to inspire more to join their ranks. Could the Government share whether it actively keeps a record of Singaporeans in tech leadership positions in Singapore and overseas? Could the Government share their stories and invite them to provide mentorship through the likes of the Singapore Global Executive Programme? Digital Capabilities and Innovation”
“This is a good start, but we should build on the momentum and consider introducing computer language as, perhaps, a second language in schools, as well as introducing key concepts and uses of new technology in class. The idea is not so much to train everyone to become coding experts, but to inculcate an intuitive understanding of the logic and applications. We also need to enhance the global quotient of our young. Expand existing in‐market programmes, such as the Singapore‐China Youth Interns Exchange Scheme (YES) and Asia-Ready Exposure Programme (AEP), and actively push our students to take full advantage of these programmes. The second is on ecosystem of talents. We need to ensure steady growth of a skilled and versatile Singaporean Core. I am aware that there are efforts to encourage our young to choose STEM courses and majors; this helps to increase supply to meet the talent demand. At the same time, we need to recognise that not all tech firms or tech‐related jobs need hard tech skills. A local tech leader told me that she met a Polytechnic graduate who studied tech but decided to become a barista because she did not like coding. While there is nothing wrong in choosing a different career, the tech leader wondered if the outcome would have been different if the young barista realised that there was a wide range of options for a career in tech. While the public and private sectors could do more to increase awareness on the wide range of career options and groom local talents, the Government could also identify specific skills in demand but lacking in Singapore and co‐sponsor scholarships with companies to train local talents from young. Some of the more progressive tech firms are shifting from pure competition or working solo to partnerships.”
“Sir, in my interactions with tech companies and tech leaders in Singapore, regardless of the company size and local or otherwise, the one common feedback I receive is skills shortage in Singapore. Some shared that they need technical expertise, so that they can conduct research and product development here. Others shared that they set up their International or Regional Headquarters in Singapore. For these firms, they need not only technical talents but also market expertise. For instance, a large software service firm told me that they need talents well-versed in Vietnam and Indonesia to serve the markets there from here. These are large markets for them. The concern is that if firms like this cannot hire or access these talents in Singapore, then they may be compelled to move certain departments or wholly out of Singapore and leave Singaporeans and Singapore for the worse. Our people will lose jobs and opportunities to learn from some of the best around the world. As such, I would like to ask for an update on the tech and innovation manpower situation in Singapore now. What are the skills and manpower gaps? Over the next three to five years, will we have enough Singaporeans to fill those gaps? What else will be done to address the gaps so that good tech firms remain invested in Singapore and continue investing in our people? To this end, I would like to share some thoughts, observations and suggestions. First, continue building up our local talents from young. Many Singaporeans recognise the value and potential of having tech skills, with parents sending their children to coding and robotics classes and mainstream schools offering coding as an "enrichment" for all upper Primary students.”
“Sir, what happens online can have spillover effects in the real world. Reports of precious lives lost to "bullycides" and life savings lost to online scams are aplenty. While nobody is immune, children, youths, women and elderly are especially vulnerable to online harms. Years ago, my resident's fiancée was a victim of "revenge porn". Her ex‐boyfriend uploaded intimate material onto websites such as Revenge Porn, attracting unsavoury comments from people she knew and did not know. Thankfully, the then-IMDA blocked it. But the damage was done. In general, women and girls tend to be victims of body shaming and hyper-sexualisation online. In 2020, an elderly resident fell prey to an online investment scam. He was misled to believe that the scheme was endorsed by Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, which is, of course, not true. Due to his lack of knowledge, he gave his one-time password (OTP) away and racked up a huge credit card debt that he could not afford. While adults having gone through a few hard knocks in life can arguably cope better, youths and children are still in their innocence and need a lot more protection. The inaugural 2020 Child Online Safety Index report found that almost 60% of children aged between eight and 12 in 30 countries were exposed to at least one form of cyber risk, of which 45% were affected by cyberbullying. Online harms cause distress and have long-term adverse consequences in real life. We must protect our people from such harms, so that they can live freely and fulfill their potential. What are the support measures and resources available to raise awareness, prevent and intervene to reduce online harm? [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)]”
“I would like to ask how will the Government uphold economic vibrancy and Singapore's competitiveness while preserving social cohesion. How will the Government ensure that the public and private sectors will go digital with empowerment and inclusion as prerequisites? What will the Government do to protect our people, young and old, and businesses – small and big, from new threats that emerge from this fast-evolving space? A related point is about digital regulations. As technology advances rapidly and new solutions with new use cases emerge, existing regulations need to evolve, or new ones have to be formulated. But timeliness and finding the sweet spot seem to be challenging. Consider cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). These are high‐risk and speculative and often seen as a tool for illicit activities. Hence, sufficient research and deliberation are needed before formal regulations and policies can be introduced. But meanwhile, will we risk becoming too slow and lose potential opportunities? With metaverse fast becoming a thing, will our policies and regulations be fast enough to capitalise on its development while addressing transactions, personal data and user interaction issues? In encouraging enterprises or individuals to digitalise or upskill through monetary incentives, might the process be so tedious such that they decide to remain in their comfort zones and stick to just being good enough and avoid digital transformation altogether? Hence, I would like to ask how will the Government ensure regulatory changes keep pace with tech advancement. How do we ensure that we provide sufficient guardrails, yet not suffocate innovation? Chairman, do I continue with my next cut?”
“Mr Chairman, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head Q of the Estimates by reduced by $100." Singapore is progressing surely and steadily in our digital transformation. With this comes several competing considerations that we need to balance. On the one hand, for survival and to keep relevant, Singapore has to continually invest in next bound infrastructure and our people. When others look at 5G, we must look at 6G and when others look at Web 3.0, we must imagine Web 4.0. Our people must have the skills and versatility to take advantage of the new opportunities. Yet, to preserve social cohesion and inclusive growth, Singapore also must ensure that the less digitally savvy amongst us are not inadvertently left behind or excluded from participating and benefiting from digitalisation, which could widen the gap between those who know and know‐not. There are other considerations as well – how to leverage digital solutions on a larger scale to solve real problems yet guarding against cyberattacks, how to incentivise businesses to go digital and, in doing so, how to ensure accountability without making the process so cumbersome that businesses "lose steam". These are not necessarily mutually exclusive, but they require careful balancing and calibration. Take my elderly resident as an example. She wanted to apply for CareShield Life. But the only mode of application was through the e‐service and thus requires Singpass. For the digitally‐savvy, this would be fuss free and save time. But she has no mobile phone or Singpass. Eventually, her daughter managed to apply for Singpass and linked it to her daughter's phone. What if my elderly resident was a single elderly?”
“Chairman, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $1,088,926,800 for Head U ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $303,116,100 for Head U ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”
“Thank you, Mr Chairman, and thank you, Minister, for the update. It is good to know that there have been good progress and achievements. Given the advancement of technology, as we move into Web 3.0, as preferences and habits change amongst our people and business models as well, and, with new use cases, I would like to ask whether there has been any update on the vision of our Smart Nation initiative. Also, would e-residency be already on the agenda?”
“Moreover, such transactions with the Government often involve highly sensitive personal data. Adding on, Singapore is now one of the two Asian countries that have condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and imposed sanctions. This is a move that we must support but we could now also be an active cyber target. Hence, what is the Government doing to ensure that our critical infrastructures are robust and Government services are safe and secure for citizens and businesses to transact with? Lastly, Smart Nation is meant to be a whole-of-nation movement. Therefore, it will require buy-in and active participation from all levels and segments of our society. Apart from ensuring that we solve real-life pain points using effective digital solutions that work, the processes, the interfaces, the entire user experience must also be thoughtful, clear and easy to use so that even the less digitally savvy among us will also be encouraged to transact and participate digitally. Therefore, what is the whole of Government doing to ensure seamless, user-friendly and age-friendly e-services for our people and businesses? [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] Driving Real Tangible Change”
“Chairman, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head U of the Estimates be reduced by $100." Sir, since the launch of the Smart Nation initiative by the Prime Minister eight years ago, in the formation of the Smart Nation and Digital Government Group five years ago, we were fortunate to have benefited from the coordinated build-up of digital infrastructure, capabilities, talent pool as smart tools through the Smart Nation initiative. This preparedness allowed our Government agencies to respond swiftly and act decisively during the COVID-19 crisis. But beyond responses to COVID-19, what is the current progress of our Smart Nation efforts and how have we fared so far? As we emerge from the pandemic, as we gain invaluable real experiences and as some advanced economies move into the space of Web 3.0, will there be a change to how we envision Singapore as a Smart Nation? With our limited space and resources and as the world competes for top talents, will the Government roll out e-residency to allow highly talented digital nomads and businesses to transact and value-add to our economy without having to reside here and compete for our physical space? They can become Singapore's digital economic residents but without the need for citizenship entitlements. This can bolster Singapore's status as a global hub and, in turn, value-add to our community. Singapore may be physically limited but virtually unlimited. Of course, digitalisation is not without risks. Cybersecurity is of concern. Recent high-profile online scams underlie this concern. While these incidents were not caused by the Government's system vulnerabilities, the public's confidence in digital transactions with the Government may still, inadvertently, be affected.”
“Singapore has done well so far. As we look ahead, the world is getting chaotic again, Singapore’s society is also getting more complex with more sophisticated needs and issues. There are still many challenges and uncertainties ahead. Therefore, to continue keeping our people and Singapore together, we must have sufficient guardrails, sufficient support and very importantly, mutual trust that we will be there for each other in good times and bad. As the Government draws from our treasury and reserves to provide financial stimulus and put in place the various schemes and legislation to distribute help fairly and boost failing sectors and groups that need help, businesses have to do its best to survive, to transform, to keep jobs for workers, to make space, to create capacity, to help groom our workers. And workers too, will need to be willing to accept concessions during tough patches and also be willing to learn and keep learning to always be better than who we were yesterday. At the society level, the more abled must also be willing to take less and give more. And the less abled need to also be willing to keep trying their best to adjust, to change track, to upskill and to progress. If we can all be more accommodating, a bit more give and take, try a bit harder for each other, I am sure there is no storm that we cannot overcome or weather through. Singapore will definitely emerge much stronger with every generation. Therefore, I support the Budget.”
“And we need to build up enterprises and talents that are skilled and versatile. Hence, I am supportive of the plan to strengthen our digital capabilities and invest in next-bound infrastructure. When others are looking at 5G, we must look at 6G. When others are looking at Web 3.0, we must start imagining Web 4.0. The current S-curve is already saturated, we need to get onto the next. And to do so, of course, we need good people. Therefore, I am definitely also very supportive of the plans to invest in our people throughout the stages of their lives, from when they are young and in school to when they have entered the workforce and can benefit from mentorship to when they reach mid-career and to when they have become mature workers. It used to be that one’s career is a straight-line progression, hardly changing jobs or industry. But it will increasingly be commonplace for one to change path multiple times in his/her working lifespan. Hence, by investing in our people, we not only help Singaporeans to achieve their many aspirations but also recognise them as our nation’s key asset. I will also speak more on this during the Committee of Supply debate. By building up for the future, we can better take advantage of the opportunities and rise comfortably above the challenges that we now face. To move away from quibbling over small margins but changing games altogether. Singapore’s social compact have evolved over time. From focusing on survival as a nation in the 1960s to the 1980s, to the "Many Helping Hands" approach that encouraged a greater sense of collective responsibility, and that was from the 1990s to the mid 2000s, to now recognising that Government and the community need to play a bigger role to complement individual and family efforts.”
“I also believe that at this juncture when Singaporeans are struggling with escalating cost of living, now is not the right time to put money back into the reserves. Still, we must keep in mind that we cannot deplete our reserve, that must guard it judiciously, and instil a discipline to put back what we took at the earlies opportunity when we can afford to do so – if not all at once, then in phases. Therefore, could the Government share what circumstances or indicators need to be met for money to be returned to the reserves, and is there a timeline that the Government is looking at? My next point is on building up for the future. Many of the problems we face today are not novel. We probably already have the solutions to these old problems and we need to accelerate the implementation. For instance, our energy needs are over-reliant on oil and gas that we import. We benefit from processing these imported natural resources but our electricity prices are almost totally dependent on the prices set by oil export countries. One solution is to diversify to use clean energy so as to dilute the impact of oil prices on our own energy cost, and I believe this topic has been very passionately debated by fellow colleagues yesterday and today. And I am also aware that the Energy Market Authority is also actively exploring these solutions. Another possible solution is to actively deploy smart technology that allow us to move from reactive to predictive maintenance, so that we can save energy and reduce waste. This also includes other types of green technology as well. The upfront CAPEX could be costlier, but the longer-term savings could be worth it. Therefore, the problem is not without a solution, but could we hasten it? We need to build future-ready infrastructure that can last.”
“What happens if the oil price spikes again or if the oil price and, therefore, the electricity bill stays high? Singaporeans must not feel that they are left to deal with the pressures alone as this can erode our sense of togetherness and undermine the social compact in Singapore. Hence, our Government must continue to assure Singaporeans of its support through words and deeds. Next, I would like to speak on the national reserves. Again, I am thankful that our past and present leaders have been judicious in managing our reserves, painstakingly saving up for "storms" like this COVID-19 pandemic. Money drawn from our past reserves has been put to good use as we battle the crisis and provide tangible support for Singaporeans. The Government’s total draw from past reserves is now revised to $42.9 billion for the period of FY2020 to FY2022, less than the initial draw of $52.0 billion from past reserves announced at the Fortitude Budget in May 2020. Drawing less than expected is encouraging as it signals stable economic growth and prudent spending. My question now is – from this point, what is the Government’s plan for our national reserves? Our Pioneers took more than 50 years to save up this pot of gold because they want to protect their children and future generations. Similarly, we have a duty to use this pot of gold wisely and make sure that we put back what we took once we can, so that our children and their children can continue to have this asset to fall back on when they face the crisis of their generation. Lest I get misunderstood, let me state that I believe it was necessary for us to draw on our reserves to help Singapore and Singaporeans get through this COVID-19 storm.”
“In another example, an elderly couple in MacPherson in their 70s live on their CPF payouts and allowance of a couple of hundreds of dollars per month from their three children. They are typical middle-income Singaporeans who have retired and are living in a flat of their own. One may argue that this is not too bad and they certainly receive subsidies and benefits from various Government schemes as well. But both elderly have chronic medical conditions that incur recurring medical costs. MediSave savings are also fast depleting for them. They tried and are still trying to be self-reliant but rising food, groceries, utilities and public transport costs in recent times are really testing for them. While Singaporeans understand that some factors are beyond Singapore’s immediate control, and that self-efforts are important, the pressure from fast rising costs stress them. Successive news or observations of price increases in a short time frame are unsettling. I sincerely appreciate Government’s efforts in introducing various support packages to help households and retirees cope with living costs, as well as uplifting workers to uplift wages. The latest measures announced in Budget 2022, along with those introduced in the past, will help to push down the “bottomline” costs and push up “topline” income for households. Government transfers through various help schemes help to offer buffer, but households are uncertain how much the costs will rise further, how long might they be eligible for Government subsidies or assistance and whether the assistance is even enough for them to cope. For retirees who no longer have active income, this worry intensifies. What happens after the Assurance Package expires in five years?”
“The psychology of uncertainty, if left unaddressed, can severely affect one’s well-being but, more importantly, threaten our nation’s ability to stay together, overcome crisis together and progress together. Rising global demands for the same products that we demand with the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines, oil and gas supply crunch made worse by geopolitical turmoil, and global supply chain woes are driving costs up. Clearly, these are macro factors beyond our control. But these are hurting Singaporeans. For example, the sudden spike in energy price forced a few of the open energy market operators out of operations. Customers are transferred back to grid operator SP Group. Or, they could choose other private operators that survived. Regardless, energy prices have increased significantly across the board. During a house visit in January this year, I met a MacPherson resident who runs a small shop and she shared her frustration and anxiety with me. She had subscribed to Best Electric, one of the open energy market operators that went bust last year. Her monthly electricity bill doubled from $1,800 in the first month after SP took over her account, and this monthly bill further increased to over $8,000. It was more than a four-fold increase. For small operators with a modest margin, such a shocking increase drives them into the red. Needless to say, these small operators, many of whom are Singaporeans with families, will see their household disposable income being affected as well. Could the Government have stepped in more strongly in such extraordinary instances to help mitigate the increase? Perhaps, to put a cap to the amount of increment for these affected small businesses and household in such instances where the impact or the increase was not of their own doing.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, Singaporeans and families have been facing higher costs of living prices, from food to daily necessities to utilities and all these costs have increased quite significantly for them. I think, so far, from yesterday to today, we have heard many hon parliamentarians in this Chamber talk about this. This impact is especially salient for middle- and lower-income households, both financially and psychologically. According to the Department of Statistics, Singapore’s overall CPI, inflation, rose 4.0% from January 2021 to January 2022, although MAS’ core inflation measure was 2.4%. Household income growth barely matched the CPI growth in the same period for these households, as median monthly household income from work grew by 3.6% in nominal terms from 2020 to 2021. So, at first glance, middle- and low-income households may feel pressured that their incomes are only barely matching the rise in prices. But after taking into account Government transfers, middle- and low-income households would have seen higher real income growth. With Government transfers and taxes considered, the Gini coefficient in 2021 evidently fell from 0.444 to 0.386, the second lowest level since 2000. Hence, I am glad that the Government has multiples schemes, such as the CDC vouchers, education accounts top-ups and enhanced U-Save rebates, in place to support these households. However, we must not undermine the psychological factor of the public, even if income is still outpacing inflation in reality. It is not always immediately obvious how Government transfers have buffered the impact. It takes multiple steps to calculate the net impact. Moreover, there remains much uncertainty in how costs can fluctuate in the future and, therefore, how families can or cannot cope.”
“I thank the Ministers for the reply. I fully agree that any insult to religions, especially in Singapore, is unacceptable. I would just like to ask whether the political nature of the cartoons in the publication has got any part to play in the decision.”
“Thus, could MOM consider establishing neutral advisory channel or platform offering these families information and consultations? In conclusion, as Singapore continues to enhance our overall care support system, the role of migrant domestic workers in how Singaporean families choose to provide care for their loved ones remain important. In ensuring a successful relationship between the employer family and the MDW will require genuine efforts and mutual respect from both parties. Hence, I hope with the challenges addressed, families will feel more supported and better able to focus on their work and pursue a happier life.”
“Therefore, could MOM consider requiring employment agencies (EAs) to fill in the reason for cancellation or allow employers to do so directly? Many families also do not know of the existence of such records and it would be very useful if more publicity can be done. Third, to encourage matching to be taken more seriously, could MOM consider imposing a cap on the number of transfers initiated by the MDW in a year? Exceeding that cap with no valid reason and proof would then require the MDW to return to their home country. Presently, I am aware that employers who repeatedly request for transfers in a short period of time face restrictions in hiring MDWs. So, it would seem fair to ensure all parties involved to take the contract seriously. Fourth, could there be more stringent checks or restrictions on MDWs with a poor performance record when re-entering Singapore for new jobs? Next is on building up responsible EAs. So, the fifth recommendation is that I learnt from MOM's response to my Parliamentary Question last month that the Ministry is working to encourage EAs to take greater ownership of matching outcomes. If so, could the MOM consider allowing the matching of MDWs be done by local EAs only, that is, to disallow private bartering via social media platforms which are unregulated? However, I understand that there are concerns about whether this will give EAs too much power and risk high agency fees. Perhaps, MOM could pay more attention to this. And lastly, for support for employers. The sixth and last recommendation is that many Singaporean families who need MDWs for care needs are crying for greater support. Some are busy trying to make ends meet and some are just not savvy with the systems.”
“And even if the allegations were eventually found to be baseless, the MDWs often faced no legal consequence and were sent back to their home countries, at worst. Innocent families that had endured the ordeal are then left to pick up the pieces on their own. Many felt helpless. Again, it must be recognised that there are egregious cases of real abuse and these must be dealt with by the law. But false allegations without real consequences seem unfair too. As such, a number of Singaporean employers wrote to me to express their desire for fairer treatment and called for more help. So, how to make it better? The good news now is that the MOM has relaxed the measures to allow vaccinated migrant domestic workers to enter Singapore just a few days ago from 1 November 2021. This mitigates the challenging situation to some extent, but some underlying issues remain to be solved. A few suggestions, therefore, for MOM’s consideration. First, on improving access for middle-income or "sandwiched" families. So, the first one is that it is important to ensure equitable access to hiring MDWs for ordinary Singaporean families with real care needs. Thus, could we consider introducing a higher tier of MDW levy for high-income non-local households to mitigate the imbalance of paying power? Second, to introduce consequences for errant irresponsible MDWs. So, the second one is to ensure completeness of individual MDWs' employment history so that it is usable. A Singaporean employer by the name "Han" who hired a MDW to care for her grandparents shared her experiences over email. She showed me screenshots of the MDW's history of several employment but the column for reason of cancellation was entirely blank. She asked how could one objectively assess prospective MDWs?”
“The image on-screen is small, but this is an example. Such offers were publicised in Facebook groups such as "Singapore transfer helpers (maids) direct hire". Consequently, some MDWs with an ongoing contract demanded to end existing contracts so that they could be transferred to employers who could pay more. One Facebook user called "Minyu", who commented on my page, shared that some agents poach MDWs by offering higher salaries so that the agents can benefit from the additional agent fee. This, if true, will undoubtedly exacerbate the situation. Families stunned by such requests have little option – they could not just find a replacement easily especially during the pandemic period. Many of such families dare not ask the MDWs to honour the contracts and stay on because their loved ones are literally in the hands of the MDW. Hence, they either offer a higher salary or consent to the transfer. The latter obviously leaves families with real care needs in the lurch. Such phenomenon would also come across as favouring the high earners. In some instances where families were reluctant to the transfer requests, allegations of abuse were made to force a transfer. A young working mother of two called "AK" in short, shared with me in an email that her helper accused her family of providing insufficient food and rest and demanded a transfer. Thankfully, "AK" had CCTV footages to prove that the allegations were untrue. Several other Singaporeans shared their unpleasant experiences with me via social media and through conversations. Upon receiving complaints of possible abuse, MOM would have to investigate and the process can take months. During this time, the families face challenges hiring replacements.”
“However, I was also told that in a bid to secure helpers urgently, some salary offers went up to as high as more than $1,000 per month on top of paying for food, accommodation and medical expenses. Mr Speaker, with your permission, may I share a screenshot on the LCD screens here?”
“MOM and several non-government organisations’ efforts in ensuring proper and fair treatment of MDWs should be recognised. But most Singaporean families who hire MDWs are decent employers who need care support at home and who do take care of their MDWs, pay on time and try their best to do good on their own. In my many conversations with residents, I have learnt of the struggles that some of these families face with their MDWs. Following my Parliamentary Questions in September and October 2021’s Sittings, more Singaporeans from within and outside of my constituency wrote to me to share their own experiences. From the stories they shared, the challenges they face can be broadly categorised into three types: number one, escalating salary expectations; number two, disputes, specifically allegations of abuse; and number three, demand for transfer "or else". These challenges had been fomenting pre-COVID but the challenging situation "boiled over" when the supply of MDWs was curbed by travel restrictions during the pandemic. When the inflow of MDWs was controlled to a trickle, families desperate for help turned to those available for transfers. So, the supply fell but demand continued to rise, resulting in a price surge. In the Minister for Manpower’s written reply to my Parliamentary Question in September this year, I note that the monthly salary increased from $570 to $590 for new MDWs and $610 to $630 for transfer MDWs. That translates to about 3.2% to 3.5%, and that is from end 2019 to end 2020. And in the more recent report which was published yesterday, I think this has gone up to $660 for transfer MDWs just earlier this year.”
“Infant care centres and childcare centres increased 30% and 11% respectively within the same period. Care workers have also grown. For example, certified educators in the early childhood sector grew by 30% between 2016 and 2020. Two, a range of childcare and eldercare subsidies and assistance schemes was introduced over the years to enhance affordability, including the Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund and the Home Caregiving Grant to support caregivers who gave up their jobs to care for their loved ones and low- or no-income care recipients. However, the role of migrant domestic workers remains integral to how Singaporean families choose to provide care or supplement caregiving for their loved ones. Firstly, an MDW can offer care one-to-one and, hence, more human touch, more personalised and personable. Secondly, this offers greater flexibility to families with members having to work. For instance, the MDW can help to fetch the toddler or senior from the care centre should the parents or children work overtime or have irregular working hours. That MDWs are an integral part of the caregiving landscape in Singapore can be observed by how the number of MDWs increased 27% to 255,800 from 2010 to June 2019. This is equivalent to having "every fifth Singaporean household (hiring) a maid", and I am quoting from CNA. I am also sure that we have heard of heartwarming stories of how MDWs grew with families and became an integral household member over time. It is, however, not all rosy. There are challenges faced by families hiring MDWs. Of course, there have been cases of MDWs being abused or mistreated by their employers. Such egregious cases must be made known and properly dealt with by the law.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for the opportunity to speak on the role of migrant domestic workers (MDWs) in Singapore’s caregiving landscape. My speech will set the context and put forth recommendations for the Ministry’s consideration. Thereafter, hon Member Nadia Abdul Samdin will build on further. First, on recognising the role of MDWs in caregiving. Singapore’s society structure has changed as we progress. Firstly, Singapore is ageing – a fact well emphasised in recent years. One in five Singaporeans will be aged over 65 years old by 2030. And with an ageing population, the demand for care increases. For instance, in 2019, patients aged 65 and above spent an average of 6.9 days in a public hospital, compared with 3.9 days for those who were younger. Secondly, family size is shrinking in Singapore. The average resident household size in 2020 was 3.22, whereas it was 4.25 in 1990. This is according to SingStats. That is equivalent to one less person in the family to share anything within a 20-year period. Thirdly, more members of a household are working. Households with both husband and wife working increased from 47.1% in 2010 to 52.5% in 2020. Taken together, the need for care is increasing but the capacity of families to care for their loved ones is diminishing. Hence, ensuring availability and accessibility to caregivers and caregiving services become increasingly important. In keeping pace with the changing social structure in Singapore, the Government must, of course, be recognised for making tremendous effort to support Singaporean families. One, care capacity in the form of day care centres and care institutions increased. For instance, the number of home care and day care places increased to 10,300 and 9,000 respectively in 2019.”
“Clearly, the contributions of Singapore women to the family and society cannot be overlooked. We must press on to support women in realising their potential and aspirations. Hence, I look forward to the release of the White Paper. (In English): This journey to support Singapore women fulfil their fullest potential and aspirations is not new. Even as I speak of the 2017 debate, there were many others before me in this House who had championed the cause. Likewise, today’s Motion adds to the journey. And I am glad that we are building on this firm foundation. There are many things we can still do to support Singapore women. As the broader environment changes, as demographics and societal attitudes shift, we need to adjust, too. Hence, our endeavour to support Singapore women must continue. And I believe that it is in this spirit that the Government is tabling a White Paper later this year. Contributing to this White Paper, the PAP submitted our recommendations to the Government last week. Likewise, AWARE and WP have put forth theirs. But even as we continue to co-create these solutions, I believe it is important that this House affirms the familial, social and economic contributions of Singapore women and our support for them to fulfil their aspirations and societal participation, and we look forward to the White Paper.”
“Third, encourage society and businesses to value women's economic potential and contributions. Fourth, promote skills training for women in science and technology to prepare them for the digital age and the future economy. Of course, the suggestions put forward were not confined to women. My colleagues and I had hoped to seek your support through the Motion to support our women with concrete actions. This will no doubt strengthen Singapore's foundations and help Singaporeans, both men and women, to develop their potential and prepare for the future together. Since 2017, we have made progress in many areas, including eldercare, childcare, flexible work arrangements and digital education and training. For example, the number of home care places has increased 30% between 2017 and 2019, while day care and childcare places rose by 80% and 11% respectively in the same period. Childcare subsidy was also raised this year. For more than 60 years, we have been fighting for more support for women. Today's Motion is built on this solid foundation and is an added effort. With each wave of industrial revolution, renewal of skills in the workplace, changes in the general environment and societal attitudes, we have to keep up with the changes and make corresponding adjustments. I believe this is why the Government announced last year that it would jointly organise Conversations on Singapore Women’s Development with partners in the private and public sectors, and consolidate the recommendations into a White Paper which will be submitted to Parliament this year. In response, the PAP submitted 12 recommendations to the Government last week to promote women’s development. AWARE and the Workers' Party have also submitted their proposals.”