Yeo Wan Ling
Singapore
“Thank you, Speaker. I have a clarification for Minister of State Jasmin Lau. In my speech on job redesign, I had asked for AI grants to be tied to mandatory job redesign requirements and productivity gains linked to worker outcomes.”
“Thank you, Speaker. Could the Minister of State elaborate on the specific fire safety protocols in place for HDB car parks with EV charging points, including detection, suppression and evacuation measures?”
“I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary. Could the Ministry give further clarifications on how it assesses PWM compliance in procurement processes, including whether firms have met, for example, training requirements for their workers under the PWM requirements?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, 10 years ago, we built the foundations. Today, we are building the integration. And 10 years from now, I hope we will look back on this Bill as the moment Singapore chose to ensure that our next bound of growth is one that every worker can be part of.”
“As the Bus Contracting Model (BCM) enters its next phase, could a similar transformation support be considered for our bus captains? A refreshed BCM should be a win-win for commuters, operators and the workers who keep Singapore moving. Strengthening Transport Accessibility”
“And our local workforce must move up the skills ladder alongside industry transformations. In this new phase of labour transformation, I would like to put forward three Budget priorities. First, we must continue attracting top global talent in a way that strengthens, not substitutes our Singaporean core.”
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“Streamlining the headers and process to align the practices with MediSave, for instance, makes the CPF Act more approachable and thereby more effective. Previously, I have raised the issues of the disconnected – both in terms of digital skills and language for the residents in my constituency – and this step signposts an important direction to make the word of the Law the word of our people. In this simplification, however, it is important that we do not lose nuances that protect the same people we have set out to look out for with these changes. As more complicated terms are stripped down, merged or simplified, we need to be clear the intention behind certain changes, as they are not simply a matter of semantics, but whole matters of inclusion and exclusion. More specifically, I am concerned with the new definition of "significant conditions" in inclusion for the purposes of section 15 and the new section 15AA. It is explained in the Bill that this criterion would be "similar" to that of the previous language of "mental and physical incapacity". I welcome the new lexicon, foremost because it differentiates a disability from one’s identity better than the previous set of language, but I can imagine this new definition, to which the Minister interprets, might prove to be rather ambiguous until tested by real life cases. Mr Deputy Speaker, this is not a matter of mere semantics. Rather, there are two issues from this change I am concerned about. First, if any existing beneficiaries would be left out because of the change in wording. On this matter, it would be ideal if the Minister can confirm that the new criteria of "significant condition" is broader and includes those previously counted under incapacity.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I shall speak on the topic of the CPF first. The CPF Fund is central to Singaporeans of all ages. From prospective home buyers to retirees, the CPF is the joint result of the blood and sweat of Singaporeans and their firm trust in our Civil Service. More importantly, it is a crucial safety net that Singaporeans rely upon to support themselves and their loved ones when the unfortunate strikes – the loss of livelihoods, be it due to economic circumstances, age, infirmity or permanent disabilities. The proposed amendment follows closely to this matter and I welcome two main changes to this Act: first, minimising disruption of the Retirement Account with the use of auto top-up; second, the simplification of the language of the Act to inch it closer towards the common everyday person. First, the Retirement Account. It takes conscientious effort to maintain and keep track of one's own bank account and this is especially the case for our senior citizens. In our pursuit of the bigger, better and faster, Singapore has rapidly morphed itself into a Smart Nation. The flipside of which is that we risk detaching some of our citizenry as we shed the cocoon of a developing nation. It is an uphill battle for many working adults to help their parents navigate finances, and the myriad of accounts at their disposal only complicates the matter. The auto top-up mechanism streamlines the decision-making process of many retirees, some of which could really benefit from this help. I believe this to be an important first step towards a more user-friendly and accessible CPF. Second, the simplifying of the language of the Act.”
“Many of my middle-aged residents have faced difficulties traversing the new digital normal. And many have admitted they are left behind in Singapore's drive to be digital. Many are unable to use with confidence online applications, even such as simple ones like Singpass online or even download an e-copy of their CPF, much less so becoming overnight digital marketeers or social media influences. My residents have told me their frustrations after taking classes and courses, their employers have told them that those classes are irrelevant to the job roles that they are seeking. Will the Ministry consider working with companies then on identifying key digital skills and the appropriate courses, perhaps across the many different skillsets, on the SkillsFuture platform, that will allow our less digitally inclined workers to be on a level playing field with digital natives in the hiring process and in future in job promotions?”
“Thank you. COVID-19 has been devastating for many families and my residents have told me that in coping with COVID-19, many of them have depleted their intended retirement savings, or that maybe even retrenchments have caused them no choice but to dip into their retirement nest eggs. As such, I was very heartened to hear that the Ministry is looking at more training programmes for our seniors, but I would like to ask if there will be more of such training programmes, especially place-and-train programmes for our seniors. Also, given that most seniors may have to push back the retirement due to the challenges to their livelihoods because of COVID-19, would the Ministry also give us an update on the preparations for the retirement age to be extended to 70 years old, or its plan for the end of the decade?”
“Thank you. I note through my Meet-the-People Session interactions with delivery riders that many have started to make longer-term financial arrangements, such as medical retirement insurance and the purchase of housing, especially with housing loans from HDB. Given the instability of the evolving platform gig model with shifting incentive structures, they are worried about the long-term viability of their financial commitments. Would the Minister for Manpower consider looking into setting up longer-term safety nets for platform workers, with gig platforms taking on more responsibility for their delivery partners; and, perhaps, for more of the mature platforms, a certain guarantee of level of jobs received? I note, too, that many of the platforms are largely commercially viable due to compliance and cooperation of their delivery partners.”
“Mr Speaker, the landscape of innovation and creativity in any society has always been an intricate balancing act. On one hand, placing too many restrictions on the flow of ideas and creative work and society hinders the possibility of good ideas being built upon and turned into great ideas, disallowing society from standing to collectively gain from the brilliance of individuals. On the other hand, too few restrictions discourage these individuals' expressions of brilliance, believing they will not stand to gain from their creations, in turn, dealing a fatal blow to the generation of ideas from a society. This is why I and the Labour Movement welcome the troubleshooting of the Copyright Act, as the Government endeavours to adapt to changing concerns and the evolving landscape of innovation and creativity. This is especially pertinent to a league of freelancers in our society: the Creatives. Creatives come in all forms, from the visual, to the literary, to the musical, even the culinary and the floral arts!”
“We are only eating the fruits of the trees planted by those who have come before us and we will continue to plant trees for those to come. The enterprise, tenacity and vision of our women who had gone before us, indeed, lay the foundation for the work we continue today and we are glad to have reinforcements even across party lines to continue their good work. As we consider the Motion filed for a whole-of-society approach in empowering women, we say "Let us do it". And let us continue to do it the way we have been doing it for years – being willing to listen, willing to put in the hard work and willing to look ahead. These core principles will continue to shape our success. Decades later, though the challenges women face have evolved in form due to the myriad opportunities made available to women, we must continue to put our ears to the ground, be good listeners and be able to roll with the punches. Policy measures that look good on paper sometimes only look good because they are overly convenient and fail to consider repercussions downstream. To this, we say let us continue to innovate solutions and undertake them even if they seem difficult, because that is the diligence our women deserve. Finally, let us be willing to look ahead together and not be transfixed on the quick-fix, but the long game. While whole societies begin to elevate and empower women, women begin to elevate whole societies to greater heights than before. Welcome to the movement. 6.20 pm”
“The programme, with a robust strategy, including recruitment, re-adjustment and retention plans for women’s return to the workforce, was intended for the benefit of future generations. With its introduction, we saw the consolidation of best practices in training, counselling and job placements, as well as the promotion of flexible work arrangements. With these best practices, we fuelled the Employment and Employability Institute to do its good work in matching workers and employers. With this forward-looking vision, we promoted companies to provide facilities for breastfeeding mothers. Over the years, the Back2Work Programme has helped more than 28,000 women return to work and provided training to more than 30,000 women. Today, building and evolving on the work the Labour Movement has advocated for, flexible work arrangements are the new norm, and we continue to work with our tripartite partners to implement and redesign jobs to enable women to return to work. Companies such as Le Essen, a catering and canteen operator, now have 50% of their workforce comprising women returning to work on redesigned flexible work hours. Indeed, in the area of workplace harassment, the tripartite partners have also drawn up a tripartite advisory on managing workplace harassment. NTUC has also developed a workplace harassment prevention policy to be adopted and adapted by companies and, indeed, both are promoted by TAFEP. For progressive companies with the Labour Movement family, they are guided by workplace harassment clauses in their collective agreements. Our unions and women leaders represent both women and men in harassment and grievance cases. But the work does not stop here. We continue to listen, work hard and prepare for the new work norms.”
“The seed Mrs Yu-Foo had sown almost 50 years ago is what is known today as NTUC First Campus, which continues to provide affordable childcare through its 160 preschool centres island-wide and nine Primary-school-based student care centres serving more than 20,000 families. Pioneering and building our childcare infrastructure was no small feat and this is an ongoing work-in-progress. In 2019, our Women's Wing put up a position paper titled "Supporting Parenthood and Young Families". Our Prime Minister acknowledged the importance of a good preschool and how it provides many long-term benefits in life, and the Government has steadily improved the accessibility, affordability and quality of preschools. Childcare subsidies were further enhanced in 2020 and the number of full-day childcare and infant care centres has risen from 140,000 to 190,000. The long-term plan is to cap our preschool fees so that the full-day childcare will be the same as Primary school fees plus after student care fees. On being willing to look ahead: in the mid-2000s, Singapore was met with a sustained shortage of labour, as well as an ageing population problem looming around the corner. Not only was this a golden opportunity for us to usher women back into the workforce, but it needed to be delicately balanced with strong support for women to start families. The Labour Movement has helped women re-enter the workplace as early as the 1990s, and through the years, we have evolved our programmes to keep with the zeitgeist of the times. As the Director of the Women’s Programme back then, our President Halimah Yacob and the Women’s Committee started a Back-to-Work (B2W) Programme in 2007 to create new opportunities for women in the workplace.”
“Sister Annabella Sim, then just 21, a visionary whose form many of us take after today, became the founding chairperson of the NTUC Women's Committee and, I would say, the first female elected to our Central Committee. She said, "Through the Central Committee, I hope to bring about parity treatment with equal wage for equal work for women". Annabella and her team of unionists started their journey with an ear to the ground, consulting with working women to identify their primary concerns. They discovered that after making their first forays into the workforce, women would often leave their jobs after starting a family. This was merely what was expected of us in the household then as women. Our unionists and sisters listened, and they took to heart. This birthed out pioneering efforts by women in the Labour Movement to provide childcare support and helping women rejoin the workforce. On being willing to put in the hard work: in response to women's waning labour force participation rates after childbirth years, Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon and the unions took over and expanded the then Department of Social Welfare's 10 childcare centres. The Labour Movement started NTUC Childcare in 1977 to shoulder the burdens of women who felt the need to leave their jobs early on in their careers without support for childcare. NTUC Childcare scaled the number of these childcare centres to double-digit figures within a couple years. We drove fundraising efforts to establish new centres, as well as contended for Government subsidies to keep childcare fees easily affordable for parents.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, there have been movements around the world throughout the decades that have sought to elevate and empower women. Yet, even then, there are certain ridges and differences within these very movements. Some invoke race; others invoke class; and sometimes, these movements discount, if not cannibalise one another. Indeed, a house divided against itself cannot stand, and this cannot be for the case of elevating and empowering women, especially in a year we have declared the Year of Celebrating SG Women. I know even as I stand here speaking in Parliament today about a Motion on women's interests, submitted also by a woman, that we are all standing on the shoulders of giants. Broad are the shoulders of the sisters who have gone before us and there is always space for more. We welcome the solidarity the Workers' Party has shown, picking up arms to join our ongoing ascent to elevating and empowering women. Willing to listen, willing to put in the hard work and willing to look ahead. These are principles on which the Labour Movement has moved to organise our society's resources and shake up cultural mindsets to elevate and empower our Singaporean women in the workplace. In this movement for women workers we have forged, I would like to remind us of its decades-long importance as we look to chart the next few decades to come for our women in the workplace. On being willing to listen: the year is 1973, and women are stepping up in full force to work in paid employment roles, especially with exciting foreign direct investments flowing into Singapore. Much like today, women were going on the ascent in their own right, and the taste of empowerment gave us the confidence and momentum to traverse through barriers that might have still stood in our way.”
“The Labour Movement's continued ability to weave idealism and activation has been a cornerstone for women's consistent elevation in the workforce and we submit these calls to the Government as we march forward in a fruitful partnership. Stronger families start with healthier parents and healthier parents are those who shoulder each other's burdens willingly and joyfully. As we gather to debate the Child Development Co-Savings Bill, our considerations must not only be on how the Government can help parents, but how the Government can help parents help each other as well. This is what a strong family starts with. These concerns notwithstanding, I support the Bill.”
“An example could be expanding the Working Mother's Child Relief and Grandparent Caregiver Relief to working fathers. By availing incentivisation schemes to both mothers and fathers, this would reflect the better sharing of parental duties, reinforce the positive communications and, indeed, raise the visibility to the important role males play in parenting and, indeed, caregiving. To go a step further, I draw on two recommendations our Women's Wing and Young PAP have formulated. Firstly, we call on the Government to give parents full flexibility in deciding how to share their maternity and paternity leave. This flexible redistribution of the total maternity and paternity leave entitlement pie does not create additional burden to employers who are facing manpower shortages and yet places choice and full control in the hands of the parents. Secondly, we call on the Government to create a support network for single mothers. As I have mentioned, not only should all workers be treated fairly; so, also should all parents. This is not an entirely new call. In 2013, the Labour Movement had called for equal benefits for single mothers and, as a result, we now see unwed mothers entitled to the same maternity leave, childcare and infant care leave, as well as the enjoyment of CDCA benefits. We will continue to stand with single mothers and not compound the burden of having to raise a child singlehandedly. These make up just two of our 12 robust and highly actionable recommendations. We, too, delight in good ideas, but our delight is made complete in ideas that birth action, rather than just laundry lists that are strong on paper but often remain only on paper.”
“Although we may feel our take-up rates are strong against international standards, the actual benchmark for strong take-up rates should instead be compared to the take-up rates of maternity leave at home. Anything less than equal and we still have work to do. This, once again, is not to point fingers at fathers – most dads do want to spend time with their kids and many of my residents who are fathers have expressed joy with how much easier this has become since they have been working from home. We need to pick up our fight with what lies deeper – workplace cultures embedded in our society. While no employers are hanging signs on office walls discouraging fathers from taking paternity leave, many fathers might feel the threat of being implicitly penalised for taking days off to care for their children. Perhaps, some employers think that this could be rightfully and naturally left to their spouses, or even see the usage of paternity leave as unnecessary or, worse still, opportunistic. Hence, it is no longer enough that employers merely provide opportunities for fathers taking paternity leave or other benefits, especially when fathers might be left second-guessing the costs incurred to their careers. Instead, employers should go a step further to actively encourage fathers to take days off to care for their family, especially in the form of their paternity leave days. This is the kind of assurance that is sure to drive the take-up rates of paternity leave usage. This shift will not come easily. But to break out of old mindsets, new approaches must be embraced. Therefore, we call on the Government to incentivise employers on this front to be champions of equal parenting roles and, so, champions of strong families and children.”
“Indeed, there is a physical healing process still for the mother to go through. But deeper and more unique to such couples is the emotional healing process, as other Members of this House have talked about. Grieving, accepting and moving on from such a tragedy require plenty of space and time. These birth-linked leave and benefits are thus appropriately and necessarily conferred on these couples who are very much parents in their own right. As we celebrate the sensible considerations undergirding the amendments in this Bill that will move us towards more equitable outcomes for families, it is actually of paramount importance that we recall the spirit of the legislation at hand – that is, to support families in having more children. While, on paper, much of the legislation revolves around financial provisions for parents, these measures shape cultural norms, whether we like it or not. In particular, I am referring to the way the burden of parenting is shouldered by couples. Mdm Deputy Speaker, more must be done to even out the weight of parenting between couples. However, I would like to preface by saying that this is not a call to point fingers, nor a "call out", but rather an invitation to share in the joys of parenting. When fathers do not pull their weight in parenting, both miss out on the joys of parenting – fathers from absence or distance and mothers from tiredness or burnout. However, when both parents are well involved, both share the responsibilities of parenthood and, together with the shared responsibilities, come joy. This invitation rides on the low take-up rates of paternity leave, especially in the private sector.”
“Madam, few things in life are certain: birth, death and change. Yet, with all three come much uncertainty for the Singaporean worker. With today's reading of the Child Development Co-Savings Bill, we welcome amendments that safeguard the interests of workers and families alike. Particularly, we welcome the introduction of benefit schemes for contract workers and the sensible expansion of benefits even to parents of still-born children. Mdm Deputy Speaker, when a child is due, a child is due. We cannot tell baby to wait for her parents' economic conditions to make a turn for the better, or for mom and dad to be placed with a permanent job. That is why we are encouraged by the Government's consideration of parents on short-term contracts, as seen in the Government-Paid Maternity Benefit and, so, we celebrate its extension to fathers and adoptive mothers as well. This signals that the Government recognises the biodiversity of livelihoods within our eco-system of workers and that alternative forms of livelihoods, such as contract workers, deserve to be weatherproofed, just as permanent employees' are. Not only should all workers be protected equally; so should all parents. Some believe that parenting begins when a child is born, but I believe that parenthood begins in pregnancy – when your pregnancy home kit test first signals that you are positive, when you hear your child's first heartbeat, when you take your first ultrasound picture of your child. For a couple, there is so much expectation, so much preparation up to the due date. For most parents, this due date is a joyous occasion while, for some, a profound pain envelops their expectant hearts. I am referring to parents of stillborn children.”
“Thank you, Sir, and the Minister of State for his comprehensive answer. I have a supplementary question. In the course of my community work, I have elderly residents and their loved ones who have come to me distraught about the loss of their valuables. Oftentimes, for these seniors, these valuables can be keepsakes left behind by their dearly departed loved ones. These residents later discover their items have been inadvertently pawned or sold away without their knowledge by people who have access to their belongings at home – sometimes, by family members, sometimes by caregivers. In one instance, my elderly resident lost over a dozen gold accessories and items, which were pawned away by her domestic worker on different occasions to two pawnshop chains over a one-year period. A Police report was made but these pawnshops merely offered the family a discount on the redemption. Would the Ministry not agree that pawnshops, second-hand shops, especially those belonging to the same chain, need to coordinate their customer data so that they can make informed due diligence assessments and profiling of their clients so that red flags can be shared with each other and with crime enforcement agencies, if needed?”
“Thank you, Sir and also, thank you to the Minister for his comprehensive answer. I have one supplementary question. I have seen over the past few months a rise in the number of appeal cases from my residents who have fallen victim to such cyber crimes. They tell me that they have not received any OTPs nor have they divulged their bank account information or credit card information unwittingly. When they go to their banks for investigation, their banks' usual response is that they have divulged their OTPs and hence, the victim, not the bank, is responsible for the loss. One of my residents, who is a retiree, lost over $10,000 in a string of transactions and she is very sure that she has never given her OTP once, if any. Another resident has told me he has merely done one banking transaction online with a payment platform and before he knew it, he had $1,000 missing from his bank account. Given the push towards online financial transactions and digital banking, what are the measures that the Ministry has put in place, especially with the banks and financial institutions, to ensure that our citizens are made aware of these fast-evolving banking and credit card scams?”
“In the planning for the roll-out of the Progressive Wage Model (PWM), does the Ministry take into account job types that may become obsolete or face disruptions in the next five to 10 years? And in such circumstances, what measures would the Ministry take to ensure that the livelihoods of our workers, particularly those in the lower paying tiers, are not affected?”
“I thank the Minister for the comprehensive answer. Sir, I have three supplementary questions. In May, we had the unfortunate situation where an 88-year-old cleaner working in T3 caught the virus at work. What are some of the additional measures we have put in place to protect the more vulnerable workers at the airport? Secondly, I declare that I am an adviser to the National Taxi Association (NTA) and the National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NPHVA). Taxi drivers and private hire drivers are transport partners in the larger eco-system of workers supporting airport functions. Have these safety measures put in place by the airport over the past 16 months also factored in our drivers' comfort and safety? Finally, I am very glad to hear that 95% of our workers are vaccinated. But many of our airport frontline workers live in my constituency and they have young children and many live with their elderly parents as well. So, as our airports start to open up and should our frontliners catch the virus, will the Ministry also be coming up with more support measures to assist these families and workers, especially if livelihoods are affected?”
“As we necessarily lose the personal touch of the LPA process in introducing an online system, we must conscientiously support seniors in crossing the digital divide and intentionally build in safeguards that capture the diversity of our adults with special needs. These concerns notwithstanding, Sir, I support the Bill.”
“We recognise that online LPA services greatly add to the convenience of the process by reducing the need for physical appointments even though these physical appointments, arguably, play pivotal roles in the ascertainment of mental capacities. Given the grave implications of making an LPA, we cannot, with good faith, proceed with the issuance of LPAs should there be any shadow of a doubt whether or not an individual is under pressure or has mental health impediments. We must get it right every single time. Sir, while I am ready to place my faith in the intentions of LPA certificate issuers – medical doctors, psychiatrists and lawyers – their ability to ascertain an individual's mental capacity at the time of issuance is, actually, paramount to safeguarding the integrity of the process. For example, should an individual who experiences episodes that result in delusions seek to make an LPA, how would the certificate issuer be able to ascertain that the basis on which the individual applies for an LPA is grounded in reality? Would an untrained personnel be able to make an assessment based on a one-off interaction with a special needs adult? These are situations that are not easy, even with physical interactions and online submissions make it even more tricky. Without additional safeguards or a transparent and rigorous evaluation system for mental capacity, the issuance of LPAs over an online system might become inconsistent at best, and, at worst, fail to protect the individuals it was precisely set out to protect.”
“Given that most of the online LPA system's intended audience will be daunted by fears associated with crossing the digital divide compounded by the pressure of making an LPA while they still can, we must stand ready to provide support for using these systems. While digitalisation is often intended to reduce burdens on manpower, we must be willing to cross the bridges with those whom we build it for. I call on the Government to make accessible support systems for those daunted by online systems in order for them to get the most out of this initiative. Crossing the digital divide is not just a matter of know-how but, in many cases, it is a matter of confidence. Providing a personal touch, especially on something as personal and life-changing as LPAs, through social services or other equivalent means will give our residents the encouragement, assurance and motivation to set up LPAs over the well-meaning online system. Mr Speaker, at this juncture, I would also like to shed some light on another vulnerable slice of society and they are adults with special needs and residents with mental health impediments. On the extreme end, parents or relevant caregivers assume deputyship over these individuals, making decisions on their behalf in matters akin to an LPA. However, special needs and, indeed, mental incapacity, are a spectrum and we find a great diversity of conditions. Some cases are more visible than others while many other such conditions are virtually invisible to the untrained eye. Some conditions cause mental incapacities in bouts or sporadic episodes and cannot be recognised with certainty in one-off encounters.”
“However, Mr Speaker, today, we are here to debate the digitisation of a service that is arguably of more concern to a thinner, more vulnerable slice of our society, such as the elderly as well as adults with special needs – the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). These LPAs are not a matter that should be taken lightly. While the prudent and forward-thinking make LPAs pre-emptively, many Singaporeans only consider LPAs as they get on with age out of the concern that, one day, they may not have the ability to make proper judgements over their own welfare, property and other personal affairs. Effectively, to make an LPA is to commit to let someone else decide what you should eat, where you should stay and how you should live should the fateful day come that you are not able to make these decisions yourself. Sir, I have seen the trepidation with which some of my elderly residents and even residents in their late 40s and 50s have with their approach in their interactions with the digital world – be it creating an email, setting up a bank account or even creating video calls with their loved ones. I recall someone I know in his early 50s asking me for help with the change of a file name on a document that is stored on his phone. It is unfamiliar terrain for many and then even for some. Understandably then, the electronic LPA system, with implications reaching farther than WhatsApp video calls, may daunt many seniors who cannot find the confidence and assurance to traverse the digital divide. An online system is only as useful as those who are able to find it useful and set itself up to be an exhibit in the museum of digital assets if not well implemented.”
“Mr Speaker, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] To most Singaporeans, LPAs sound depressing and remote. However, there will come a day when you and I may be bedridden and have to rely on someone we trust to continue to live with dignity. Since we have to appoint someone to handle our property and other important affairs through an LPA eventually, the LPA application process should be made easy. Here, I would like to discuss the impact of LPA digitalisation on Singaporeans. Public Service in Singapore has always been at the forefront of digitalisation. During the pandemic, digitalisation has helped our elderly to learn about and use email, internet banking and video conferencing. However, this does not mean that they do not fear digital services. The key to make the leap across the digital divide is not knowledge but confidence. How are we going to instill confidence in our elderly towards digitalisation? Digital services will not completely replace customised services. To many Singaporeans, convenience from digitalisation is merely a function which is a complement to face-to-face services. In order to boost the confidence of the people, we need to make digital LPA easy to understand, use and trustworthy. At the same time, automated services should come with a human touch and be more personalised. (In English): Mr Deputy Speaker, the hallmark of a 21st century government is its ability to digitise its functions and processes and the Singapore Government has made leaps and bounds in this regard, such as the digitisation of citizen data on Singpass, payments on PayNow and even, to many of our citizens' delight, replacing parking coupons with an app.”
“As it is, there is a lack of clarity with the availability of fast-charging points and the economic balance of having vehicles rested in a typical eight-hour charging cycle. How would this impact the existing partnerships between drivers? How would this impact rental fees and the P2P business model? These considerations must be tightly watched and implemented with the interest of our drivers' livelihoods as a priority. It is imperative then for our Government to work closely with taxi companies and ride hailing platforms to work out the implications of policies and infrastructure that accompany the electric push in Singapore. These concerns notwithstanding, I support the Bill.”
“Just as some people cook for a living, some also cook as a hobby. Should the prices of ingredients shoot up, those who do it as a hobby can and might just stop cooking. But what is there to do for those who do it as a living? If to complement the development of Singapore's EV eco-system, we put in higher barriers for non-taxi and private hire drivers, maybe they will actually think twice about purchasing an ICE vehicle or only drive when it is necessary. These considerations are, in fact, invalid for point-to-point (P2P) drivers. There must be a better way. If we can promise our taxi and private hire drivers that the onset of EV does not threaten their rice bowl, they will surely support and embrace the new technology. After all, our drivers have been very supportive of all our national campaigns and agenda, from getting swabbed to going for vaccinations and being very responsible front-liners supporting Singapore as we emerge from COVID-19. I would like to bring up the additional considerations surrounding charging stations. With 40,000 reported active drivers in 2020 and with drivers driving around 300 kilometres a day, our drivers seek assurance that charging capabilities will stand the test of the P2P driving industry with the complete shift to electric. Any lapses in charging infrastructure – be it unexpected charging station breakdowns or the unavailability of charging stations – can compromise an entire shift or even an entire day's work. In addition, for many drivers, their vehicles are optimised for use 24 hours a day with partnerships between day and night drivers or main and relief drivers.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, during the Budget debate, I had talked about the plight of our taxi drivers and private hire drivers: they are hit with a double whammy of low street hails, having to drive aimlessly around, wasting fuel and time, and having to deal with petrol tax hikes. Every policy-maker has two weapons in their arsenal: the carrot and the stick. It is the acumen of and credit to the policy-maker for knowing when to present the carrot and when to brandish the stick. With the development of an EV eco-system in Singapore and with grand ambitions potentially for EVs to completely replace internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in Singapore by 2040, I understand the enthusiasm with which we might want to see drivers make the complete switch to electric. However, it must be asked, surely, with 20 years to the finishing line, we certainly do not want our drivers worn out before they get there. It is important that I raise such concerns, with a push for going electric often coming hand in hand with discouragements towards the use of ICE vehicles. Surely, in decades to come, we will see exorbitant petrol prices as the norm or even zero emission zones out of bounds for ICE vehicles. But ushering these policies in an over-zealous fashion now will only pile on the troubles for our drivers. Mdm Deputy Speaker, I cannot stress enough that even as we make headway in the development of Singapore's EV eco-system, it is of paramount importance that taxi and private hire drivers do not fall through the cracks and, in fact, they must be especially supported. Whatever cost we seek to transfer to vehicle owners and drivers in Singapore, they cannot be equally borne by our taxi and private hire drivers. Bear with my analogy.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, whenever new technologies are introduced in Singapore, they are met with both excitement at the unprecedented impact that they will bring about as well as the fear of the unknown and the unfamiliar. Taking steps towards a low-carbon future will necessarily involve the uptake of low emission vehicles in Singapore and we are encouraged to see that the Government has safety as their primary concern when it comes to the development of the EV eco-system in Singapore, assuaging the concerns of many Singaporeans. When it comes to confronting the ever-advancing technological revolution in Singapore, this is not our taxi drivers' first rodeo. Before the 1980s, taxis did not even run on digital metres we are now familiar with but had analogue metres hooked up to speedometers that calculated our fares. In 2006, our taxi drivers had to begin learning how to use the new NETS terminals installed in their vehicles. Fast forward to today, fares are calculated with algorithms on ride hailing applications, payment transactions are completed virtually without any effort needed by passengers. Our taxi drivers have also cooperated with evolving vehicle policies and we have taxi drivers going on diesel, petrol, compressed natural gas (CNG), petrol-electric hybrids and even blue diesel vehicles. Our taxi drivers have seen us through generations of technological advancements, proven capable of relentless adaptation and evolution, and we intend to continue to bring them along for this journey. However, the route that we take in developing our EV eco-system in Singapore will determine whether our taxi drivers can face up to the challenge or will be phased out by the measures taken.”
“Singapore now boasts 460 kilometres of cycling paths, with plans to triple and expand the density of our cycling network to 1,300 kilometres by 2030. There are clear ambitions to grow Singapore into a connected cycling-friendly city. Should the PAB theory test define the rules of the road for riders, we must also maintain a flexibility in the test handbook to accommodate for the ever-evolving face of road infrastructure in Singapore in a bid to promote active mobility. Do not be surprised if we see cycling lanes on our roads one day, bicycle boulevards or even smart traffic lights that respond to the volume and type of vehicles on the road. With the push towards becoming a cycling-friendly city, the rules of the road and, naturally, the theory tests for PABs must be kept on their feet to change as our city also changes. Mr Speaker, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] First of all, let me thank the authorities again for introducing appropriate measures to ensure that PABs are used safely. This Bill not only provides for the safety of riders, but also pedestrians and other road users. When it comes to safety matters, we must be careful and not lose the big picture. The convenience brought about by the one-off online test will help many people. However, we must consider carefully if we can lower the test fee and provide translated or audio versions of the online test for users with different needs. These considerations are essential, because this will ensure that riders of different language abilities can take the test equally and that riders with different education qualifications can all take part. (In English): Mr Speaker, these concerns not withstanding, I support the Bill.”
“All these being said, Mr Speaker, refining the administration of these theory tests is only half the story. The education of our delivery riders can only elevate their prospects of safety so much. In this field of work, delivery platforms should place priority to the health, safety and lives of their partners. It is thus commendable that while we are enforcing the mandate of theory tests for riders on food delivery platforms, it is also essential that we try to secure the lives of our delivery riders. We must also be conscious that this goes hand in hand with securing their livelihoods. Mr Speaker, Sir, our delivery riders can virtually lose their jobs if they do not move quickly enough. Delivery riders who do not make their deliveries in a timely fashion according to the expectations of customers can accrue enough bad reviews to be penalised, if not banned. How can we, on one hand, prescribe safe practices and speed limits in a test handbook and on the other hand have delivery riders fearing for their job security if they do not move fast enough? Oftentimes, the delays in delivery times are not even the fault of riders but arise upstream, with the restaurants, though riders are well aware they are the ones who bear the brunt of these late deliveries, leading some to feel they have to make up for lost time and lost ground. Surely, Mr Speaker, the rules of the game must be changed to complement the education of our delivery riders. Therefore, we call for a review of the rewards and punitive actions run by food delivery platforms. This is so that we can safeguard the lives and livelihoods of our delivery riders. Finally, we must ensure that the formulation of theory tests do not produce a lock-in effect on our roads.”
“However, considering that the test will be online, delivery riders are also looking forward to the possibility that the fees for taking the test can be defrayed. In the same vein, relating to the online nature of the tests, accessibility options must be provided for those who may find such online platforms challenging to navigate, or simply inaccessible. My residents often relate to me the conversations they have with other delivery riders about the best routes to take in the area, as well as the best makan spots along the way. This is the beauty of the delivery rider platform and community – that people from all walks of life can and do become delivery riders and are yet united by their shared livelihoods. To accommodate for this diversity, I think the theory test should account for literacy and language barriers. If possible, we would love to see a simply-worded test made available in multiple languages, with options, such as oral examinations, available even for those without basic literacy foundations. Finally, our delivery riders are concerned about the turnaround time should they fail to pass the tests. While we understand that the tests may not be perpetually available for sitting to uphold the rigors of the standards, a day's delay for those who fail their test and who are unable to get on the road poses significant cost to the livelihoods of our delivery riders. The availability of these tests is also paramount to allow entry to becoming a delivery rider, as many delivery riders do this as a part-time gig, such as students on their holidays. Having potentially to wait a week or two after applying to take the tests might set these prospective riders back unnecessarily.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the most hardworking food delivery riders in Singapore can make up to four to five trips in an hour which easily rises upwards of 30 to 40 trips in a day. Some riders choose to make these trips on foot, some cycle, some get on their motorbikes. However, getting around on power-assisted bicycles (PABs) are perceived by many riders as the most cost-effective and efficient way to make their deliveries. Understandably, travelling on the roads, especially on PABs, poses its own set of dangers. Even as they ride to put food on our tables, we must make sure that they get home safely to put food on their tables as well. It is commendable that the Government is taking measures to ensure the safety of PAB riders even if the first step towards securing their lives and livelihoods takes the form of mandatory theory tests. Theory tests like this, beyond educating our riders about safe practices while travelling on roads, also delineate clearly what the responsibilities of riders are so that they may not be taken advantage of in disputes that occur on the roads, knowing what practices are well within their rights. During the crisis, time and again, our delivery riders have proven themselves to be an essential service, bringing food to our families and keeping the food and beverage sector alive. Simply put, they oil the gears of our society, especially at mealtimes. Therefore, Mr Speaker, Sir, we must ensure that these tests, essential as they are for awareness, education and safety, are inclusive and we cannot afford in any measure to allow these tests to become unfair barriers to the livelihood of our delivery riders in Singapore. Mr Speaker, Sir, we firmly welcome the notion of a one-time test that can be administered online.”
“However, I think that there is room to develop more support for respite care options beyond centre-based and nursing home respite care. Could MOH consider expanding their support to care-givers who need home-based short-term respite care through financial support and the availing of local care-giving resources such as creating a repository of local micro-jobbers who have care-giving experience? Safeguarding Our Healthcare Workers”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, I declare that I am a director of a social enterprise that provides care-giving services. Care-giving is one of the most noble yet taxing responsibilities a person can take on. In fact, many Singaporeans are called upon to become care-givers at crucial stages of their lives when their careers are developing or at a very abrupt notice when illnesses strike or accidents occur. Be it senior loved ones, children, the infirmed or fragile, those called on to become care-givers are up to a hefty task, often having to do this on a very long-term basis and often at the expense of their careers, time with their family and, sometimes, their own mental health. During my Budget speech, I spoke about my frazzled resident who needs 45 minutes a week to restore and refresh her spirits. Many other family care-givers I speak with also tell me that while they have made adjustments to their lives in the long-term care of their loved ones – some have resigned from their jobs, others have taken on full work-from-home arrangements, some have hired foreign domestic workers (FDWs) – the problem comes with the availability and affordability of short-term respite care. Besides self-care, care-givers need short breaks from care-giving to run errands like going to the post office, picking up groceries, or even going for a much needed haircut. Respite care typically lasts between 45 minutes and about three hours. To help our family care-givers balance their care-giving duties with the other responsibilities they are carrying in life, support systems like short-term respite care must be made available; and this must be affordable and accessible at very short notice. The Caregiver Support Action Plan developed by MOH and partner agencies addresses many care-giving related issues.”
“A delivery rider, he met with an accident recently. We thank good fortunes that he walked away only with a broken wrist because I cannot imagine how it would be otherwise. Yong Wei, however, ended up not being able to work for the next four months and this time we thank prolong medical leave insurance that helped him tide through to these four months of lost income. We have heard from many other riders on their own near-misses. I believe to address the issue of safety for our riders, besides infrastructure improvement, education and awareness must play a bigger part, so that all road and footpath users build better awareness to coexist. Perhaps is timely for compulsory road safety certification and more community awareness campaigns on active mobility. Delivery riding is a physically tough occupation. Some riders work more than 10 hours a day and delivering upwards of 30 deliveries a day. We need to better promote the welfare of our riders. Rest areas, accessible parking, charging points at malls and food outlets, more efficient pickups and drop-offs will come a long way to alleviate the mental stresses of our riders. The union calls for better safety nets for our riders and for the Government to push for greater awareness for road harmony and to build better supporting infrastructures for our riders. Active Mobility and Safety on Footpaths”
“Sir, I am heartened by our resolve to encourage greener means of commute. Popularised in the 1960s, cycling as a mode of transport is not new to Singapore. It gives life to our city, it is more affordable, healthier and possibly, more convenient. However, active mobility is a buzzword, but what does it take for us to make it a reality? As things stands, I wonder if those seeking to participate in the active mobility movement feel safe to do so. The speed of motor traffic on the roads leave most of our cyclists contesting for space on the narrow 1.5-metre footpath. This is inconvenient at best and dangerous at worst for our footpath users, calling to attention the safeguards that need to be in place to encourage more to embrace walking and cycling. Could we have an update from the Ministry on its plans for improving our infrastructure to enhance the safety and travel efficiency for all road and footpath users? Sir, with this, I turn our attention to the growing community of delivery riders who are arguably the heaviest users of these cycling networks. Needless to say, COVID-19 has reviewed the importance of our delivery riders. They brought our favourite foods to our doorsteps when we could not dine out and allowed us to eat in the safety of our own homes. Our riders' journeys can often be precarious, especially on rainy days. It is unfortunate that we are still seeing accidents on the footpaths and riders colliding with drivers on the road. Riders we spoke with, feel like they neither belong with the motorists on the road, nor with the pedestrians on the runways. Perhaps, it is time for us to examine, how more deeply we can protect the lives of our delivery riders. Yong Wei is a leader with us at the National Delivery Champions Association.”
“Having undergone technological change with ride-hailing apps, diversifying into transport services like deliveries, or even just facing the economic realities of COVID-19 crisis, our P2P drivers are a resilient bunch. However, the Government must anticipate, ease and enable our drivers to prepare for these changes. We must not let the P2P transport sector become a byword for creative destruction, just as rickshaws and trishaws are looked upon today, but beckon and support them along the evolution journey of our P2P transport sector. Take the petrol tax hikes, for example. As far as it may go in pushing the rest of Singapore into a car-lite society, our driver inescapably live in a car-heavy livelihood. If they are given the support and opportunity to go electric to avoid petrol costs, many would gladly do so. However, their hands are tied, and so the environmental boons become their economic bane. While we must prepare our P2P drivers for the future, could we do more to gird their livelihoods in the present as well? Could the Ministry share more and how taxi companies will be supported in shifting to more energy-efficient cars without the burden of this cost being put on our drivers? Point-to-point Transport”
“Sir, the Labour Movement thanks our tripartite partners – the LTA, our taxi, PHV platforms for working hard with us on providing the much-needed short and medium term reliefs for our driving brothers and sisters. The expedited tax disbursements are certainly well received. Our point-to-point drivers have also raised longer term livelihood concerns due to the prolonged crisis, as well as the evolution of technology in the transport sector. With long queues at taxi stands, not of passengers, but of taxis themselves, our drivers know that the recovery of the domestic consumer economy will not be the end of their problems. Instead, our drivers anticipate the re-opening of borders and our night life to give their livelihoods a much-needed boost. These are strange times, as our taxi and PHV drivers trawl our empty streets, night after night, hour after hour, looking for possible passenger. We need to practise empathy and, indeed, sympathy towards the plight of our fellow Singaporeans. Our brothers and sisters are hit with the double whammy of low street hails, having to drive aimlessly around, wasting fuel and time, on having to deal with the petrol tax hikes. Would the Ministry consider allowing for more flexibility for our P2P drivers, to allow them to stop and wait in taxi stand bays outside the designated waiting lots, and even around taxi drop-off points, during the night when there is no longer any traffic or road safety worries about parked taxis along the road. This will greatly ease the burden and stress of our drivers. As our drivers focus on getting passengers safely and efficiently to their destinations, we must allay their concerns of obsolescence. Be it electric or driverless vehicles that hallmark our future, transitions will always require adjustments.”
“Mdm Chair, the future we march toward is inevitably a low-carbon future. That being said, we are aware of the limitations on the land use on our island home. Our narrow tidal range and calm seas limit our ability to utilise commercial tidal and wave power. We also do not have a river system with fast flowing water throughout the year to harness hydroelectric power. Our small physical size, high population density and land scarcity limit our potential for sustainably grown domestic biomass and large behemoth wind farms. 7.15 pm While ambitions to raise the capacity of solar PV capabilities six-fold by 2030 is impressive, our reliance on traditional sources of energy is still glaring. As we speak, about 95% of our electricity is generated from natural gas sources. How then can we be assured that decarbonisation will be a reality for Singapore?”
“Thank you, Chairman. I thank Minister of State Gan for acknowledging the work of FDWs for being the larger eco-system of support for our Singaporean women workers. The mental wellness of our FDWs is something that needs to be considered with care. Given that their workplace is also their home, many FDWs find it hard to disengage from their work, especially if they are care-givers to the elderly and young in the households. And NTUC's FDW clinics for employers and employees that I helm for the labour movement, an often brought up point is the loneliness that our FDWs face, particularly if they are first-time FDWs and they come from different cultures and speak only their native languages. In such cases, would the Ministry share with the House if there are plans to assist our FDWs in work-life harmony and if there are comprehensive outreach programmes being done by the Ministry to ensure the wellness and settling-in of our new FDWs.”
“In my Budget speech, too, I spoken about how FDWs form a vital care-giving structure for working women and that FDW partners at home allow our working women peace of mind in the workplace. Sir, it is with solemn gravity that I raise the plight of some FDWs in Singapore. I am sure we are not strangers to the case of 24-year-old Piang Ngaih Don (Pee-eng ngay dong). Ms Piang, an FDW from Myanmar, was repeatedly abused to the point of death. To call this a cruelty would have been an understatement, and not to address this cruelty would be an injustice. Imagine sending your daughter, wife or sister away to a foreign land in hopes of a better life, only to find out that she was treated this way. My heart broke. As a whole, it is important to be consistent as a society. We cannot afford, on one hand, to celebrate the pivotal role FDWs play in the support eco-system and, on the other hand, remain lax on protecting the dignity and even lives of our FDWs. I would like to seek updates from the Government on their plans to protect our FDWs and the efforts in community engagement to spread awareness on the roles of our FDWs in keeping our female workforce strong and resilient. Women in the Workforce”
“Sir, in my Budget speech, I spoke about women in the workplace and how important it is that workplaces must offer women real, viable choices for their livelihoods, grant them protection in the making of these livelihood decisions and to allow them to fulfil their full potential, be it at home or in the workplace. As a nation, we must stop thinking of workplaces as a one-size-fits-all for all workers. With the new norm of flexible work arrangements and working from home, the notion of what is a workplace has been given a new breath of life. A workplace can be in the office from 9 am to 6 pm or at home from 3 pm to 12 midnight. Indeed, a workplace can be anywhere and anytime so long as there is Wi-Fi and a virtual background. As such, these are exciting times for our women workers who are planning to return to work after a long hiatus because the typical nine-to-six office setting arrangement has never and could never work for them. At the Labour Movement, we ask that, together with the Government, we (a) encourage our employers to open their minds to a new progressive workplace and work arrangements, and, indeed, make these the norm and mainstay in the Singaporean workforce culture; (b) support companies through financial and advisory means the process of job redesign; and (c) advise our employers on the new HR best practices that support the outcomes of the job redesign and flexible work arrangement exercises. Areas that need to be looked into are work-life harmony arrangements, fair hiring practices and performance evaluation criteria. Comparisons, fair or otherwise, could be made between workers who work from home and workers who choose to work in the office. Could I have the Ministry update us on what their plans are for these three points?”
“Secondly, keeping in mind that many SMEs depend on foreign workers as part of balancing out their limited resources, with the narrowing of the Dependency Ratio Ceiling and SMEs concerned about the viability of their businesses, how does the Minister plan to assist and support SMEs to create a more balanced Singapore Core? Protection of Freelancers”
“Mr Chairman, our 270,000 SMEs in Singapore represent 99% of all companies in Singapore and are arguably the heart of our Singapore economy. In turn, our hardworking and loyal SME workers are the beating hearts of our SMEs. As the world adjusts to the new landscape that COVID-19 has brought about, SMEs and our SME workers, more than ever, need to pivot, upgrade and keep relevant with the changes to keep afloat and to come out of COVID-19 stronger and better. At the heart of the pivot, the unions believe that two things must happen: (a) the uplifting and upgrading of our workers to be a dynamic and adaptive workforce to drive the much needed pivot that many SMEs need now; and (b) the building of an even stronger Singapore Core that will allow our SMEs to weather this and other future economic storms. Corlison, or better known by their Pearly White line, is a progressive SME in the Labour Movement family. More than 88% of Corlison's workforce are Singaporeans and employees above 40 years old are sent on training to acquire new skills at least once every three years. As part of preparing for the new economy, Corlison's staff attend courses in Google AdWords and analytics training to enable them to receive competitive wages and grow to be even more future proof. Corlison has weathered the COVID-19 well and continues to grow market share both here in Singapore and overseas. They have built a strong Singapore Core through redesigning jobs, upgrading work processes and upskilling their workers. SMEs like Corlison must not be an exception. What will the Minister for Manpower do to assist SMEs in job redesigning and to uplift our workers so that they remain relevant and an important pillar for SMEs to be able to pivot?”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, even as relations between the US and China remain uncertain, Singapore is in a sweet spot and we are happy where we are. Our position of diplomatic neutrality must continue, though economically, we cannot afford to be indifferent to these tensions. Nowadays, wars are not fought with guns, but with market access, economic protection and the movement of people. Naturally, the effects of these tensions are felt intimately by our SME towkays here in Singapore and they will definitely be watching how US-China tensions unfold. It is our hope that our neutral stance will continue to find resolve in the midst of these tensions. Economically, however, we seek updates on how the Government is preparing the heavily globalised Singaporean economy to remain resilient in light of economic uncertainties that businesses, especially SMES might face? Myanmar Coup”
“Mr Chairman, the send-off to Tekong, a common rite of passage for most Singaporean males, are often met with emotional farewells. We see proud fathers, crying mothers, siblings with their smartphones out documenting the occasion. Sir, just as the Tekong send-off is a family affair, we must treat the defence of Singapore, and National Service as a community affair and hope to see the community rally behind our brave men and women of the force. The security of Singapore is contingent not only on the efforts of MINDEF and the SAF but also on the unwavering commitment of Singaporeans to defence. Since its inception, the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence, ACCORD, had set out to deepen engagement with businesses, educational institutions, family members and community groups, as well as to facilitate initiatives from the community that better support National Defence and National Service (NS). Since then, the solidarity shown by the community with our soldiers has been heartwarming. More are aware of the sacrifices made by our soldiers and how it is imperative that we have Singaporeans defend Singapore. Mr Chairman, we would like to seek updates from the Government about ACCORD's plans for the current term, 2020 to 2022, regarding efforts to strengthen community support for defence and NS. What are the roll-out plans like, in terms of engagement, particularly for divisions like Punggol Town, where we have many young families with their sons going off to serve their country? Digital Defence”
“We must raise people's awareness, build an inclusive and empathetic society together, and reduce the worries of care-givers. (In English): Mr Deputy Speaker, in English please. Looking at the world through the lens of our women, their dreams, aspirations, grievances, and indeed, their humanity, has led me to dream up the possibilities created by having a Singapore Centre for Working Women. Imagine, a single resource centre for women, covering everything I have spoken about in the past 15 minutes and more, where women can come to explore new livelihood options, air grievances, seek mentorship, access best practices, apply for support, seek redress, form alliances and of course, to assist and guide along other women. It is my hope for our women warriors to have a safe space to be themselves amidst other women warriors – a place where women can be unabashedly themselves, unashamed to seek help. And in these connections, be empowered to be the best versions of themselves. It is by capturing the diversity of the concerns and aspirations of our women warriors that we may best release their potential. Sisters, every worker matters. The Labour Movement will be here to walk with you on your journey, protect you, and help you reach for the stars. I support the Budget. [Applause.]”
“Plenty of women go to work every day, looking forward to maintain a livelihood, support their families and fulfil their career aspirations – yet are forced by "necessity" and "conventional wisdom" to occasionally look over their shoulders in case of practices, actions or even speech that threaten to muddy the professionalism of their workplaces. However, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we must enquire whether these narratives of "conventional wisdom" that suggest harassment is a mainstay to be expected, the default way of things, should still stand. Surely, I do not think this is how things are meant to be. Coveted honours of being a "great place to work" must always play second fiddle to the bare necessities of a "safe place to work". And this is the assurance our workforce needs. Indeed, a safe place to work also extends to good fair hiring practices, good work-life harmony and progressive retention and employee development policies. Mr Deputy Speaker, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Amidst the hustle and bustle in Singapore, is a 40-minute break considered long or short? At a Meet-the-People Session, I met an angry middle-aged woman. Honestly speaking, her aggressive and angry look was very intimidating indeed. We spoke for a while, gradually her anger subsided and turned into a stream of endless grievances and helplessness. To a woman in her 30s, troubled by endless family problems such as annoying children, no income, no food for the next meal and so on, a 40-minute break has unknowingly turned into a kind of luxury, a desire and an out-of-reach oasis. We must provide care-givers with respite service as soon as possible. Respite service is a short-term service provided with the aim of alleviating the burden of care-givers.”
“Together with the NTUC’s Centre for Domestic Employees, my team over at the Women and Family Unit conducts a monthly advisory and legal clinic for employers and FDWs. I was delighted to observe that the vast majority of people who came to our clinics were here to ask for pro tips on how to best relate to the people who were living with under the same roof. I believe that with mutual respect, understanding and awareness of each other’s needs and boundaries, FDWs and their employers in Singapore, can be good model examples of exemplary employer-employee relations. Over the next few months, the unions hope that with the support of the Government, we will be able to promote more wide spread awareness to better employment practices and understanding the expectations and aspirations of our women employers and their hired help. However, although respite care options are available, they might not be affordable for certain families that already carry the burden of expensive medical bills and daily expenses. Thus, it presents itself as necessary for there to be additional subsidies to help primary care-givers relieve the financial burden of seeking assistance. As we support women with their responsibilities at home and eagerly beckon them into the promised land of the workforce – work must be done to ensure that the land of opportunity does not turn into the land of the opportunistic. Workplace harassment spares no gender, but women undoubtedly bear the disproportionate portion of such incidences.”