Yip Hon Weng
Singapore
“But we must also keep building our trust. It is the only infrastructure a small country cannot afford to lose. Every generation since Independence has earned our place in the world. Our responsibility is to see that the next generation is given the chance to do the same.”
“It can reinforce Singapore's role as a trusted financial centre, a gateway to Asia and a platform for long-term growth. But at the end of the day, we should also be clear about how success will be measured in practical terms. How much incremental daily trading volume are we seeking to generate?”
“I thank the Minister of State for his reply. While the US dollar remains dominant, some economists have suggested that the global monetary system may gradually become more fragmented and multi-polar over time.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister for his reply. Given reports that some firms are slowing workforce expansion due to cost pressures due to the situation in the Middle East, has MOM observed any corresponding shift in firms hiring preferences between local workers and our foreign workforce?”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister of State for her reply. Many Singaporeans are already facing rising premiums year after year. As we have seen recently, even with cheaper riders, base premiums continue increasing. So, households may still have to pay more overall.”
“Because this is not just a technology transition, it is a workforce transition. The establishment of the Tripartite Jobs Council is an important step in ensuring that this alignment happens in practice. Technology will move. Markets will adapt. But we must be clear about the future we are building.”
The complete record
Every one of 873 lines we hold for Yip Hon Weng, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 17 of 18.
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Mental Capacity Bill amendments which allow LPAs to be drafted and amended and submitted via OPG Online. Through interactions with Yio Chu Kang residents, I have encountered problems due to an absence of LPA. Most recently, a resident, Mr K, came to see me at a Meet-the-People session. His father suffered from advanced dementia and was in a nursing home. Mr K wanted to sell off his father's flat to pay for his father's nursing home charges. However, he was unable to do this. His father did not execute an LPA when he was mentally capable of doing so. As such, Mr K was stuck in limbo. To obtain legal permission, he would have to apply to the Courts to be appointed as a deputy. This is both costly and time-consuming. I have proposals in three broad areas to enhance the Bill further. First, Mr Speaker, Sir, we should make the process even more convenient for residents. I noted that the requirement for the donor to appear before the LPA certificate issuer, or CI, is retained. While I understand the rationale, this safeguard of meeting in person still presents a challenge to donors who have mobility problems. I hope that the Government can look out for this group of donors. Perhaps the Silver Generation Office can be roped in to do house visits. They can help to make clarifications and arrange for a CI to certify the LPA in the comfort of seniors' homes. Some medical practitioners and law firms already offer house visits. OPG should consider including those who provide such options on their websites and in the directory of CIs. We should also consider having the process authenticated using digital fingerprints. Banks and hospitals are already doing this for their forms and transactions.”
“Third, we hope that the Ministry can get the buy-in of developers and Government agencies, to understand the difficulties faced by the construction companies. Contractors are just as anxious to get their jobs completed, as are the developers and the various Government agencies overseeing public projects. The closure of travel from the traditional labour markets is like denying water supply to runners taking part in an endurance race in the desert. Government agencies are using the BCA template and agencies are pressing the contractors to meet their deadlines. This is almost oblivious of the dilemma facing the construction industry. There has to be a coordinated approach to this whole problem, besides just giving financial support to contractors. These agencies managing public projects must also review their contract terms. In conclusion, Mdm Deputy Speaker, the measures in the Bill will help solve some of these issues facing the construction industry. But we can do more. I stand in support of the Bill.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, the measures proposed show the Government's responsiveness in addressing the challenges facing Singapore during the pandemic. The construction industry has a significant impact on our economy. I will make three points. First, Mdm Deputy Speaker, we need to continue to help the industry with labour costs. I would like to ask if the current Job Support Scheme (JSS), which is an important lifeline for employers, can be enhanced to help them to tide over this period. It is good to know that the rebate for each Work Permit holder in the Construction, Marine and Process sectors will go up from $90 to $250 per month. Will the Ministry consider cutting the foreign worker levy? Labour costs have doubled. For example, I am told that the cost of employing a general worker is now $150 per day and a tiler is now $250 per day. With the current labour crunch, one can foresee staff poaching between companies, which would invariably add on to the cost. Can the Government consider more measures to help contractors to meet their higher overheads? Will there be a further review to assist the industry? Second is to give contractors more breathing space on their project completion schedule. Currently, workers are subject to many screening measures and movement restrictions. All these measures affect work planning and execution, quite apart from the impact on the workers' morale, many of whom are already stressed. Ultimately, contractors are facing a candle that is burning on both ends. While they are scrambling for workers, they are also facing the rising cost of raw materials, which are going up by 30% to 40%, as the projects drag on.”
“But ultimately, the "motorists versus cyclists" situation will never improve if we do not change our attitudes about each other to be more gracious and accommodating on the roads. The "me first" culture on our roads must stop. Every single road user – motorists, cyclists or pedestrians – has a personal responsibility to reshape our road safety culture. Be kind, be patient and be considerate to one another. In doing so, we can improve road safety in Singapore. Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Bill. 3.27 pm”
“On one hand, in cycling-friendly cities like the Netherlands, Sweden and Germany, the concept of presumed liability is practised. This means that in an accident, the burden of proof is shifted from the more vulnerable road user like a pedestrian or cyclist to the driver of motor vehicles, such as cars and lorries, which are capable of causing more impact. This rule does not automatically abolish fault or impose liabilities over any single party. The accused may still disprove claims of fault in Court. Legislating for presumed liability may, indeed, help accelerate the progress of Singapore as a car-lite nation. With the sheer amount of existing conflict between cyclists and motorists in Singapore, imposing a similar law may now widen the rift. But it is certainly something we should consider as part of improving safety and responsibility among users of shared roads. On the other hand, the concept of duty of care in common law already requires a driver and, indeed, all road users, to adhere to a reasonable standard of care when using the roads. What this means is that even if it was possible for the motorist to show that it was the cyclist that caused the accident, the motorist would find it a lot more difficult to show that they have not breached their duty of care. What if this was not the case? What if liability for a traffic accident involving a cyclist can be decided simply by causation? Simplifying how fault is determined in a traffic accident could lead to road users becoming more self-aware of their own conduct on the roads. This can reduce reckless behaviour and make roads safer for everyone. In conclusion, Mr Speaker, Sir, we need to seriously consider the above proposals to improve road safety and the accountability of road users.”
“Once that is achieved, we can then work on raising awareness that the law applies equally to cyclists as well. Mr Speaker, Sir, my third proposal is to implement common traffic education and road safety regulations for cyclists and motorists. For example, motorists should be educated on the hand signals that cyclists use so that the intentions of cyclists are clear to motorists. Another recommendation is for cyclists to take a theory test like a CPR qualification before they can go on the roads. I note with concern that there is a divergence between recommendations within the cycling community and the guidelines for cyclists on LTA's website. For example, LTA's website states that cycling two abreast is allowed on non-single lane roads and on bus lanes outside their operational hours. However, many people, including cyclists, believe that cycling should always be done in a single file. In fact, the Highway Code requires cyclists to "ride in a single file when possible". Divergence results in one side assuming that the other is not compliant, thereby resulting in conflicts. We should align guidelines and recommendations for cyclists on the roads. We should avoid referring to road traffic rules as guidelines or as a code. This is to avoid any ambiguity as to their applicability. They should be clearly stated as laws to be adhered to and to be included in common road user education and theory tests. And if these rules are broken, the offenders should be brought to task. Mr Speaker, Sir, my last proposal is for authorities and the Courts to reconsider how well-established legal concepts, such as the burden of proof, causation and duty of care, should apply to incidents on the road involving cyclists.”
“The city saw a massive commuter shift to bicycles during the pandemic. Paris is a bustling metropolis with existing buildings and infrastructure in place – very much like Singapore. Yet, the authorities were able to swiftly create many new cycling lanes within months. They accomplished this by converting about 150 kilometres of roads to cycling lanes. New cycling infrastructure will take years, even decades, to complete if they are to be built from scratch. I, therefore, urge our Government to consider this initiative seriously. It would be helpful if the cycling community can be involved and assist the LTA in identifying routes where dedicated cycling lanes can be created. Mr Speaker, Sir, my second proposal is to have clearer regulations on cycling. Let me cite an example. From LTA enforcement reports, I understand that it is an offence to cycle against traffic flow. However, this is not immediately obvious to all cyclists. There is no explicit statement about riding against traffic flow in Section III of the Highway Code, which is widely assumed to be the only piece of law that governs conduct on the roads, nor is there anything on LTA's website about cycling on roads. Unless someone is a lawyer or works at LTA, one might not be aware that there may be multiple sources of the law relating to cycling. Some cyclists, therefore, may break the rules because they are genuinely uninformed. Others may exploit the lack of clear information and do as they please. This creates confusion and dangerous situations on the roads. A suggestion would be to further enhance the Road Traffic Act, specifically, to ensure that the Act is explicitly clear that it covers cyclists the same way as it does for motorists.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, based on the Land Transport Master Plan 2040, cycling plays a key role towards a car-lite Singapore. However, as more cyclists take to the roads, there has been an increase in hostility between cyclists and motorists, and even pedestrians. The proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Act would require power-assisted bicycle riders to pass a theory test. This is before they can ride their power-assisted bicycles on the roads or on the pavements. The amendments are aimed at making the roads and pavements safer for everyone. Many Members today have spoken on cycling. The conduct of cyclists on the roads has been the topic of frequent, sometimes intense, debates on social media. In the course of policymaking, we need to take into consideration the views of cyclists as well as other road users. Ultimately, we want safety for all road users. Since we have identified cycling as an important element in our move towards a car-lite nation, we cannot and should not relegate cyclists to the pavements. But cyclists must take on more accountability. Their behaviour, decisions and actions can give rise to accidents. I have four recommendations to promote safe and responsible cycling. First, Mr Speaker, Sir, we must work on creating more dedicated cycling lanes. Many cities around the world, including Singapore, are experiencing a cycling boom since the COVID-19 pandemic started. This is largely driven by anxiety over shared enclosed spaces on board public transportation and a heightened interest in outdoor exercise. I am glad to hear last week that LTA is considering converting sections of roads as well as the removal of roadside parking spaces, to make way for cycling tracks. This has been successfully done in Paris.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I thank the Senior Minister of State for his reply. I just have one supplementary question, which is whether this method of empanelling doctors will impact patients, who may need to change doctors halfway during their treatment for whatever reasons?”
“Will there be a helpline in case a resident is unable to retrieve their parcel? Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, my second and last point is about delivery workers. Member Patrick Tay has also spoken on this. Delivery is often cited as a job that is at risk of being automated. It will not come as a surprise that some delivery workers will find themselves displaced. Can the Government share how many delivery jobs will be affected as a result of the locker initiative? Many delivery workers may be doing deliveries to supplement their income because their main job does not pay well enough to support their family. Some are in-between jobs, trying to get by as they find more stable employment. Some are care-givers who appreciate the freedom to accept delivery jobs when they can, as micro-jobs. How can the transition be made smoother for them? Does this new infrastructure project offer them opportunities to upskill and move up to a bigger jobscope within the logistics industry? In conclusion, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am glad that the Government is taking the lead with this network of public parcel lockers. When logistics service providers have access to well-planned shared infrastructure with the right processes, they provide a more efficient last mile delivery service for Singapore. But we must always remember those homebound residents, especially seniors, who have difficulty accessing these lockers. We must also remember the challenges faced by delivery workers as a result of this initiative. I support the Bill.”
“We need to make sure that the system caters for such individuals as Mdm Lim. During the circuit breaker, when home visitations were not allowed, many of my residents relied on e-commerce. This is to help their elderly family members to purchase necessities. Seniors could simply wait at home for their delivery to show up. In fact, some seniors in my constituency shared with me that they are learning to shop online. They enjoyed the convenience of door-step delivery so much. This is also a great opportunity to get seniors more comfortable with the use of digital technology. I am concerned that as parcel lockers become more widely available, businesses may find that it is more cost-saving and cease to offer door-step delivery. Some could continue to offer it, but at a much higher cost. Therefore, this may come across as working against the segment of the population that, in fact, stands to benefit most from the convenience of e-commerce. As such, businesses, particularly those offering essential goods and services, should continue to offer door-step delivery as an option and, hopefully, not at an unreasonable premium. Savings on labour costs should be passed on to consumers. Can the Government share how much can logistics service providers expect to save, if they utilise this network? As parcel lockers are typically accessed digitally, I presume this also applies to the Nationwide Parcel Locker Network. With the success of the trial in December 2018, will there be any changes to the system by which users retrieve their parcels? Are there plans to launch a public awareness campaign as the network progressively expands? How will the Government ensure that seniors and the less tech-savvy have access to assistance?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Bill is timely, with the growing popularity of e-commerce. It strengthens our last-mile parcel delivery infrastructure. Most parcels today are delivered to the doorstep. It is convenient, but it comes with its own set of challenges. Delivery workers are always rushing to meet the deadlines for deliveries. This can compromise their work quality and safety when rushing from one point to another and parcels are left at the door, with contactless deliveries being encouraged. This opens up risks of theft. As such, having a better self-collection strategy in place is useful. This is particularly so in the current climate when social distancing is necessary and where there is an increased reliance on delivery services. For this initiative to work, the Government needs to ensure the sufficiency of the lockers, at the local level. We also need to work out the processes to determine if a particular item should go into a locker, mailbox or direct to door. I will touch on two groups of people who are likely to be more affected by the Bill. First, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have to cater to homebound residents. I have many of such residents in Yio Chu Kang who may have difficulties leaving their homes to collect their deliveries. These include seniors and, especially those with mobility problems. It also includes care-givers looking after babies and family members with special needs. One senior in my constituency, Mdm Lim, is homebound due to severe arthritis. Living alone, she does not leave the house. She relies on VWOs for meal deliveries under the Meals-on-Wheels programme. She seldom checks her letterbox given her immobility. If the parcel station is not under her block, she will have great difficulty retrieving her parcels.”
“Thank you, Chairman. I am glad to hear from Minister Masagoes that the Ministry is reviewing the Senior Mobility and Enabling Fund. Can the Ministry provide more details about the focus area of review and when will the review be completed?”
“How can we better support care-givers, particular those who are looking after individuals with mental health conditions? Can the Ministry look into availing more flexible homecare services to meet care-givers' needs? There are many instances I can think of whereby care-givers need a break but they are unable to find a care institution to provide short-term care within a short notice. For example, Mrs Koh, a resident in Yio Chu Kang, is a care-giver to her husband who has advanced dementia. Her domestic helper is going back to her home country and there is a transition period while waiting for the new helper to arrive, given Stay-Home Notice (SHN) rules. As such, there needs to be more respite care options available to help care-givers. We need to give more care to our care-givers. Support for Care-givers”
“So, if one applies for a walking stick now and gets progressively weaker over time, he might need a quad stick or walking frame but he would not be eligible. While there are other schemes like the Assistive Technology Fund under SG Enable, the multiple schemes make things more complex than necessary for the elderly. 3.45 pm The lack of support for the repair of devices is another handicap. Batteries in motorised wheelchairs running out is a common problem and sometimes, these devices are perfectly usable after replacement of parts and repairs. But SMF does not provide such support, so we have to tap on other schemes. SMF also only covers consumables for applications made through a healthcare service provider like a nursing home. If the senior is cared for at his own home, he is not eligible. This runs contrary to our policies of encouraging ageing in place. I would also like to suggest that SMF extends its coverage to elderly-friendly safety features in non-HDB estates, such as ramps and grab bars, especially for the lower value private units. I hope that the Ministry can better refine the SMF to help those in need. Support for Care-givers COVID-19 presents new challenges for care-givers. The temporary suspension of certain care-giving services as well as the suspension of house visits during the circuit breaker period meant that many care-givers were on their own. Some of them had to cope with heightened feelings of anxiety, loneliness and depression. And with foreign domestic help being more costly and hard to come by in the midst of the pandemic, it is timely to review the Caregiver Support Action Plan that was launched in 2019. How has the plan benefited care-givers since its launch?”
“Chairman, active ageing has always been an important part of successful ageing. In the past years, HPB introduced many community programmes to encourage seniors to participate in healthy activities like group exercises and to create an avenue for neighbours to socialise. All these have a positive impact on the resident's well-being. With the COVID-19, the good work has been disrupted. Seniors are advised to stay home to reduce their exposure to the virus, as they are vulnerable. But this has affected their physical and emotional well-being. Without the in-person group exercises and the opportunity to meet their friends, they have less motivation to exercise. The online programmes are useful. But they are simply not quite the same. Our Action Plans to encourage active ageing must evolve with the pandemic. What is the progress on these? How else can we meet the evolving needs of our future seniors? Last year, MOH announced various measures to better support seniors to age in place. What is the progress of these measures, especially on the Eldercare Centres? Future generations of seniors will have different lifestyle preferences and aspirations. How are we meeting the evolving needs of our seniors? What are the measures of success and timelines for the plans? Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund Many seniors have benefited from the Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund (SMF). But there is still some room for improvement. Will the Ministry review the policy of the once-in-a-lifetime eligibility? Some seniors may require a replacement device after their first device has worn out from many years of use. Another problem is that they cannot apply for aids under the same category.”
“Chairman, permission to take my three cuts together.”
“Chairman, achieving herd immunity through COVID-19 vaccinations is important to our economy and livelihoods. Since the first vaccination roll-out in December, what are the latest statistics pertaining to the percentage of eligible recipients who are vaccinated? How many eligible seniors have been vaccinated? Even with the commencement of the vaccination programme for senior citizens, some of my senior residents shared that they are adopting the wait-and-see approach. I cite some of the most common reasons pertaining to their decision. They are worried about immediate side effects. Moreover, the two approved vaccines in Singapore are based on a novel technology, so the long-term effects are unknown. Some are also questioning the need for vaccination as the community infection rates are low. They may not go for the vaccination if there is no need for a vaccination certificate to travel. Is outreach also extended to younger Singaporeans pertaining to elderly vaccinations? Some elderly said that their children or grandchildren discouraged them from taking it. This is because their children are worried that the vaccinations have dangerous implications on seniors with health complications. How does MOH plan to encourage more seniors in the community to get vaccinated? Future Pandemic Preparedness”
“Chairman, I am glad to hear that the Municipal Services Office (MSO) improves service delivery by leveraging on technology. The AI-powered chatbot and OneService app appear to share some overlapping features. With the Chatbot introduction, what are plans for the OneService app to keep it relevant? What functions are the Chatbot able to fulfill, which the OneService app cannot, and vice versa? I am concerned about the chatbot's ability to accurately predict the case category and owner, based on the feedback. What accuracy is it able to achieve? What will happen if the chatbot is unable to make the correct prediction? Does it only accept feedback on municipal issues? Residents may not be able to distinguish between municipal and non-municipal issues. Can residents be assured that their feedback will be adequately handled with no compromise to service quality, even if there is a mistake in the category? Promoting Community Ownership”
“Thank you, Chairman. I have a clarification for Minister of State Desmond Tan. What is the impact of the minimum water efficiency labelling scheme on the industry, and whether existing equipment needs to be replaced with the two ticks when the minimum water efficiency labelling scheme kicks in?”
“Older toilets also use more water when flushing, compared to newer and more water-efficient systems. This can contribute to higher water consumption, particularly in the buildings with higher human traffic, like shopping malls and offices. What plans does the Ministry have in place to manage the increasing water demand and improve water efficiency? Third, we need to leverage on technology. It is insufficient to rely on regulations alone to manage water demand. Every individual, household and organisation in Singapore must make an effort to manage their water consumption and reduce usage where possible. Educating the public and businesses on water use can help to identify abnormal water usage and encourage the adoption of water-saving habits. The Smart Water Meter Programme by PUB presents a good opportunity to leverage on technology to help people to save water. Some of my residents informed me that while they would like to reduce their water usage, they are unable to identify which activities consume the most water from the monthly data in their bill. Some even come to my Meet-the-People sessions to enquire about this and about their water bills. Daily water usage data tracking would be very helpful to help consumers quickly identify and change water wasting habits. Can the PUB provide updates about the new technologies to monitor and improve the efficiency of water use? Managing PUB Pipe Leaks”
“Mdm Chairman, despite new challenges to our water supply, Singapore has been successful in closing the water loop. We are collecting every drop of water and recycling it where possible. Some of it is purified into NEWater, one of our four national taps and recycled into our water supply. This is made possible with PUB's robust network of tunnels and sewers, including the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System, which funnels used water from households and industries to our water reclamation plants for treatment. This water is then further treated into NEWater in the NEWater factories. I will talk about three areas in enhancing our water resources. First, safeguarding used water resources. Used water is a precious resource that must be protected. Some companies irresponsibly discharge toxic waste and prohibited substances into our sewers. This could potentially disrupt the water reclamation process, and even compromise our NEWater supply. What are the Ministry's plans to deter such harmful and dangerous practices? In 2019, it was revealed that over a five-year period, nearly 120 companies were fined for illegal waste discharge. Some were even repeated offences. Do the penalties serve as adequate deterrence? Will there be more surveillance and harsher deterrent measures to protect our water supply? Second, we need to improve our water efficiency. Singapore's success in re-using water is borne out of necessity, as we have very limited water resources. We cannot rest on our laurels, as we face significant challenges ahead. Our water demand continues to rise and is projected to almost double by 2060. Most of this demand will be driven by non-domestic use. Many older buildings which have older fittings, they are less efficient in using water compared to the newer systems.”
“Mr Chairman, the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown into sharp relief the importance of reskilling and upskilling opportunities for our workforce. Through some of these programmes, Singaporeans equip themselves with the necessary skills to take up new roles in the in-demand sectors. Even for those who are still in the midst of their job search, learning new skills through the various courses offered by SkillsFuture has helped them to stay confident and productive. Can the Ministry share details on further efforts to support Singaporeans to learn for life through the SkillsFuture movement? What are the latest statistics concerning SkillsFuture Credit usage? Can we look forward to another round of SkillsFuture Credit top up? As more people stay at home and spend time online, this has led to a surge in interest in online educational content. Being able to attend classes anytime from the comfort of their homes is a boon for many busy adults juggling multiple commitments. Will SkillsFuture look into encouraging this trend of learning online, even when safe distancing measures are relaxed? What are the plans for the next phase of SkillsFuture to facilitate the pursuit of skills mastery and development? What are the measures of success for the SkillsFuture initiative? Increasing Training Efficacy”
“Mr Chairman, I thank the Ministry for the replies. I have two separate matters for clarification. First is on the SGUnited Traineeships. How many of those on the SGUnited Traineeships were offered full-time employment in the industry that they were doing their traineeships in? Second, on senior employment, a lot of effort for senior employment is at the job-matching level at the local level. Can the Ministry share more plans on this effort?”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister for his reply. Besides trees in parks, many trees are actually in HDB estates managed by Town Councils. Can the Minister share how does NParks work with and coordinate with the Town Councils for tree inspection and how does NParks share their expertise with the Town Councils?”
“Mr Chairman, the PMET jobs which we used to do from the comfort of our offices and now in our homes, are at risk of being outsourced. Even before this, companies around the world are delegating small-scale projects to cheaper labour in developing countries, such as design, coding and customer services. Amidst the pandemic, technology has made it more easy to do remote work. On the other hand, Singaporean talents would also have more opportunities to work remotely for foreign markets. How will the Ministry help Singaporeans to leverage on these opportunities? How will the Ministry minimise the outflow of jobs as a result of remote work? Certain essential services usually carried out by foreign workers had to be suspended or reduced in frequency during the circuit breaker period. It is therefore prudent to push for skills development amongst the blue-collar sectors in Singapore. Some of these jobs in construction, landscaping and cleaning are considered skilled labour in other developed economies like Japan and Norway. It is heartening to observe that some young Singaporeans are embracing opportunities in the cleaning and waste management sectors. But such industries are still plagued with stigma and looked upon unfavourably. How do we transform these sectors, along with mindsets, to ensure we always have a reliable pool of local talents to count on for these essential services? Reallocation of Workers due to COVID-19”
“In this way, we can retain more talent, including mature workers, in the workforce. Will the Ministry look into expanding the Job Sharing Initiative? Can the Ministry share more about plans to leverage on senior employment and the mature workforce for the benefit of our economy? Thank you. Dignified Employment for Elderly”
“What is their employment situation and how are they benefiting from the traineeships? Senior Employability Next, on senior employability. Seniors are very important to our workforce. Mature workers have plenty to offer. They have knowledge, skills and experience accumulated from decades of practical experience in the workforce. Thanks to the Government's push for education and literacy in the earlier years, many mature workers are well-educated and possess the necessary prerequisites and qualifications to take up or transit to jobs that their younger peers qualify for. But with the labour market still tight, the challenge of landing a full-time job has been heightened. This is particularly so for the older workers, who are disadvantaged by unfair stereotypes that employers have of them. There are various grants to support employers to re-design their workplace practices, processes and jobs for senior workers. Tripartite partners have also worked with Institutes of Higher Learning to develop a training programme specific to the management of older workers in Singapore. And Workforce Singapore, or WSG, introduced customised support for sectors with a higher concentration of older workers. Can the Minister share about the progress of these efforts? What is the take-up among employers and how effective have they been in dispelling the myths about senior workers? Some seniors prefer to work fewer hours because of health reasons, or to pursue other personal interests. They built up their retirement funds and they do not need a full pay-check. And there are also other individuals who could benefit from reduced work hours, such as care-givers and those who desire more time for other obligations. They could benefit from job-sharing.”
“Chairman, I will take my two cuts together. Recent statistics indicate that fewer graduates have found permanent full-time jobs in 2020. There was also a spike in part-time employment during the COVID-19. This is to be expected, given the economic situation, and it is encouraging that graduates are able to find some form of employment to stay productive and earn an income. However, long-term underemployment would make it challenging for them to move on to better prospects, even when the economy improves. This is especially so if the part-time work they have taken on does not develop skills that are transferrable. Graduates from the lower income families and those who take loans to finance their studies are harder hit. They may have to settle for any source of income that comes their way. This includes informal jobs, like ride-hailing and food delivery. This is unlike some of their peers who may have the privilege to be more particular with choosing their first job and spending their free time taking up courses to hone their skills. Can the Ministry share more about the progress of the SG United Traineeship programme, now that we are more than a year into it? How useful is it for fresh graduates? How many have secured permanent employment from it? Are there plans to expand the programme and create more vacancies across a wider variety of sectors and job roles? Is the Ministry reaching out to graduates who are working part-time jobs, especially in the informal sectors, to see how to provide targeted help to them? I notice that the focus of media reports seems to be on helping graduates from the local public Universities. What about graduates from the Polytechnics, ITEs and private Universities?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Ministers for their reply. I have one supplementary question. Many agencies are involved in land clearance works involving greenery. This includes LTA, HDB, PUB, JTC, SLA and so on. As part of the follow-ups, will the Government consider appointing a lead agency to oversee and overall coordinate land clearance activities, such that we can minimise the possibility of such an incident from happening again?”
“This will in turn, create more employment, while ensuring that we are on track to adapt to post-COVID needs. Mdm Deputy Speaker, in conclusion, I am impressed by how quickly we pushed through many planned initiatives over the past year in light of the pandemic. One year on, the economy and employment rate are showing signs of recovery. But we must not forget to review our support for those who are struggling to catch up. In my speech, I focused on seniors and the construction industry as examples. In times of difficulties, we must do what it takes to support them. I stand in support of the Budget.”
“We need to give our local construction firms opportunities to develop their own expertise and grow such that Singapore will not stagnate even in times of crisis. A potential critique of this practice is that it undermines competitiveness. And that the winning tender might not provide the best value. Yet studies have shown that giving preference to local businesses can benefit the country's finances as a whole, even if it means spending a little more on the project itself. The local construction companies would purchase from local supply chains and service providers. This in turn creates an "economic multiplier" effect. Investments that circulate locally boosts economic activity, employment and tax revenue. To ensure that policies which favour local companies are transparent and fair, the Government can establish certification programmes and make public a database of companies that qualify for the preference. Implementing specific definitions for local preference eligibility, establishing well-developed goals, clear tracking and reporting will help to ensure that the policies are effective. This ensures accountability and that projects are value for money. Of course, in doing so, we should be mindful that there may be restrictions such as WTO or other international agreements of which we are a party to. But, if we put our minds together and work hard towards our goal, we should be able to find solutions to support our local contractors. Thirdly and lastly, Mdm Deputy Speaker, as we cast our minds towards a post-COVID world, we must review our infrastructure needs accordingly. Rather than defer infrastructure projects, the Government should consider taking an expansionary approach, and press ahead with projects in the pipeline.”
“I urge the Government to consider providing subsidies as all these amount to increased labour costs and cost of contracts. Housing the workers remains a challenge for some employers in construction. The Temporary Living Quarters scheme is slated to expire in end March 2021. However, some employers say that they are still struggling to obtain approval for building Construction Temporary Quarters or CTQ. Time is tight and the TLQ should be extended while these approvals are being worked on. The foreign worker levy waiver and rebates were a lifeline for construction companies. Due to safe distancing measures, productivity at worksites have dropped tremendously. During this difficult period, can the Government consider reducing workers levies? We can reinstate levies when SMMs are removed. For projects that are eligible for cost-sharing relief with contractual parties, can the Government look into expediting early settlement and payment to the contractors? The COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act introduced co-sharing of project prolongation costs for public sector construction contracts. This is supposed to help the contractors with their cash flow. How many claims were made, and how many have been processed? Second, Mdm Deputy Speaker, we should consider giving some priority to our local construction companies for public projects. Yesterday, Member Patrick Tay called for tougher measures to strengthen the Singaporean Core workforce. Today, I would like to call for the Government agencies to build Singaporean Core companies. COVID-19 is not the first pandemic, nor will it be the last, that will impact our borders. It is a stark reminder for us to improve our self-sufficiency. Local preference is relevant to our construction sector.”
“The Government can play a role to promote such micro jobs by offering integrated search and listing platforms to match the demand and supply based on location. The Government can also consider providing accreditation and training for persons who might want to take up micro jobs. Mdm Deputy Speaker, I move on to the construction industry. This is an important sector that help to build our comfortable homes and world-class infrastructure. The past year has been difficult for the sector. I note that this year's Budget did not mention additional support measures for the construction sector, beyond the JSS extension. Have we forgotten the people who toiled and sweat to build our infrastructure and for our beautiful HDB homes? Their work has been badly affected by COVID-19. I have a good number of residents who work in construction, either as workers or employers. We need to do more to help this sector cope with the immediate fall-out in three areas. First, Mdm Deputy Speaker, we can do more on the manpower front. Though industry players are receiving help from the Government, many short-term challenges have not been addressed. Many firms with existing projects must cope with rising costs and labour shortage as a result of the pandemic. Some foreign workers have returned home. Yet the new arrivals are tightly controlled. Newly arrived work permit and S Pass holders are required to complete a 14-Day Stay-Home Notice. Those who have recent travel histories to higher-risk countries must stay at a designated facility to undergo an additional seven days of testing. In total, they will be quarantined for as many as 21 days. Employers would have to pay for their accommodation and the swab test costs, which can add up to a significant amount.”
“Seniors must at the same time continue to be willing to adapt and persevere despite the challenges that they may face at work. It is not uncommon for seniors who, despite trying their best, remain self-deprecating of their potential and mistakenly believe that technology is for the young. Fear of the uncertainty is part of human instincts. But senior workers too, must be optimistic and believe in themselves. We must continue our efforts to push for greater digital adoption amongst our seniors. Mdm Deputy Speaker, I agree with Deputy Prime Minister that we need to continue with the Jobs Support Scheme, or JSS, for the time being. This is because the withdrawal of the JSS will lead to increased unemployment in the near term. This will likely impact senior workers more. We need more direct assistance and matching from the Government to help workers, especially senior workers, to stay in their jobs. Another major way to help on the employability front is to facilitate the creation of more micro jobs for seniors. Member Henry Kwek also spoke about this yesterday. I want to emphasise that many of these jobs can be in the community, including carers for other older, more frail seniors, medical escorts to accompany other seniors from hospital to home and vice versa and handyman works for repairs around the estate. For instance, I see many senior residents at my MPS who have expressed interest to look for micro jobs near their homes because they have family commitments and cannot afford to travel far. For instance, Mrs Tan, a 63-year-old homemaker, has approached me to help her look for employment as she can spare a few hours when her grandchildren are in school.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, I thank the Deputy Prime Minister for a compassionate yet pragmatic and visionary Budget. Allow me to focus on two pillars of our nation – our seniors and the construction industry. First, our seniors. Among those whose jobs are affected by the pandemic, our seniors are among the hardest hit group. I am glad to note that this Budget continues to recognise the importance of promoting senior employability. More than $200 million will be allocated for the Senior Worker Early Adopter Grant and the Part-Time Re-employment Grant. There will be increased funding to redesign jobs and leverage on technology to develop senior-friendly workplaces. This comes on top of the raising of the Retirement Age and Re-employment Age to 63 and 69 respectively from July 2022. All this is good news for older workers who wish to continue in employment. While technology and financial incentives go a long way to encourage companies to employ seniors, a change in mindset of both employees and employers is required to create truly senior-conducive workplaces. Research consistently indicates bias against older workers in Singapore, with impaired health and reduced cognitive abilities among top concerns. This negative labelling of seniors can impact their employability. Concerns about employing seniors can be overcome by redesigning jobs and the physical workplace. But this is something that companies find cumbersome to do. One employer asked me, "Why review my workplace practices and design, when I can simply hire someone younger?" With this mindset, employers would miss out on the wealth of experience and problem-solving capacities of older workers. We are an ageing society. Workplaces must adapt, or we will face a labour crunch soon.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I have two supplementary questions. First, will the Ministry consider having this event done virtually or in a hybrid style – both physical and virtual – should the situation worsen? And second, what are the other major international events that we will be courting for next year, should the conduct of the WEF be successful?”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for his reply. It is reported in the media that if all goes to plan, Singapore will have enough vaccines to vaccinate everyone by the third quarter this year. We read yesterday that China's Sinovac vaccine arrived in Singapore, but has not been approved for use yet. I would like to ask the Ministry if Sinovac is approved, will this push forward the vaccination timeline?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Senior Minister of State for his reply. My supplementary question is whether the authorities will continue to follow up with the affected employee for long-term side effects and whether the employee will continue to receive care for long-term health problems if the employee leaves the service.”
“Is the data totally deleted and disappear after 25 days or is it still stored somewhere? In order for Singapore to ride out this pandemic, we need all residents to be onboard the Government’s various measures. Apart from the ability to do effective contact tracing, we also need to vaccinate our population. This, again, requires the people to trust the various types of information that the Government shares with the public, especially those related to vaccine safety. Only with trust would people step forward and take the vaccination. Mdm Deputy Speaker, in conclusion, I hope that with the passage of this Bill today we can maintain the public trust in the Government. To do this, we must be clear when explaining or sharing information with the public. If there is any misinformation, we must act at the earliest opportunity to set the record right. Ultimately, it is about the public’s belief that the Government is able to solve problems, be transparent, and says what it means and means what it says. Mdm Deputy Speaker, I support the Bill.”
“During my engagements with residents, I have encountered many instances where they asked me why it took so long for the Government to reveal this fact. I am glad that the Government has acknowledged that the issue should have been flagged earlier. Contact tracing is not new. In the West, technologies involving the mobile tracking of infectious diseases have been around for at least a decade. However, issues relating to privacy and civil liberty have contributed to such technologies’ low penetration rate in these countries. So, it should not be surprising that Singaporeans, too, have concerns about individual’s data privacy even from the onset of the gadget roll-out. I believe we can recall there were glowing news reports of hundreds who have enthusiastically queued at the various centres to collect their gadgets. Everyone then understood that the TraceTogether data would be automatically erased once it is older than 25 days and it would only be used by MOH. You can imagine the let-down when it was disclosed that the Police also have powers to access the data via the Criminal Procedure Code. Singaporeans understand and support the need to fight crime. It is, therefore, reassuring that we are now moving this Bill to provide a “white-list”, limiting the use of TraceTogether data to seven categories of serious crimes and nothing else. To provide further reassurance, can the Minister elaborate if the Police are still able to access the TraceTogether data after it has been collected for 25 days? In a criminal investigation, the Police may want to trace back a suspect’s movements well longer than 25 days ago. In this instance, would they be able to recover, retrieve and access the data even after deletion?”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, as many Members have mentioned, this willingness to use the TraceTogether data is related to the central issue of people's trust in what the Government has said about the collection, storage and use of the TraceTogether data. This public trust in the Government is especially important during a crisis. In line with what Prof David Chan explained in his book, "Combating a Crisis", public trust is directly affected by previous related events. How agencies coordinate and work together as well as communicate with the public will also affect public trust. We recall that last year, there were several incidents of data lapses or information leakage by public officers. This pertains to the number of COVID-19 cases and announcement of control measures. We also learnt about leaks involving personal data committed by public officers in violation of the Official Secrets Act in 2019. And this was just months after the largest data breach in Singapore where personal data was stolen from SingHealth in 2018. With these headline grabbing incidents, we can understand why the public may be concerned about their data collected through the TraceTogether platform. On agencies working together, we should note that the TraceTogether initiative cuts across the portfolios of many Ministries. The gadget is developed as part of the Smart Nation initiative. The data is channelled to MOH for contact tracing. And from the Government's response to a Member's Parliamentary Question last month, the public now knows that MHA, specifically the Police, has access to this data. Mdm Deputy Speaker, it took six months before this issue of accessibility of the TraceTogether data by the Police was made known to the public.”
“Can we also explore possibilities for regular updates and reviews of LPA appointments and ACP wishes online? Mr Speaker, Sir, digitalisation is the way forward. But digitalisation is merely an enabler. We should take this opportunity to fundamentally review the LPA application backend processes, adopt a systemic approach and introduce changes accordingly. We need to do more than changing the physical to digital. Only then can we move the needle and make a real social impact. Mr Speaker, I support the Bill.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I stand in support of the Bill. My focus is on the legal recognition of the digital form of the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). This is timely, especially during this pandemic. It allows applications and amendments to be made to the LPA safely and conveniently. As Singaporeans live longer, more people will spend their later years in weaker health. This can create conflict in a family where their loved one whose mental capacity is temporarily or permanently impaired. Despite the importance of an LPA, the take-up rate is still very low. As of August 2020, there are just 93,000 registered LPAs. Only about 30% of the 60-69 year-old age group registered for an LPA. This is the largest percentage compared to all other eligible age groups. I must emphasise that LPA is not just for the elderly, but also for every adult with sound mental capacity. The physical nature of the process involves multiple parties, including a doctor or lawyer to sign the documents in person. This is one of the challenges that puts people off the process. Digitalisation will reduce some of these inconveniences. This will attract more people to sign up. Nevertheless, we must ensure that there is an underlying system in place, to enable the required parties to certify the documents online. For example, if doctors have access to the patient's medical history, this will help them with their assessment of the patient's mental condition when issuing the LPA. LPA goes hand-in-hand with Advanced Care Planning, or ACP. LPA applicants should have the option on the application to select their preferred organisations to handle their ACP, and exercise the necessary financial planning. Can we look into streamlining this as part of digitalising the LPA?”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Senior Minister of State for the reply. We note that there is currently a limited supply of vaccines. Will the Ministry consider a waitlist for those who want to go for early vaccination, especially if there are strong reasons for them to go overseas, be it for health, studies, business or on compassionate grounds? Thank you.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I note that the healthcare requirement plans are currently being worked out. But are there plans to require the majority of the Singapore public to be vaccinated before the event?”
“These transactions can be traced right back to the day they are mined, which is helpful for law enforcers. However, reconciling transactions across individual and private ledgers to individuals requires a lot of time and resources. Would the Government make it mandatory for all licensed crypto exchanges to require customers to be verified? Would only crypto assets that are transparent be eligible for licensing? Do Government agencies have the powers to confiscate ill-gotten gains in digital wallets? Can they freeze cryptocurrency accounts as they could with banks? Will the Government look into equipping our Home Team to prevent and combat not just cryptocurrency money laundering but also frauds and scams? Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in conclusion, the subject of cryptocurrency is highly complex and multi-faceted. Its growing popularity will attract blockchain developer talents and those who want to do good with it. Conversely, it can also attract scammers and crooks looking to make a quick buck. The Government will need to consider a public education campaign, so that everyone can benefit from the technology while avoiding the pitfalls. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support the Bill.”
“Fraudulent investments would have criminals pitching a new and developing cryptocurrency, such as an ICO, offering large monetary returns for a short-term, small investment. In reality, the investment money is swallowed for personal gain. Excuses about the complexities of cryptocurrency will be used to keep customers in the dark. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, my greatest concerns are for seniors. Earlier, Member Ms Ng Ling Ling raised a similar concern. They are often the favourite targets of digital investment fraud. Retirees are always interested in passive ways to grow their income. I already have seniors asking me about investment in cryptocurrencies during my house visits. They are getting familiar with digitalisation and online payment tools. This is a good thing. Credit to campaigns like the Seniors Go Digital movement. However, there are still areas where seniors are not particularly knowledgeable about, which renders them vulnerable. This is especially so if scammers hook them with phrases like "Government-regulated". These scams usually start off focusing on the growth rates of various cryptocurrencies, while neglecting to highlight the high degree of volatility. Once they have their interest, they may persuade victims to grant them access to remote-desktop tools or their personal information. Thereafter, they steal their information to commit other cybercrimes, or have them transfer funds to cryptocurrency wallets that the victim does not have access to. Our concern is not only about the law-abiding citizens, but those who are scammers looking to conceal their ill-gotten gains. Bitcoin transactions are, in fact, transparent and logged into a public ledger which anyone can access.”
“Imagine if one had signed a two-year lease in January 2019 for an apartment, agreeing to pay a quarter bitcoin per month. The value of the bitcoin soared in the later part of that year. This tenant would be paying more and more each month. This will be more than a six-fold increase over the two years. The Government cannot regulate the value of cryptocurrency. But what about businesses that accept cryptocurrency as a payment method, especially for long-term contracts for payment instalments? And if a dispute arises, as in this example, what is the legal redress? Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, as cryptocurrency becomes more widely accepted, this could also lead to a rise in related scams. These scams are much like the online financial scams that we have seen a rise in Singapore in the past year, only that the funds involved are in cryptocurrency. Unsuspecting victims have been tricked into becoming money mules by scammers. Such victims accept funds into their own bank accounts and deposit a portion into a crypto kiosk. An increased interest in cryptocurrency would also mean that more amateurs would dabble recklessly in cryptocurrency. This is particularly so in the current climate when people are grappling with job and income losses. They may turn to cryptocurrencies as a get rich quick scheme. This is particularly so with recent news about the bitcoin hitting all-time high prices. With increased scrutiny on DPT service providers, will the Government police online marketing of cryptocurrencies? There are various irresponsible marketing content on the Internet promising consumers an "instant way to get rich".”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I stand in support of the Bill. The Bill will bring about increased regulations and scrutiny over DPT. In the era of e-payments, and with DPTs gaining popularity worldwide, this is a necessary move. Fintech is an integral component of our Smart Nation vision. Singapore's friendly position on cryptocurrencies will attract tech start-ups and businesses here. This, in turn, creates good employment opportunities. Stepping up on regulations would elevate our status as a global cryptocurrency and blockchain hub. Regulating DPTs will be welcomed by industry professionals. I believe that after the Bill is passed, we may see an uptick in businesses accepting cryptocurrencies as payment. However, the act of regulating cryptocurrency can be misinterpreted. The layman may perceive the Government endorsing cryptocurrency investments and giving it a stamp of approval. Many may also question whether regulating DPTs makes it legal tender. Of course, it is not legal tender. Notwithstanding, some businesses in Singapore already accept cryptocurrency payments. What if the cryptocurrency somehow loses its value and status and businesses decide that they no longer want to accept it as a payment form? What if the issuing company for the DPT goes bust? Would not the token lose its value? Businesses must be aware of this. What happens to customers who stocked up on the cryptocurrency, believing that it could always come in handy for real-world transactions? Would the Government monitor the situation and intervene to prevent such situations? And since it is an individual decision, how can the Government moderate this area? The reverse could also happen. Cryptocurrencies’ value fluctuate greatly.”