Zainal Sapari
Singapore
“I believe great leadership is not only about making the hard decisions but, having empathy and the ability to relate to and connect with the people that are hardest hit to gain their trust and providing the support needed to cushion the impact on their lives. Without a doubt, our Ministers have demonstrated great leadership.”
“I would like to urge every service buyers and service providers to be responsible because any unethical action on their part will affect the workers who are trying to earn an honest living. I believe that it will be our spirit of solidarity, peppered with a lot of empathy and compassion that will pull us through this crisis.”
“Chairman, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Asatizah play an important role today in guiding the Singaporean Muslim community to help us thrive in a multi-religious and multi-cultural society, as well as globally, in addition to upholding our religious values.”
“Mr Chairman, in Malay, please. 10.45 am (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The 4G leadership recently expressed the Government’s strong commitment to partner Singaporeans of all races, cultures and religions, and working together with them in nation-building.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, before I ask my question, I would like to tender my apologies to Mr Louis Ng for referring to him as a fellow Labour Member of Parliament, but he is most welcomed to join us.”
“Chairman, in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] So far, there has been no cases of COVID-19 that came from the mosques in Singapore, even though many Muslims of different nationalities visit the mosque daily to perform congregational prayers.”
The complete record
Every one of 430 lines we hold for Zainal Sapari, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 2 of 9.
“Mr Chairman, I have a clarification for the Minister of State Zaqy Mohamad. I welcome MND's move to explore provision for rest areas under the new planning parameters. However, would MND review its current policy to consider rest areas included under the item not counted under gross floor area so that it will be excluded from a Development Charge (DC)? This would incentivise existing building owners to carve out rest areas for the workers.”
“Another non-productive practice is individual 3D modelling. In a tender, if there are 10 tenderers, 10 contractors will build their own 3D modelling from scratch. Can the project architect not issue 3D model to all tenderers instead? Workers remain a sticky issue. How does the Ministry arrive at the man-year entitlement allocation? Many contractors said the current allocation is insufficient for a project. Because of increasing safety demands, every potentially dangerous job requires a watchman while the foreign worker quota is being tightened. How effective is this watchman scheme? Has the number of safety lapses decreased? I hope the Government will re-examine all the above together with MOM. Safe and Considerate Use of Park Connector Network”
“Construction Industry Er Dr Lee Bee Wah: Sir, I would like to declare my interest as a professional engineer in the construction industry. Many big projects continue to be awarded to foreign contractors. Many local contractors hope that our Government can walk the talk and support our local contractors. This can help them build up track records and also stay afloat during this difficult period. The announcement of the increase in diesel tax comes as a shock. I appreciate the Government’s effort to ensure a more sustainable environment. But it is unfortunate that there is no grace period. Contractors are locked into very competitive existing contract prices and have to incur additional cost overnight. Could there be some form of rebate that could absorb some of the impact from the increase? Additionally, contractors, architects and engineers face a lot of red tape in the process of their work. They told me that road openings, service diversions and Land Transport Authority (LTA) clearances cause them the most headaches. As an example, one developer paid a few hundred thousand dollars for service diversion. Subsequently, no existing services were found on site. The developer, after several years and many rounds of appeal, has yet to get back his money. Also, planning approvals often take a long time. After dealing with one written direction, very often, agencies come back with another new set of written directions, and then it is back to the drawing board, and seeking approvals again. Where is the productivity here? Contractors said due to recent strict audit check by the Auditor-General's Office, many variation orders submitted by them were stuck. Work has already been done but nobody wants to approve the payment.”
“Sir, in my Budget speech and my cut to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), together with hon Member, Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar, we made a call for provision of rest areas to outsourced workers. Minister of State Zaqy Mohamad also shared yesterday that MOM will encourage building owners and service buyers to provide proper rest areas which are well-ventilated and equipped with basic furniture for the outsourced workers to store their personal belongings, rest and have their breaks. There are good examples of proper rest areas for outsourced workers provided in some buildings, such as JTC Summit, Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, the seven new hawker centres and many others. However, there are buildings that may not have designated rest areas at the service buyers' premises, and these may not have been catered for when the premises were built. In this aspect, I opine that the URA can play a critical role to make this happen if the Development Charge (DC) can be waived if the building owners set aside an area as rest areas. DC is a tax levied when planning permission is granted to carry out development projects that increase the value of land, such as rezoning to a higher value use or increased plot ratio. DC can run into thousands of dollars depending on the geographical area and usage. With the hefty DC, it can explain why most building owners do not carve out a rest area which has no commercial or intrinsic value to the owners. Thus, I am proposing for the URA to include Rest Areas under the "List of Items not counted as gross floor area" and correspondingly be exempted from DC. This may encourage building owners to provide rest areas for the outsourced workers as well.”
“Chairman, my question is for the Minister of State Zaqy Mohamad. I am glad that MOM will encourage building owners to provide rest areas for outsourced workers. But the reality is that many building owners, they need to carve out existing areas to be rest areas, and this would involve increasing their gross floor area, and there will be a developmental charge. I am proposing, maybe in his capacity in MND, to consider waiving this developmental charge for areas, if it is being carved out, to be rest areas. For the Minister of State's consideration.”
“Mr Chairman, there are many workers who are owed salaries due to company closure, and many are not able to recover their salaries. They decided against Writ of Sale and Seizure (WSS) due to the high cost of filing for WSS relative to the amount of salary owed. In the UK, if a company is insolvent and the workers' employment has been terminated, the workers can claim for part or all their outstanding salaries out of the National Insurance Fund (NIF) which is paid by employees, employers and the self-employed. There is still a claim limit since the intention is to help workers tide over while looking for alternative employment. In Singapore, we do not have an NIF. I would like to propose to MOM to look at a scheme to provide financial or subsistence relief to help more rank-and-file workers who are owed salaries due to company closure. Migrant Workers”
“Sir, last year, HDB shared that 3,000 rental flat tenants bought their first homes over the last five years. These flat tenants could do so because they were aided by substantial housing grants. Given that we have more than 56,000 rental units, the number of those who progressed onto home ownership is still relatively small. All of us know that owning a home is important. A home is an asset and paying a mortgage is akin to investing in your asset, which is better than paying rent, which is basically an expenditure with no returns. How does the Ministry of National Development (MND) help public rental tenants to eventually own their own homes?”
“I would also like to know what other plans the Ministry has to further improve working conditions for our low-wage workers. Review of WSQ in PWM The Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) is a national credential system that trains, develops, assesses and certifies skills and competencies for the workforce. Training programmes developed under WSQ are based on skills and competencies validated by employers, unions and professional bodies. Under the mandatory PWM in cleaning, security and landscape, workers are expected to complete certain WSQ modules. However, it is left to the discretion of the employers to choose which WSQ modules for the workers to take. Most employers would then choose the WSQ modules which could be completed in the shortest possible time, which may not necessarily be the best module to equip workers with the relevant skills and competencies. I would like to propose that a review be made to the WSQ modules for the mandatory PWM sectors to specify compulsory modules the workers must take that will equip them with the relevant skills and competencies to increase their productivity. Lower-wage Workers”
“Improving Working Conditions for Lower-wage Workers I applaud the Government for working closely with the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) to help low-wage workers. Measures to help low-wage workers must be seen in totality. I sincerely welcome the enhanced WIS that would put more cash in the hands of these workers and help build up their CPF savings. Our Government has also been generous in providing subsidies under the Workfare Training Support to enable low-wage workers to upskill and pick up knowledge relevant to their work that could enhance their productivity and perhaps wages. Many low-wage workers are also being helped through the Progressive Wage Model (PWM). It is my fervent hope to see more industry associations coming forward to work together with NTUC as a tripartite initiative to develop a PWM for the industry. Apart from improving wages, we should, as a society, aspire for our workers, including low-wage workers, to have jobs not only with decent wages, but also decent working conditions. The Government’s support to make changes to the Employment Act and issuance of the various Tripartite Standard has also helped to make the working environment better for the low-wage workers. Requirements for every worker to be issued with payslips and employment contracts, guidelines on term contract workers and others have ensured our low-wage workers can be better protected from unscrupulous employers. Everyone in society has a role to play. Employers and building owners should provide reasonable working conditions, especially proper rest areas, for their workers. You and I can also play our part to treat our lower-wage workers with dignity, such as helping cleaners by returning our own trays and treating them with respect.”
“Sir, Workfare is a permanent feature of our social security system and has been in place since 2007. It is our Government’s approach that to help vulnerable workers in a sustainable manner is by encouraging work, levelling up skills, and raising productivity and wages of lower-wage workers. This is based on the core premise that having a job is still the best welfare, and full employment is still the best protection for our workers. Currently, Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) not only provides income supplement to boost take-home pay but also channels funds towards Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings for retirement adequacy. One of its objectives is also to incentivise older workers to join the workforce. The WIS payout that an eligible person receives depends on his age and income. In general, older employees or those with lower income receive higher payouts than younger employees or those with higher income. While I welcome the increase in the WIS income criteria and WIS annual payout, I am still of the view that we should do away with the differentiation of the payout by age. Currently, the maximum WIS payout is for a worker aged 60 and above and earning $1,200. WIS can supplement a person’s income, it may not be necessary for the payout quantum to be differentiated based on age to encourage the older workers to work. Alternatively, the Government can consider increasing the cash payout to 80% without affecting the budget allocated. This would then help the workers to have a higher disposable income for their living expenses. Given that the scheme was implemented since 2007, could the Government also share how has the WIS scheme helped to raise incomes of our lower-wage workers? How can we encourage lower-wage workers to stay employed?”
“Sir, our Government has been very supportive in encouraging companies to adopt technology. There are many technologies available that can improve productivity by helping workers to do things cheaper, better and faster, but they also demand fundamental changes in the way that work is done in organisations. Companies need to change their business processes and workers need to learn new skillsets. It is important that support must be given to companies and workers in this new environment. With the need to reskill constantly to keep up with the demands of the job as companies undergo structural and business transformation, there will be a higher demand for CET opportunities in our polytechnics. Hence, MOE must facilitate the direct admission of adult learners into our polytechnics. Could MOE share on the efforts to increase the provision of CET opportunities and, at the same time, recognising the skills and knowledge that adult learners have gained in their workplace? SkillsFuture Movement SSG is a national movement to provide Singaporeans with the opportunities to develop their fullest potential throughout life, regardless of their starting points. It hopes to inculcate a mindset of continually striving towards greater excellence through knowledge, application and experience. Regardless of which stage you are in life, a variety of resources has been developed and made available to help you attain mastery of skills. Could MOE provide an update on efforts to help employers deepen workplace training capabilities and promote lifelong learning among workers to sustain the momentum of the SSG movement? Efficacy of SkillsFuture Programmes”
“Sir, since the maiden batch of 9,000 soldiers were conscripted in 1967, more than one million male Singaporeans and second-generation Permanent Residents have invested their time, blood and sweat in faithfully performing their NS duties. Their sacrifices and their families' sacrifices have kept our country safe and secure. NS has served as the backbone of the SAF. It has been the bedrock of peace for Singapore over the last 50 years. Even though the probability of conventional conflict is low, I am heartened that the majority of us acknowledge the importance of NS as a deterrent against potential adversaries. Over the years, our NSmen have responded with distinction to challenges, such as international piracy, terrorism and even natural disasters abroad while, at the same time, deterring potential aggressors. In today's constantly changing geopolitical environment and in view of the evolving security landscape and threats that are changing rapidly, MINDEF needs to redefine NS. At the same time, SAF also needs to respond to the domestic challenge of falling birth rates which requires a paradigm shift in our approach to NS. Could MINDEF share how it will respond to these challenges and the future warfare and elaborate on the role that NS plays today and its importance to Singapore? NS Manpower”
“Many of us are perhaps unaware, but in our daily duties and lives, we can play a part in helping our low-wage workers earn a living with dignity. (In English): Mr Speaker, let me conclude. As a society, we are judged by how we care for the less fortunate. Helping low-wage workers earn better wages, gain better welfare and be shown greater respect is not the responsibility of the Government alone. It is our collective responsibility to create a better society, one that is inclusive and caring, and one that ensures all workers feel a sense of belonging. Whoever you are, do what you can, and with whatever you have to help a low-wage worker live with dignity. Every Worker Matters. Mr Speaker, I support the Budget.”
“We want workers to embrace the adaptive technology and technical skills relevant to their industry to become Worker 4.0, hand-in-hand with Industry 4.0. With the huge training subsidies provided by the Government, the onus is also on the workers themselves to seize the opportunities available. Finally, society at large can make a difference. Let us not take for granted clean, green and safe environments that we work, live and play in every day. These are not a given. They are the result of a lot of hard work put in by our cleaners, security officers and landscape workers. As individuals, we can show our appreciation to them with simple acts. Return our own trays at the food centres; greet and give them a smile when you see them. Do not litter and do not think that you are doing them a favour by creating work for them. These acts do not cost us a thing, but they can go a long way in brightening up their lives. Make it our habit to care. A gracious society does not happen by chance. It is up to you and me to make a difference. Mr Speaker, in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Every worker matters. Helping low-wage workers should be everyone’s responsibility. In this Budget, the Government has increased the payout under the WIS scheme and provided other forms of assistance like CHAS and training support. It is important that service buyers and service providers conduct their business honestly and fairly so that low-wage workers can enjoy better salaries and a better working environment. Low-wage workers should also take up opportunities that are available to enhance their skills, especially in the application of technology. I would also like to encourage the public to be more considerate by lightening the workload of low-wage workers.”
“Therefore, I call for building owners or service buyers to provide designated rest areas for their outsourced workers. I am sure if workers are treated well, they will put in their best efforts to deliver quality service. To lead by example, I call upon all Government agencies and related bodies to ensure proper rest areas are provided for outsourced workers. The unions can work with building management to propose solutions for proper rest areas to be built. On the part of service providers, NTUC has been vocal against the practice of price undercutting or suicide bids, because when service providers have difficulty maintaining the contract subsequently, it is their workers who suffer. Service providers should not gamble on their workers’ wages and welfare and hope that the contract they won through price undercutting will bring them profit. I urge the Government Ministries and service buyers to keep a lookout for price undercutting and exclude such service providers from getting contracts. NTUC has been instrumental in the recent changes to the Employment Act and the introduction of Tripartite Standards. We have been active in encouraging companies and service providers to adopt the tripartite guidelines and standards which promote fair and progressive employment practices, which have also helped to make working conditions better for low-wage workers. We hope that the Government will only do business with companies that have adopted these tripartite standards. Mr Speaker, workers must embrace training and technology. Low-wage, vulnerable workers must also help themselves to earn better wages through upskilling and knowing their employment rights. NTUC has been urging our workers to "train up to keep up" and "skill up to move up".”
“Technology makes work easier, smarter and safer, leading to better service outcomes and higher productivity. In addition, it gives outsourced workers greater job security. Service buyers can also consider aggregating their demand to potentially enjoy economies of scale and more efficient manpower deployment. Third, service buyers should treat their service providers as partners instead of mere contractors. They should ensure that their contracts have fair clauses and avoid unreasonable liquidated damages. When service providers have fair contracts, they are more likely to do a good job and train their workers to deliver higher service standards. Otherwise, workers would usually bear the brunt of bad contracts. This happens when service providers find ways to minimise cost at the expense of workers' welfare. Finally, when contracts are renewed, service buyers should consider the experience of the incumbent workers as well. These workers are more experienced and familiar with the job requirements. Thus, in awarding a new or renewed contract, service buyers should ensure that incumbent workers’ wages and benefits are not worse off than before. NTUC hopes to see more Government bodies take the lead to adopt these Outcome-Based Contracting and progressive procurement practices. Our unions have been working closely with the industry associations to engage buyers and catalyse this on the ground. Besides this, service buyers have a moral responsibility to look after the welfare of their outsourced workers. This includes the area of training, allowing service providers to send their workers to attend training without requesting for headcount replacements, and workplace welfare.”
“In this year’s Budget, NTUC welcomes the condition to have positive outcomes for workers as a core criterion for companies to tap on the EDG. NTUC is encouraging companies to work with their union leaders to set up training committees to identify training that will equip workers with the relevant skills for sustained productivity increase. Although my previous call for better medical benefits under the Employment Act did not materialise, I welcome the enhanced CHAS subsidies and hope that MOH will allow CHAS cardholders to receive subsidised healthcare treatments at polyclinics even if referrals are made by CHAS-approved private clinics. Mr Speaker, I believe service buyers can do more. Service buyers have a key role to play in uplifting the lives of our low-wage workers. NTUC has been encouraging them to adopt Outcome-Based Contracting and to place greater emphasis on quality attributes rather than contract prices. Adopting progressive procurement practices will ensure more favourable outcomes for all, including better welfare for our outsourced low-wage workers. What are these progressive practices? First, contracts should specify service outcomes instead of headcounts and be evaluated more holistically based on the price-quality method, where quality has a higher weightage over price. Service buyers should avoid cheap sourcing which would lead to service providers undercutting one another in order to win contracts. Because with low margins, service providers are unlikely to provide better staff welfare beyond the statutory benefits. Second, service buyers should consider longer contract periods. This would incentivise service providers to invest in technology since they can amortise cost over a longer period.”
“Mr Speaker, every worker matters. As our society becomes more affluent, many of us are concerned with the plight of low-wage workers. Many of us have heard of the phrase "It takes a village to raise a child". In the same vein, I say that it takes everyone in society to help low-wage workers! Everyone, regardless of whether you are in Government, an employer, a service buyer or a concerned citizen, must realise that we all have a part to play to uplift the lives of our low-wage workers. This year’s Budget is pro-worker. NTUC applauds the Government for its continuous efforts to help low-wage workers. We welcome the enhancements to the WIS scheme. Perhaps, the Government may want to consider increasing the cash-to-CPF ratio to put more cash in the hands of the low-wage workers to help them better meet their immediate needs, without impacting the allocated budget. While NTUC continues to rally our workers to upskill, I believe that an important next step would be for the Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) courses to be reviewed. NTUC stands ready to work with the industry stakeholders, training providers and SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) to ensure WSQ courses are comprehensive and flexible to suit the needs of the industry. Our Government and employers have been very supportive of the Progressive Wage Model (PWM), and this has translated to real outcomes for our cleaners, security officers and landscape workers. NTUC hopes to see more industry stakeholders coming forward to work with the Government and NTUC to develop PWMs for their industries. Coupled with WSQ modules being made more relevant, it would be a sustainable way to raise the wages of our workers.”
“I feel sad whenever I come across elderly workers who have to take their breaks in a remote corner or have to simply sit at the common staircase area. It is important that we take care of the welfare of our seniors who are still working. We must ensure that our elderly workers are able to take their breaks in a suitable environment so that they can perform their tasks properly after they had had their rest. I urge service buyers and building owners to provide a suitable rest area for all workers, including cleaning and security workers. The allocated rest area should at least have tables, chairs, personal lockers and fans so that these elderly workers can take their breaks comfortably. I believe that a suitable rest area can make these elderly workers feel that their work is appreciated, and they will be grateful because we recognise them as workers who deserve to be treated fairly. (In English): Mr Speaker, I support both Motions.”
“There are also tripartite standards on Age-friendly Workplace Practices, jointly developed by MOM, NTUC and the Singapore National Employers Federation. Employers can refer to this to create age-inclusive work practices. The new standard will create an environment conducive for older Singaporeans to work as long as they are willing and able to, in jobs that are safer and smarter, and in a work environment where they feel valued and their needs are addressed. Employers can tap on the age management grant of up to $20,000 to implement good age-management practices, build age-friendly workplaces and assimilate their older workers within their organisations. Start by ensuring all workers, including those elderly workers, are properly trained and familiar with work safety and health practices. Employers can also invest in technology to make their work easier and safer. As an individual, we can be more considerate to make the work easier for our elderly workers. Simple gestures like returning trays at the hawker centres, greeting them and saying "thank you" can make a lot of difference to these workers. Start today. Make it our habit. Let them know that their work is appreciated. Let them know that they are not invisible. And these workers can age knowing that they have a purpose in life. Let us treat them with respect. At the end of the day, we will all grow older. Would we not all want to age with respect and dignity? Let us treat our elderly the way we would like to be treated when we are old. Speaker, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] There are many seniors amongst us who work in the cleaning and security sectors. Break times are usually allocated for them but, unfortunately, no suitable rest areas are provided at their workplace.”
“Mr Speaker, everyone will be old one day. Ageing is not an option. With increasing life expectancy and decreasing birth rates, there will be more elderly people and we must change our mindset to see ageing as a new stage of opportunity and strength. As a society, we must create an environment where Singaporeans can age with purpose and dignity. Many of our elderly workers put in long hours of manual labour every day and need their breaks. Ideally, they would spend this time in a proper rest area where they may have their lunch, or just sit down, catch their breath, and find some peace amidst a long, gruelling day. Unfortunately, there is a glaring absence of proper rest areas in many buildings, especially for outsourced workers who are cleaners, security officers and landscape workers. But there are steps we can take to improve this. And we all have a part to play. I would like to urge service buyers and building owners to set aside proper rest areas for all workers. In our engagement with building owners, some shared that they are unable to do so because of additional gross floor area charges imposed on them. Hence, I am calling for Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to review and waive the gross floor area charges for a space specifically set aside to set up a rest area. With part of the cost managed, building owners will be more inclined to implement this for their outsourced workers. Such rest areas will go a long way in improving their working conditions. No longer do they have to find secluded corners or staircases to have their breaks. They can have a greater sense of dignity and self-worth knowing that their basic needs are provided for at their workplace.”
“I have a supplementary question for the Minister. Assuming an asatizah loses his accreditation, is there a process whereby the asatizah can be accredited again?”
“Third, I am concerned that many workers in the gig economy, like Grab drivers and delivery staff like Deliveroo workers, are not considered as workers under those employers. Hence, they do not qualify for compensation from WICA for accidents or injuries that occur in the course of their duties. What are the available plans to protect such workers from the gig economy? (In English): Mr Deputy Speaker, in conclusion, notwithstanding my concerns, I believe that the changes to the EA are timely and I support the additional protection these changes offer to the workers.”
“However, under a contract for service, defined as, when an independent contractor, such as a self-employed person or vendor, is engaged for a fee to carry out an assignment or project, he will not be entitled to statutory benefits or be able to make any WICA claims should he be injured during his course of work. This makes the workers exceptionally vulnerable. Our employment laws must address this. Hence, I would like to know the reason why the revision to this EA does not take into consideration this emerging category of workers. Mr Deputy Speaker, in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The key to having an effective EA is to ensure that the needs of the tripartite partners are considered. The EA, and its revisions thereof, are outcomes of continuous reviews and consultations among the tripartite partners to strike a balance among differing tripartite interests. I support the amendments being proposed currently. Nonetheless, I have some suggestions. First, I would like to suggest that the workers who work during their rest days are paid the same rate of salaries, regardless of whether the work is being done at the request of the worker or his employer. Second, I would like to suggest that workers are given better medical coverage. The current EA only requires employers to pay for the consultation fees when their workers seek treatment. It is very different from foreign workers, whereby the employers are responsible for settling the medical costs of foreign workers. We can consider providing outpatient treatment for free to all workers who are eligible for Workfare Income Supplement.”
“However, should the worker be the one requesting to work on his rest day, the worker will only be paid one day's salary. Without a doubt, MOM will act against errant employers if they ask their employees to work on a rest day but paid as if the work was at the request of the employee. Unfortunately, in our engagement with low-wage workers, many are not aware of the differences in the calculation for pay for work on a rest day. Moreover, given their age and lack of skills, these workers may also be reluctant to report their employers for fear of losing their job. As such, to protect the vulnerable workers, it should be a single rate of double pay whenever a worker works on a rest day. Logically, no employer will allow workers to work should he not require the manpower to begin with. If there is any work, then most likely it is at the request of the employer. The last concern I have is that the EA has not responded to the emergence of the gig economy. Many of us have seen workers working for Uber, Grab, Deliveroo, Honest Bee and many others but we may not realise that these workers are not considered as employees of the company. Rather, they are working for the company under contract for service, and not contract of service. The current ambiguity for workers in the gig economy when it comes to a contract of service versus a contract for service is problematic. MOM defines a contract of service as an agreement between an employer and an employee, and the employee will be covered by the EA and Workmen Injury Compensation Act (WICA).”
“Second, currently, under the existing EA, employers are required to reimburse only the consultation fees when employees visit Government- or company-approved doctors if the MC obtained results in paid sick leave. This, unfortunately, results in disparity in the medical coverage between local and foreign workers. Under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, employers are responsible for the well-being of foreign workers, which includes being fully liable for their inpatient and outpatient medical expenses. However, I also understand that while it would not be fair for this burden to fall on taxpayers, it creates a disparity as employers are only required to pay consultation fees for local workers. Hence, I have made several calls in the past to mandate in the EA for employers’ reimbursement to cover medication, either capped at a certain amount or only those obtained from Government polyclinics. This would benefit many low-wage workers in SMEs and outsourced industries as they usually are accorded only the basic statutory benefits, as compared to other workers. Nevertheless, I agree with the committee's position that it may result in an unintended consequence of making employers less likely to hire a candidate in poorer health or those with chronic illnesses. Perhaps then, I would like to suggest to MOM to consider working with MOH to extend the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) scheme to enable all Workfare Income Supplement recipients to receive free outpatient treatment at Government polyclinics. Third, I would like to highlight the calculation of pay for work on a rest day. I am glad that there is tripartite consensus that employers should continue to pay a higher overtime rate if they request their employees to work on a rest day.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, as a labour Member, I support the latest amendments to the EA, especially in extending the coverage to all employees by removing the salary threshold for managers and executives. In fact, before 2009, managers and executives were not covered under the EA. This move recognises that all employees should be covered for core provisions, such as the timely payment of salary, annual leave, sick leave, maternity leave and public holidays. Indeed, there are many other welcomed changes to our EA and much of these have been shared by speakers before me, especially by my fellow Labour Member, brother Patrick Tay. While these amendments are a step in the right direction, I have a few concerns, especially in terms of reducing workers' vulnerability. I support the increase in the salary threshold for non-workmen that will provide them with additional protection. The increase from $2,500 to $2,600 represents a 4% increase since the last salary threshold in 2012. While this new salary threshold ensures 100,000 more non-workmen in Singapore will receive additional protection, I would like to ask why this salary threshold could not have been higher. MOM statistics show the median gross monthly income of employed residents, excluding employers' CPF, increased by 32% from $2,500 in 2010 to $3,300 in 2017. The median gross monthly income in 2010 of $2,500 was the same as the EA amendment in 2012. Based on these statistics, the new salary threshold at $2,600 seems to be on the low side if the median salary was used to determine the salary threshold. It seems that the $3,300 would have been the more appropriate salary threshold.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, there has been a lot of debate on the merits of forced ranking. Jack Welch started forced ranking in his company, General Electric, and it would be good to know that General Electric has done away with forced ranking. Given the debate on the merit of performance ranking, would MOE consider doing away with forced ranking and, instead, raise education officers' salaries to ensure their substantive grades commensurate with their official appointments and also adopt a criteria-based appraisal for performance?”
“Question No 6, Sir. The Second Minister for Finance (Mr Lawrence Wong) (for the Minister for Finance): Mr Deputy Speaker, the Seller's Stamp Duty (SSD) seeks to discourage short-term holding of residential properties and is part of the Government's measures to ensure a stable and sustainable property market. SSD is applicable so long as the property is sold within the holding period. In a collective sale of private residential properties, the collective sale committee can enter into a sale and purchase agreement on behalf of all owners, if the requisite statutory majority consent has been obtained. The sale and purchase agreement entered into by the collective sale committee will then be binding on all owners. If the sale occurs within the holding period, SSD is applied, regardless of whether an individual owner consented to or opposed the sale. There are safeguards in the Land Titles (Strata) Act to protect the interests of owners, and to ensure that collective sales are conducted in a fair manner. In particular, non-consenting minority owners to a collective sale can file objections to the Strata Titles Board against the sale and the Board will then consider the objections raised before deciding on the outcome of the application of the collective sale.”
“(In English): In conclusion, notwithstanding my concerns on DPWCS, these amendments are steps in the right direction. And we must continue our tripartite efforts to engage the Government, businesses and workers to create an industry that is ready to tackle the challenges of the future.”
“The proposed amendments will facilitate its implementation in areas with private developments, such as the future Kampong Bugis area. Nevertheless, I would like to ask what the plans are to mitigate the problems faced by other countries that had used the DPWCS. What has been the experience of other cities using DPWCS in terms of the cost effectiveness and lifecycle of the system? What contingencies would be put in place should the DPWCS fail to operate for whatever technical reasons? Such problems, if faced in private developments, can be costly to rectify and may place a huge financial burden on the MCST. What support could the Government provide to ensure the DPWCS in private developments can be sustainably managed in the long run? Mr Deputy Speaker, in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Many resident cleaners usually do not get to enjoy annual salary bonuses because in the Employment Act, the payment of the Annual Wage Supplement, also known as the 13th month bonus, is not mandatory. At the end of each year, the National Trades Union Congress' (NTUC's) U Care Centre receives many enquiries from resident cleaners who asked why they do not receive any bonuses. This group is very hopeful that they can receive a bonus so that it can help defray the costs of living for their families. Therefore, I support the amendments to this Act because it will make it mandatory for cleaning companies to provide a PWM Bonus to every resident cleaner. Although the amount is equal to just two weeks' salary, this is an important first step because it ensures that this group of low-wage workers can receive a year-end bonus. Such guarantees are not present in other jobs for this group of workers.”
“In addition, in line with this year’s National Wages Council recommendations, service buyers can do their part to help these cleaners by inserting a clause in their tender that the cleaners’ wages and benefits must be no worse off if they intend to change their service provider. Cleaning companies must also do the right thing to ensure the long-term sustainability of the industry. Avoid suicide bids. Discourage cheap sourcing. Walk away if winning the contract entails you cutting corners for you to survive. For the rest of us, we can also do our part to make the work of our vulnerable, elderly cleaners easier by not littering, returning our trays, exercising our civic consciousness in using public amenities, and many others. We live and breathe in the same space and it is our collective responsibility to create a pleasant environment for ourselves and our loved ones. The manpower challenges faced by the ES industry is real as we face an ageing population. As such, we need to take concrete steps to transform the industry into a technologically-driven and skilled sector ready to meet the demands of the future. Hence, I am also supportive of another key proposal of the Bill, which is, to introduce a framework to implement DPWCS. This system will rely on air pressure to convey waste via pipes to a bin centre, eliminating the need to manually haul refuse. This leads to greater productivity. It will also eliminate disamenities, such as pests and odours, that may arise from open refuse collection and improve the livability of residents in the direct vicinity. I understand that DPWCS has been implemented in new towns, such as Bidadari and Tampines North.”
“You can buy services, but you cannot outsource your responsibilities! In my engagement with many cleaning companies, one common feedback is that the practice of cheap sourcing is still rampant amongst service buyers, both in the public and private sectors. The 1,300 cleaning companies will then respond by lowering their tender prices, with possibly putting in suicide bids to win contracts, much to the detriment of the whole cleaning industry in the long run. With rising overheads and business cost, the only way to remain afloat is to pay the workers at the minimum PWM wages and not to give any other welfare benefits. This can lead to a vicious cycle where the level of service is compromised when service providers cut corners to remain in business and the workers would have low morale. With very low margins, there is little incentive for cleaning companies to invest in technology or training. I would also like to urge all service buyers, whether they are commercial, industrial building owners, private condominiums or Government agencies, to work with their potential service providers to ensure the tender prices commensurate with the level of the service expected, the investment in technology and training needed and, at the same time, without compromising the welfare of the cleaners. This requires service buyers to truly best source beyond paying lip service. Service buyers can discourage cheap sourcing by not awarding to the lowest bidder. This will send a clear signal to industry that it is quality and not price that matters.”
“This will ensure our resident cleaners will have a day or two every year for them to look forward to a bonus payout. It is our hope that the PWM Bonus will serve as a motivational tool to encourage workers to stay longer with the same employer, as well as incentivise employers to invest in training their cleaners. As cleaners scale the PWM wage ladder, the rising wages will be accompanied by higher productivity and growth for the industry. Even though the cleaning industry has been given ample notice on the implementation of the PWM Bonus which will take effect in January 2020, I would like to propose to NEA to give the employers a grace period of one year where the employers would be given a warning should they fail to comply with the mandatory PWM Bonus. However, full restitution must still be made to the affected cleaners if the employers fail to pay them the bonus. To provide greater clarity on the technicalities of the PWM Bonus payment, the TCC secretariat will issue an addendum report and a list of frequently asked questions later this year. Efforts to improve the lives of our cleaners cannot be the sole responsibility of the industry stakeholders represented by TCC. While we may have heard of the common saying, "It takes a village to raise a child", I would say it takes the whole society to play our part to help our cleaners have better lives, for them and their families. Improving the wages and skillsets of our cleaners are just the tip of the iceberg of what we can do to help them. While the PWM and payment of PWM Bonus would be made mandatory, unfortunately, TCC cannot mandate service buyers to shoulder the same responsibility in their procurement of cleaning services. To all service buyers, my message is simple.”
“Coupled with the Workfare Income Supplement scheme, many resident cleaners today are seeing an increase in their take-home pay and Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings. In 2017, the cleaning industry, as part of the ES sector, had also developed an ITM that would provide a blueprint to transform the industry, with workers playing an integral role. A key strategy identified in the ITM was the need to sustain a strong and productive cleaning workforce by putting in place structures and processes to ensure workers in ES are Ready for new jobs, Relevant with new skills and Resilient to new ways of working. Efforts to help the vulnerable workers in the cleaning industry are still a work-in-progress. Today, we are again presented with an opportunity to make a difference to the lives of this vulnerable group of workers. The passing of the amendments in this Bill will be another historic and landmark change for our resident cleaners. It will put an end to the common work grievance of many resident cleaners of not being paid bonuses. One of the amendments of the EPHA is to mandate the payment of an annual bonus to Singaporean and Permanent Resident cleaners. This amendment recognises that part of the industry’s transformation will be underpinned by productive and well-skilled workers, and this compulsory PWM Bonus will be a great boost to sustain a strong and highly motivated cleaning workforce. I am in full support of the Bill which will make the PWM Bonus a requirement and condition of NEA’s licensing condition regime. I am heartened that the PWM Bonus is not contingent on the workers’ performance and must be paid so long as the resident cleaner meets the criteria set out by TCC.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I would like to declare my interest in this Bill as Chairman of the Tripartite Cluster for Cleaners (TCC). The graciousness of a society can be measured by how it treats the less fortunate in its midst. It would be a hollow victory for us to achieve success as a nation if we, as a society, do nothing to help the less fortunate when we have the means to do so. A vulnerable group that needs our help is the 46,000 resident cleaners who work tirelessly to ensure that we live in an environment which is clean, safe and conducive for all of us and our families to live, work and play. For the longest time, the basic salaries earned by our resident cleaners stagnated and remained low. Coupled with the lack of bonus payouts, our local cleaners had little left for savings after spending on local necessities. Other than statutory employment benefits, most employers also do not provide them with added welfare benefits or incentives. Overall, our cleaners had little job security and would have difficulty to save for a rainy day. The plight of our resident cleaners has not gone unnoticed. Through the efforts of the TCC, things have been improving for them, with concrete steps being taken to improve their lot. In 2014, members of the House passed the Environmental Public Health (Amendment) Bill which boosted resident cleaners’ salaries through the introduction of the mandatory PWM. In 2016, the problem of wage stagnation and wage reset were partially addressed when TCC recommended a sustainable wage increase that would see the income of our general local cleaners grow at an average of 4.6% per annum over six years.”
“I have a follow up question for the Senior Minister of State. I agree with her that it takes time for the hawkers to establish themselves. But there are some that are still struggling among the hawker centres managed by the social enterprises. So, I would like to ask whether NEA would consider lowering the rentals for a period of time until they could pick up enough business to make it sustainable?”
“Even with the best education, it only requires one irresponsible PMD user to cause an accident. If let us, say, the amount of compensation is huge, even after taking a legal recourse, the PMD users might not be able to pay that kind of compensation due to financial difficulty. What recourse then would the accident victims have in such a situation?”
“(In English): PMDs may be a key feature in our active mobility landscape and I do not deny their value in providing alternative commuting methods for Singaporeans. However, as with the introduction of all new cultures that come with technological advancement, proper care must be taken so that we can have greater peace of mind for all Singaporeans that share the same space. Singapore may be small, but I dare say we are not so small that we cannot cultivate a proper, responsible riding culture here as well, like those that are found in other countries.”
“Accidentally brushing against a car can incur thousands of dollars in compensation for repair costs. Given the younger profile of several PMD users in Singapore, an attempt to recoup thousands of dollars in damages would pose a heavy financial burden for both victim and accused, not to mention the costs involved in pursuing recourse, such as civil lawsuits. As such, mandating personal liability insurance would not only provide better liability coverage for PMD users, but victims of accidents are able to seek proper recourse to claim their damages. Using a PMD in the presence of other pedestrians entails certain responsibilities, and I strongly believe that having a personal liability insurance is one of them. I would go further to suggest leveraging technology to notify users of the need to renew their insurance together with their PMD registrations annually, if such liability insurance is made mandatory. Insurance companies can tier their premium for such liability insurance depending on the risks involved in insuring different age groups. Mr Speaker, in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.]: I support the LTEM Bill, particularly amendments that will be made to AMA. However, I would like to urge the Government to take the opportunity from this amendment to mandate the purchase of personal accident insurance coverage for users of PMDs. This is important to ensure that those who are involved in PMD accidents, particularly pedestrians, can make the necessary compensation claims for their injuries. The purchase of personal accident insurance for the usage of PMDs was introduced in several cities in Japan, and we can learn from their experience in this issue to create a safer environment for both PMD users and pedestrians.”
“Mr Speaker, I support the LTEM Bill. In particular, I welcome the greater regulation in the use of PMDs in Singapore in a manner that will ultimately benefit both commuters and pedestrians where safety is concerned. In a report by The Straits Times, there were 19 reported cases of accidents involving PMDs, bicycles or electric bikes on public paths. In 2016, the figure increased to 42 and went up to 128 last year. These accidents, even if it is not fatal, can still result in serious injury, as I have seen in PMD accidents that happened in my constituency. One fatal or serious accident would be one accident too many. An accident is an experience that would be very traumatising for those involved, but further issues like compensation and civil lawsuits can further complicate the situation. Just like my parliamentary colleague, hon Er Dr Lee Bee Wah, I would like to urge the Government to consider mandating users to possess a personal liability insurance which would be tied to the registration of their PMD. Already in Japan, Osaka City and Nagoya City require bicycle riders to have liability insurance as a condition for riding in the city. I believe this issue of having PMD users to have a liability insurance should be studied, and we could model after Japan's practice, considering Japan is far ahead in possessing a "riding culture" amongst its many commuters. Even with the recent proposals to cut speed limit of PMD users using footpath from 15 km/hr to 10 km/hr, there has been a lot of scepticism on its effectiveness due to challenges in enforcement and the difficulty for an average PMD user to be able to gauge its speed. As such, accidents involving PMD users can still result in serious injuries. Broken bones may require expensive surgeries.”
“Mr Speaker, I have three supplementary questions for the Minister of State. First, what were some of the main reasons cited by the employers for not issuing the payslips? Second, would MOM expect these errant employers to issue backdated payslips to their workers to ensure they were properly remunerated? Third, does MOM know what proportion of employers have adopted the issuance of itemised payslips today?”
“(In English): Mr Speaker, in conclusion, given our ageing population, long-term care will continue to be a pressing concern for Singaporeans moving ahead. It is our duty as the Government to not only ensure that we can provide the best level of healthcare to our citizens, but also to make sure that their financial situation would not take a drastic turn due to expensive healthcare. A few years ago, the Government announced MediShield Life which managed to give much assurance to many of us who are concerned with our ability to shoulder unexpected high hospitalisation costs. CareShield Life is another step in the right direction that would provide added peace of mind for many of us. I support the Motion.”
“Given our ageing population, long-term care will continue to be a pressing concern for Singaporeans moving forward. It is our duty as the Government to not only ensure that we can provide the best level of healthcare to our citizens, but also to make sure that their financial situation would not take a drastic turn due to expensive healthcare. While there are options to allow for existing ElderShield policyholders to convert to CareShield, could the Government consider converting all ElderShield policyholders and absorbing the additional premiums to do so? I know this will incur a huge Government expenditure but, it can also give Singaporeans peace of mind for the added healthcare insurance. Mr Speaker, in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I give my full support towards the national long-term care insurance scheme called CareShield Life that provides financial aid to those afflicted with severe disability. This scheme is better compared to ElderShield that is run by the private sector. I would like to ask why the Government decided to administer CareShield Life, whereas the same decision was not made for ElderShield when it was launched some time ago. Can the Government bear the costs to convert all ElderShield members to this new CareShield Life scheme? Many of those who had joined ElderShield will feel that they missed out on the benefits of CareShield Life and may not be able to afford the conversion to the new higher premiums. I would also like to suggest that the premium rates to be paid should depend on the health of the applicant. This is meant to encourage them to take more proactive steps to look after their physical health.”
“The decision to have MOH administer CareShield Life implies that there are inherent drawbacks or disadvantages if the scheme is to be administered by private insurance companies. What are some of the key lessons that we have learnt from ElderShield that led to the decision for the new CareShield Life to be managed by MOH? There is also this thinking that the private sector can be more efficient than the public sector in providing services or public goods. With MOH managing CareShield Life, would there be equal efficiency in the handling of insurance for Singaporeans? The report also shared that MOH will monitor the scheme closely and make the necessary adjustments to the scheme. Would the policyholders be consulted before such changes, and is there the possibility of a lower payout being rendered in the future? Would the Government also consider increasing the percentage of premium subsidy provided, currently estimated at about 20% to 30%, to ensure affordability? I believe that the CareShield Life scheme can provide a great opportunity to incentivise Singaporeans to lead a healthy and active lifestyle. Given the worrying statistics on issues like diabetes and our efforts to promote healthy ageing, we should leverage the CareShield Scheme Premium subsidies to promote Singaporeans to lead an active lifestyle. It is certainly better for a Singaporean not having to make a claim on his insurance and that starts with prevention by choosing a healthy lifestyle. Under the proposed CareShield Life, claims are allowed once the insured is unable to perform three out of six essential ADLs. I do appreciate that setting a lower benchmark would mean higher premiums. However, can we consider a lower payout for Singaporeans affected with one or two disabilities?”
“Mr Speaker, first and foremost, I would like to thank the Committee and the Secretariat for this very important piece of work that they are doing. An American politician said: "Without health insurance, getting sick or injured could mean going bankrupt, going without needed care or even dying needlessly". And I think we can understand the context why the American politician said this. In America, they have yet to be able to strike a good balance in ensuring that the health of the population is taken care of. I welcome the CareShield Life initiative as a step in the right direction to provide Singaporeans with an accessible, affordable means to plan for their long-term healthcare needs. This would benefit not just the aged in our population, but also the younger demographics who are increasingly aware of the importance of healthcare security for their future. I am also heartened by the efforts taken to ensure the scheme is inclusive by providing additional support to ensure affordability. But unfortunately, my wife thinks it is selective inclusivity. That said, based on feedback and queries from my engagement with unionists and grassroots leaders, there are some clarifications that I would like to seek from the Minister with regard to CareShield Life. In terms of policy administration, I would like to ask the Minister the rationale of having the MOH to administer the CareShield Life Scheme. I understand from the White Paper that it simplifies administration and will be carried out on a not-for-profit basis. It is without a doubt that, by having the Government administer the policy, it would be easier to adjust the scheme as necessary. However, this then begs the question why was not the same considerations given when ElderShield was first introduced?”
“One of the things that oBike did was to force its members to subscribe to its Super VIP (SVIP) using their deposit. Will these customers be able to get a refund for these as well, because the decision to subscribe to the SVIP membership was done unilaterally without the customers' consent?”
“I have one supplementary question for the Senior Minister of State. Despite all the measures that we have taken to encourage safe riding behaviour, accidents do happen. And some of these accidents involve my residents. What would the Senior Minister of State suggest the recourse that the accident victim could take where, let us say, the rider has no insurance coverage and neither does the accident victim? Some of the medical costs incurred can be quite high and can be very difficult for the accident victim to claim compensation.”
“However, this is something that we cannot do alone. It requires a strong tripartite partnership of different stakeholders from the Government, companies, workers and the people to stand together and have an unquestionable resolve to help our low-wage workers have better jobs, better pay and better lives. Perhaps, this is the best way for us to achieve greater social equality. With this, I support the Motion.”
“While we worry about how Singaporeans will cope with this new future, it can be very easy to overlook people who are already struggling to cope with the current realities that they face. It is my dream that Singapore’s future is one that will benefit each Singaporean. Not just the privileged, not just the educated, but also the hands that have worked hard in manual labour to continue to build the Singapore that we know and love today. Mr Speaker, please allow me to address in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.]: To help low-wage workers, we need to challenge our own assumptions when creating policies that are meant to help these workers. Such questioning is necessary in order to generate a different type of thinking so that we can create better policies or have better planning in order to help low-wage workers have a better life. I would like to call on the Government to encourage each ITM committee to embark on a more inclusive approach to ensure that training opportunities and better jobs are also made available to low-wage workers and mature workers when drafting their plans. The Government can also give encouragement and incentives for employers to create a more positive work culture where low-wage workers are happy and proud to perform their job. This has been proven to improve worker productivity and enabled workers to get better pay. (In English): Let me conclude in English. The future I would like to see under our new 4G leadership is one where a low-wage worker is confident of gaining new skills and earning better wages sufficient to support his family and aspirations for a better life and, maybe, with the Government’s help centred on helping their children have a level playing field in educational opportunities.”