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.”
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“Sir, visitors are highly impressed by our ability to maintain a high level of cohesion amongst the various races and religions. This is what makes Singapore united as a nation. It is the focal point of our national identity. Unfortunately, we are facing challenging times where falsehood is being hailed as the truth and it is becoming increasingly difficult to counter such propaganda. As a Muslim, I am worried that people of other faiths may have a biased view of Islam in light of recent events around the world. There is an urgent need to counter any possible negative perception. I would like to reiterate that inter- and intra-religious cohesion is of paramount importance to Singapore. We have closed ranks and stood together to speak out against extremism and against those who could threaten our security. In Malay, Sir. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Our asatizahs, or religious teachers, can play an important role to discuss the issue of terrorism and also guide our community about life in a multireligious society like ours. I am heartened to see that many of our asatizahs are aware that it is important that we practise tolerance and give and take with other religious groups. Hence, in order to play this role better, it is imperative that we provide training for our asatizahs and equip them with secular knowledge that is updated and relevant, so that they have a wider perspective of issues pertaining to society and the world. Our asatizahs must also possess an open mind and a willingness to acquire the latest secular knowledge in their effort to help the community understand the challenges that can damage a harmonious plural society.”
“Sir, in light of an ever-changing economic landscape, we need to improve opportunities for our citizens and help them prepare for the future ahead. Global competition will not get any easier and the needs of companies from the workforce are ever-changing. In October last year, MENDAKI set up the Future Ready Unit to help the Malay/Muslim community to better prepare for the future economy by optimising opportunities arising from the SkillsFuture initiative. In Malay, Sir. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] MENDAKI's Future Ready Unit comprises members who are experts in their respective fields and they can share their experience to help the community benefit from the national SkillsFuture initiatives. One of the tasks of this unit is to identify strategies that can equip Malay/Muslim workers, including students, with the relevant skills, in addition to encouraging Malay/Muslim workers to identify the various pathways that they can take in order to deepen their knowledge in a certain area. This will help them to acquire future skills that are relevant so that they will stay employable when the industries here undergo the transformation to improve productivity and stay competitive. (In English): I would like to ask the Minister what are some of the plans that the Future Ready Unit will be working on for the coming year. Helping the Malay/Muslim Workforce”
“That being said, can MOM provide an update on its efforts to uplift low-wage workers and the key outcomes so far? Are there plans to expand the scope of support provided to this group of vulnerable workers? Page: 104 Assisting Unemployed, Older and Retired Workers”
“Looking back, I am happy to note that the Government has shown great support in working with the Labour Movement and our Tripartite Partners to embark on breakthrough initiatives, such as the Progressive Wage Model, NTUC U Care Centre, Best Sourcing, the Inclusive Growth Programme (IGP) and others, to help low-wage workers. We are definitely moving in the right direction to become a more inclusive society. The importance of these initiatives cannot be understated. All these efforts have resulted in better wages and working conditions. But we still have a long way to go. For several of our low-wage workers in Singapore, these initiatives provide hope at improving their livelihoods and hopes for a better future for their families. In my Budget Debate speech, I suggested that we set a target to have a higher real wage increase for our workers at the 20th percentile, compared to the median. Will MOM, perhaps working together with other relevant Ministries like MOF, consider setting such a target? I also made a suggestion of mandating Annual Wage Supplements (AWS) and Annual Increments as part of the licensing condition for the cleaning, security and landscape sectors. This may be a more practical approach in helping low-wage workers, compared to mandating compliance with the National Wages Council's recommendations targeted at them. The Government can also explore supporting job redesign initiatives to ensure alignment with SkillsFuture, so that workers can apply the skills they have acquired to improve their productivity. The SMP committees, where there might be a large number of low-wage workers, need to work together to have a more customised approach to meet the needs of low-wage workers in the respective sectors to achieve the desired outcomes.”
“Mdm Chair, I am aware that MOE is supporting schools with special needs children through the deployment of Special Needs Officers (SNOs), but the support is insufficient. Hence, parents with special needs children would prefer their children to be in specialised schools where there is better support, but either there are no vacancies in those schools or the cost of putting their child in these specialised schools is too expensive as they may not be eligible for subsidies. I would like MOE to consider improving the ratio of SNOs to the number of special needs children in schools. MOE should also consider having more special needs schools and providing more support for special needs children. Ideally, the school fees must be the same as those paid by students in mainstream schools. Every parent wants the best for their child and I believe there is something that we can do as the Government to show that, indeed, we care for every Singaporean student.”
“Mdm Speaker, I support the call by Dr Intan Azura for compulsory education to be brought forward. Bill Gates said, "The first five years have so much to do with how the next 80 turns out." The importance of preschool education cannot be underestimated and, hence, we must make it a priority to invest in preschool education so that we open the doors of opportunity to every child and help them acquire the skills they need for a meaningful learning to realise their dreams. Hence, I was heartened that MOE started piloting MOE Kindergartens (MKs) in 2014 to offer quality and affordable pre-school education, and there are now 15 such centres. Compared to private preschool education, MOE has more resources to develop a comprehensive preschool curriculum. I would like MOE to provide an update on programmes and resources that will be made available to more pre-school centres to support them in building this strong foundation. Will MOE develop a framework to share the expertise with private school operators? Such a framework to support private-school operators will level up standards to ensure quality preschool education will be accessible to all, just like general education in all our mainstream schools. It is my dream that any child can get the best quality preschool education, regardless of the fees that the parents are paying.”
“Mdm Chairperson, the need to build and strengthen family-school-community partnerships is now recognised as essential towards helping students achieve at their maximum potential. Many schools now realise that the job of educating students cannot be achieved by their efforts alone. Rather, it requires a collaborative effort with families, communities and other stakeholders. In most of our schools, there is some measure of parent and community involvement and it is usually directed and guided by the schools, with the main focus being on fundraising initiatives, volunteering and supporting school activities. However, moving forward, I feel community partnership should go beyond such traditional engagement and be expanded to involve families and the broader community in decision-making and school governance. When schools actively involve parents and engage community resources, they are able to respond more effectively to the learning needs and create an environment conducive to the general well-being of the students. As Stephen Covey said "Synergy catalyses, unifies and unleashes the greatest power within people". Hence, I would like to know whether MOE has plans to give more support to the schools to strengthen partnerships of schools with parents and the community. Primary School Registration Scheme”
“We have also strategically, over the years, developed our capabilities in terms of a 4G-SAF and specialisation skillsets. Technological capabilities and enhancements have also been very active as well. Is this investment in technology and IT able to help us cope and compensate for our decreasing manpower numbers?”
“Madam, each Singaporean knows that we cannot take our security for granted. Situations today are increasingly volatile and news of newfound threats always seems to be getting a little closer to home. Understandably, this will cause some worry amongst our citizens. Today's threats do not present themselves until the last minute and, by the time they do, we have seen how it is often just a little too late in other countries. While the SAF may be prepared to defend Singapore against today's threats, these threats – like everything else – will continue to evolve as well. Our approach to defence has not been about keeping up, but always ensuring that we are not one but several steps ahead. This provides us with the two-pronged benefit of deterring those who may mean to harm us, and also ensuring that we are able to react swiftly and decisively to any threat. I would like to ask the Minister how the SAF is developing its capabilities to protect Singapore against the threats of the future. Can MINDEF provide an update on the SAF's transformation plans? As our threats evolve, so should our defence capabilities. The consequences of failure on this part are extremely grave and we cannot afford to be complacent on this issue. SAF's Manpower and Capabilities Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef: Madam, a certain critical or minimum size is usually necessary for a nation's army. Our population replacement rate for Singapore is critically low and, with this, fewer babies are born each year. This also will translate to fewer recruits per cohort for National Service. How can SAF maintain our capabilities and capacity in view of these "shrinking" manpower numbers? How do we ensure we can maximise their potential?”
“Mdm Chair, the increasingly complex and volatile security environment has prompted defence spending in the region to increase. Likewise, Singapore needs to ensure that we are still as capable and as ready to respond to such threats. Threats to our sovereignty as a proud nation should not be tolerated and our security should never be compromised. With that in mind, I would like to ask the Minister if SAF's approach to defence spending has changed. Are there plans to increase defence spending at a faster pace and what are the new areas that we are focusing on in our defence spending? Defence White Paper”
“As a nation, the onus is on us to ensure that when they look ahead, they see beyond the status quo. They should see positive change for themselves, their jobs and, more importantly, their families. With that Mdm Speaker, I support the Budget. 3.25 pm”
“Workers, through SkillsFuture, can now be better trained to leverage on technology, making investments in training and machines less risky and with greater promise for higher productivity. Mdm Speaker, please allow me to speak in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I welcome this year's Budget which aims to help the low-wage workers through changes made to the Workfare Income Supplement Scheme (WIS), and the Workfare Training Support (WTS) Scheme which will make more workers eligible. However, in order to enjoy better pay, Malay workers, particularly those in the lower income group, should focus their efforts to upskill themselves through Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) training. Malay workers who are working in the outsourced sectors, such as cleaning, security and landscape, can receive better pay based on the skills that they obtain after undergoing the WSQ courses. In view of the $4.5 billion support provided under the Industry Transformation Programme, it is important that Malay workers, especially the low-wage workers, make use of SkillsFuture wisely to ensure that the new skills that they learn will be useful to industries and companies which will be undergoing transformation through automation and technology, which will improve their productivity and reduce the demand for labour. This will help workers to obtain better wages. (In English): Mdm Speaker, in conclusion, I believe that unless we take bolder steps to negotiate the glaring disparities between our low-wage workers and the majority of the Singaporean workforce in matters like wages and employment benefits, low-wage workers will continue to feel marginalised and the income gap will continue to widen.”
“Relevant to my call for procurement process for outsourced services to be more worker centric, I would also like to call for the Government to explore a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model in procuring essential services such as cleaning, security and maintenance services. This may be the next breakthrough in our policies for the outsourced sectors to help low-wage workers. The next aspect of "method" we have to tackle, Mdm Speaker, is the issue of unfair contracts. Ultimately, such contracts will impact the workers as the service providers will find ways to cut corners. It could also be challenging for service providers to embark on productivity efforts given that their operating margins are very low. While I am calling for contracts to be of longer duration, I would like to discourage the practice of having an Option to Extend at the same terms and conditions. Unless a variation in contract price is allowed, it is usually the low-wage workers that will suffer from stagnating wages. Mdm Speaker, fair contracts will create an environment that will benefit all parties, including workers who can enjoy better employment terms and conditions. I have written a blog on this and I am happy to note that MOF will play its part to encourage fair contract clauses. Perhaps, with the Government taking the lead to promote reasonable and fair contracts, it would play an instrumental role to shape the behaviour and practices in procuring outsourced services. If stakeholders in the industry can change their "mindset" and '"methods", the transformation needed for "man" and "machines" would follow as a consequence.”
“Mdm Speaker, the Government must also encourage buildings to be designed with a "productive" mindset at the outset to enable a cost-effective approach in procuring cleaning, security and landscape services where less manpower would be needed. The third "M" is Method. For industry transformation to happen, it also requires an accompanying change in methods. The latest manpower report has highlighted clearly that labour supply will continue to be tight. Based on the old method, unless there is a change in the method, there might not be enough people to be deployed to provide the services required. Concerted efforts must be made to explore the potential of aggregating demand for services. There are also other methods that could be explored to help low-wage workers. I also want to make a call for procurement processes to be more worker centric. Being more worker-centric in procuring services means that service buyers need to pay more attention to or specify the employment benefits to be accorded to the outsourced workers. This would help the workers have better wages and benefits and would definitely motivate them to be more productive at work. I am sure if the statutory boards, as I said earlier, had a worker-centric mindset, the workers would have enjoyed the current higher salaries. Service buyers can also look into having contracts of longer duration to incentivise the service providers to embark on greater adoption of technology that could lead to manpower savings and better productivity. This also ensures that outsourced workers do not always find themselves as the disadvantaged lot every two to three years when their salaries get reset again.”
“Second, the respective sectors need to ensure there are current jobs to match the higher skills the workers have acquired through SkillsFuture training where workers must be comfortable in using technology. This can be achieved through job redesign in the clean, green and safe sectors. Increasingly, more service providers would like to adopt greater technology to reduce manpower requirement and improve productivity. Their workers are also being trained to operate this equipment, but service buyers must be receptive to different ways of service providers delivering their service using technology. The next "M" is Mindset. A change in mindset is required to ensure productivity can be achieved in a more sustainable manner. Earlier, I suggested job redesign to match SkillsFuture training to enhance productivity. For this to happen, service buyers must have a cooperative mindset to work more closely with the service providers during the procurement process to explore different possibilities. This involves giving service providers more time to suggest a solution to meet service buyers' needs. This is an area which I feel that the Government Ministries and statutory boards can lead by example to create success stories for others to adopt. A mindset change is also required amongst service buyers in buying services. They need to have a performance-based mindset by doing more to adopt performance-based contracts. Despite best sourcing efforts, many contracts continue to be headcount based, and, hence, there is little incentive for service providers to explore other means of improving productivity. Moreover, headcount-based contracts will be very expensive and unproductive, given that labour supply will be tighter in the coming years.”
“In this Budget, the Labour Movement welcomes the changes made to the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) to enable more workers to qualify with a higher payout, but we need a longer-term solution to help low-wage workers. I would like to make a call for the Government to work with our tripartite partners to explore making the payment of Annual Wage Supplements (AWS) and giving annual increments to workers as part of the licensing or registry conditions for the cleaning, security and landscape sectors. Potentially, we are looking at 85,000 local workers in these sectors benefiting from such a move. Moreover, it will create a level playing field for all service providers and service buyers to remain competitive while, at the same time, boost the income for the low-wage workers. More importantly, it will send a strong signal for other employers to follow as well. The Labour Movement also welcomes this year's Budget to support industry transformation but for this to happen in the clean, green and safe sectors, we need changes in the four "M"s – Man, Machines, Mindset and Methods. This, perhaps, can make any wage increase in these sectors more sustainable in the long run. Let me touch on the first two "M"s − Man and Machines. The Progressive Wage Model (PWM) is not the only key to help our workers earn better pay through higher productivity. Beyond PWM, SkillsFuture also promises a hope for a better future for our workers – the Man. Two areas must be looked into. First, SkillsFuture outreach efforts towards low-wage workers must be customised and targeted to suit the profile of low-wage workers who are mainly matured with limited education. This is an area that the Government can work on with its tripartite partners.”
“Mdm Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to speak. I would like to focus on low-wage workers. Last week, the CEO of a cleaning company shared with me that they lost their cleaning contract with a Statutory Board this year because they had bid for the contract based on current salaries of their workers and also factored a one-month bonus. Many of their 40 cleaners now working for the new company had not only their salaries reset to $1,000, but also all other employment benefits as well. I also came across many workers during NTUC's employment seminars lamenting why their salaries were not increasing every year or why their employers were not giving them their 13-month bonus. There are many Singaporeans who are working in the low-income sectors who are facing stagnating wages and have resigned to the fact that their situation cannot change. In some countries, any wages below two-thirds of the median income are considered as low wages. In Singapore, the gross wage of workers at the 20th percentile is $1,800 while those at the 50th percentile is $3,460. This income gap is widening. In the last five years, real wage increase for the 20th percentile was 2.1% compared to the higher percentage real wage increase for the 50th percentile at 3%. Perhaps, I would like to call for the Government to set a target for a higher percentage wage increase for workers at the 20th percentile compared to the 50th percentile to reduce the income gap. This would help us have a more objective assessment of the effectiveness of measures taken to help low-wage workers. We need to think out-of-the box and have a concerted effort to create better jobs and improve skills so that these workers can enjoy a higher percentage real wage increase.”
“The non-citizen I am referring to is a foreigner.”
“One supplementary question, Madam. Would a Singaporean be eligible for the grant if the elderly parent is a non-citizen?”
“Madam, I have come across cases of many families where they would like to buy from the SBF scheme, but it is not their first purchase – it could be their second or third purchase. Would priority be given to these families as well?”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank the Minister of State for the answer. My follow-up question is: can HDB give priority to families who are not purchasing from the SBF scheme as a first purchase? Basically, they are second-timers.”
“Mdm Speaker, I have two supplementary questions. First, what can the Government do to encourage fair and reasonable outsourced contracts in the private sector? Second, can the Government consider setting up a body similar to the Consumer Association of Singapore (CASE) to help mediate should there be any contractual disputes between service buyers and service providers?”
“Madam, in most cases, the clauses in the Sales and Purchase Agreement are very generic and not being made very clear to the potential home owners. Should there be any dispute, who could actually mediate the developers and the home owners in such cases?”
“Would the Ministry agree that developers must opt for alternative gondola points or systems if proven viable to fix these points at common areas without resorting to installing these points at the private balcony areas of home owners, which would compromise the family's safety and privacy?”
“This can affect the ability of our Malay workers to get good jobs when Singapore's economy undergoes renewal. The Government should also take more aggressive steps to help workers, especially the low-wage workers, to overcome this challenge. NTUC would like the Government to give more focus and attention to low wage workers, since the income gap is becoming wider, compared to other workers. In order for low-wage workers to enjoy better pay increments, I propose that the NWC's recommendation for pay increments for low-wage workers be made compulsory for all employers. (In English): Mdm Speaker, the tripartite partners must champion new approaches to improve productivity by reinventing business processes, rethinking creative use of robots and machines and redesign deployment of manpower. We will face failures as we chart forward, but we should not be discouraged because every wrong attempt presents an opportunity to move a step forward more intelligently. The difference Page: 58 between the impossible and possible in SG100 will depend on the determination of every Singaporean to make it happen. With that, I support the Motion to thank the President for his Address.”
“As raising productivity requires labour-management cooperation, teamwork and sustained efforts, companies must also adopt a more proactive gain sharing mindset to ensure that workers will benefit from their share of productivity improvements. This is to ensure such efforts gain momentum and sustainability in the long run. When companies restructure, it would bring about a need for new skills to facilitate operations. This will demand that both companies and employees invest in continuous training and skills upgrading to ensure that the workforce remains competent and relevant to the changing needs of the industry and resilient at all times. While employers may bring in new employees, this also presents an opportunity to strengthen our fort on the Singaporean Core. This is even more so with the Government's move to reduce reliance on foreign manpower. Hence, it is imperative that our SkillsFuture initiative must achieve the desired outcome. There should be no compromises and our SkillsFuture initiative must achieve its key deliverables. Mdm Speaker, please allow me to address in Malay. (In Malay):[Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] For the Malay/Muslim community, we must be prepared since Singapore's economy is expected to go through a challenging phase and this will affect many local workers here. Many training opportunities to enhance skills or perform new jobs are made available with the Government's assistance. It is important that these opportunities are used in order to help their employers make the necessary restructuring measures to improve their competitiveness. Currently, the number of Malay workers undergoing training for skills upgrading is still lower than workers from the other communities.”
“All Government-linked companies must be encouraged to be the catalysts to take the lead in implementing PWM by insisting that all major projects and tendering should incorporate PWM for the workers. We have moved from price-based outsourcing and have been advocating best sourcing over the past decade. The nuances of this mechanism have allowed the stakeholders to take advantage of some loopholes. Eventually, this bad practice has ended up hurting the people who should be most protected – the workers employed on contracts for services. Therefore, we have to venture further into employing a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model as another tool to address our widening income gap, with greater emphasis on the human resource practices of the partners from Page: 57 the private sectors. The second big area that I would like to touch on is the President's call to "renew our economy". Renewing our economy will entail restructuring to improve productivity. Productivity improvement is key in maintaining our competitiveness. It is also the major driver of sustainable real wage increases for our workers. NTUC and its affiliated unions will give its strong support to companies to adopt technology and innovation in their work processes. Our Government has invested heavily to encourage productivity. Management should leverage on this and spearhead the productivity drive within the company and build a culture that supports innovation at the workplace. Without doubt, the unions and our workers will do our part to support new ways of harnessing technology and innovation and by contributing ideas for improvement at the workplace.”
“I strongly call for more affirmative action to give a hand to our low-wage workers to cushion the oncoming impact. There are several areas that I would like to bring to the House's attention. It was a laudable move in 2012 when NWC made specific recommendations to help low-wage workers. Unfortunately, many workers in non-unionised companies and those working in outsourced industries still had not received the recommended dollar quantum increase. Employers out there view NWC recommendations as merely guidelines. Therefore, I strongly call for legislation on some sections of the recommendations. The dollar quantum wage increments should be made mandatory for employees in the 20th and 30th percentile, in terms of basic salary. Alternatively, the Government could explore making this mandatory in three industries – cleaning, security and landscape − by factoring these as part of the licensing conditions. There is another aspect that can bring about better pay packets for our workers. The Government can play a greater role in encouraging their service providers with many low-wage workers to give annual increments (AI) and annual wage supplement (AWS). Government procurement officers can be more worker-centric by being more proactive to look into the welfare accorded to the outsourced workers by their potential service providers. All these moves, with the Government taking the lead, will create a ripple effect, gradually evolving to become an industry norm. The Government has shown strong support for the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) in the three low-wage sectors. Beyond these three sectors, PWM should be introduced to other sectors to better the livelihoods of more low-wage workers.”
“Technological advancement, globalisation of jobs, shorter product cycles and future manufacturing demand that we think out of the box to ensure that the Singaporean workforce can adapt to these changes and our economy remains competitive. Our workers' profiles have changed as well. Workers are now better educated and have greater aspirations. We also see an increasingly older workforce. They are choosing alternate career paths, such as freelance and contract jobs. This re-emphasises the importance of the Labour Movement in reinventing itself, not only to remain relevant and continue to be the strongest voice of workers, Page: 56 but also to be part of Singapore's effort "to develop a caring nation". Mdm Speaker, international reports of the fiscal outlook for 2016 all point to a not-so-rosy climate in the year ahead and the next. We are facing a tight labour market and slowing workforce growth, coupled with structural unemployment and shortage of skilled labour. These are worrying trends that must be addressed as we renew our economy. And in weathering these, my deepest concerns are on the widening income gaps that affect our workers in the lowest percentile of the economic pie. The real income growth could have been worse for this group of workers if not for numerous interventions, such as providing Workfare Income Supplement, introducing mandatory Progressive Wage Models in low-wage sectors, making specific National Wages Council (NWC) recommendations for low-wage workers, and providing training to upgrade and deepen their skills. We must take bolder steps to address the widening income gap and, at the same time, ensure sustainability of our efforts and their outcomes. Mdm Speaker, we either find a way or make one to reduce this widening income gap.”
“Mdm Speaker, our SG50 journey was characterised by a history of courage, faith, endurance and a sheer will to surmount all obstacles that Singapore faced. I have faith that the Singapore that we wish to see over the next 50 years will happen if the Government continues to take responsible actions with the next 50 years in mind. The President's call "to develop a caring nation" and "renew our economy" resonates strongly with the Labour Movement. It is within the Labour Movement's DNA to care for our workers. Working with our tripartite partners, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has transformed our workers' lives through several forerunner initiatives, such as the Inclusive Growth Programme, Best-Sourcing, and Progressive Wage Model where thousands of workers have benefited through better skills, productivity, career and pay. In addition, NTUC has been a strong voice to advocate changes for many groups of workers through all the various initiatives and help given by our support centres, such as U-Care Centre, Migrant Workers' Centre (MWC), U-PME, e2i, U-Family, U-Live and many others. The Centre for Domestic Employees (CDE) is the latest to join this spectrum. Through our Social Enterprises, NTUC has helped Singaporean workers and their families stretch their dollar and made essential goods and services more easily available. These Social Enterprises brought together a platter of opportunities for work, live and play. Moving forward, our Social Enterprises will rethink, redesign and reinvent products and services to cater for the changing life-cycle needs of Singaporeans. Singapore has changed remarkably over the past 50 years and the Labour Movement is presented with new challenges as we continue to grow. The business environment is evolving rapidly.”
“I truly appreciate all the work you have done and it will be my honour to discharge my duties once again in the Thirteenth Parliament together with you. (In English): Allow me to share a quote that you shared when you were first elected as Speaker of Parliament. This quote is from the great novelist and poet, Robert Louis Stevenson: "Don't judge each day by the harvest that you reap, but by the seeds that you plant." 4.02 pm”
“Mdm Speaker, please allow me to address in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mdm Speaker, I am, indeed, heartened that you have been unanimously re-elected once again as the Speaker of Parliament. When you first became the Speaker of Parliament, it was a proud moment for many, including the Malay/Muslim community, women and also your friends in the Labour Movement. As a female Speaker of Parliament, you inspire all the women out there to pursue their ambition and dreams. In some of my trips to other countries, I have learnt that the reality of having enough female representation in Page: 11 Parliament is still a distant dream for some countries. To have a female representing our House as the Speaker speaks volumes of our meritocracy and maturity as a society to the world. I have nothing but complete faith that you will carry out the responsibilities of Speaker of Parliament with the same impeccable standards that we have had the pleasure of witnessing over the past three years. All our proceedings were guided smoothly and order and decorum were well observed in keeping with the dignity of the House. You have also shown that no matter who we are, where we come from or where our political inclinations may lie, you have treated each and every member of the House with the same level of impartiality and respect. Indeed, you have been a role model for several of us here. Our debates may be tedious at times, but it is through your efforts that the House can come together to carry out its primary duty, that is, to serve our fellow Singaporeans. Mdm Speaker, allow me to express my full support to your election as the Speaker of Parliament.”
“] I support this amendment in the Bill because it will provide better protection for workers, especially the low-wage workers. I would also like to propose that employers are mandated to provide printed payslips and terms of employment to low-wage workers because many of them are not so IT-savvy. I would also like to see the time period that is given to employers to make the necessary adjustments be reduced from 12 months to just six months. As the announcement for these measures was made in 2014, employers have been given plenty of time to take the necessary steps. (In English): Mdm Speaker, please allow me to conclude in English. Mdm Speaker, the amendment in this Bill shows that tripartism is working. The Government continues to provide a listening ear to the problems faced by workers, especially those earning low incomes. Employers also appreciate the needs of workers. As a union, we believe all good things for workers must be felt sooner rather than later. Mdm Speaker, I support the amendment in this Bill. Page: 86”
“This may hinder the effectiveness of the amendment in protecting workers when they do not even know how to access their payslips or KETs. Hence, hard copy payslips and KETs are much easier for them Page: 85 to manage and account for. In addition, I would also like to call for MOM to shorten the grace period provided for employers to adjust to the new requirements from 12 months to six months. All responsible employers should already have a system of accounting for wages and the issuance of payslips should not pose great strain on their resources and operations. Furthermore, the Ministry has clearly stated that there is an abundance of help available to get employers started on this practice. The Tripartite Partners are coming together to help employers with the tools to issue payslips and KETs in writing. With all these in place, all employers should be able to get on board within a six-month grace period. After all, MOM announced its intention to make payslips and KETs mandatory in 2014 and there has been sufficient lead time for them to take actions. Mdm Speaker, I would also like to ask how MOM intends to educate both employers and employees with regard to the amendment in this Bill. Given the grace period, we have to ensure that we capitalise on this to ensure that the amendment gets out to as many employers and employees as possible. This includes how employers can obtain support to adjust to the amendment and also how employees stand to benefit from raised awareness of workplace rights. This amendment is a step forward in protecting the rights of workers, and everybody needs to know how it affects them to fully realise the benefits accorded by the amendment. Mdm Speaker, please allow me to address in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.”
“Mdm Speaker, I am heartened to know that the Labour Movement's calls to mandate the issuance of itemised payslips and key employment terms (KETs) for our workers have now borne fruit. Mandating the issuance of itemised payslips and KET will go a long way in helping workers realise better workplace conditions and standards. Many of our low-wage workers in sectors like cleaning, retail and even those working in SMEs do not seem to know how critically important payslips and KETs can be for their protection. These workers are often those who have very minimal education and, therefore, have no awareness that they should request for these items from their employers. The likelihood of these workers being shortchanged by their employers is very high and they continue to be at the losing end. Without itemised payslips and KETs, it makes it very challenging for unions and advocacy arms like NTUC U Care Centre to gather information when workers come to us to seek redress on workplace grievance on issues like salary disputes or job expectations. On the part of NTUC U Care Centre, while we are educating and raising awareness among our low-wage workers to look out for these items, we are strongly in support of the law that makes this mandatory for all employers. The low-wage workers deserve the added protection conferred upon them through this amendment. Reading the amendment, I understand that employers are provided with the flexibility of providing a hard or soft copy in the issuance of payslips or KETs. I would like to suggest that for workers earning below $1,900, employers must be required to issue a hard copy for their workers' payslips and KETs. For several low-income workers, they may not be in the practice of relying on electronic communications and records.”
“What was the outcome of MOM's investigation into the recent alleged cases of discrimination that went viral over the social media, in particular, I am referring to the first case of an alleged discrimination against a Chinese-Muslim woman and, the second, an alleged discrimination of a foreign national recruiting his own nationality for a position in the company?”
“I believe that our efforts in improving the efficiency of the discharge process and in relieving the burden placed on our OA may be counter-productive if private trustees do not carry out their duties properly. This would, in turn, hinder the bankrupt's Page: 44 motivation and capability to break free of his status. As much as we want to encourage bankrupts to strive to repay their dues and enforce punitive action on those that do not, we need to ensure that the administrative system is fully capable of supporting this endeavour. I always believe that prevention is better than cure where bankruptcy is concerned. While public education on financial management are available through channels, such as MoneySENSE, are there any plans by the Government to have better public outreach to educate potential borrowers on the risks of taking unnecessary credits? Personally, I have come across cases where people are at risk of being made bankrupts because they act as guarantors for loans taken by others or being unable to service the loans taken for risky business investment or simply loans taken for buying a car. Mdm Speaker, bankruptcy is certainly a circumstance that nobody would want to find themselves in. However, I am of the firm belief that with proper education on financial prudence, we can certainly reduce the risk of individuals landing themselves in such situations. For those that out of circumstance fall through the cracks – I hope that this amendment may at least allow them to be in a better position to pick themselves up again. Once again, Madam, I support the Bill. 3.04 pm”
“Mdm Speaker, I rise in support of the Bill. Please allow me to make my speech in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The provision of a clear and fixed timeframe for bankrupts will incentivise them to work harder within the timeframe stipulated to discharge themselves from their status as a bankrupt. This would certainly enable them to recover and resume their daily lives and look forward to a brighter future. I also hope that the measures that will be taken to transfer the responsibilities from an Official Assignee (OA) to a public trustee when banks or large corporations are applying for bankruptcy proceedings against a debtor will result in them being more circumspect before providing credit to their clients. However, there are some concerns that I would like to raise with regard to the Bill. While it is good that this Bill provides fixed timelines for someone to be discharged from bankruptcy, nonetheless, will this possibly turn into an easy option for those who are in debt? This may bring about an unintended effect. I am also concerned over the possibility that financial institutions may increase the cost of borrowing across the board because they need to appoint public trustees for bankruptcy management cases. What are the measures that can be taken to mitigate this possible increase in cost of borrowing? (In English): Mdm Speaker, please allow me to continue in English. My next area of concern is with regard to the appointment of private trustees by institutional creditors. Are there checks and balances in place to ensure that the appointed private trustees carry out their job efficiently and fairly, especially given the fact that since bankruptcy cases can be very long-drawn?”
“Mdm Speaker, there have been some proposals made by some quarters to freeze foreign manpower growth. So, I would like to ask the Minister what would had been the impact on companies and the economy if such proposals to freeze manpower growth had been implemented?”
“Mdm Speaker, if I can ask in Malay? (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Prime Minister, Sir, what role can be played by the minority community, like the Malays, in the efforts to remember the deeds Page: 52 and contributions of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew as well as the other Pioneer leaders, towards the development of our society and nation, so that the future generations of young people will be able to learn from their sacrifices for Singapore?”
“I believe there is a need for greater clarity so that a balance between a resident's own rights and the protection of the neighbour's rights for use and enjoyment of their respective place of residence. Mdm Speaker, with proper checks and balances, I believe that the Tribunal is more than merely a platform for residents to voice their dissatisfaction and reach a binding solution from the Tribunal. Rather, this Tribunal strives towards ensuring harmony between residents in a fair and just manner – targeted at providing a more assertive resolution for a very small minority of residents who disrespect the common space they share here in Singapore. Madam, I strongly support the Bill. 3.04 pm”
“Mdm Speaker, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I support this Bill. However, I would like to suggest that the law provides protection to grassroots members as well as Town Council officers who are involved in dispute resolutions. This Bill must also provide powers to compel a person to attend the mediation sessions or to compel a person to obtain psychiatric treatment in IMH if the person is thought to have mental issues. Page: 83 Madam, in English, please. (In English): Another common neighbourly dispute is over leaked roof ceiling in HDB homes. Despite our HDB Goodwill Repair Subsidy, there were several instances when the issue was drawn out because one of the involved parties refused to cooperate. Would the Tribunal preside over such cases to put a stop to irresponsible residents who ignore the problems that they may be causing to their neighbours? I would also like to raise my concern with regard to the Bill's definitions and processes laid out in the Bill itself. In the Bill, section 4, subsection 2a includes the act causing excessive noise, smell, smoke, light or vibration that may constitute causing interference in the neighbour's use or enjoyment of the place of residence. Given the proximity between households, there may be differences with regard to the degree of what residents find to be "excessive" and what residents may feel is in their personal right in their own household. In my own constituency, I have cases where upper floor neighbours complain that cigarette smoke from their neighbours downstairs is going into their houses, and it is very, very difficult for us to resolve such a case because the smokers perceive it is within their own right to smoke within their own home.”
“In Malay, Sir. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I would like to ask the Minister what is being done to reach out to young families that are facing difficulties to encourage them to leverage on the available schemes. During my Meet-the-People Sessions (MPSs), I occasionally come across young Malay families facing financial pressure and they receive little support from their immediate family members. I am concerned that their young children are affected as they are denied early childhood education. Unless help and support is given, their problem will worsen and become complicated, and may lead to further strains on family ties and eventually may lead to divorce. I would like to know if the Minister would, firstly, tighten and enhance social support schemes targeted at young families that are facing difficulties, especially those who are specifically designed to help their young children in early childhood education. Secondly, what are the efforts to ensure that the support from such schemes reach those young families? Low-income Families and the Home Ownership Plus Education Scheme”
“With a growing elderly population and a growing chronic disease burden, there is an urgent need to manage wellness and prevent or delay health problems. The primary care sector must be supported to take on bigger roles in areas such as management of chronic illness, mental health and in-community ageing. I would like to ask MOH if there are any plans for further enhancement of the primary care in Singapore. Deal with Shortfall of Delivery Doctors”
“Mdm Chair, I have two clarifications in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Whether the waiver of examination fees for madrasah students will be funded by the Government through the Ministry of Community and Youth. Secondly, will this examination fee waiver be provided to every madrasah student even though the madrasah is not part of the JMS network? Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: (In Malay) [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] For the second question, it will be given to all madrasah students whether it is part of the JMS or not a part of the JMS. For the first question, it is being discussed by MUIS and MCCY. What is important for us is that approval has been given so that we can work together to find funds outside our community to help our madrasah students.”
“Madam, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The increase in zakat contributions among our community is a heartening development. It is a reflection of income growth and an increasing awareness about the obligation to pay zakat among the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore. Can the Minister share about the efforts on zakat collection for 2014 and MUIS' plans to disburse this zakat money? I would also like to know MUIS' plans to encourage Muslims to perform their obligation to give zakat, so that we can have a higher zakat collection to benefit the community. Enhancing Social Assistance Delivery”
“(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Chairman, just like MENDAKI, Malay/Muslim bodies play a key role in helping the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore through various services for certain segments of our community. The types of aid given include assistance in providing education to our students through loans and bursaries, and the Debt Advisory Centre set up recently by MENDAKI to help households that are having financial issues. One of the means by which the Government extended its support to the Malay/Muslim bodies, in recognition of their noble efforts, was by setting up the Malay/Muslim Community Development Fund. Last year, the Minister encouraged them to tap on the $2.6 million fund to meet their training and development needs. I would like to ask how far the objectives of this fund have been fulfilled; and if he could share examples of how the Malay/Muslim bodies have utilised the grant from this fund. I believe that with greater publicity and further fine tuning of this fund, in terms of its utilisation and allocation, more Malay/Muslim bodies can leverage on this fund better, to ensure that good quality services continue to be extended to the Malay/Muslim community Page: 160 in Singapore, in order to achieve progress and develop our Malay/Muslim community. Funds for Malay/Muslim Community”
“[Deputy Speaker (Mr Charles Chong) in the Chair] As construction may take one to two years, having such tighter and mandatory regulation can give assurance to residents that such development in residential areas can be done without them having to compromise on their quality of life. Air Quality and Carbon Footprint”
“Mdm Chair, in my constituency, there are many residents who have raised health concerns due to increasing building construction near their homes, which can lead to respiratory health problems, lowered visibility and damage to property due to degradation. Such construction, even if necessary, should not be done at the expense of the quality of life of our Singaporeans. In Sydney, Australia, construction companies are legally bound to control dust emissions from construction sites, so as not to contribute to environmental degradation and pollution. This is done by using approved methods of assessment of air pollutants, such as dust sensors or dust deposition gauges. Page: 125 I would like to call upon the Ministry to consider imposing tighter regulation on building construction near heavily populated areas to mitigate the environmental impact which affects the living environment of the residents in that area. Currently, NEA, to a certain extent, does regulate the dust issue at construction sites. However, at present, they have no means of measuring dust particles and there are no standards governing the acceptable range in terms of air quality. As such, complaints and feedback by residents can often only be acted upon purely by visual assessment, which limits its efficiency in remedying the issue. I believe that we should instead look into mitigating the issue at one of the sources, that is, the construction works. NEA could consider adopting the Environmental Management Standard by taking reference from Australia's practice and adapting it to suit our local conditions. This would include having a Dust Management Plan before construction begins and requiring site measures during construction to reduce dust emission.”
“Mdm Chair, I am heartened to see that Singapore has done a commendable job in formulating policies that encourage home ownership amongst Singaporeans. Statistics for home ownership in Singapore are higher in comparison Page: 121 to several other developed countries and this is a good sign. However, I believe we can do more to help residents of rental flats to have home ownership. They could be in the current predicament due to divorce, massive debt or, simply, short-sightedness in managing their asset. Given their circumstances, many of these residents face difficulty in obtaining a house of their own under existing housing policies. Living in rental flats on a long-term basis can be detrimental to the overall well-being of the family, especially those with young children. I would like to urge the Government to consider providing a planned and structured approach in terms of helping these families towards home ownership. This may involve several agencies supporting one another to create a virtuous cycle for these families to manage their issues and move towards having their own home. If necessary, I would also like the Government to consider implementing a special housing policy to help these families. This policy should naturally come with stricter sale restriction and conditions, such as a shorter lease, to make the flat affordable for this group of people. Having a home of their own can be the tipping point for these families to get a new headstart in life and create for themselves a hope for a better future. Resale Levy Policy”