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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“Secondly, the Page: 113 Government should also consider lowering the age eligibility criteria for workers to receive WIS from the current 35 years to 30 years to enable more low-wage workers to benefit. Finally, I would like to propose for those aged 55 and above to qualify for the maximum payout, instead of the current 60. Employers of Foreign Domestic Workers”
“Madam, I would like the Ministry to do a stock take on the policies aimed at improving our low-wage workers such as Workfare, WorkRight, Mandatory Progressive Wage Model and other tripartite efforts. I believe that these policies must stay as relevant as possible if they are to be effective in helping low-wage workers. As an outcome, it is important that we strive for higher annual wage growth for the workers at the 20th percentile compared to the 50th percentile on a sustainable basis through a more concerted effort to improve productivity. Moving forward, I would like to check whether MOM has any plan to boost productivity in retail, logistics and F&B sectors where there are many low-wage workers. I believe there is a need for a more concerted coordination from tripartite partners and the industry players to ramp up our productivity efforts in these sectors where there are many low-wage workers. Workfare Income Supplement to Support More Low-wage Workers My second cut. Madam, I believe that the implementation of the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) has gone a long way in improving the lives of many low-wage workers in Singapore. The last enhancement made for low-wage workers was during Budget 2013. It has been two years. I believe there is now scope for us to give the low-wage workers a hope for a better future by revising on the WIS schemes in place for them. I would like to propose for the Government to review WIS and consider further enhancements that will allow more low-wage workers to attain greater financial security and savings for their Minimum Sum. I have three suggestions. Firstly, I would like to propose for the Government to increase the quantum of WIS that goes into the CPF.”
“Mdm Chairman, lately, there is a growing trend where employers give their workers advance notice for work schedule of as little as three days – despite our law stipulating that schedules should be given at the beginning of the month. This practice can be attributed to companies using technology that allow them to adjust work schedules at short notice to respond to operational needs and control costs. Unfortunately, for workers, it creates an unpredictable schedule that makes it more difficult to plan their work and family commitments. Will MOM reach out to employers to educate them about the time norm required to inform workers on their work schedules? Would there be greater enforcement on the employers for them to notify their workers of their work schedule in the beginning of the Page: 90 month? While the unions could monitor those practices in the unionised companies, there are many non-unionised companies that may be flouting the rule. I think it is important we strive towards a positive business environment with policies that work for workers as well as businesses.”
“Madam, I applaud the initiative to introduce professional career counselling and career guidance in our local institutions. To complement efforts to create a skilled Singapore workforce, I believe that we should also embark on building a Singapore Core. I would like to urge MOM to look into the possibility of refining our available infrastructure and to put in place structures to create a Singapore Core in the industries – Page: 61 particularly for positions in the middle and higher management positions. What are our current measures in place to support companies that develop manpower capital in Singapore? I believe that we should expand on support schemes for companies to develop manpower capital in Singapore. We should look into pressuring companies to have an outcome abiding to the idea of the Singapore Core. In the long run, we should thus be looking at reduced reliance on foreign talent and greater job satisfaction amongst Singaporeans. The National Jobs Bank should also undergo refinement to incentivise companies to employ Singaporeans should there be more than a certain number of applications from Singaporeans for the advertised jobs. As it stands now, the National Jobs Bank is frequently criticised for not compelling companies to hire Singaporeans and that is an area which we should revisit in order to better serve our local workforce. 2.00 pm”
“Mdm Chair, my clarification in Malay please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The Minister for Education, in his speech, said that no children will be left behind whatever their starting point. Can the Minister share the Government's position on the suggestions by several Members of Parliament for the Page: 119 waiver of examination fees to be given to every Singaporean student, even though they are in private schools like the full-time madrasahs, and whether this suggestion will be considered by the Government in this year's Budget?”
“Madam, the children are our future. I applaud the support given by the Government to invest in education. As our nation strives to be an Page: 67 inclusive society, this must permeate to our education policies as well. I believe that the Government should promote greater inclusiveness and support for all Singaporean students. The decision to extend personal Edusave to all Singapore students was a step forward but the decision to limit examination fees waiver only to those studying in mainstream schools makes us fall short of being inclusive. I would like to call for the Government to re-examine its position on Madrasahs as private schools, but rather to see them as part of our education landscape. It is important that we support the Madrasah students who will play an important role in defining the values and principles of our Muslim society in the context of a multiracial and multi-religious nation. I would like to call for the Government to waive national examination fees for all Singaporean students, as long as it is their first attempt at taking the national examinations, including the International Baccalaurette examinations. This should apply even to those in private educational institutions or those choosing to home-school their children. Allied Educators and After-school Care”
“Although this information may seem readily available, but in the low-wage workers' struggle to earn a living, this information may sadly find itself lost in transition. Malay/Muslim bodies can play a role to disseminate information to the low-wage workers or the community in general. It is important that we take advantage of the SkillsFuture initiative to progress further in our careers based on efforts to enhance our skills. Therefore, it is important that Malay/Muslim organisations work together so that we can have a concerted effort to help our community understand all the different measures under Page: 103 SkillsFuture and benefit from it, especially the opportunity to undergo lifelong learning. (In English): Mr Deputy Speaker, in conclusion, let me share a story by an Australian politician. Short-term thinking is the greatest enemy of a good government. This Budget is about the long-term thinking of Singapore's future. We cannot let short-term thinking dominate our policies for governance because it will lead us to a path where there will be little left for our future generation. Irresponsible political parties will force the government into short-term thinking in governance, for they know that it is the greatest enemy of a good government. 5.16 pm”
“Perhaps, another possible way is to explore industry wide collective agreements as a means to level up the industry as a whole. This is an option worth exploring where industry stakeholders, including the buyer of services, must agree to certain standards that would benefit the workers and the industry as a whole. Compliance to the NWC recommendation could be made mandatory as part of this industry wide collective agreement. The last area which I would like to touch on is outreach to low-wage workers. I would like to continue in Malay, please, Mr Deputy Speaker. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] This Budget will introduce many benefits for low-wage workers. But it is crucial for low-wage workers to know what is out there for them. I would like to call on the Government to ensure that the implementation of these initiatives is not limited by a lack of information on the part of the low-wage workers. We cannot assume that these workers would know or would take the initiative to bring this new information to themselves. There are some areas which, in my view, low-wage workers may not be aware of and, therefore, may limit the benefits of our policies. For example, low-wage workers should be made more aware about CPF schemes, particularly, on the management of healthcare expenses and the use of CPF beyond paying for housing loans. Mature low-wage workers may also lack the knowledge in managing their retirement savings. On the recently announced SkillsFuture initiative, it is also imperative that low-wage workers be provided detailed advice so that they can maximise the benefits that they can gain.”
“Certain employment benefits stated in the Employment Act such as medical benefits, annual wage supplement can be enhanced or made mandatory to directly benefit low-wage outsourced workers. Tripartite partners must find a way in best sourcing efforts where service buyers do not outsource their responsibility to look after the outsourced workers working for them. If moral suasion does not work, let us not hesitate to take the legislative route to protect these vulnerable workers. The fourth area I would like to touch on is on the National Wages Council (NWC). Mr Deputy Speaker, NWC could play a bigger role in helping to boost wages for workers, especially low-wage workers. Unfortunately, many outsourced workers and those in non-unionised companies may not be benefiting from the NWC's quantum recommendations for low-wage workers. The days of moral suasion are over. I would like to call for the Government to exert greater pressure for companies to adopt the NWC recommendations for low-wage workers by using existing levers relating to grants and foreign workers to ensure compliance. While companies must do what they can to remain competitive, it should not be at the cost of the livelihood for our Singaporean labour force. These vulnerable workers need all our help to improve their living standards and allow them to enjoy wage Page: 102 increases. To be fair to service providers who are on fixed contract, it is about time we allow contract variation on a yearly basis should there be changes to manpower policies or to comply to NWC's recommendation for low-wage workers. Failing to do so is again promoting a "master-servant" relationship resulting in the most vulnerable workers taking the heat.”
“Page: 101 One of the ways that we can do in order to remedy the troubles of our low-wage workers is negate the undesirable consequences of outsourcing. Many workers, especially low-wage workers are losing out on their wages with the practice of outsourcing. There is also a real possibility of their wages stagnating at a certain level and their statutory employment benefits reverting to the minimum upon contract renewal. The Government can also play a role in this area to lead by example. Of course, the best option is of course to hire these workers directly as a direct employee but, if that is not possible, I can think of two other areas. First, during the evaluation of tender, give more weightage or preference to service providers that provide good and fair employment benefits to the outsourced workers where the workers will be given annual wage supplement, performance bonus and annual increment. While striving for value-for-money and cost savings during procurement are important, it cannot be at the workers' expense. Second, Government Ministries and Statutory Boards must be fair to their incumbent service providers during contract renewals by recognising that cost pressures are different for the incumbent compared to new service providers. I recalled a cleaning company shared that they lost a cleaning contract in a Government building to another company who bidded at a contract price given by the incumbent service provider two years ago. Given increasing costs, it is not difficult to imagine this new service provider will face challenges. It is unfortunate that the workers eventually bear the brunt of such cheap sourcing. At a more national level, outsourced low-wage workers need more protection.”
“Job redesign cannot be done by NTUC alone but requires the inputs from industry and support from the Government. Job redesign must lead to work being easier, safer and smarter. It is an area that tripartite partners have to come together to revisit as quickly as possible. Our job redesign efforts should scale up in the future and include more industries and sectors of the economy. For low-wage workers, the prospect of professionalising an industry and encouraging training for workers for better wages is more than just a matter of skills or job relevance. It is about giving these workers hope. Hope that they could have a brighter future than the one they have now. The SkillsFuture initiative complements NTUC's Progressive Wage Model. Hence, I would like to call for efforts pertaining to SkillsFuture to closely involve the unions and industry players to ensure that training or grant received under SkillsFuture leads to better jobs and better pay. While SkillsFuture has the potential to benefit the workers, it is also important that we review the foreign worker manpower policies to ensure alignment to the desired outcomes under SkillsFuture and the development of a Singapore core. It would indeed by very sad, if after all the SkillsFuture training and grants, it is "business as usual" with jobs and salary remaining status quo or workers not being given better employment opportunities. Third, fairer working conditions will be the next area we could look into to help low-wage workers. Mr Deputy Speaker, what future thus lies ahead for our low-wage workers to give them a sense of security in their jobs? Can we pave the way for Singapore to give our low-income earners a reason to smile today and feel that they can indeed hope for a better future despite their circumstances?”
“Even in public waste collection, it can be a challenge to improve productivity if the expectation is daily collection regardless of the level of waste generated in the area. There are many other examples where a change in the operating environment can make a big difference. In short, I would like the various Government Ministries and agencies to work closely with their service providers who have the answers to improve productivity for the services they are providing. Government must be willing to relook at their contract specifications. The "master-servant" relationship embedded in many of these service contracts must be changed to one where it becomes a "win-win" relationship. "Master-servant" contracts are often one sided, demanding services at ridiculously low prices, punitive and often, it is the outsourced low-wage workers that bear the brunt because their companies could not provide better welfare and employment benefits in order to save costs. Second, let me share my thoughts on productivity and job redesign. Page: 100 Mr Deputy Speaker, the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) has been instrumental in pushing for higher wages especially for low-wage workers. While the wage ladders under PWM can be easily derived, the challenge moving forward is to ensure that each level is accompanied by a corresponding increase in productivity through skills upgrading, job redesign and greater responsibility. On a short-term outlook, we need a lot more concerted coordination in ramping up our productivity measures across all the sectors. We need more than just funding support to increase productivity. Industry players will have to come together to iron out the gaps. For a start, there must be a more aggressive tripartite initiative to improve productivity through job redesign.”
“Mdm Speaker, the Labour Movement applauds Budget 2015 for being forward-looking and one which caters for the future needs of workers and businesses in a sustainable manner. Page: 99 Moving forward, I believe that there is still more that we can do for our low-wage workers. Over the last two years, income growth for workers in the 20th percentile was higher than the 50th percentile. This is a promising sign and we should work towards reducing this income gap. I would like to touch on five areas that could support this trend. [Deputy Speaker (Mr Charles Chong) in the Chair] First, Government contracts. NTUC agrees that sustainable income growth must be supported by better productivity but we need a breakthrough in our efforts to improve productivity. Mr Deputy Speaker, there can be no substantial increase in productivity if there is no fundamental change in the way things are being done and the only way to change the way things are being done is to change our thinking and question our assumptions. In NTUC's engagement with the industry players in the cleaning, security and landscape sectors, they would like the Ministries and Statutory Boards to do more to create a working environment conducive for these service providers to increase their productivity. Many shared their efforts to increase productivity can be dampened by infrastructure, operational constraints and reluctance to change on the part of the Government officers on the ground. For example, many cleaning companies are not using the technology specified in the contract because the existing infrastructure does not allow for storage areas for these equipment to be stored.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Given the possible financial hardship that the applicants might face when they are due to collect their keys to the BTO flat, what assistance or help could HDB render them to help them with ownership?”
“Should these groups be found in the same place, what is the course of action that we would undertake in the interest of fairness for all? Mdm Speaker, I believe that this Bill has noble intent to create a living environment that is fair to all parties. I believe our society would be worse off than without it. Madam, I support the Bill.”
“I have also received feedback from liquor retailers for the restriction on the hours of liquor sales not to be imposed. This is a reasonable request because this Bill has already banned the consumption of liquor in public areas during certain hours. Therefore, why impose the ban on liquor sales on these retailers after 10.30 pm? Some feel that this ban will burden the lower and middle income groups who want to consume liquor in their homes after 10.30 pm because the prices of liquor in the retail shops are much lower than the prices at the coffee shops in the housing estates. Mdm Speaker, with regard to the payment of fines for the offence of consuming liquor in public areas during the restricted hours, many would also like to know how it is derived. Some feel that the fines imposed should be lesser compared to the penalties imposed for anti-social behaviour that is worse, for instance, littering and spitting in public areas. (In English): On the issue of enforcement, will the public call for effective enforcement put a greater strain on the local Police force, channelling their efforts into controlling consumption of alcohol in a public area rather than focusing on more pressing issues? What are the plans by the Ministry to ensure effective enforcement? Mdm Speaker, I would also like to know what are the Ministry's plans to ensure that sufficient outreach and awareness is made known to foreigners on the restrictions placed on the consumption of alcohol as stipulated by this Bill. I fear that this may produce a dilemma for local authorities given that they have to balance a thin line between tempering mercy for tourists who are genuinely unaware and also tackling the problem of locals who may have flouted the law.”
“Mdm Speaker, please allow me to address in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I have received feedback from several grassroots members in my area and also from the employers of foreign workers about this Bill. One area of concern is that the definition of "public areas" is too wide. Will the public areas in condominiums or private housing estates be subjected to the ban on liquor consumption under this Bill? Will a person commit an offence if he consumes liquor after 10.30 pm when he is relaxing at the poolside of his condominium? Seeing that this Bill has designated two areas that are frequently visited by foreign workers as Liquor Control Zones, many employers and foreign workers are questioning the need for foreign worker dormitories to be designated as public areas. Those who gave their feedback to me felt that we should exercise more flexibility so that these foreign workers can relax with their work colleagues to recover from fatigue and work stresses. Therefore, it would be good if, for the consumption of liquor within these foreign worker dormitories, it is left to the dorm operators to establish their own conditions. Mdm Speaker, there are also grassroots members who want the ban on liquor consumption in public areas to be imposed at all times. This approach has been implemented Page: 53 in several cities like New York, Sydney, Perth and Oslo. Allowing the consumption of liquor during the hours before 10.30 pm can still bring about problems related to liquor consumption like drunkenness, brawls and indiscriminate littering. Therefore, in their opinion, it will be better to ban the consumption of liquor in all public areas at all times.”
“We will continue to review the scheme, especially the criteria for low-income families — and I mentioned earlier that we have just revised it last year — and we will continue to do so recognising that not only do we have more funds but, at the same time, families may face difficulties, and there could be differences in terms of their income and cost of living. So, we will continue to do so because the real purpose of zakat is to benefit the community and we will continue to do so to make sure that no low-income families are left out from this scheme entirely.”
“I have two supplementary questions. First, given that there is an increase in the amount of zakat collected, what could have contributed to this increase in zakat collection? It is necessary for MUIS to identify what are the key success factors that led to the increase in zakat collection. Page: 35 Secondly, given the increase in zakat collection, will MUIS be reviewing either the income criteria to enable more needy families to benefit or the quantum given to needy families so that it would be of better help to them? Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: I thank the Member for the two questions. Certainly, there are many factors that would have contributed to the success of zakat collection in Singapore, but what comes to my mind are two possible factors. Rising affluence within the Malay/Muslim community is, in fact, a reflection of zakat collection. As more Malays do well professionally through the educational system, we will be able to increase wealth in the community. But more importantly, the awareness programme that MUIS has conducted for many years to show how zakat funds which have collected had been used, have resulted in a lot of Muslim professionals' willingness to step forward and show their generosity because everything that is collected from zakat goes back to the community. So, I think these are the two factors – mainly affluence and awareness of how the funds have been utilised. The Member's second question was something which I have replied to earlier.”
“Mdm Speaker, I have three supplementary questions for the Minister. Page: 31 One, where does MUIS get the majority of its funding for its financial assistance programme? Two, would a person be denied financial assistance from MUIS if he or she has been receiving financial assistance from other organisations? Three, recently, there were allegations that some families were denied financial assistance from MUIS but received financial assistance from other religious organisations. What was the outcome of MUIS' investigations into this issue? Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Madam, all of our financial assistance schemes are being funded by the zakat fund. Everything else that we collect goes into the general fund which is meant for the purpose of running MUIS. No one will be denied financial assistance if they meet our criteria. They may have received assistance from ComCare or any other national agency, but if they come to MUIS, and if they meet our criteria, we will give them the assistance. As I had mentioned in my reply, the approach is really for us to take advantage of what is available at the national level before coming to MUIS; we will complement that. On the allegations that the Member mentioned, I am not sure exactly which one the Member is referring to. We receive many of those. But the one that I think that the Member was referring to that was circulating online recently. We have investigated and found that there is no truth at all to those allegations. In fact, the family has been assisted by MUIS.”
“I thank the Minister of State. I have three supplementary questions. First, after how many months of mortgage arrears have to be accumulated for HDB to start the process of CA? Second, how does HDB help home owners manage their arrears? And third, could HDB consider assisting home owners with alternative accommodation even if they decide to sell their flats on their own instead of through CA? Page: 16”
“With this amendment, if employers do not allow a PME who is a union member to continue working when the worker reaches 62 years old, the union can initiate discussions with the employer to ensure that the justification or compensation given is reasonable. (In English): The profile of our labour force is changing. While rank-and-file workers have been the backbone of the Labour Movement, the rising numbers of PMEs are a force to be reckoned with. To be free, employees must be given a choice, regardless of whether they are rank-and-file workers or PMEs. To have choice, they must retain in their own hands the right to union representation and be part of the union family. I support the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill. 4.51 pm”
“The merger could have benefited all parties in terms of a common negotiation and allow for a more fruitful outcome, but the "no consent" by the management stalled the efforts for a combined CA. With the proposed amendment, we expect the above obstacles to disappear and the grey area on PME eligibility for union representation to diminish. Page: 80 While I support the proposed amendments, I would like to suggest that MOM reconsider the guidelines on excluding salaried staff that have access to confidential information, such as the budget and finances of the company, or the salaried and personal records of other rank-and-file employees. There are instances where the staff are often tasked with mere processing and the nature of the job is mostly administrative. As such, they may stand to lose out more from being excluded from the CA, especially so as they may not be earning much to begin with. While I understand the concerns of including such staff, we should try to push to include rather than exclude as many as possible. Mr Deputy Speaker, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The amendments to the IR Act will allow more PMEs to be represented by the unions during the collective agreement negotiations, as well as in the prevention and resolution of disputes at the workplace. Among the amendments proposed to the IR Act is for the unions to represent PMEs on issues related to re-employment practices. Presently, many workers, including those who are PMEs, are still healthy and wish to continue working.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, there are potential PMEs who are union members that could provide strong leadership to the union. While I understand management's concerns with regard to allowing PMEs to join rank-and-file unions because of possible conflict of interests, however, allowing PMEs to be union leaders can promote a harmonious workplace environment between PMEs and the rank-and-file workers. In one of our unionised companies, the branch chairman was a PME and he was not covered under the CA but the management allowed him to continue to be the branch official. As the branch chairman, he negotiated on the CA and AI for the rank-and-file workers and attended to their workplace grievances in the company as well. In this case, our PME union official was very clear on what would be good for the management and what would be fair to the workers. He was able to achieve a win-win outcome for both parties and, hence, helped to maintain a harmonious labour-management relationship. With the proposed amendments, I foresee unions benefiting from having greater clarity on the PMEs who could be roped in to be part of the union leadership. Mr Deputy Speaker, the proposed amendments would also promote greater ease and efficiency for unions and management during CA negotiations. In one of our unionised companies, the management allowed the unions to represent the rank-and-file workers and junior PMEs as well, but insisted on separate CAs to minimise any potential conflict of interest. Even though BATU suggested to work towards one CA, as many of the PMEs have no managerial or executive responsibilities and were earning below $4,500, we faced strong objections from the management.”
“BATU had worked closely with the management on the deployment and transfer of the employees, many of whom were our union members. The management also allowed the union to negotiate on behalf of the junior PMEs as well, probably because many of them were our union members and there was no concern about conflict of interest. While management exercised flexibility in this area, however, on matters related to annual increment (AI) and variable bonus (VB), the management went by the book and stated that the settlement for AI and VB was only applicable to the rank-and-file covered by the Collective Agreement (CA). Half of our junior PME union members were affected. The PMEs in different departments were given different quantums of payment. Needless to say, Page: 79 workers' morale was affected. With the proposed amendments, hopefully, we would see less of such cases and improve the quality of workplace treatment to one that is fair to workers and where issues of probable conflict of interest could be better managed. The amendments would also allow the unions to have a bigger pool of capable members, including PMEs, that the union could tap on to enhance union leadership. In BATU, we had experienced a situation where one of our key branch officials was asked to step down from the union committee after he was promoted to a junior manager. He could only be a union member even though the members wanted him to continue as a union leader. Even though he had no real managerial or executive responsibility and could have continued serving in the union committee without any conflict of interest, the management was resolute in their refusal to allow him to continue in his capacity as a union leader.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise in support of the amendments to the IR Act. History has shown that strong, responsible unions are essential to industrial fair play. Without unions, industrial relations could be wholly one-sided. The unions in Singapore have played a critical role to set the standards across the board in wages, employment benefits and working conditions. It is said, "If you are making a decent salary in a non-unionised company, you owe it to the unions. One thing that corporations do not do is to give out money out of the goodness of their hearts". Given the changing profile of our workforce, the PMEs today will be the rank-and-file workers of tomorrow. The proposed amendments will allow the unions to remain relevant. With an increasing number of PMEs, the future direction for the Labour Movement is to get them organised and their union rights recognised by their employers as a condition precedent to creating a fairer workplace environment. Mr Deputy Speaker, this amendment will allow the unions to give the PMEs a greater level of protection over their workplace rights. In the past, it was assumed that PMEs have the financial capability to engage their own lawyers for any employment matter disputes but the reality is that many junior PMEs may not have the financial ability to undertake their own legal recourse, leaving them in a very vulnerable position. The ability for unions to represent PMEs will create a workplace environment that promotes greater transparency and fairness to resolve employment related disputes. Let me share the experience of my union, Building Construction and Timber Employees Union (BATU), with one of our unionised companies. The company underwent a major renovation.”
“In conclusion, I think it is widely recognised even among critics that this landmark piece of legislation will change for the better how Singapore views and deals with human trafficking. As with any new legislation, we must be prepared for imperfections and flaws when executed in real-life situations and these must be fed back at the appropriate time when amendments and updates are made. More importantly, once we have the legislation in place, what is required is for the Government, civil society and the citizenry to work together in responsible cooperation to give this legislation its intended effect and eradicate trafficking in persons in Singapore. Mr Deputy Speaker, I support the Bill. 6.34 pm”
“The ability to carry non-lethal defensive aids like batons would, in my opinion, be a practical way to equip these officers for their protection. Naturally, although the Bill does not specifically provide, officers should be given detailed training on the discharge of such equipment and strict rules should be made governing the use of these non-lethal weapons. Mr Deputy Speaker, while we mull over the proposed wordings and provisions in the Bill which seeks to detect and punish perpetrators of trafficking, it is worthwhile to note how some organisations are also supplementing the Bill's provisions on deterrence and enforcement with other efforts to prevent and suppress trafficking in persons even further up the process chain. The MWC, whose experiences I have cited throughout my speech today, recently launched a Migrant Workers' Pre-Departure Video. MWC is now working with Government agencies to secure compulsory screening of the Pre-Departure Video at all Construction Skills Testing Centres in source countries like India, Bangladesh and China. If the MWC is successful in its efforts to make screening at these centres compulsory, then the implications for all newly arriving construction workers to Singapore would be vast – as key parts of the video are dedicated to issues like source country agents' fees, obtaining clearly documented employment terms and conditions, as well as a true portrayal of the life of migrant workers Page: 104 in Singapore – which, while comfortable, may not be perfect. It is our hope that through the raising of awareness of typical recruitment malpractices and educating migrant workers on seeking recourse, we will empower workers to protect themselves and break the hold of rogue agents and the debt-bondage of workers.”
“It is worth noting that the Migrant Workers' Centre (MWC) has been working with and assisting migrant fishermen since early 2011. In December 2013, the MWC set up a forward case reporting and welfare centre for migrant fishermen stationed at the Jurong Fishery Port, Page: 103 which caters mainly to foreign fishing vessels and crew. The very availability of this case reporting centre seems to have served as a very strong deterrent to trafficking activity, so much so that since its set-up, no further suspected or alleged trafficking has been reported out of Jurong Fishery Port. Mr Deputy Speaker, trafficking-in-person is a serious offence against human liberty and the enforcement and prosecution must, as our pioneer piece of legislation, reflect our society's strong condemnation for its commission. The proposed sanctions, which include corporal punishment, will encourage perpetrators to avoid detection and arrest at all cost, including using violence against law enforcement officers, as a means of escape or evasion when detected. There is some concern that the granting of additional powers to enforcement officers, such as the right to bear non-lethal weapons, might encourage these officers to become more aggressive and appear more menacing when carrying out their duties. While the action may be fairly directed towards the traffickers, nevertheless, it risks adding to the intense trauma already suffered by the trafficked victim. Again, a balance will need to be struck but, as a starting point, I believe that it is in the interest of protecting the safety and well-being of our enforcement officers, we must face the very realistic possibility that they would be threatened with physical danger in the discharge of their duties.”
“I would like to urge MOM to consider granting labour trafficking victims "Change of Employer" in a similar manner. Perhaps, it would be more prudent to keep some operational levers for victim care and protection within the subsidiary processes that support the legislation rather than coding the "right-to-work" for suspected labour trafficking victims in the legislation. Mr Deputy Speaker, the Bill will also bring much needed relief to migrant fishermen, a group that is vulnerable to labour trafficking and which the MWC has assisted in the past. The MWC has seen cases where these fishermen were duped into taking up jobs as seamen but were instead transited through Singapore and eventually placed on fishing vessels. These same workers had not only been deceived but, after arriving, had their passports taken away from them by force and were made to sign contracts which were inherently unfair to them. These contracts stipulated that they had to work continuously for one- or two-year terms without any remuneration or compensation paid. Conditions on board the vessels were squalid and unsanitary, but as the vessels were mostly out to sea, escape was virtually impossible and, even if the trafficked person could escape, that would virtually mean he would not ever get paid for the time he had already served, in addition to never seeing his passport again – which creates obvious difficulty in returning home. The treatment and conditions faced by these young men, I am certain, would, indeed, qualify them as victims of trafficking under the Bill. The enactment of the Bill would allow the Singapore authorities to do much more to alleviate the plight of these young men as well as investigate and prosecute their traffickers.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, there are also concerns that coding the right to work for suspected victims of human trafficking in the legislation may open a Pandora's box with many coming forward to make false TIP claims in the hope of finding alternative employment. For example, giving a suspected labour trafficking victim the right to employment may be very tricky, especially where the facts show that the worker was complicit in his own trafficking, as a "willing victim"; or, where the debt incurred by the victim was so small as not to warrant him staying on for an extended time to recoup the financial loss, especially where the Public Prosecutor estimates an expeditious conclusion to the case. There is also a possible scenario where a labour trafficking victim, given his skill or nationality, would not have qualified on his own merit for a work pass. Every case will be unique and, hence, there is a need to assess each case on its own facts and merits, coupled with the exercise of discretion and empathy, as opposed to Page: 102 preferring a "one-size-fits-all" approach. While a blanket entitlement for all victims to work is not carried within the Bill, I understand that MOM administers a witness job scheme for prosecution witnesses which allows them to work on a temporary work permit to stay viable and productive during the investigation and prosecution process. MOM has also been liberalising its "Change of Employer" rules in the last two years and now allows a larger number of migrant workers who would otherwise have to return home, to stay on and work with a different employer on meeting certain criteria, such as where a worker has lodged a claim or dispute with MOM and it is found to be legitimate.”
“Not surprisingly, our authorities prefer a more realistic assessment, where debt-burden on its own, without force or coercion, would not technically satisfy a charge of trafficking. This is for obvious reasons as almost every non-traditional source migrant worker would otherwise qualify as having been trafficked simply by virtue of having paid an agent’s fee and laboured under a debt. Hence, there are strong grounds requiring a careful assessment of the degree of vulnerability, exploitation or coercion be done before a case is classified as coming under the ambit of the Bill. I am supportive of the Bill in its current form. It is important for us to understand and be pragmatic of the realities in the migrant worker environment in Singapore and also to take into context other pieces of legislation, such as the Women's Charter, Children and Young Persons Act, Immigration Act, Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, Employment Agencies Act and the Penal Code, all of which continue to operate in tandem with the proposed legislation. This strong framework of complementary regulations would, in my opinion, be comprehensive enough to protect any person in Singapore. Mr Deputy Speaker, there are also very strong calls for the Bill to be more victim-centric because, in its current form, the emphasis seems to be on enforcement. These calls propose the inclusion of a "right to work" as part of the measures to support victims. Criticism of the Bill includes caution from some quarters that failing to provide this right of employment might lead to victims not coming forward for fear of being deported or repatriated.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Singapore is vulnerable to human trafficking as a destination country due to our economic growth and strategic location within Asia. The migrant worker environment has been calling out for dedicated Trafficking-in-Person legislation for a while now. The Labour Movement, through the work done by the Migrant Workers' Centre (MWC) has been assisting migrant workers in more than 12,000 cases relating to employment malpractices, with more than a handful of these cases possibly falling under the ambit of the proposed Act. The legislation must be carefully targeted. Otherwise, it would distract us from targeting real trafficking through a misdirected emphasis on every case where some elements of trafficking might be fulfilled, but where the complete offence is much more difficult to establish. There are some concerns expressed that the Bill in its current form lacks clarity and is too restrictive in its determination of a real trafficking case. One of the scenarios that critics offer in the argument is the debt-burden situation but, unfortunately, it is not often a straightforward case to be classified as human trafficking. For example, a migrant worker pays a large agency fee to come here as a result of having been cheated by their own nationals but, once arrived, is put to work with an employer who is responsible for his welfare, provides favourable working conditions and pays him fairly and on time. I am told that this situation befalls a great number of migrant workers coming to Page: 101 Singapore. As such, a too liberal or wide interpretation of what qualifies as trafficking may work against these workers as it might jeopardise the workers’ ability to stay on and work if they are considered as TIP.”
“I thank the Minister for his reply. I have one supplementary question. Will this new GNSS ERP system infringe any form of privacy rights since it is able to track the whereabouts of every vehicle?”
“This effort to engage the Malay/Muslim community will also be in line with the Suara Musyawarah committee's recommendations to have a more specific public awareness programme on educational and career pathways. This may bring about a mindset shift among parents and students about ITE and Polytechnic graduates, since this group of students will possess niche skills and expertise that can be upgraded so that they can enjoy good careers. However, the Suara Musyawarah committee admits that the Malay/Muslim community is facing the challenge to stay competitive within Singapore's labour force. According to the Suara Musyawarah report, "The inability or the refusal to upskill is usually linked to issues of finance and the readiness to do so, family commitments and possible disruptions to the present careers." These are issues that may hinder the Malay/Muslim community from getting the benefits, in terms of career, that can be gained from the implementation of ASPIRE's recommendations. Hence, emphasis should continue to be given to mindset change, skills upgrading and learning within the Malay/Muslim community through the efforts of MENDAKI and other Malay/Muslim organisations.”
“Any framework that is developed must be transparent and fair so that it will motivate workers to upgrade their skills and productivity. For this framework to achieve the intended objectives, it is important that emphasis is given to the Page: 96 role and responsibility of the employer to ensure that the worker's career is based on his/her skills, productivity and responsibilities, and not solely on educational qualifications. ASPIRE can transform the labour force in Singapore because it presents a good future for workers who are ITE and Polytechnic graduates by enhancing the opportunity to upgrade skills that are relevant to their careers. Even so, it is important also to make efforts to change mindsets and convince the community that success in the workplace does not necessarily depend on an undergraduate degree. Success can also be achieved by deepening skills in the jobs that we are interested in. In this aspect, I would like to urge Mendaki and other Malay/Muslim organisations to work with MOE to lead the effort in engaging Malay/Muslim parents and students on ASPIRE. Allow me to quote a phrase from the Suara Musyawarah report, "The committee is concerned that although many education pathways are provided to the community, the parents and the students themselves may not even be aware of the career objectives and potential that may be present with each choice." Therefore, it is imperative that our community becomes aware of the efforts that will be taken to implement ASPIRE's recommendations, and we must make use of the available opportunities to help Malay students in the ITEs and Polytechnics to understand and achieve success in their careers.”
“I hope that every Secondary and tertiary student will become a nEbO member in the future, so that the Labour Movement, through the unions, can help them explore their interest in their career of choice. ASPIRE also recommended the enhancement of the internship programme for Polytechnic and ITE students. Here, I hope that these students will be equipped with knowledge on the Employment Act. This is important to ensure that they know their rights as workers even during their internship. On this matter, too, NTUC is willing to play a part to enhance the students' awareness and knowledge about the Employment Act and the role that the unions can play to help them in terms of their employment and standard of living. ASPIRE also proposed to assist the deepening of skills after completing ITE and Polytechnic education. I think that this effort will achieve good results if MOE collaborates with organisations that possess the capabilities and have been providing career counselling services. The Employment and Employability Institute, or e2i, the Lifelong Learning Institute and WDA have a group of career consultants that are willing to help Polytechnic and ITE students choose the right career and can continue to help them enhance their work skills in the future. The expert resources available in these organisations must be utilised to achieve ASPIRE's goals. On the recommendation to develop sector-specific skills and progression frameworks with the cooperation of the industries, the Labour Movement would like to urge MOE and MOM to involve NTUC in this effort because NTUC is actively encouraging every sector to adopt a progressive wage model that provides wage increment ladders that are based on productivity, skills and career.”
“Mdm Speaker, in the spirit of Bulan Bahasa, please allow me to address in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I support the recommendations of the Applied Study in Polytechnics and Institute of Technical Education Review (ASPIRE) Committee because these recommendations can potentially help Polytechnic and ITE graduates to upgrade their skills and productivity, which can provide better opportunities for them in terms of their career and income. Page: 95 NTUC welcomes the recommendation to strengthen the Education and Career Guidance (ECG) programme in schools, ITEs and Polytechnics. In order to ensure that good guidance is provided, it is essential that the staff that are selected to run this programme are very knowledgeable and able to give sound advice. On this matter, I would like to suggest that MOE provide job opportunities to mature or aged workers who have long careers in certain fields and have a rich working experience and knowledge. These experienced workers can be trained to become counsellors who can give guidance to help students make good academic and career choices. I would also like to urge MOE to encourage schools, Polytechnics and ITEs to work with the Labour Movement through nEbO, an NTUC branch that comprises union members who are youths. nEbO is spelt with a small "n" and "b" and capital "E" and "O". Unofficially, it means "nobody enjoys being ordinary". Presently, NTUC's nEbO is collaborating with 11 Secondary schools, ITEs and Polytechnics to organise study visits for students so that they can see and understand the careers that they are interested in.”
“There is not much difference between a driver who decides to drink and drive and a driver who chooses to distract himself with a mobile device – they are both showing disregard for the safety of other road users. I hope this Bill can reduce drivers' distraction behind the wheel and instil responsible driving habits to make the roads safer for everyone. Mdm Speaker, at the end of the day I think it is important that we reiterate the message told time and again by the TP, "The best gift you can give to your loved ones is to return home safely". I support the Road Traffic Amendment Bill. 4.18 pm”
“Mdm Speaker, please allow me to speak in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I support this amendment to the RTA which, among others, aims to make our roads even safer from drivers who use mobile communication devices while driving. However, there are some issues regarding the use of mobile communication devices on which I would like to seek clarification. Firstly, can this Bill allow special exemptions to use mobile phones to make emergency calls when the vehicle is in motion? Secondly, I also feel that this Bill needs to be enhanced to ban the usage of mobile communication devices by driving instructors who are teaching students in a moving vehicle because they can also be considered as co-drivers. Finally, I also note that this law bans the usage of mobile communication devices in a moving vehicle. I think that this Bill may need to be further enhanced to disallow the usage Page: 63 of mobile communication devices even when the vehicle is not moving, for instance, at traffic stops or during traffic jams, in order to avoid delays in moving the vehicles again. (In English): Mdm Speaker, apprehending a driver who is using a mobile phone while driving is not easy. In Victoria, Australia, the Police have even implemented a camera system to nab motorists who refuse to put on the seat belt or use mobile phones while driving. In Canada, the police even go undercover as homeless people to be able to get close to and catch motorists using phones while driving. I would like to know how the Ministry would ensure effective enforcement of this new Bill. With the increased traffic on Singapore roads, we cannot afford to condone irresponsibility on the road which may cost lives and break families.”
“I would like to ask the Minister whether the Ministry would consider abolishing Phase 2B, given anecdotal evidence that many of the parents or grassroots volunteers ceased to provide services to the school or community once the child has been admitted to the school.”
“I thank the Minister for sharing. Given that MOM does not specify how the increase in salary should be effected, would MOM agree that this may create a loophole where employers just increase the allowances instead of basic pay to avoid higher overtime rate and bonus payouts to the foreign workers, making them cheaper relative to hiring a local? My second supplementary question is whether MOM would consider plugging this loophole to ensure that the cost of hiring a foreigner has parity to hiring a local worker, as Page: 34 what Minister just mentioned, to ensure a more level playing field. I have also come across feedback from some of my union members where some employers actually deliberately adjust the basic pay – lower the basic pay – to contain the cost of hiring a foreigner.”
“I do not want to belabour the point, but can I ask the Minister, other than making statements, what is the strongest action that our Government can take to express our deep concern against the killing of innocent civilians? My second question is, under what circumstances would this action be taken, given the escalating and prolonged violence in Gaza?”
“To the Deputy Prime Minister, I am happy to hear that MHA has been engaging the Malay/Muslim as well as the other communities on this Syrian crisis issue. Would MHA be updating in the future any development that would enhance our understanding as well as the threat posed by the Syrian issue, should there be further developments?”
“Our demographic profile will change whereby more people will live longer. This trend, together with rapid advances in medical technology, can increase medical costs. Therefore, the Government must be careful because we have yet to identify the costs of medical care in the future that can affect the premium amounts to be paid. To ensure that Singaporeans continue to receive sufficient medical coverage, the Government can set up a medical Page: 90 committee that conducts studies periodically to ensure that the MediShield Life scheme remains effective and affordable for most Singaporeans. The hon Member Mr Faisal Manap has suggested that the CLF study the issue of health within the Malay community. He acknowledged that a lot of efforts have been made by Malay/Muslim bodies to increase awareness among the Malay/Muslim community regarding health issues. I am of the opinion that it would be better if MOH itself conducts the review on these efforts because they have better resources and information to do a better job. I feel that it is more important that we increase efforts to engage our community about MediShield Life and it can be done with the support of MENDAKI and MUIS. (In English): Mr Deputy Speaker, may I take this opportunity to thank the MediShield Life Review Committee and the Secretariat for an outstanding and grateful work in recommending a milestone change in our healthcare system. Mr Deputy Speaker, I support the Motion. 5.51 pm”
“This way, we would mitigate the potential for Singaporeans finding themselves in a situation of huge bill shocks due to misconceptions that they would be covered under MediShield Life. With greater awareness, Singaporeans would be better able to plan their finances around co-payment for medical treatment, instead of falling into financial difficulty. Mr Deputy Speaker, please allow me to speak in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The MediShield Life scheme, in general, will be beneficial to all Singaporeans and Permanent Residents because no one can predict the likelihood whereby they have to shoulder high medical costs. The move to make MediShield Life scheme compulsory will be advantageous to families who usually do not obtain any health insurance coverage for themselves or their family members. Within this group, there are those who have chronic health problems that require long-term treatment and expensive medical care. Through MediShield Life, the Government has made it easier for everyone, regardless of educational background or income level to receive the necessary treatment. For those among the Malay/Muslim community who usually do not have medical insurance coverage due to financial reasons or lack of awareness about medical insurance, MediShield Life will provide the basic coverage that is much needed by everyone. The subsidies provided to the needy will bring us closer to our goal of building a more inclusive and fair society in Singapore. Even so, I would like to urge the Government to be cautious when considering the suggestions that were given, especially the ones about providing higher subsidies or about allowing new medical treatments that will be placed under MediShield Life.”
“Obviously, this may lead to further pressure in healthcare cost under MediShield Life. Hence, I would like to know what steps will be taken by MOH and ICA to prevent such possible abuses to our MediShield Life system. Mr Deputy Speaker, I had a dialogue with my residents on MediShield Life. One of my residents shared with me his painful experience of having to incur a substantial amount for his medical bill for an angiogram and angioplasty operation in 2005 that he had in a private hospital. He could only claim $4,000 from his Medisave and MediShield for the $19,000 hospital bill. The balance had to be paid in cash despite him having substantial Medisave savings. He may not be the only one having gone through such an experience. Page: 89 I attribute this to a lack of public education and awareness of the treatment and claimable limits under our current MediShield scheme. While such limits are imposed to better manage future healthcare costs, it can be quite hard for a person to understand having to pay a large sum of cash despite having substantial Medisave savings. Moving forward under MediShield Life, I hope the Government makes greater efforts to ensure better education and greater awareness amongst MediShield Life patients with regard to the coverage provided. How do we plan to bring forth the necessary knowledge with regard to MediShield Life to the public? Do they have a clear understanding of what MediShield Life may be used for and what it cannot be used for? Could the hospitals' customer patient service officers, especially those in private hospitals, be better equipped with the necessary knowledge to advise on coverage by MediShield Life, together with their advice on treatment open to the patient?”
“Given MediShield Life co-exist with Integrated Shield Plans, does MOH have any plans to regulate these private insurers to ensure that policyholders are not shortchanged by Integrated Shield Plans through disclaimers and terms and conditions not made known clearly to the clients? Reported cases where patients were not allowed to renew their Integrated Shield Plans by some insurance companies after they have started making claims should not be allowed to happen. Related to this extra medical coverage is the need for companies to review their health and medical benefits that they accord to their employees. I am glad that our GPC Chairman for Health, Dr Chia Shi-Lu, and the hon Member Mr Gerald Giam support the Portable Medical Insurance scheme that NTUC had been pushing for several years. But the context under the old MediShield was not conducive for us to achieve a breakthrough due to the annual life time and claim limit. Weighing the pros and cons of PMBS relative to MediShield, the value proposition offered by PMBS at that time was not attractive. Employees want to tap on their companies' insurance for hospitalisation bills to save on their Medisave and preserve their claim limit. However, with MediShield Life, NTUC has renewed the call for employers to implement PMBS. I am pleased that a tripartite committee has been formed to look into it. Mr Deputy Speaker, I support the move to extend MediShield Life to our Permanent Residents that have played an important role in our nation-building. However, there were some concerns that this may create a potential loophole as people from other countries with existing chronic illness may apply for permanent residency status in Singapore just to enjoy universal healthcare coverage.”
“While it is the duty of the Government to provide sufficient access to healthcare with adequate benefits, we must take great care to ensure the financial sustainability of our healthcare system that addresses the needs of the present without seeding an unbearable burden for the future generation. This can be detrimental to our nation because overburdened taxpayers may move to other countries, given the fact that tax competition is on a global playing field. I believe many countries that have implemented universal healthcare have the noble intention of looking after the healthcare needs of its people. While some of them have claimed success, there are those in some countries where the universal healthcare system is in danger of being dysfunctional and characterised by unequal access to healthcare, and uncontrollable and rising healthcare costs. As we are developing our first universal healthcare system, I am glad to know that we have learnt from the rich, practical, day-to-day experiences of other nations and taken steps to mitigate the negative experience of these Page: 88 nations that have embarked on universal healthcare system. Mr Deputy Speaker, I would like to strongly urge that the Government make clear distinctions as to what is a "must-have" and what is a "good-to-have". MediShield Life should cover the essentials that every Singaporean must have in terms of healthcare protection for life. Beyond that, Singaporeans are at liberty to decide whether to expand their healthcare coverage through the Integrated Shield Plans offered by private insurance companies.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, the debate on MediShield Life in this House will give greater insights on possible loopholes or areas that need to be Page: 87 addressed. Some of these are valid and worth deeper consideration. I would like to urge the Government to err on the side of caution and adopt a more conservative approach when reviewing these suggestions for MediShield Life because we have yet to know with certainty the full impact of MediShield Life on our future healthcare expenditure. Mr Deputy Speaker, planning for our universal healthcare system must take into account future demographic changes affecting our healthcare. A rapidly ageing population with many elderly suffering from severe illnesses which are treatable, given advances in medical sciences, will dramatically increase the cost and complexity of healthcare. Moreover, individual well-being and quality of life are accorded more importance these days by many people. Today, many people expect that, in spite of having a chronic disease, an individual should still enjoy a high quality of life, with access to a variety of medical treatment to control their illness. Today, healthcare patients are different from those of the past. Many are well-informed, through the wealth of knowledge on the Internet, and they want greater access and freedom of choice to quality healthcare services. As patients demand better services, the future pressure on our healthcare will increase rapidly. Mr Deputy Speaker, future advances and technological progress in medicine will also be an additional cost factor. Unlike traditional commodities where technological advancement makes them cheaper to produce, medical advancement will add to demand for healthcare and, hence, has an enormous potential to increase medical expenditure substantially.”