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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Every one of 430 lines we hold for Zainal Sapari, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 7 of 9.
“I thank the Minister for the good news. Like the Minister just mentioned, given rising expectations from the residents, especially when they see the facilities in newer HDB development, could the Minister possibly share a tentative Page: 35 timeframe for this review process?”
“Mdm Speaker, I would like to thank the Minister for reaffirming this perception that there are no Malays in some sectors of the SAF as being not true. And I do look forward to the SAF opening up more opportunities for the Malays to play a more critical role in the SAF. 2.58 pm”
“Mdm Speaker, I would like to ask Mr Pritam Singh whether, in his speech, he was alluding to the fact that Malays in the Armed Forces are not deployed to handle machine guns? That is my first clarification. My second clarification is to ask Mr Pritam Singh whether he is aware of the fact that today, many Malays are actually deployed in different parts of the Armed Forces – artillery, signal – and whether he would agree with me that that signals that the Armed Forces have actually opened up these places to the Malays as well.”
“Madam, my third question was, in his opinion, whether he thinks diversity in terms of socioeconomic status could be one of the key yardsticks in determining pupils placement in secondary schools to ensure that we have that diversity. Assoc Prof Tan Kheng Boon Eugene: Thank you. The challenge here is how do we balance this diversity of socioeconomic status of our students with the need to ensure that the system is based on academic merit. In my remarks, I suggested that perhaps we should have a wider conception of merit; that it should not just be based on academic performance alone. More importantly, the thrust of my remarks is that we should try to make our system fairer, to make it more equitable. Yes, there is the need to ensure that our students are equipped for the realities of the modern economy. However, I wonder whether we are having too high a trade-off; that because we stream students into different channels at a very early stage in their education, we determine their life chances too prematurely.”
“What I raised in my remarks is whether our education system may actually accentuate the inequalities because we stream students at a fairly young age, the Page: 34 opportunities that are given to students from different types of schools vary significantly. I would say that the system is still premised on equality of opportunity but the key point I make is whether we can actually ensure that the ability to access these opportunities is real. Let me give an analogy. Everyone in Singapore has a right to start in a 100-metre race. The key question though is whether everyone who appears at the starting line is equipped similarly to do well in the race. I am of the view that our system of education enables some students to be better equipped to take on the rigours of the 100-metre race. I did not quite get Mr Zainal Sapari's third question.”
“Mdm Speaker, I am not from RI but I would like to seek clarification from Assoc Prof Eugene Tan on how he thinks RI should decide on the admission of the students to ensure that it is fair to our society. That is the first clarification. The second clarification: what would be the best way, in his opinion, to emplace students to the various schools after Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE)? My third clarification, again based on his speech on education: does Assoc Prof Eugene Tan think that diversity in terms of social economic status could be one of the key yardsticks in determining placement of pupils in secondary schools after their PSLE? Assoc Prof Tan Kheng Boon Eugene: Thank you, Madam. I thank the hon Mr Zainal Sapari for this opportunity to clarify. On admission to RI – our top schools should make greater efforts to reach out to very different students, such as students who come from schools which are not their traditional feeder schools. My sense is, from speaking to teachers and old boys, that many of the top schools tend to target selected schools for admissions. It is important that our top schools, as part of our system of meritocracy, endeavour to reach out to ensure that they recruit students from a diversity of schools, including neighbourhood schools. At the same time, it is important to emphasise the various financial assistance schemes that are in place, to ensure that cost does not become an issue. But I am more concerned whether the tenor and the ethos of the schools have changed such that these top schools may actually have an elitist complexion. As for placement of students to schools after PSLE, merit will still have to be the main mode of selection.”
“[Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to ask Mr Faisal Manap what are his view, stand and experience on the issue of loyalty that was raised in the Suara Musyawarah report. He always says that this issue is raised in the Suara Musyawarah report, but what is his own stand on whether this issue is really impeding our community?”
“For Malay/Muslim youths who have completed their studies in the ITEs and polytechnics, it is imperative that they look for jobs that are suitable with the training that they received. Malay/Muslim workers can compete competitively with foreign workers because the Government will impose the workers' levy and qualifying salaries on the entrance of foreign workers and that will give local workers an advantage. Thirdly, as a community that have achieved fame in many fields, our community can strengthen networks by providing opportunities for our Malay/Muslim youths to gain knowledge in employment and the industry. For the small and medium enterprises amongst the Malay/Muslim community, they can join the Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce & Industry to use the available networks to help and cooperate with one another. These networks can also be used to provide opportunities for our youths to undergo internships or to open job opportunities. The competition for jobs between local workers and foreign workers is the norm in any country due to the nature of globalisation. It is important that our workers face this challenge in a proactive manner to ensure that we continue to progress in all types of jobs in line with Singapore's future development. Let us, as a community, draw lessons from the past, monitor the present and look towards the future.”
“Although they faced many challenges, these individuals were able to free their minds from the thinking that our community's development has been hampered. This narrative is sometimes used to break our community's spirit to move forward. Although such a narrative may have happened in the past, we are now in the era of globalisation where every government wants to ensure that its people can contribute as much as possible to their country's development. Singapore, as a nation, is now at the crossroads. We are undergoing changes to become a better economy through quality growth, a better workforce that is more capable and more inclusive. There are three things that our community can do to benefit from the strategic economic restructuring that Singapore is going through. Firstly, due to the labour crunch and a very high demand for workers in every sector, Malay workers can take advantage of the available opportunities to upgrade their skills or obtain new skills through WSQ courses, which receive a lot of Government subsidies. They have a better chance to get higher pay if our Malay/Muslim workers are bold enough to change jobs using the new skills that they obtained through the WSQ courses. Page: 81 Secondly, just like other workers, Malay/Muslim workers also face competition from foreign labour. For the long-term economic growth, the Government limited the number of foreign workers to a third of Singapore's labour force. Hence, it is important for Malay/Muslim workers to use the advantages that they have in terms of career, education and understanding of social norms of life in Singapore in order to compete with these foreign workers. Malay/Muslim youths must be encouraged to undergo internships when they are studying in the ITEs or higher educational institutions.”
“I hope that, as a community, we will not be hampered by thoughts that the loyalty of Malays has been questioned. Personally, I come from a poor family and I had never had my loyalty to the nation questioned in school, during National Service or at work. I am from the post-Independence Page: 80 generation. The Suara Musyawarah Committee has provided opportunities for the Malay/Muslim community to voice out their aspirations and hopes. Many achievements and the concerns of the community have been voiced out, including the issue of Malay loyalty. However, this should not be discussed in the wrong context that would give the impression that the Malay/Muslim community has been sidelined. In fact, the Suara Musyawarah Committee has found out that the Malay/Muslim community is very committed to Singapore and wants to improve the lives of the community in all fields, including security and defence. The Government also helps our Malay/Muslim community to overcome any challenge that we face, including the issue of our community's loyalty. This can be seen from what was said by the Minister for Defence, Dr Ng Eng Hen in Parliament recently. Our community's participation in the SAF has increased. Through their own efforts, our Malays are more successful and all these were achieved through their own efforts. Improvements in education have had positive impact, including better income, better jobs and better contributions in welfare efforts, both financially and physically. Our community should also be proud that more of our youths are successful academically, in the arts, music, sports and entrepreneurship. For the successful ones, there are many lessons and pointers that we all can learn from and use as examples.”
“The problems I mentioned, if left unchecked, will continue to create fault lines within our society. As the Government, the onus falls on us to seal up these fault lines. Jobs and wages may not define a society, but it certainly plays a very large role in determining the satisfaction of the average Singaporean with the status quo. The hurdles we face in light of increasing expectations of quality of life and economic progress will continue – but their hopes have been placed on us to deliver. For every percent of economic growth that Singapore enjoys, let us give every worker a reason to smile and rejoice – for they are very people that have made it possible, regardless of their job vocation. The people will also always look at the Government as their honest, trusted and transparent leaders to make every worker a better worker, every job a better job and every life a better life. In Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Deputy Speaker, Singapore will celebrate its 50th birthday next year. The Malay/Muslim community now, if compared to the past, has attained many achievements, including higher levels of education. To move forward, it is better for us focus on what we can do to achieve success. The issue of loyalty that was raised by Mr Faisal Manap, based on the Suara Musyawarah report, is a narrative that we often hear about. But, in my opinion, this kind of thinking can only hold back and affect the desire of our younger generation to achieve success. The success that we achieve should make us proud because it is the hard work of important Malay figures who served the Malay/Muslim bodies. To belittle these achievements is akin to belittling the efforts of the Malay/Muslim bodies in uplifting our community.”
“As a society, we need to give greater recognition to the role played by workers who are keeping Singapore clean, green and safe. These workers spend hours of their lives toiling away at their jobs trying to get a decent living and support their families. These workers are sometimes called "unsung heroes" but it does not have to be that way. A simple pat on the back and a little courtesy towards them by each one of us can go a long way in motivating them to go that extra mile or to carry on performing to the best of their ability. The small actions and intents can go a long way in making someone's day, and whether it translates to higher productivity may be uncertain – but it would certainly make our society a brighter and, more importantly, an inclusive one to be in. As the Labour Movement, NTUC has taken the lead to start a social initiative where we are creating suitable platforms to enable organisations, companies and individuals to start showing appreciation to all workers, especially those in the cleaning, security and landscape industries. Singapore Labour Foundation has donated $1 million to drive this initiative. I Page: 79 would like to call upon every Government Ministry, Statutory Board, company and all individuals to take the first step forward and show that "U Care" for them. Success of this social movement, however, depends on each of us developing the empathy and learning to value the contribution of these workers in ensuring that we can have a high standard of living in a country which is clean, green and safe. Sir, why do I speak of what employees want in my speech of striving for an inclusive society? I believe that these are the very challenges we face when we strive to create an inclusive society.”
“To circumvent large overtime pay, many security agencies resort to paying their officers low basic salaries, leading to a vicious cycle of the security workers having to work overtime to earn enough to support their family. As a society, we should gradually move away from allowing companies to have overtime exemptions. This may lead to pressure for salaries to increase but, in the long run, it will force companies to think creatively of security solutions, yet at the same time, it will allow workers to work within a decently reasonable number of hours. Sir, while it is laudable that we have a workplace safety and health framework, many low-wage workers are working in an environment which is hazardous to their health and safety without the proper gear and equipment to minimise the health risk. While MOH is actively pursuing health advisory specific to the job vocation and MOM has workplace safety guidelines, I would like to call for more to be done. The onus must be put on these companies to provide the appropriate gear to their workers. It must go beyond ensuring safety to the life of the workers, to also include minimising any long-term health risk. I hope to see a future where more of our low-wage workers donning proper gear and equipment as they ensure Singapore continue to be clean, green and safe. Sir, helping the vulnerable workers goes beyond the call for skills upgrading, better pay or even financial assistance, to give them the recognition, pride and dignity that they are playing an important role. Workers of today, even low-wage workers, want beyond sustenance but also the satisfaction and identity that define them as a worker contributing actively to our nation building.”
“Not only do these workers have less benefits compared to the direct employees who enjoy better bonuses, medical benefits or other company perks, they are also at risk of losing their jobs when contracts are not renewed or having their wages reset when they have to work under a different employer even though they are still working in the same premises. These workers are also at the losing end to recoup any unpaid salaries should their companies go bust because they do not have the financial means to pursue the matter. These are problems that are not easy to resolve but I would like to call upon the Government to work with NTUC to find headway in helping workers have a sense of job security. The Progressive Wage Model can act as a safety net to prevent wages from falling beyond a certain level but, more must be done. This may involve legislative change or simply providing the support network to ensure no low-wage workers are left behind. At this juncture, I would like to thank the Government for its financial support in helping NTUC set up a low-wage worker centre called U Care Centre aimed at providing this support network to our low-wage workers. Let us not rest on our laurels and find more ways to give low-wage workers a better sense of job security. Page: 78 Sir, an inclusive society would also promote workplaces that cater to the physical and emotional well-being of workers, regardless of their job. As a society, we should not turn a blind eye to vocations that deprive workers of having a chance at work-life balance. As an example, in the security sector, long working hours are very common.”
“NTUC is confident that the mandatory Progressive Wage Model in these sectors will impact on the wages of the other low-wage workers in the other service sectors, such as logistics, F&B and many others. Sir, there are some other areas we can work on to help low-wage workers feel that they belong to this inclusive society. Studies have shown that workers of the future want their work to be exciting, respectable and relevant. While earning better pay is important, it is also equally important to professionalise as many jobs as possible to make them more respectable and exciting. A comprehensive review must be made to all the WSQ courses aimed at helping low-wage workers to ensure skills being taught continue to be relevant and effectively applied by them to improve their work through productivity. Courses must be made available for workers to continuously upgrade their skill levels. Ideally, these workers must be recognised as professionals in their own rights with the necessary competency to do a better job than an untrained person. Such a push for workers to be trained will come at a cost to customers but, if it can help these workers earn better wages, workers' training must be made mandatory for companies to provide such services. Sir, besides fair pay and respectable jobs, many low-wage workers also want job security. As a business model, outsourcing the non-core businesses of a company is a logical and rational choice to improve the company's profit but, it has come at the expense of the job security of thousands of workers providing the outsourced services, especially among the low-wage service workers.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I am heartened that our President in his speech has reaffirmed the vision of Singapore heading towards being an inclusive society. The poor and the vulnerable should continue to be given special attention in the design of inclusive public policies. The Labour Movement is thankful that the Government has been very supportive of NTUC's efforts to make life better for all groups of workers, from the vulnerable low-wage workers to our mature and elderly workers. We are truly inclusive when everyone is creating a better world for each other. While there is progress being made to improve the life of low-wage workers, we cannot forget the road that lies ahead. There are still steps that we must take to fully realize the vision of an inclusive society. An inclusive society is one where every Singaporean benefits whenever Singapore makes a step forward. Ultimately, every Singaporean wants to lead a better life and have hope for a better future. In an inclusive society, people must have the peace of mind knowing, that they can earn a decent living through an honest day's work. NTUC has worked very closely with the Government to help low-wage workers have the capacity to earn better wages and a better life. Measures taken, such as mandating the Progressive Wage Model in the cleaning, security and maybe landscape sectors where cheap sourcing is prevalent and investing in workers' training through the two newly established institutes, are steps in the Page: 77 right direction to help the workers earn better wages as they improve their skills, career and productivity.”
“This Bill will also provide protection at the workplace in cases of harassment where a worker feels distressed, for instance, from sexual harassment. I think employers should also have programmes to educate their workers on the kinds of conduct that could be considered workplace harassment. I think it is important for the Government to encourage employers to set up a process where complaints of harassment at the workplace can be managed by the employer and need not necessarily be taken to court. The extension of the protection in this Bill to public servants is also a good move. Public service staff sometimes have to face members of the public who are angry at certain actions that have been taken. At times, insults and abusive words are used to put pressure on the staff. Before there was this Bill, most victims were advised to file a complaint to the magistrate before further action can be taken, or they are suggested to file a civil suit which will incur a huge expenditure. (In English): Madam, I am supportive on the push to set up the Harassment Act. I believe that as our society marches into an era of cohesion and inter-connectedness, there is a need to protect our citizens from those who bear ill-intent or misbehave at the spur of the moment. Madam, I strongly support the Bill. 5.37 pm”
“Hence, could we make it mandatory for companies to clearly define and educate their employees on what would constitute harassment in the workplace? Are there appropriate avenues that the employee is able to take if he or she would like to disclose cases of harassment in full confidence, even those involving top management? Would companies be guided to set up disciplinary structures that promote internal action before bringing it up to become a court case? I believe more responsibility should be expected from employers to protect their employees from workplace harassment. Madam, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mdm Speaker, I welcome the introduction of the Protection from Harassment Bill so that victims obtain justice and continue with their lives. Although this Bill will make the act of stalking an offence, I feel that it is imperative that police officers and social workers be given training to identify victims of stalking. This is because stalking cases are difficult to detect and, when victims make their first report, usually it appears trivial and does not constitute an immediate threat and, therefore, does not require prompt action. Page: 126 In terms of online harassment, I would like to know how we will differentiate comments that are made as an opinion in Facebook or social media, against comments made with the intent to harass or distress the victim. Furthermore, many of the perpetrators of online harassment do so anonymously. Hence, how can we provide protection to victims of online harassment because there are so many of them who are involved and it will be costly to track these cases?”
“Unprovoked, he punched the defenceless lady cleaner on the face! A Police report was made and she was advised to file a Magistrate's Complaint against the person. Obviously, she did not pursue the matter further. Page: 125 Even our parking attendants have their fair share of horror stories. A female parking attendant issued a notice of offence on a vehicle for unauthorised parking at a particular housing estate. While checking on other vehicles with her partner, she was approached aggressively by the driver of the earlier vehicle issued with a notice of offence. The man, later joined by his son and his wife, shouted and screamed at her to cancel the ticket. They followed her to obstruct her from carrying out her duties, causing her great distress and only stopped after the Police came. In another case, a parking officer was even molested while performing her duties! For both cases, Police reports have been filed but, again, they were told to either file a Magistrate's Complaint or await investigation. Mdm Speaker, the Bill must be enhanced to ensure justice can be meted out swiftly from the victim's point of view. Will claims for damages for emotional injury be allowed? The dangers of harassment are the stress and anxiety it brings upon a person. I believe that the Bill should be expanded to allow victims to get compensation based on the emotional trauma that they have suffered. I would also like to share my take with regard to harassment within the workplace. Madam, I believe employers must bear greater responsibility to protect their employees against harassment at the workplace. Of all cases of harassment at the workplace, sexual harassment is perhaps the most complex, the most ambiguous, subtle and highly subjective.”
“How does the law intend to assist victims in identifying their perpetrators? Moreover, a large amount of resources may have to be devoted to track the culprits. Will this itself be a hindrance for effective enforcement? Studies have shown that early identification is critical in helping a victim of harassment or stalking. What measures will be put in place to equip our Police or social service officers with the skills to identify the danger signs to put the legislation to effective use and be able to conduct a thorough investigation? The Government has also brought up the possibility of fines and imprisonment being meted out to those who are guilty of these offences, but I would like to ask how the imprisonment terms and fines are decided upon. Mdm Speaker, as a unionist, I am also heartened that this protection will also be extended to workers who deliver public service, which may include workers in public healthcare, public transport and other essential services to the well-being of the public and functioning of Singapore. I hope we can extend this to include the cleaners, security officers and carpark attendants as well. Let me share a horror story to illustrate why this group of workers must be protected. This story was surfaced to me when I engaged cleaning companies to understand the challenges faced by the industry. Last year, a 51-year-old cleaner was cleaning the alley of Lorong 25A, Geylang. She was startled when she heard someone shouting loudly at her. She eventually realised that it was a lorry driver who was angry that her company vehicle was blocking his vehicle from going into the back lane. After unloading his vegetables, the driver approached her aggressively and continued shouting at the old lady.”
“The key to protecting victims and lessening their fear and harm is for everyone to take the issue seriously. There must be widespread awareness-raising and effective response to harassment by law enforcement agencies. Mdm Speaker, I am also concerned that this Bill falls short in defining what constitutes unlawful stalking. The Bill stated that in considering whether a course of conduct is unlawful stalking, it would take into account the number of occasions on which the acts or omissions associated with stalking were carried out; and the frequency and the duration of the acts, amongst others. Unlike other crimes which can be more definitive, stalking is in the eye of the beholder. What may seem acceptable to one may not be acceptable to others, regardless of the number of occasions, frequency and duration of the acts. Nobody knows when stalking begins – there is no cut-off point. Experience in the United Kingdom, where there is such legislation, showed that many victims are too often reluctant to act; unsure of whether they are being stalked Page: 124 or just avidly pursued. Perhaps, we would also like to consider setting up a national helpline for stalking to give victims the confidence to act and to create greater public awareness. With stalking being a non-sizeable offence, what can be done to effectively prevent further cases of stalking by the individual? Under what circumstances will the police take enforcement action? Mdm Speaker, with regard to harassment in the online sphere, how can we justifiably differentiate a posting that reflects a viewpoint of a person, compared to a posting that is conducted with malicious intent targeted at a particular person? This is potentially a grey area when it comes to defining online harassment.”
“Mdm Speaker, thank you for allowing me to speak on this Bill. If you may allow, I would like to read an email that was sent to me by my resident, to help us understand the need for this Bill. "Mr Sapari, I need your help. I am begging you to help me resolve the harassment I have been receiving from my neighbour for the past one year. He has been coming to my flat at all hours of the day, drunk, attempting to open my door. He comes and bangs on my door and windows, shouting. He even urinates outside my flat. Page: 123 Sir, I am a single father staying with my 15-year-old daughter. Both of us are scared for our safety, especially my daughter, who does not even dare to be left alone when I go out to throw my rubbish. I have attempted to speak with the man's family but they have brushed me off saying it is not their problem. I have called the police many times but by the time they arrive, this person has already moved off and the police tell me they cannot do anything. As you can see from the letter my doctor has written to you, this harassment has caused me much mental and emotional distress. Now, whenever I hear noises outside my flat, I start to have very bad panic and anxiety attacks. Sir, please, I am begging you to help me and my daughter. I cannot take much more of this stress and fear." Madam, harassment and unlawful stalking will cause distress and alarm to the victim, and if done over a prolonged period of time, the damage could be irreversible. It is quite common when a harassment or stalking case is reported, it may seem trivial because of the lack of immediate threat but, when a series of incidents are put together, they become far more sinister. There is a gap in the current law and, many times, victims are not getting the help and protection they need.”
“What will the SSOs do to improve their service delivery for clients who come to get help, especially for families that face a multitude of problems? Tackling Social Problems Downstream”
“Hubert Humprey wrote: "It is once said that the moral test of government is how the government feeds those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those in the twilight of life, the elderly; and Page: 152 those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped". MSF has taken bold steps forward in pledging to improve service delivery in the establishment of the Social Service Offices (SSOs) to render assistance to families in need. I would like to get an update on the SSOs in terms of their roll-out. Specifically, I would like to know how the SSOs have improved service delivery for clients. What structures and processes are set up by the SSOs to work with partners on the ground and gather feedback for local planning of services for the community? Are there concrete plans of action to facilitate SSOs in carrying out their function to achieve the desired outcomes? The SSOs are in a good position to serve as a focal point to provide targeted assistance to families in need, Hence, it is critical that they are well-positioned in the community as a centre to coordinate the assistance that can be rendered to families. An area that I believe the SSOs can also look into is families with multiple needs. For example, a certain family may require help in terms of financial assistance, employment, family issues and many others. What are the Ministry's plans to address issues faced by such families with multiple needs? Sir, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Madam, MSF has taken steps to establish Social Service Offices across Singapore to improve the quality of service that is provided to needy individuals and families. I would like to ask about the latest development from the setting up of such Social Service Offices.”
“Madam, the Wellness Programme has been implemented nation-wide in all divisions. I would like to know how have the results and impact been so far, and has the programme been proven Page: 115 to be a good and effective platform to promote active ageing. Have any studies been done to assess the key benefits of the Wellness Programme? While the Wellness Programme is a flagship active ageing initiative, we need to also work with other partners and platform to widen the overall reach of our active ageing initiative. What are the initiatives that MCA and MOH have in place, other than the Wellness Programme, to reach a wider pool of seniors? How have these initiatives benefited our seniors? We must remember that senior citizens have spent their whole life raising families, being part of the workforce and shaping Singapore to what it is today. It is not enough that we make sure that they can retire but rather to be able to retire with dignity and passion. Being old does not mean a man should stop bettering the life of himself or those around him. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Madam, the wellness programme for the elderly was launched across the island with the objective of encouraging grassroots organisations to work with other sectors to organise programmes for senior citizens. I would like to ask about the effectiveness of these programmes so far and whether it has been proven as a good and effective platform to encourage the elderly to lead active lives. Has any study been done to assess the main benefits from this type of wellness programme? Other than the wellness programme, are there any other plans by MOH to involve more senior citizens in specific initiatives that will make them become more active? Preventive Healthcare”
“But the fundamental principle remains the same, that is, in any discourse that we have, whether it is offline or online, ethics is important, rationality is important, respect is important. What we can do as a community is really to try and enhance the level of discourse, when we engage offline or online, using those principles that I mentioned earlier. On the part of MUIS, we welcome anyone to discuss things of concerns with MUIS. In fact, we have gone online to discuss with those who have queries about matters that pertain to their interest in religious matters which they wanted to seek some clarification on. I think the role for the community and community leaders is to step forward and establish some norms in which we all can be proud of in the way which we engage one another. Those norms are important. It is not for the Government or MUIS to stipulate; it is for our community leaders to establish those norms, so that it becomes an accepted practice for our community. Having said that, looking at the recent experiences, I am quite happy that there are rational voices, especially online, that have stood up against those Page: 144 who have been rabid and irrational, name calling and discourteous. So, we need more of such voices, and I hope that we can encourage such leaders to step forward to do so, whatever the discourse may be. As far as we concerned, differences is not the problem. It is how we manage the differences, and how we agree to disagree on those differences. And if we can set the right tone, I think that is a good way for our community, going forward.”
“I share the Minister's concern about the need for a rational and open discourse on sensitive matters. What more can MUIS and the community do to ensure a conducive climate exists both online and offline? Page: 143 My second clarification. We are proud of our 69 mosques. Can the Minister share his vision for our mosques in the next 50 years? Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: I thank the Member for those two questions. Let me begin with the second question. We are quite privileged to be able to have 69 mosques for a very small community. Going forward, I have emphasised to MUIS that it is not about building more mosques; it is about making the experience of going to a mosque more meaningful, more insightful and more enriching. So, we will spend more time on developing content within the mosque. What is it that we can do more to serve the community, to make the experience of visiting the mosque a pleasant and a memorable one. We will emphasise this not only in terms of the programmes for our children, but across the whole board. As I mentioned in my reply, we are now running religious classes for adults. It has been well received. We want to expand that even more. I think this is something which the community is looking forward to. So, the mosque is the platform by which we outreach to our community, offer religious services which they need, but offer it in a manner in which it will leave a meaningful impact in their spiritual and religious life. On his first question, I think this is a question that not only affects the Malay/Muslim community but across the whole of Singapore. Social media is a new game in town; it has changed a lot of things.”
“[Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Madam, the rise of social media has created an environment conducive for open feedback and sharing of information. While this trend promotes diversity of views, it may also cause major differences of opinion and lead to polarisation within the Malay/Muslim community. In this respect, mosques play an important role to create a common shared vision of religion as the community navigates through the current landscape of diverse views and knowledge. The mosque is a source of Islamic knowledge and centre for Malay/Muslim interactions. The mosque also stands as a symbol of unity amongst Muslims. The Malay/Muslim community appreciates the Government's effort to upgrade many old mosques in Singapore and support the construction of new mosques in our newer residential estates like Punggol. I hope that these new and upgraded mosques with better facilities will provide greater opportunities for the Malay/Muslim community to conduct programmes that will facilitate the socio-religious activities of the community and create understanding that will enhance the solidarity of the Malay/Muslim community. Many mosques are undergoing upgrading. May I ask about the latest update for upgrading works and what is the progress for the three new mosques in Punggol, Jurong West and Woodlands? I would also like to emphasise that the mosque plays a very important role to enhance solidarity and bring progress to the Malay/Muslim community. Page: 129 Haj and Korban”
“45 pm Facilitating Malay/Muslim Socio-religious Life”
“] Madam, I have observed, over the last decade, an increase in the level of religiosity across all the different religious groups, including the Muslim community. The Muslim community is privileged to have religious scholars, such as the late Ustaz Abdillah Aljufri, Syed Isa Semait, Ustaz Saripi Rawi, Habib Hassan Alatas, our esteemed Mufti and many asatizahs who made contributions to the development of Islamic religious education in Singapore. As a community, we have also been able to adapt to the multi-racial and multi-cultural landscapes in Singapore, where Muslims have been able to be part of Singapore's development. As Muslims, we must be able to bring goodness to the nation, be it morally, intellectually, economically, stability and many other forms of contributions. Our community must be able to adapt to the changing landscape towards greater diversity and different needs of the society. Regardless of our religion and culture, we must treat each other with respect and bring more goodness to our nation. During last year's COS debate, Minister shared about the Adult Islamic Learning or ADIL to cater to working adults who are interested in receiving part-time religious education. I understand that it has been well received by the community. However, as I mentioned earlier, with greater diversity, there exists Page: 128 many different groups of people with different demographic profiles and needs. May I know MUIS' plans to ensure that religious education can meet the increasing demand and whether it is able to address critical issues of concern to the community? In addition, could the Minister update on the progress of aLIVE, and whether there is scope to make religious education for children even more accessible? 5.”
“[Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Malay/Muslim organisations in Singapore have played an active and important role in pushing for progress among the Malay/Muslim community. In terms of resources and expertise, these organisations have an intimate knowledge that can aid the development of the Malay/Muslim community and bring it to a higher level. Page: 127 One of the key recommendations in the Suara Musyawarah report was a call for more collaborative efforts to maximise resources and improve efficiency of services to the community. While there have been some efforts at collaboration, I would like to ask, is there room for more of such efforts and capability building arrangements, especially between Malay/Muslim institutions and key organisations, such as MUIS and MENDAKI? MUIS and MENDAKI serve as very important organisational pillars for the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore. A concerted effort between the institutions and key stakeholders may be the next vital step in bringing about progress for the community and tackling the many issues facing the Malay/Muslim community. In whatever collaborative efforts, it is important to ensure that our efforts reach the targeted group. Can we tap on the mosque network to better reach out to members of the community, especially families in need? I believe that it is time that we look into doing things differently to address key issues facing the Malay/Muslim community. For a start, what we can do is simple in nature but yet, big in heart – to work together but, doing it differently. MUIS' Plans for Religious Education Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.”
“Deputy Prime Minister Teo, while I understand the rationale for outsourcing certain Police services to the commercial Auxiliary Police Officers, I have two queries. Will MHA consider allowing Auxiliary Police Officers to be represented by a union? Secondly, how can MHA ensure remuneration packages for the commercial Auxiliary Police Officers are fair and progressive that are commensurate with their skills and productivity level?”
“These measures are important so that we can provide protection to those who had no choice but to borrow money.”
“This is to simplify the terms for borrowers and to close loopholes for moneylenders to be creative and have different types of late payment fees. 4.45 pm Thirdly, limit the total amount a borrower has to pay in a credit year for a loan to be deemed as fully paid. This can be a percentage of the loan amount. Fourthly, to protect moneylenders from irresponsible borrowers, I propose that a centralised loan database be set up that tracks a single borrower's loans across all moneylending institutions. Page: 105 Together with the database, we could then look into restricting the amount to be loaned by any number of moneylenders to a single borrower. With better transparency and greater restrictions in place, I believe that the contract signed between licensed moneylender and borrower can be handled with greater honesty and mutual trust – ultimately benefiting both parties and to the society at large. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech on Pg xxxx.] Madam, the terms for loans imposed on a borrower by licensed moneylenders are a cause of great concern because it causes hardship to the borrower's family. The interest and other related payments imposed are unreasonable because it can lead to the borrower to be indebted for life. It is important that the Government take measures to curb the activities of these licensed moneylenders in order to take care of the people's well-being. I propose that the Government imposes limits to the interest amount and specifies the types of payment that can be imposed on the borrowers. Borrowers who have made reasonable payments should be considered to have settled their debt. Steps must also be taken to build a borrowers' database so that licensed moneylenders can monitor those who wish to obtain credit.”
“Madam, when the Moneylenders Bill was passed in 2008, it was intended to allow legal moneylenders to charge interest rate in line with other financial institutions in Singapore. Many people Page: 104 in need of immediate cash thought that borrowing from licensed moneylenders would be safer than unlicensed moneylenders but they were dead wrong. In my dealings with members of the public, I have seen borrowers' receipts where the effective interest rate amounted to a shocking 43,000% per annum and another where the effective interest rate was at 159,000% per annum. Let me give an example of a loan given to a security guard. For a loan of $1,600, inclusive of interest and principal, total repayable over five weeks is $2,240 – a whopping interest of 40%. Late payment charge is $800 on each occasion of late repayment. Late payment interest is another 40% per week. Even the moneylenders themselves have acknowledged that for several borrowers, in order to pay off one loan, loans are taken from another moneylender. In the case of the security guard, she owes 19 licensed moneylenders. The borrowers who default on their payments, are subjected to tremendous pressure affecting their mental health, physical well-being, family and other ties. With that in mind, there are several measures I would like to propose to better regulate moneylending institutions in Singapore. First, impose overall cap on interest and other charges payable by a borrower in a credit year. This has to be across the board regardless of income tiers. Second, define and stipulate the types of payments that moneylenders can charge, for example, the principal, interest and late payment fees only.”
“The Government should also be more transparent with the statistics and criteria for taking in Permanent Residents, so that there will be an understanding between the people and the Government. We should also be more aware about the steps taken by some Permanent Residents to avoid having their sons do National Service. (In English): The average Singaporean understands the need for immigrants and welcome these talents. However, immigration policies have to be refined to manage the sensitivity and sentiments of the general population towards the presence of PRs.”
“Madam, the presence of immigrants is one that is essential for the continued progress of Singapore, given our ageing population. Without them, Singapore's presence on the world stage will undoubtedly be affected. The Government should refine our immigration policies and impose checks and balances to ensure that the PRs being admitted into Singapore are, indeed, valuable additions to our society. I would like to suggest the following measures. Firstly, to review the status of the PR from time to time, let us say, every five-year interval. The PRs must have a good track record and demonstrate their Page: 72 ability and willingness to contribute to our national development before their PR status can be renewed. Secondly, allow for greater transparency with statistics, procedures and criteria with regard to PR matters. This would create a greater level of understanding between Singaporeans and the Government. Finally, closing loopholes with regard to male PRs being able to avoid National Service. There is rampant practice among some PR mothers who apply for student passes for their sons. After their sons have finished their education and entered the workforce, they would then apply for PR status as a "First generation" PR and would not be required to undergo National Service. Madam, in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I would like to urge the Government to review the policy on taking in Permanent Residents. We should ensure that those who are given Permanent Resident status are able to contribute to our nation's economic development and adapt to Singaporeans' way of life and social norms. I propose that the status of all Permanent Residents be reviewed once every five years.”
“All these efforts require the support of the Government in terms of funding and the involvement of our Government agencies so that, together, we can bring about changes to the lives of our low-wage workers. (In English): Mdm Speaker, many things can be done to help low-wage workers, but it requires us to challenge our assumptions and make a paradigm shift. I hope the Government will support the Labour Movement in our efforts to accord every worker Protection, Progression, Placement and Privileges. Mdm Speaker, I support the Budget. 2.32 pm Page: 65”
“All these aim to help low-wage workers receive higher pay, manage rising costs of living, lead better lives, and be respected as well as appreciated for the work that they do. Page: 64 In terms of protection, through various job fairs, mobile fairs and seminars, NTUC has engaged and educated over 27,000 low-wage workers about their employment rights, workfare benefits, training and union benefits. A one-stop centre, U Care, that was set up by NTUC with the Government's support, has helped hundreds of low-wage workers who were not given employment rights by their employers. On the aspect of placement, through programmes like the enhanced Workfare Skills Upgrading (WSU) and Workfare Training Scheme (WTS), low-wage workers can utilise structured training, obtain transferable skills and vocational training. In terms of workers' progression, NTUC will also continue to support fair and good employment practices and work together with the tripartite partners to develop and implement the Progressive Wage Model in other low-wage sectors like security and landscape. Efforts to improve productivity will also be enhanced through projects that are used widely, multi-skilled programmes and efforts to engage the SMEs. The work done by low-wage workers is important. The Labour Movement will continue to introduce initiatives where the public are encouraged to show their appreciation to the services done by this group of workers. In 2013, NTUC launched a movement called "I Care for My Cleaners", whereby various companies and unions answered the call for them to appreciate and care for and respect the cleaners working in their buildings. These events made them happy, apart from underlining the Labour Movement's commitment to help low-wage workers obtain better wages.”
“Last year, the Labour Movement embarked on the "I Care for my Cleaners" campaign to encourage the public to express their appreciation to the cleaners. The Labour Movement wants to extend this effort to include many other low-wage workers, perhaps involving those in the security industry. It would be great if the Government can give support so that we can accord low-wage workers some Privileges for them to feel appreciated. Again, this requires a paradigm shift on the use of Government funding because the focus is making low-wage workers feel appreciated. A person once said, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Mdm Speaker, in retrospect, 2013 has truly been a year for the books. The Labour Movement's efforts to champion the workers have helped change the lives of thousands of workers and their families, and looking forward, we will change the lives of thousands more. Let me get back to the story of Mdm Normah and Mr Latiff again. Despite their income, upon seeing that the school was preparing Care packages for the needy children in Cambodia under the Youth Expedition Project, they stepped forward and generously contributed $200. To me, they embody the spirit of the Labour Movement – helping others to get a better life. I hope the Budget will give due consideration to the Labour Movement's effort to helping others get a better life through better jobs and better pay. Mdm Speaker, please allow me to speak in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] NTUC would like to urge the Government to continue its support to the Labour Movement to ensure that every low-wage worker receives protection, placement, progression and privileges.”
“In its Budget, I would like the Government to continue to supplement the income of those at the bottom of our income group and grant them other subsidies to alleviate the heavy financial strain these workers face and allow them to get by in their day-to-day life. More importantly as well, the various Ministries must review their income eligibility criteria for financial or social assistance for our low-income families, to ensure that we do not dis-incentivise the workers from striving hard to get better pay through training and skills upgrading. Mdm Speaker, the third "P" in the Labour Movement's approach to help workers is Placement. Ideally, training should lead to Placement for jobs. Together with e2i and with strong funding support from the Government, NTUC has helped 73,000 workers in the areas of placements, skills upgrading, higher wages and assisting those in need. This includes helping 10,620 workers to be placed in a job. NTUC's Women Development Secretariat collaborated with e2i during job fairs and Work-Pro programmes to help place 800 jobseekers and 600 women to upgrade themselves through employability training. Close to 21,950 workers upgraded their skills for promotion or higher pay. NTUC also Page: 63 reached out to more than 24,000 workers through many channels and educational seminars. Mdm Speaker, the beneficiaries are our local workers, regardless of whether they are union members or otherwise. I hope the Government will continue to give strong funding support to the Labour Movement to continue our efforts in improving the wages and welfare of our workers through training and skills upgrading. Mdm Speaker, every worker wants to be appreciated for the job they do.”
“Likewise, her husband, Mr Mohd Latiff, also attended training courses, such as scheduling and supervising cleaning services, advanced cleaning of hard floor and washrooms, and management-cum-mediation skills. He was made a cleaning supervisor three years ago and, due to his training and skills, he receives a higher remuneration of $1,760, which is an increase of more than Page: 62 $400 from his previous pay. Mdm Speaker, the Progressive Wage Model can have an impact in terms of helping workers get better jobs and better pay. The Government made a paradigm shift when it took a bold move to mandate the adoption of the Progressive Wage Model for the cleaning industry and made a firm commitment to do likewise for the security industry. There was market failure to determine fair wages due to cheap sourcing, and intervention was needed to ensure workers in these industries receive fair wages and employment terms. I believe that the wages received by workers in these two industries will have a ripple effect on wages of workers in other sectors as well, given our tight labour market. We can do more to help low-wage workers. Mdm Normah and Mr Latiff are outsourced workers working under a cleaning contract where there is little job security. Both of them might end up getting lower pay if there is a new contract. This is a sad reality but, at least, with PWM being mandated, it acts as a safety net to prevent their wages from falling below the wage benchmark. It is due to such realities, together with rising cost of living, that initiatives like the Wage Income Supplement become more and more relevant today to ensure that every Singaporean is able to sustain a decent standard of living.”
“This requires a paradigm shift for the Government to ensure more traction for NWC recommendations, especially as a tool to reduce the income gap. Mdm Speaker, sometimes, we need to help the employers to help the workers. A concern expressed by many service providers is the practice of imposing punitive and exorbitant liquidated damages for minor breaches in the service agreement. This leads to a vicious cycle of service providers cutting corners to save costs but at the expense of service delivery, leading to more liquidated damages. In such cut-throat business relationships, it is the vulnerable low-wage workers that suffer in silence because their employers are not doing well to offer them better salaries. I would like to make the call again for the Government to explore the possibility of setting up an Industry Tribunal to mediate disputes over service level agreement, especially in a business environment where outsourcing is becoming more common. Mdm Speaker, every worker wants better jobs and better pay. In short, Progression – the second "P" in NTUC's "4P"s framework. When NTUC was encouraging the adoption of PWM amongst the cleaners working for MOE school contracts, we met Mdm Normah who is in her early 60s. She had worked in the cleaning industry for 40 years. In the past, her pay was stagnant at around $600, with no opportunity for training and skills upgrading. With a clear progression structure under PWM, she attended courses, such as workplace safety and health, providing quality service, cleaning of vertical surfaces, glass and ceilings and many others. Equipped with better skills, she is currently a school cleaner in Manjusri Secondary School with a pay of $1,300.”
“Low-wage workers are often too afraid to speak out for fear of losing their job and, as a result, become victims of unfair employment practices. NTUC U Care Centre will engage communities of low-wage workers to understand their plight and challenges and be the voice with weight to bring about faster change for them. The U Care Centre can serve as an avenue for low-wage workers to ensure that they are treated fairly as valuable members of the workforce. Mdm Speaker, protection to low-wage workers can be enhanced further if it is backed by legislation, if moral suasion fails to change the status quo. Many low-wage workers are working as outsourced workers. Many of them might also be working for "fly-by-night" companies who would cut corners to save cost at the expense of their workers' statutory benefits. The Government must encourage responsible outsourcing by increasing the risk to service buyers when they buy services. Service buyers must be held accountable if their service providers fail to pay salaries or provide the statutory benefits to their workers. This approach is not new because it has been adopted for the Work Safety and Health framework to ensure workers' welfare is not compromised. Page: 61 Alternatively, the Government can also consider setting up a Hardship Relief Assistance Fund to help local low-wage workers in cases of non-payment of salaries if their company goes bankrupt. This would be similar to the existing Migrant Workers' Assistance Fund provided to migrant workers who may have salaries owed by their employers who have gone bust. Mdm Speaker, another bold action that the Government can take to help low-wage workers is to make the National Wages Council (NWC)'s recommendations for low-wage workers mandatory for all companies.”
“Mdm Low got to know about NTUC U Care Centre that was set up with Government support, to help workers like her. Thus, she decided to call the U Care Centre's hotline for advice on her employment rights. During the consultation, the consultants suspected that Mdm Low's company might not have paid for her CPF. Upon further investigation – and to our astonishment – Page: 60 we found that despite being an employee of the company for five years, the company's CPF contributions to her were zero. Her case was highlighted to MOM and CPFB who acted swiftly. The company tried to offer Mdm Low $9,000 cash as private settlement to silence her, but she refused the cash offer after consulting the consultants from U Care Centre. After the investigation was completed, more than $10,000 of her CPF was recovered. But she was not alone. One hundred and thirteen of her colleagues' CPF were also recovered in the process. In addition to the CPF recovered, 45 workers also received higher Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) allotment, totalling about $13,000. Mdm Speaker, the story of Mdm Low illustrates the need for all low-wage workers to have protection. NTUC made a paradigm shift and set up a centre called U Care Centre last year to help low-wage workers, to provide protection in the form of workplace advisory to all low-wage workers even if they are not union members. In addition, NTUC U Care Centre, together with the relevant Government Ministries, organises seminars to educate low-wage workers on their employment rights and the various Workfare schemes. NTUC needs continued Government funding support to ensure the sustainability of our efforts, such as the U Care Centre, to help all low-wage workers.”
“Mdm Speaker, thank you for allowing me to join this debate. Much has been done by the Government to help low-wage workers through the various initiatives, such as Inclusive Growth Programme, Workfare Scheme, mandating the adoption of the Progressive Wage Model and many others. There is no single magic wand when it comes to helping low-wage workers to have better jobs and better wages. It requires various types of support, but common to all is that it requires the support of everyone – the Union, Government, Employees, Employers and the public. Mdm Speaker, we need a new narrative in our efforts to help low-wage workers. A new narrative requires us to do things differently and this will only happen if we challenge our assumptions and make a paradigm shift in our thinking. The Labour Movement believes that every worker needs the "4P"s – Protection, Placement, Progression and Privileges. I hope the Budget would continue to allow the Government to support the labour movement in our push to accord all workers these "4P"s. I would like to focus on the "4P"s for low-wage workers. Mdm Speaker, please allow me to share a story to illustrate why it is important that low-wage workers must have protection. In the course of NTUC's work to help low-wage workers, we came to know about the plight of a 58-year-old woman. Let us protect her identify and call her Mdm Low. Given Mdm Low's age and little education, she found it difficult to secure a job. Finally, in 2008, she was employed as an outsourced factory production worker in a pharmaceutical company. Although the hours were long and the pay was low, she was happy that she could now be financially self-reliant. However, she was unsure of her employment rights and did not know where to seek help.”
“Madam, I thank the Senior Minister of State for the reply. It can be quite frustrating for motorists who receive a very delayed notice of offence, especially after they might have thought it had all been forgotten. Would the Ministry consider setting a two- or three-month deadline for the issue of notice of offence from the date the offence was committed, after which the offence should be considered as void or a letter of advisory issued instead. I believe, given today's technology, there could be greater efficiency on the part of the Traffic police to issue timely notice of offence.”
“(In English): I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Tripartite Cluster for Cleaners for their work in uplifting the cleaning industry. I would also like to express my appreciation to those involved in the Environmental Public Health (Amendment) Bill for supporting to make a difference to the life of the cleaner. Mdm Speaker, I support the Bill. 5.13 pm”
“Establishing a long-term relationship may also entail service buyers giving the incumbent a percentage discount on the tender price, during evaluation, to prevent a situation where cleaners' salary are cut upon contract renewal. When all stakeholders work as one, the future of the cleaning industry will be brighter. Mdm Speaker, please allow me to speak in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mdm Speaker, the Environmental Public Health (Amendment) Bill is a proposal that is very welcomed by the Labour Movement because it can bring about a great change to the lives of 55,000 cleaners in Singapore who have been receiving low wages all this while due to the negative practice of outsourcing based on the lowest Page: 80 price. The arrival of cheaper foreign workers has also hindered pay increases in this sector. The requirement imposed on cleaning companies to practise the Progressive Wage Model will bring about wage increments to cleaners that commensurate with the skills, productivity and responsibilities that they have. The effectiveness of this Act depends on the ability of each stakeholder to play its part. The cleaners must undergo training and learn to operate machinery that can help them to become more productive. Cleaning companies must pay reasonable wages based on the Progressive Wage Model. They must also equip their workers with cleaning equipment that can make the job of cleaning easier, since many of these cleaners comprise mature workers. The service buyers must also practise best-sourcing and avoid fixing the number of cleaners required. This is to allow cleaning companies to provide the best service using technology. They must also be willing to pay for contracts at a reasonable price in order to obtain good quality cleaning services.”
“This would make it easier for companies to meet the training requirement. Mdm Speaker, while I welcome this Bill, I am also concerned about its possible impact on the less privileged cleaners or the very elderly cleaners. They risk being unemployed or having their services terminated if their productivity does not match the salaries advocated in the Progressive Wage Model. I hope service providers and service buyers would allow them to continue working. Mdm Speaker, the effectiveness of this Bill relating to the mandatory adoption of a Progressive Wage Model requires every cleaner, every cleaning service provider and every service buyer to do their part. Cleaners must acquire the necessary skills to provide better cleaning service and do their utmost to upgrade their productivity. Service providers must pay cleaners based on wages stipulated in the Progressive Wage Model and invest in equipment for greater productivity. On the part of service buyers, they must best-source and move away from head-count contracts. Contracts must not be one sided, with all risks borne by the service providers. It is important that service buyers work towards establishing long-term cooperative relationships with their service providers to establish mutual trust to ensure no party tries to outwit the other in their attempt to survive in this competitive business environment. It is estimated that for most building owners, cleaning costs make up a very small part of the overall costs of maintaining a property, so that significant improvements in wages could be introduced with very little effect on the returns from rental income or impacting overall costs.”