Zainal Sapari
Singapore
“I believe great leadership is not only about making the hard decisions but, having empathy and the ability to relate to and connect with the people that are hardest hit to gain their trust and providing the support needed to cushion the impact on their lives. Without a doubt, our Ministers have demonstrated great leadership.”
“I would like to urge every service buyers and service providers to be responsible because any unethical action on their part will affect the workers who are trying to earn an honest living. I believe that it will be our spirit of solidarity, peppered with a lot of empathy and compassion that will pull us through this crisis.”
“Chairman, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Asatizah play an important role today in guiding the Singaporean Muslim community to help us thrive in a multi-religious and multi-cultural society, as well as globally, in addition to upholding our religious values.”
“Mr Chairman, in Malay, please. 10.45 am (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The 4G leadership recently expressed the Government’s strong commitment to partner Singaporeans of all races, cultures and religions, and working together with them in nation-building.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, before I ask my question, I would like to tender my apologies to Mr Louis Ng for referring to him as a fellow Labour Member of Parliament, but he is most welcomed to join us.”
“Chairman, in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] So far, there has been no cases of COVID-19 that came from the mosques in Singapore, even though many Muslims of different nationalities visit the mosque daily to perform congregational prayers.”
The complete record
Every one of 430 lines we hold for Zainal Sapari, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 8 of 9.
“Mdm Speaker, the cleaning companies were briefed that they would need to renew their licence on an annual basis. I would like to propose that the licensing checks be conducted at two-year intervals instead of one. This would ease the strain on cleaning companies to prepare and submit the requirements to NEA for auditing. Cleaning companies awarded the Clean Mark Accreditation should also automatically qualify for the licence as it has more stringent requirements. Given that this is an industry practice that some cleaners are "cross-deployed" in terms of job requirements, I hope that MOM and NEA would allow for a reasonable grace period to allow cleaning companies to adjust the categorisation of their cleaners before taking action against non-compliance. They should be given an advisory or warning, but firm action must still be taken against recalcitrant offenders, with them being subjected to punishments as outlined in the Bill. On the part of the union, we will work with our unionised cleaning companies to ensure our union members are accorded the correct classification. Some cleaning companies are also concerned with the training requirement stipulated for licence renewal. They would like NEA to take into account the size of the company. For a company with 2,000 cleaners to comply with a 100% training requirement is more challenging, compared to companies with a much smaller cleaning workforce. With regard to the issue of new hires raised by the hon Member Mr Png Eng Huat, there is a provision for a three-month grace period for them to be trained, based on the briefing given by NEA to the service providers. Page: 79 Another consideration is for NEA to give recognition to in-house and OJT training conducted by the respective cleaning companies.”
“I hope all Statutory Boards and Government-Linked Companies would be next to support their cleaning service providers by agreeing to contract renegotiation. The private sector and MCST must also follow suit. As service buyers, they must do the right thing and stop this modern-day slavery. Making it hard for service providers to pay wages according to the Progressive Wage Model on the excuse that the contract sum has been previously agreed upon is akin to the service buyers being unfair, cruel and without any sense of righteousness. In some countries, service buyers or management are awarded the Golden Vacuum Award if outsourced cleaners working for them have poor working conditions and are getting low salary. Why the name Golden Vacuum? It is because these service buyers "suck the cleaners dry" through cheap sourcing. I want to believe that no management, company or any organisation here will take pride to be shortlisted for this award and will do the right thing to help the Page: 78 cleaners earn fair wages and have good working conditions. Mdm Speaker, another concern expressed by service providers is the practice of imposing punitive and exorbitant liquidated damages for minor breaches in the service agreement. Service providers are worried that service buyers may attempt to recoup the cost increase because of PWM by imposing liquidated damages. This will lead to a vicious cycle of service providers cutting corners to save costs but at the expense of service delivery, leading to more liquidated damages. I would like to urge the Ministry 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, in the grand scheme of things, mandating the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) is perhaps the easiest thing to do in our effort to help cleaners earn better wages. However, the road ahead is still fraught with challenges for us to ensure that the Bill achieves its intended outcome to Page: 77 improve the lives of our local cleaners. A concerted effort must be taken to ensure effective implementation and compliance within the industry. Many cleaning companies have expressed support for this Bill, but they are concerned whether service buyers of their existing contracts would allow for contract sum re-negotiation to enable them to pay their cleaners according to the Progressive Wage Model. They shared that their profit margins are thin at between 10% and 15%, with wages forming 80% of the total cost. Unless the service buyers allow for contract renegotiation, their continued operations may be untenable. Mdm Speaker, the Progressive Wage Model may send shock waves through the industry, and cleaning companies will face difficulty in absorbing costs and staying afloat. If there is a way for all cleaning contracts to be renegotiated, I would like the Ministry to seriously look into this. I know this is a long shot, but I believe we must legally allow service providers affected by this Bill to renegotiate their contracts and allow them to withdraw, without penalty, should any service buyers refuse to renegotiate. The Government has shown strong support for the Progressive Wage Model when it was first announced in 2012. Many cleaners working under Government contracts are already receiving wages recommended by the Progressive Wage Model.”
“Mdm Speaker, I rise in support of this Bill which marks a milestone change in improving the prospects of lifting cleaners' wages. There is market failure in determining the wages of the cleaners. Cheap sourcing and competition from foreign workers have depressed their wages for a long time. There is a general trend among service buyers to select their cleaning service providers on the basis of price as the only criterion, without considering the quality of service, the working conditions and personnel training or even the professionalism of the companies bidding for the contract. In the past, many service providers who have invested in training and equipment may still be at a disadvantage because other service providers leverage against them during tender competition through undercutting the price by depressing cleaners' wages or cutting corners to save costs. By doing so, the cleaning industry is devouring itself from within through nonsensical pricing, with the service buyers cheering them on this uncontrolled race to the bottom on cleaning contracts. The result, all too often, is that cleaners' wages are low and their employment conditions precarious. This Bill is a game changer in the industry because it would create a level playing field for service providers and they now have to compete with each other based on their cleaners' training, productivity and their professional track record since wage costs would be the same across all parties. It also creates a level playing field for service buyers because their competitors are also facing the same cost pressures while trying to maintain business competitiveness.”
“Thank you, Madam. I believe when an officer is appointed to the appointment, he or she has demonstrated competency to hold that position and it should not be the other way around.”
“Last question. Then, as a matter of good HR policy and not to be seen as underpaying its officers, can MOE consider changing its policy and promote education officers holding official appointments related to their core responsibility to the correct substantive grade within a reasonable timeframe, for example, three years from their official appointment? I personally have come across many cases of education officers who are still not at their correct substantive grade even after five years of holding that appointment.”
“I had been with the education service for 20 years and I feel that the current HR policy is not right from the employees' point of view. As a matter of principle, would MOE agree that education officers must be paid according to their job worth?”
“To ask the Minister for Education (a) what is the current percentage breakdown of education officers who are Principals, Vice Principals and heads of departments who are at the substantive grade that is equivalent to their job appointment. So, I need a figure for each of these grades; (b) What is the percentage of (i) appointment holders who are still not in their potential substantive grade even after five years of holding the appointment; (ii) school leaders who retired at the substantive grade below their appointment, which I think the Senior Parliamentary Secretary has provided one out of 14. And he has also provided what are the reasons for not appointing these education Page: 19 officers at the correct substantive grade.”
“I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the reply, but I think the Senior Parliamentary Secretary has not answered specifically the questions that are addressed in my PQ. The question is already there. I would appreciate a specific response to the PQ.”
“I would like to suggest that the mandatory aftercare scheme should involve the families and potential employers of the ex-offenders by providing them with the necessary holistic support to help the ex-offenders. Many ex-offenders face multiple issues ranging from housing, accommodation, finance, employment, family relationship and many others. A holistic approach is required for the MAS to be effective. The proposed amendments to introduce CRS and MAS are a step in the right direction. As we strive to be an inclusive society, let us help those amongst us that have strayed and help them feel that they do belong to our community and will always be welcome. Mdm Speaker, please allow me to speak on the Bill in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I welcome the amendments to the Prisons Act which require ex-offenders to undergo rehabilitation to enable them to reintegrate into society. I would like to urge MHA to ensure that the aftercare services that are run by the community organisations have high standards in terms of the staff and facilities and possess deep knowledge to help ex-offenders undergo Page: 114 rehabilitation. I would also like MHA to allow aftercare services to receive financial provisions or subsidies even for the type of rehabilitation that is largely based on a religious approach. I feel that it is important that we render assistance sincerely to enable these ex-offenders to begin a new life outside the prison walls. I hope that the community, in general, and the Malays and the families of ex-offenders will work together to give support and cooperation to achieve the Government's initiative to create an inclusive and a more compassionate society.”
“Mdm Speaker, I rise to support the Prisons Amendment Bill, but I have some concerns with the Conditional Remission System (CRS) and the Mandatory Aftercare Scheme (MAS) targeted at selected groups of inmates. The original intent of allowing remission is not only to encourage good behaviour but also to reduce overcrowding in prisons in some countries. Under the new amendment, breaches in CRA or MAS may possibly lead to longer prison sentences. Does the Singapore Prison Service have the capacity in terms of physical structure, manpower and facilities to cope with the possibility of a Page: 113 higher prison population? The MAS has the potential to help ex-offenders integrate into society. Thus, I would like to know whether enough resources would be devoted to improve and build the capacity of existing aftercare services specifically targeted at helping ex-convicts. The effectiveness of the MAS will largely depend on the quality of the aftercare services, which encompass halfway house stay, casework, counselling and many others. As such, I hope there is enough flexibility to allow the VWOs offering aftercare services to tailor their programmes to suit the various offenders, depending on their gender and religion. Currently, there is a shortage of aftercare services for female ex-offenders and Malay/Muslim ex-offenders that are operated by Malay/Muslim voluntary welfare organisations. I hope there are plans to increase the capacity of aftercare services to look after the female ex-offender, and the aftercare programmes be allowed to have elements of religious education that have shown promising results in reducing recidivism. Mdm Speaker, families and employers can be the support pillars to help ex-offenders reintegrate into society.”
“NTUC will continue to be the advocate for low-wage workers in order to help them to get better pay, manage the rising cost of living, lead better lives and be respected and valued for the work that they do. (In English): Mdm Speaker, despite my view that more can be done to offer more protection for the vulnerable, low-wage workers, I believe the proposed EA amendments are in the right direction and I strongly support the Bill. 5.40 pm”
“I hope that the suggestion by the Manpower Minister that the proposed issuance of payslips is embodied as a Tripartite suggestion will merely be an interim measure. Many low-wage workers do not receive payslips and this can complicate the resolution of cases related to the payment of salaries. The Tripartite partners can discuss further to ensure that the amendments to the Employment Act that make the issuance of payslips mandatory can be implemented in a way that is acceptable to employers, especially the Small and Medium Enterprises, or better known as SMEs. I also hope that the Employment Act can be amended to make it mandatory for employers to give double pay to workers who are protected under section 4 of the Employment Act, if they work during their rest days, regardless whether Page: 94 they are asked to do so by their employers or on their own accord. I also feel that we can help this group as well by making it compulsory for employers to pay for their medical costs for outpatient treatment received at Government polyclinics. At present, the Employment Act only makes it mandatory for employers to bear the consultation costs for their workers' outpatient treatment. I admit that many of the suggestions to provide better protection for workers are not easy to implement. Therefore, I hope that the Government will implement other measures to provide protection to low-wage workers. Last week, the NTUC launched a one-stop centre to help low-wage workers and champion their rights at the workplace. I hope to receive support from the Government and Tripartite partners in this effort.”
“If the impact on business cost is a concern, may I suggest that the Ministry mandate for employers to be responsible for only claims for outpatient consultation and medicines from Government polyclinics to be a statutory provision under the EA? Mdm Speaker, I understand that it could be challenging to adopt some of the proposals that were raised during the public consultations. Yet, I do not doubt that everyone agrees that more must be done to protect low-wage workers who are vulnerable because they are the group that would most likely be taken advantage of by irresponsible employers. Last week, NTUC launched a one-stop centre for low-wage workers, called U Care Centre, aimed at providing these workers with guidance on work-related issues and opportunities to help them earn a better living. Through advocating fair employment and fair wages, the centre strives to be the voice with weight that can lead to faster change for our low-wage workers to have a better life. I look forward to the support of the Government to make this centre sustainable in its quest to make a difference to the life of low-wage workers. If our hands are tied in amending the EA that could have offered better protection to help low-wage workers, then let us free our hands to support this dedicated centre for this vulnerable group of workers. I believe that the Government can and will be, as it has always been, generous with funding support that can help workers. Mdm Speaker, please allow me to speak in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Madam, I support the amendments in the Employment Act. However, I feel that more can be done to provide better protection to low-wage workers.”
“Being given a payslip is a basic employment right. Unless backed by legislative action, the problem of non-issuance of payslips to workers, especially low-wage workers, will persist and everything might be status quo with the tripartite guidelines having little impact in providing better protection for workers. Moreover, it will make it more challenging to help these workers over issues of non-payment or underpayment of workers' salaries. Mdm Speaker, on payment for working on rest days, currently the EA sets the distinction for double pay to be accorded only when the worker is asked to work at the request of the employer, and not at their own request. Unfortunately, some irresponsible employers will pay the workers working on their rest day as if it was requested by the worker even though it was actually on the employers' request. Many vulnerable, old, low-wage workers suffer in silence and would not dare to report to MOM for fear of losing their job, or worse, be completely unaware of the fact that they were underpaid. Sometimes, helping them with their claims is also a challenge because they do not have any payslips. I would like the Government to consider amending the Act where workers working on rest days are paid double salary regardless whether it was requested by employee or employer. Mdm Speaker, the current provision of medical benefits by employers in the current EA only covers payment for medical consultation. I would like to urge the Government to consider amending the EA to make it mandatory for employers to bear the payment for outpatient medicines as well. Already being in a low-income bracket, low-wage workers find themselves burdened by the cost of outpatient medicines, placing Page: 93 them in a difficult financial situation.”
“Mdm Speaker, it is said that the measure of a society is found in how they treat the weakest and most helpless citizens. While I applaud the move to offer more and better protection to a group of PMEs, I think more can be done to help the low-wage workers especially in the areas of mandatory payslips, payment for working on rest days and statutory medical benefits. On the issue of payslips, a Forbes survey was commissioned by NTUC's Unit for Contract and Casual Workers in 2011 to focus on working conditions faced by low-wage workers. Sample size of 400 low-wage workers in each of the following sectors were taken – namely those in the logistics, cleaning, food and beverage, retail and landscape sectors. Close to 59% of the cleaners shared that they did not receive any payslips; it was 51% for those in F&B; 44% for Page: 92 logistics; 49% for retail and a whopping 71% for workers in the landscape industry shared that they did not receive any payslips. Potentially, there are just too many low-wage workers that are not issued with payslips making them vulnerable to be taken advantage by irresponsible employers who do not issue payslips, possibly, to cover their tracks against unlawful employment practices or underpaying their workers. Mdm Speaker, the Minister has shared that instead of legislative amendment to make issuance of payslips mandatory, it will be substituted with tripartite guidelines with a view of phasing in the requirements over time. I support this move provided it is an interim measure to enable employers to prepare the necessary structure and processes to help businesses to adjust. However, I would like the Ministry to share the timeline for payslips to be eventually made mandatory under the Employment Act (EA).”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank the Minister of State for the comprehensive reply. Can I confirm that HDB will actually allow house owners to draw down from their Special Account or Minimum Sum to pay for their mortgages in cases where they could not come up with the cash mortgage payment?”
“Madam, I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Given the rising cost of renting a unit from the open market, can HDB consider using an affordability index that takes into account the applicants' gross family income and market rental prices to assess applicants' ability to get suitable accommodation for themselves?”
“Mdm Speaker, during the initial discussion, we did give a rough verbal cost estimate of the cost of handing over the TCMS data as well as the cost of the purchase of a new server. But this was only a verbal cost estimate provided by the vendor. Second, I think I am not in a position to comment on whether the task of handing over an SMC would be more difficult than handing over of a GRC because this is my first experience.”
“Mdm Speaker, in accordance with the Town Councils Act and following MND's guidelines and advice, Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council had effected a complete transition of Punggol East to AHPE Town Council by 1 May 2013, smoothly and expeditiously. We had been objective and fair during the handover process. Mdm Speaker, let me share my key learning points that I hope would be taken into account during MND's review of Town Councils. There would always be issues arising from the handing and taking over of Town Council matters. These issues could be politicised. What is actually a real constraint could be misconstrued by the other party as an attempt to make things difficult. Thus, it is important that MND must play a bigger role to mediate if there are issues that are dead-locked or involving substantial costs to be apportioned. Leaving it to the Town Councils to resolve the issues would make them more likely to be politicised. Mdm Speaker, the handing over of the management of a Town Council's operations when there is a changeover of an MP can be a complex task, even with the best of intentions and goodwill. I would like to call on MND, during its review of Town Councils, to lay out rules and guidelines to facilitate the handover process to minimise the risk of disruption of critical services during the change. 4.39 pm”
“AHPE Town Council also stated it was an "open question" whether a new server was required or whether operations could continue for Punggol East after 1 May 2013 on the existing server, compartmentalised or otherwise. Mdm Speaker, in the meeting held in the morning of 13 March 2013 – again, to assist AHPE Town Council – we had offered to provide the particulars of the system vendor as a party with whom they could discuss the technical information on the continued usage of the TCMS, maintenance and support and the potential cost implications to AHPE Town Council. The contact particulars were given to AHPE Town Council on the same day. Madam, we believe it was for AHPE Town Council itself to contact the system maintenance vendor or any other vendor it wanted to, to determine for itself whether AHPE Town Council wanted to continue to use the AIM software which it had been offered use of for free without having to pay any licensing fee. Subsequently, at a meeting on 15 March 2013 and in an email dated 18 March 2013, AHPE Town Council confirmed that they would deploy and use their own financial system with effect from 1 May 2013. Following the AHPE Town Council's decision to use their own financial management software, Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council again assisted them to do a transfer of data pertaining to the accounting and estate modules on 4 April 2013 to enable them to test their system for compatibility before the actual transfer on 30 April 2013. Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council stands ready to assist, where possible, should they encounter problems with the data transfer.”
“Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council explained to AHPE Town Council that we were not able to pay for a new server to be used by AHPE Town Council as we could not make such payments under the Town Councils Act and we could not legitimately impose this cost on the remaining residents of Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC. It would not be equitable to do so. We had sought clarification from MND and they had confirmed that should Punggol East want a new server, it should be funded by Punggol East. In our reply dated 8 March 2013, Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council explained that our server was acquired in 2004 with contributions from five constituencies. The Punggol East area was one of these five constituencies. All constituencies shared the same server, and they still do. As such, it was not possible for Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council to give AHPE Town Council a server. On the advice of auditors and in accordance with accounting principles, the value of the shared server, which was about nine years old, had been depreciated, over time, in the financial statements to zero. Nevertheless, given that the five divisions had contributed to the original cost of the server, and it is being used currently by the five divisions, we wanted to be fair to AHPE Town Council and took the process of obtaining a fair present value of the server even though the book value is zero. Once we had ascertained the fair value, we would then pay Punggol East a proportionate share of that valuation assessed on a fair and equitable basis. AHPE Town Council replied on 13 March 2013 stating the position that without any management and maintenance support from AIM, the continued use of the TCMS after 30 April 2013 was not a practical solution.”
“Separately, Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council had also asked the service provider providing TCMS maintenance and support to work out the technical details and cost for the boundary change and other related works to segregate Punggol East from our server and for AHPE Town Council to operate the TCMS as a separate entity. In Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council's reply to AHPE Town Council on 8 March 2013, we informed AHPE Town Council that AIM had agreed in principle to allow Punggol East to use the TCMS software after 30 April 2013 "free-of-charge" without any licence fee, but AHPE Town Council must arrange for their own preferred service providers to help them manage and maintain the system on their own computer system since AIM would no longer be providing any services associated with the operations of the TCMS software after 30 April. All the PAP Town Councils were also similarly sourcing for maintenance and management support. Everyone was thus in the same situation. In the same reply, Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council also informed AHPE Town Council that there was a significant cost charged by the external vendor to extract the data from our server, and Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council agreed to bear the cost of extraction, in the interest of a smooth and expeditious transition. Since AHPE Town Council expressed interest in using the TCMS software, we have shared with them that the TCMS must operate as two separate entities to ensure the integrity of our residents' data and to comply with audit and financial requirements. In an earlier meeting on 25 May 2013, AHPE Town Council requested for Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council to bear the cost of providing a new server to Punggol East in order to store the migrated data.”
“Pasir Ris-Punggol TC, along with other Town Councils using the TCMS, were then in the midst of deciding how and when to transit to a new TCMS since the TCMS' leasing agreement with Action Information Management Pte Ltd, or more commonly known as AIM, would expire on 30 April 2013. As such, Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council was not in a position to commit to their request. Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council also had to know the cost, technicality, legal and audit implications of AHPE TC's request for the continued use of TCMS, and all these would require time to look into. Based on the advice given by the service provider and for audit and financial purposes, Pasir Ris-Punggol and AHPE Town Councils must operate as two separate entities by 1 May 2013, and this would include the TCMS as well. Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council wrote to AHPE Town Council on 21 February 2013 that we would be able to migrate the Town Council account data for Punggol East from our server to AHPE Town Council's own system by 1 May 2013. This would have been a straightforward data transfer from the Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council system to the AHPE Town Council's own system. However, AHPE Town Council replied on 25 February 2013 requesting to know what arrangements were available for the continued use of the TCMS by the incoming management of Punggol East with effect from 1 May 2013, and to advise them on the implications, if any, of the continued use. As a gesture of goodwill, Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council also asked AIM whether Punggol East could continue to use the TCMS software after 30 April 2013.”
“In the early stages, both TCs could not come to an agreement on the area that needed to be apportioned. Mdm Speaker, the office space was leased from HDB. Hence, MND's intervention was sought to decide on the apportionment, and they recommended several possible options in the meeting held with them on 20 February 2013. Naturally, the area preferred by AHPE Town Council would result in some cost and disruption to Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council's operation and vice versa. Eventually, Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council agreed to allocate AHPE Town Council the area they wanted in view of the fact that they had intention to permanently occupy the space from 1 May 2013. To ensure they could start operations independently from 1 May 2013, Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council also agreed to vacate the affected area by 15 April 2013 to enable them to set up the place. Pasir Ris-Punggol TC also apportioned to AHPE Town Council their share of the office assets to minimise the start-up costs. In addition, both Town Councils agreed to share the operating costs, such as utilities, office rental and others, on an 80:20 ratio. Mdm Speaker, the reality is that there will be costs incurred whenever there is a change of Town Council, which can be significant. In the case of Punggol East, AHPE Town Council had written officially to Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council on 31 January 2013 asking for the use of the Town Council Management System (TCMS) used by Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council to service the Punggol East constituency.”
“Mdm Speaker, thank you for allowing me to join this debate. I took great interest in the recommendations made in the report, especially in the section on "How Handovers Can Be Better Managed'. During the time when Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council had to hand over Punggol East to Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East or AHPE Town Council, myself and the other MPs of Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC told our Managing Agent that the handover of systems and assets should be carried out with minimal disruption to TC services to the residents. We were also mindful to minimise any related costs to the handover to both Town Councils as these costs would ultimately be borne by the residents. In areas of potential conflict, Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council had sought MND's intervention and agreed to abide by their advice and guidelines. Madam, I agree with the suggestions made in the report that MND should lay clearer rules and guidelines in facilitating the handover process. Mdm Speaker, Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council had officially handed over Punggol East to AHPE Town Council on 30 April 2013. Despite encountering some issues, both TCs maintained our lines of communication open and tried to resolve issues professionally and amicably. I would like to share some of these experiences and how we addressed and overcame them in a reasonable and fair manner. One unique issue in the Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council handover was that our Town Council office at Rivervale Crescent in Punggol East which was rented from HDB, housed services for five divisions, and not just Punggol East Constituency which was the subject of the transfer. There was a need to apportion an area for AHPE TC to run its services for Punggol East from 1 May 2013.”
“But I think the more important point is for us to continue to engage young Malay/Muslim students emerging from the IHLs to give them a sense of their role in society and the community, and we will continue to do so through various outreach efforts. We will embark on a small pilot talent development programme within MENDAKI. We have to be very cautious. Ultimately, the desire to excel has to come from the individual. What we can do, such as MENDAKI and MUIS, and other Malay/Muslim organisations, is to build on the eco-system of excellence provided by the Government so that Malay/Muslim families whose children are doing better, see the desire to push them further, and work with them to assist in providing not only financial assistance, which I think is not that difficult, but really other forms of assistance in terms of overall planning for their career path and the choices that they have to make as they go forward. We all know that there are many more opportunities created by the Government; but the world was not when I was growing up – we either go to Arts or Science. There are many more areas which sort of overlap. The example of Mr Nor Azman which I cited is a heartwarming example of an ordinary Malay boy from a good Secondary school in Singapore but going through the paths and being selected to join Lucasfilm, is indeed an achievement that we should be proud of. These are signs to show that the community is able to reach many heights of excellence. But I agree with the Member that it has to be a concerted, collective effort, involving every key partner in our community.”
“30 am The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Minister for Transport (Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim): Madam, I am happy to hear from the Minister that there have been many developments at the various fronts and across a wide spectrum of the Malay community, among the young as well as the professionals. I have met many parents and also young people who feel that they have benefited from the growth of our nation as well as the efforts of the Government and Malay/Muslim organisations. They would like to see more and more young people as well as professionals coming forward to give back to the community so that we can ride on the wave of development. I would like to ask the Minister what more will MENDAKI, MUIS, and other Malay/Muslim organisations do to further engage this group of professionals and young people so that they can contribute back to our community to ride on the wave. Page: 20 Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Once again, thank you very much, Madam, for allowing me to clarify. It is a very good question. As I mentioned in my speech earlier, our next phase of development is really about building up many, many more peaks of excellence, but in return, we would expect or at least we hope that those who have succeeded will come back and serve the community. I do not have the figures in front of me, but the data that I have seen a couple of months ago from both MENDAKI and MUIS is that the number of young Malay/Muslims who are volunteering within MENDAKI and MUIS is on the rise. That is a good sign.”
“I thank the Minister for the sharing. I have two clarifications. After the change in the per capita income criterion for TTFS and allowing students with Malay as the first component race of a double-barrel race to be eligible, what was the total number of applications for TTFS that we Page: 19 received last year, and how many were approved? My second clarification is: if there has been a higher number of successful applications, would it mean that less funds would be available for other programmes meant to help uplift the Malay community? Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Madam, I thank the Member for his clarifications. Let me just answer the first question quickly. Ever since we revised the income criterion for TTFS, we have received a total of 6,205 applicants, higher than the 2,736 applicants in 2011. Out of the 6,205 applicants, 5,973 applicants were approved, which is 96% compared to 2011 which is only 80% or 2,168 in absolute numbers. What it means is that the new criterion has really reached out to those Malay families that we want to help. As the Member will recall, when we moved the changes, our long-term target is to be able to assist up to two-thirds of Malay/Muslim families with children going on to IHLs and tertiary institutions. On the Member's second question, that is certainly something we have to manage because whatever savings that we have in the TTFS goes back into MENDAKI for other educational programmes. We have not seen the final figures yet for last year, whether it is up or down, but we will certainly manage this very carefully. The numbers are being scrubbed together with MOF and MCCY, and once the numbers are in, I will be happy to report as to whether the numbers have gone up or come down. 11.”
“These children want a stable surrounding and environment. We must provide comprehensive assistance by empowering these parents so that they can provide this stable environment. The future of their children is the future of our community. We must also encourage parents to make use of economic progress to stabilise their families' sources of income for the present and future. I am Page: 182 concerned because many are still staying away from upgrading programmes provided by the Government to help them adapt to the country's evolving economy. Last year, the Ministry announced the Enhanced Wrap Around Care (eWAC) project which provides comprehensive assistance to at-risk families in MacPherson. I would like to ask about the effectiveness of this programme and whether there are plans to expand this project to other estates. As we help these families overcome present challenges, I hope we can also help them prepare themselves for the challenges of the future. I hope this comprehensive assistance can ensure that these families are aware of the importance of having a long-term perspective, prepare themselves for their retirement years. Otherwise, they will still be beleaguered with problems when they reach their golden years.”
“[Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] In August 2012, the Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim announced the formation of an independent committee, Suara Musyawarah, or Voice of Consensus. The Committee was asked to organise dialogue sessions to solicit feedback and views from the Malay/Muslim community on their aspirations and issues of concern about the future of the Malay/Muslim community and Singapore in general. What are the efforts conducted so far? Could the Minister provide an update on the progress of the Committee so far? What is the outcome of the discussion sessions and can the Minister provide examples of the issues that came to light? Reaching out to All in Need The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence and Minister for National Development (Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman) (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] We often hear about issues related to divorce, the head of the family being incarcerated, reconstituted families and their effects on a child's development. My concern is not just the social problems faced by these families, but also whether they are able to adapt to the rapid developments of the community and nation. I am concerned because there are heads of families in their 30s who have been heads of families for more than a decade, but are still unable to provide stability to their families. The problem is that they not only have to worry about today's challenges but also their future challenges. Today, we see they have problems in meeting their family's needs – not just financially but also in providing guidance to their children to overcome challenges in school and development. Their children hope that their parents can be the role models, always ready to assist and to guide them.”
“I would like to thank MOM for supporting NTUC's efforts in helping low-wage workers. NTUC has started work on the Progressive Wage Model for the security industry, and NTUC is very keen to start work as part of the tripartite security committee. Could Senior Parliamentary Secretary Hawazi share when this Committee will be formed to start its work?”
“Some edginess, contention and dissent in industrial relations may well be the "new normal" in industrial relations in the years ahead. Tripartite partners would be kept on their toes and not take the workers and industrial peace for granted. I would also like to ask MOM whether legislation could be introduced to enable sanctions against any employer which treats their employees poorly. Perhaps, it is time to impose legal liability on employers if they fall short of minimum standards in employment relations. Social Safety Net of Self-employed”
“About 27% of local workers are union members but only 11% of foreign workers are unionised. Are workers in Singapore, regardless of nationality, adequately represented in the workplace? The SMRT strike also demonstrates the need for unions to keep tabs on developments affecting the majority non-unionised workers since what affects them will invariably affect the minority unionised workers. Any collective agreement is of limited efficacy if most employees in that sector or industry are not unionised. As the SMRT strike so vividly demonstrated, the actions of a segment of the transport workers in one company had repercussions on the entire transport sector and on tripartism. Can union memberships be made more attractive, especially to foreign workers? Can the Government consider requiring companies to pay the union subscriptions, especially of their foreign employees? More importantly, can unions convince workers that being unionised is to their individual and collective advantage? This is particularly so when many of the foreign workers here are on transient work permits and have very limited bargaining power. Some Singaporeans were affronted by the brazen action of the mainland Chinese bus drivers. But we should not fear strikes that are legitimate and legal. Page: 142 Strikes are the ultimate action that workers can take to protect their rights and interests. The right to strike must be real and not apparent. The abiding concern with competitiveness means that a premium is placed on harmony at the workplace. Given the asymmetric power relationship at the workplace, workers tend to bear a disproportionate burden doing the heavy lifting for the high principle of tripartism and industrial peace.”
“30 pm Keeping Tripartism Relevant Asst Prof Tan Kheng Boon Eugene (Nominated Member): Madam, during and in the aftermath of the SMRT bus strike last December, the language of "interests", such as industrial peace, competitiveness and jobs, was dominant in the public discourse. This is not surprising because it is often the "bottom line" that motivates people to do things. On the other hand, the language of ideals and rights was missing, seemingly irrelevant. But ideals of fairness, rights and justice matter immensely in trust- and confidence-building. It is trite to say that industrial peace is not pre-ordained. But if one tripartite partner perceives that it is always giving in or having to bend backwards for the larger good, then all bets are off that tripartite trust can be maintained. Once that trust is lost, regaining it is an arduous task. Last December's SMRT bus strike was a rude awakening to all industrial relations stakeholders. Page: 141 Tripartite partners collaborate and seek consensus through aggregating and aligning their individual interests towards national objectives even as they represent and advocate for the broad interests of their respective stakeholders. It is crucial, therefore, that tripartism must evolve with the changing industrial landscape here. With foreigners comprising one-third of our regular workforce, the bulk of whom are on transient work permits, there is a need to reach out to all workers regardless of nationality. It is also time that we also examine and reflect on our attitudes and mindsets towards foreign workers in Singapore. As a society, have we accorded them the dignity due to them? Have we also paid lip service to the role of unions in protecting workers' rights?”
“Madam, many workers, especially low-wage workers, who do not get their salaries paid by their employers face an uphill task and may have to overcome many hurdles in trying to claim their salary. When a worker lodges a complaint to the Ministry, the employer might not turn up or might not settle the matter even if it was promised before. The worker will then have to return to MOM and file the claim under the Labour Court and wait for a notice to be served on the employers and for a Court hearing date to be fixed. If the employer says he is willing to pay up, the hearing may be postponed and, if the employer fails to do so, then there is a further delay. When there is still no payment made, it is then left to the worker to proceed to the civil court and this process may take yet another four to eight weeks. In Page: 140 the meantime, the worker is still owed his dues and he may feel like he has reached a dead end. This leads to great frustration for the worker. I would like to ask the Ministry what steps will be taken to give greater protection to such workers. Can the procedure be simplified and expedited for the worker to claim arrears? If the claim is clear-cut and there is no dispute from the employer, I would like to suggest that the Ministry take on the administrative power to enforce the payment. For cases where the judgment is passed by the Labour Court, could MOM enforce it instead of having the worker finding his own means and ways of resolving it? Otherwise, many may just give up and not claim their salary arrears, causing errant employers to be emboldened and, possibly, leading to a repeat of such acts. 5.”
“Mdm Chair, employers are expected to ensure the upkeep and maintenance of workers who file claims under the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA). I would like to suggest for MOM to provide greater clarity on the responsibility of employers on the upkeep and maintenance of these injured foreign workers. There were reported cases by NGO activists where foreign workers filing claims under WICA due to serious leg or back injuries were given accommodation which required the workers to climb up many flights of steps, causing further strain on their body and worsening their injuries. If alerted to such a situation, MOM must be vested with the authority to demand that the employers provide housing arrangements that cater to the basic welfare of the injured foreign workers filing WICA claims. Punitive actions must be taken against those employers that neglect the welfare Page: 130 of these injured foreign workers. Madam, I am also concerned on the involvement of lawyers who represent the workers filing claims under WICA. I would like to propose that MOM should not allow lawyers for WICA claims under the Labour Court, as is the practice or the norm in all other cases heard in the Labour Court. Too often, involvement of lawyers is detrimental to the workers filing the claim because the case can drag on for very long. I believe that the process of work injury claims would be made much more productive without getting lawyers involved in the Labour Court. Workers who want to engage lawyers must do so in the Civil Court. A Safer and Healthier Workplace for All”
“Hence, I would like to propose for MSF to commission a study to look at determining a living wage in Singapore. Partnering the Poor”
“Chairman, I am heartened by the move to increase the financial aid to Public Assistance beneficiaries. At the same time this leads me to ponder on how much one would really need to lead a decent life in Singapore. During the Budget Debate, my parliamentary colleague, Ms Irene Ng, proposed the idea of a living wage. I would like to support the call. What would the Ministry consider as a living wage in Singapore? In UK, based on information from the official website of UK's Living Wage Foundation, living wage is an hourly rate set independently and updated annually. It is calculated according to the basic cost of living in UK. In some countries, a living wage would be a reasonable salary a person could earn in a 44-hour work week to meet the basic necessities of living. In UK as well, employers are encouraged to pay the living wage on a voluntary basis. Studies have shown that paying the living wage is good for business, good for the individual and good for society. According to an independent study to look at the business benefits of implementing a Living Wage policy, it showed that more than 80% of employers acknowledged that the Living Wage had improved the quality of work of their staff. From the individual point of view, the Living Wage affords people the opportunity to provide for themselves and their families. Studies also showed that 75% of employees reported increases in work quality as a result of receiving the Living Wage. Knowing what a living wage is in Singapore would be useful as a benchmark to evaluate our public assistance programme. With WCS, this is also a good opportunity for employers to pay a living wage given the benefits and possibly, an improvement in work productivity.”
“For example, the madrasahs can only take in 400 students each year. In fact, the madrasahs have already made changes and adjustments to their curriculum in order to fulfil their requirements of compulsory education and ensure that it contains elements that are relevant in terms of national education. Madam, this Budget aims to make Singapore an inclusive society. Education is a gift and trust that can guide our young children in school as they prepare for adulthood. Therefore, I hope that the Government can provide Edusave to all Singaporean students, especially those students that come under the Compulsory Education Act, so that they can pursue a brighter future for Singapore.”
“[Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Some Members of Parliament and I have spoken about the issue of Edusave. I have suggested that personal Edusave be given to all Singaporean students in private schools, at least for students that come under the Compulsory Education Act. This suggestion was rejected by MOE on the Page: 92 basis that these students are considered to be private school students and are not eligible for personal Edusave grants. However, this reasoning is contrary to the Government's move to provide subsidies to private school students at the tertiary level. The Government provided the subsidy on the basis that they are Singapore citizens who will serve the nation. Can we not use the same reasoning to provide Edusave to all Singaporean students, regardless of whether they are in public or private schools? Madam, I think that it is difficult for Singaporeans in general to understand why Singaporean students in private schools cannot receive Edusave, while public funds are also being used to provide scholarships to non-Singaporean students from ASEAN countries to study here. In fact, my appeal for the Government to help students in private schools is reasonable, because assistance is also given to private firms through the Wage Credit Scheme, Inclusive Growth Scheme, Best Sourcing and other schemes. I am of the view that Singaporeans who are studying in private schools should be helped so that they have a good opportunity for education. As someone who is experienced in the education field, I have seen for myself how Edusave can help a student to broaden his mind and his educational opportunity. Madam, the amount that the Government has set aside to provide Edusave to private school students is not much.”
“I would like to thank the Second Minister Ms Grace Fu for supporting and working with NTUC to push for the Progressive Wage Model to be embedded in the future licensing scheme for cleaning companies. Could the Second Minister share specifically the expected quarter in 2014 when the new licensing requirement for the cleaning companies will be made mandatory?”
“Mdm Chair, last year, I made a call for every Government Ministry to champion a specific group of low-wage workers. Kudos to MOM and NEA who worked with NTUC and our industry partners to form the tripartite cluster for cleaners that made some key recommendations on the Progressive Wage Model tailored to the cleaning industry. I would like to suggest to MND to support the formation of the tripartite cluster for landscape (TCL) modelled after the tripartite cluster for cleaners. The TCL can comprise senior management representatives from NTUC, MOM, NParks, landscape associations and key service buyers. Preferably, it should be chaired by a Minister of State equivalent, to send a strong signal of the Page: 11 importance of the work of the committee. TCL will play a key role in recommending a Progressive Wage Model and uplifting professionalism and productivity in the landscape industry that currently employs an estimated 15,400 workers. The landscape industry is considered one of the bottom 10% occupation, based on median monthly gross wages. Over the years, not only have wages of the landscape workers stagnated, but we are also losing the institutional knowledge to manage this important sector. Even graduates from Polytechnics are not joining this sector. I believe, with strong support from tripartite partners, we can ensure that the landscape workers will have improved salary packages and be included in Singapore's drive towards inclusivity. Otherwise, it will continue to be caught in the vicious cycle of low wages and inability to attract the necessary talent to professionalise the industry.”
“It also continues to be a "cat and mouse" game between the authorities, the operators and street walkers. Vigorous community as well as multi-disciplinary agencies efforts have not effected a sustainable positive change. Can MHA update us on the efforts to better contain these activities? I strongly feel there is a need to be more stringent and more effective. Vice-Prostitution, Loansharks and Gambling”
“Mr Chairman, loan shark harassment is a clear and present danger to many innocent victims and their families who live in constant fear daily and not knowing when the nightmare will end. Even though the Singapore Police Force has taken a zero tolerance approach towards loan shark harassment, loan shark activities still pose a significant threat in some neighbourhoods. I would like to ask the Minister if any new approaches will be adopted to clamp down on these activities and harassment cases. I understand that there is a national CCTV roll- out plan – how successful have CCTVs played in identifying the individuals involved? What tougher measures will be taken against those caught harassing borrowers or their neighbours who live in constant fear every single day of their lives? Page: 132 Mr Chairman, I am also concerned about the involvement of youths in loan shark activities. There were recent reports on youths who were arrested for suspected involvement in loan shark activities. I would like to know how many youths have been arrested for involvement in loan shark activities over the past three years. What steps are taken to educate youths on the dangers of being involved in such activities? What other deterrent measures can be taken to reduce the involvement of youths in such activities? Vice Management at Geylang Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef: Mr Chairman, following up from last year's or, perhaps, last few years' COS, the vice situation in the Geylang area continues to make its presence felt even into the upper lorongs. This, of course creates a multitude of social disamenities related to noise, littering, illegal parking, traffic congestion, immoral influences of the flesh trade as well as safety and security challenges.”
“[Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Madam, the Population White Paper that was presented to craft the Government's plans for a sustainable population in Singapore in the future has raised concerns among the Malay community who are worried that it will affect the proportion of Malays. This is because it will have major social and political implications to the Malay community. Some national leaders, including the Prime Minister, have provided assurances to the Malay community that the percentage of Malay citizens in Singapore will be maintained. Some segments of the community would like to know the efforts that are being made to attract Malay PMETs who are professionals, managers, executives and technicians from neighbouring countries to work or reside in Singapore by 2020. What is the outcome of these efforts so far and has it been effective? How many new Malay PMETs have become Permanent Residents or Singapore Citizens in the last five years? Our community also wants to know what are the new efforts that will be introduced to increase the number of new Malay immigrants here. Mdm Chairperson, I hope that this issue to attract Malay PMETs from our neighbouring countries will be given enough attention to ensure that the new citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents who are Malays will have similarities in terms of religion, culture and way of life. Proportion of Malays in Singapore”
“It is also a long-term decision. Will we be able to review this process of appointment, perhaps adding some new components where locally-born Singaporeans can be engaged and their inputs sought? This is in line with giving Singaporeans a stake in the decision-making process and empowering them as well. An example would be to have at least each potential PR or new citizen who have met the eligibility criteria, get between five to 10 supporters who are Singaporeans from different ethnicity, who know them well, who could come from their work environment as well as the community, such as their neighbours and grassroots leaders. There must, of course, be a certain set of guidelines and criteria set to ensure fairness in this process. It will also allow a new dimension and facet to be added on, just as it is done in certain other countries, such as the Scandinavian countries. Also, Madam, as we are moving towards a more advanced economy, will we be more selective in our choice of new immigrants? PR and Citizenship Application”
“Madam, Singapore's population and ageing woes have made it necessary for us to welcome migrants every year. However, I believe there is a need to introduce more stringent measures in identifying suitable migrants for citizenship. As shared by Mr Ang Wei Neng, currently, the transaction for citizenship application is between the applicant and the Government. Even though applicants have to undergo an interview as part of the application process for Singapore citizenship, when compared to other developed countries like the United States, UK and Australia, our requirements seem less stringent as all these three countries have citizenship tests for applicants. Madam, moving forward, I believe there is a greater need for more stringent citizenship criteria and processes as we select new migrants who are able to become a meaningful part of the Singapore story. Like Mr Ang Wei Neng, I would like to make the call for the process of citizenship application to involve Singaporeans and community leaders which must support the application for citizenship. I would also like to add, for the Government to consider a citizenship test to ensure some understanding of our laws and culture. These measures can increase the level of rigidity in application while ensuring that the applicants are suitable for Singapore citizenship. Appointment Process for PRs and New Citizens Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef: Madam, the process for becoming a new PR or a new citizen starts with the intent, followed by the application process. Subsequent to this, there is: (a) the online questionnaire survey or quiz; (b) a visit to places of national interest; and, of course, (c) the community sharing session before the citizenship ceremony. Page: 84 The decision to become a citizen of a country is a critical one.”
“The NWC should also go beyond just recommending a quantum increase in salary for low-wage workers to providing other possible solutions to address the issue of income inequality. Mdm Speaker, as a society, we must value every worker and see every honest job as a dignified job worthy of good wages. We want to live in a clean and safe environment, but show much resistance to paying more for cleaning, security and other many other essential services. As such, such jobs are caught in a vicious cycle of low wages and low productivity. Service providers and service buyers must change their mindset to enable low-wage workers to earn better wages. The time to make a difference in helping low-wage workers is now with all the funding support that the Government is providing. NTUC believes that "Cheap is not good. Good is not cheap".”
“Mdm Speaker, bold results to help low-wage workers require bold actions. A level playing field for these service providers and service buyers can be created through licensing. The Labour Movement has been pushing for a PWM that could help low-wage workers obtain salary increases based on a wage ladder concept which incorporates skills, productivity and career progression. A bold action that the Government can do is to mandate for PWM to be a requirement for licensing to enable companies to operate in sectors like cleaning, landscape and security, which have a high portion of low-wage workers. This, potentially, could also have a ripple effect on wages of low-wage Page: 40 workers in other industries. As the WCS provides a Government subsidy for wage increases, I feel that this will go some way in providing some financial support for companies to adopt the PWM. As a Labour Member of Parliament, I am heartened that the Government has heard the cries of the labour movement, for example, in increasing the qualifying limit of salary for Workfare Income Supplement (WIS), allowing low-wage workers to get more cash from the scheme to help them with meeting their daily needs, as well as build their CPF retirement savings. The PWM, combined with WIS and WCS, is a viable alternative to minimum wage whose impact has been very controversial in countries implementing it. Mdm Speaker, another bold action that we must take is to make the National Wages Council (NWC)'s recommendations for low-wage workers mandatory for all companies. Last year, many cleaning and security companies were not able to give $50 built-in wage increase to their workers because of fixed contract amount they received from the service buyers.”