Foreign Domestic Workers’ (FDWs’) Welfare and Employers’ Rights

Ms Sylvia Lim (Aljunied): Sir, foreign domestic workers deserve to be protected. They live in their employers’ homes and are potentially vulnerable to ill-treatment and abuse behind closed doors. Employers who ill-treat their workers must be punished in accordance with the law. On the other hand, some complaints are unfounded. Some employers have been victims ofContinue reading “Foreign Domestic Workers’ (FDWs’) Welfare and Employers’ Rights”

Retrenchments, and “Hand” and “Heart” Work

Mr Pritam Singh (Aljunied): Chairman, according to the preliminary estimates released by MOM, retrenchments in Singapore have more than doubled in 2023 from 2022 to 14,320 cases. Recent stories about ongoing retrenchment and redundancy exercises in companies such as Lazada and Electrolux have only intensified discussions in public about retrenchment. With the threat of retrenchment forContinue reading “Retrenchments, and “Hand” and “Heart” Work”

ECONOMIC RETURNS FROM GOVERNMENT GRANTS PROVIDED FOR TAYLOR SWIFT’S ERAS TOUR CONCERTS IN SINGAPORE

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song (Aljunied): Thank you, Sir, and I thank the Minister for his reply. I assume he is answering the question that I filed for tomorrow as well. Sir, given that Singapore is such an attractive destination for marquee events, why is there even a need to give taxpayer-funded grants to attractContinue reading “ECONOMIC RETURNS FROM GOVERNMENT GRANTS PROVIDED FOR TAYLOR SWIFT’S ERAS TOUR CONCERTS IN SINGAPORE”

Discouraging Hasty Reparations

Ms He Ting Ru: Sir, on the topic of creating a sustainable workforce, can MOM ensure that if migrant workers lose their job after filing a complaint, the worker will have at least one month to look for a new job before they are repatriated? Workers sometimes face retaliation by employers when they make a complaint.Continue reading “Discouraging Hasty Reparations”

Ensuring Effectiveness of Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA) System

Ms He Ting Ru (Sengkang): Sir, how is the Government ensuring that insurers are adequately compensating injured workers under the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA) which applies to both local and migrant workers? Insurers obtain premiums paid for by employers and have incentive to keep costs low by limiting insurance payouts. Yet, insurers, instead ofContinue reading “Ensuring Effectiveness of Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA) System”

Anti-discrimination at the Workplace

Ms He Ting Ru (Sengkang): Sir, the upcoming Workplace Fairness Legislation (WFL) will be important in ensuring that certain groups do not experience discrimination at the workplace. I would like to share views on several key areas. First, the Tripartite Committee recommended that WFL only cover direct discrimination. This means that workers may still beContinue reading “Anti-discrimination at the Workplace”

Menopause Support for Female Workers

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song: Sir, the number of women aged 40 to 59 in the labour force has risen by 97,000 from 2012 to 2022. Many in this group of workers will be undergoing perimenopause, which can present various physical and emotional challenges that may impact their well-being and work performance. Awareness of theContinue reading “Menopause Support for Female Workers”

Tradesperson Jobs

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song (Aljunied): Sir, there are approximately 186,000 craftsmen and trades workers in Singapore. Their median salary is $2,700 and their median age is 56 years. Over 70% are foreigners. The low wages, ageing workforce and heavy reliance on foreign labour in this crucial sector is concerning. I acknowledge the efforts by MOM,Continue reading “Tradesperson Jobs”

Affordability of Our Hawker Centres

Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis: Last year, my Sengkang colleague Assoc Prof Jamus Lim elucidated that pricey coffee shop rents form part of the recipe for expensive hawker food. Likewise, hawkers operating from hawker centres face significant pressures from high and rising rents, causing them much financial strain and, inevitably, many may have to raise theirContinue reading “Affordability of Our Hawker Centres”

Lim Chu Kang Masterplan

Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis (Sengkang): Chairman, I wish to request that MSE share with us a progress update on the Lim Chu Kang Masterplan. The Lim Chu Kang Agri-Food Production Hub has been positioned as a key initiative to support Singapore’s “30 by 30” ambition. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) had earlier said thatContinue reading “Lim Chu Kang Masterplan”