Written Answers to WP's Oral Questions
Mr Fadli Fawzi
Restitution For Motorists Who Might Have Had Driving Licences Suspended Due To Recent Incident Of Erroneous Issuance Of Speeding Tickets
Mr Fadli Fawzi asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether any motorists had their driving licences suspended as a consequence of the 1,523 speeding tickets that were erroneously issued between 30 October and 8 December 2025; and (b) if so, how will the Government make restitution for the wrongful loss of driving privileges suffered by any such motorists.
Mr K Shanmugam: The Member may wish to refer to the written reply in response to Parliamentary Question 1051 delivered on 25 February 2026.
Data On Foreign Workers Deportation, Broken Down By Work Pass Category
Mr Fadli Fawzi asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (a) in 2025, how many (i) Employment Pass (ii) S-Pass and (iii) Work Permit holders were ordered to be deported each month, respectively; (b) whether any of these persons appealed against the orders; and (c) if so, (i) how many appeals were successful and (ii) for what reasons.
Mr K Shanmugam: Foreign nationals will be deported by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) pursuant to the Immigration Act 1959 (IA) if they have committed criminal offences, or if their continued presence in Singapore is undesirable or prejudicial to public security in Singapore.
In 2025, approximately 2,500 foreign nationals holding either an Employment Pass, an S Pass, or a Work Permit were deported by ICA under the IA. 17 deportation appeals were received, of which none were successful. We are unable to provide details of the appeals and the considerations for the decisions.
National Service Participation Of Madrasah Students
Mr Fadli Fawzi asked the Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence since 2020 (a) what percentage of madrasah students eligible and medically fit for National Service (NS) have not received Enlistment Notices; and (b) of those who enlisted for NS, what percentage served or are serving in the (i) SAF, (ii) SCDF and (iii) SPF, respectively.
Mr Chan Chun Sing: The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) receives applications from National Service (NS)-liable males of various faiths to defer their NS for the purpose of religious studies or to practice as a religious teacher or leader. Each appeal is assessed on a case by case basis.
Since 2020, an average of 30 madrasah students per year have been enlisted for NS.
They are represented across the Uniformed Services, subject to operational and manpower requirements.
Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat
Adequacy Of Existing Laws To Punish Egregious Road Behaviour That Result In Death
Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether the Government has studied the adequacy of existing laws to punish egregious road behaviour resulting in death; (b) whether the Government will consider introducing a specific offence of vehicular homicide carrying penalties on par with culpable homicide; and (c) if not, why current penalties are considered proportionate for the most serious cases.
Mr K Shanmugam: Today, when a person does an act which causes a death, there are provisions in the Penal Code to charge such a person for murder or culpable homicide. This will include deaths caused through the use of a vehicle. These offences are in addition to the driving offences in the Road Traffic Act.
The charge brought against an offender will depend on various factors, in particular, the offender’s state of mind when committing the offence. If the offender intended to cause a person’s death using a vehicle, he may be charged for murder under s 300(a) of the Penal Code, which carries the mandatory death penalty. If the offender knew that his driving was so imminently dangerous that it must in all probability cause death or bodily injury that is likely to cause death, he may be liable for murder under s 300(d) of the Penal Code, which carries the discretionary death penalty.
Where the offender’s state of mind does not meet these thresholds, but the offender knew that his or her driving was likely to cause death, the offender may still be liable for culpable homicide not amounting to murder under s 304(b) of the Penal Code. This is punishable with imprisonment of up to 15 years, or with a fine, or with caning, or with a combination of such punishments.
For example, in October 2025, charges of culpable homicide were brought in relation to two fatal traffic accidents. These cases are currently before the courts. Most offenders who cause death while driving are prosecuted under the Road Traffic Act, as these offenders usually do not have the requisite state of mind for a charge of murder or culpable homicide to be brought against them. It is not clear from the Member’s question if he is suggesting that all such cases should be prosecuted as murder or culpable homicide. This will be a substantial change in the law, which could lead to people being charged for murder (and face the death penalty) or culpable homicide, even if they did not intend to cause death, and did not know that death would likely be caused.
Let me also assure Members. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has been increasing penalties and tightening the rules, in respect of traffic accidents. And the Ministry has also been actively considering the possibility of legislating some additional offences where: (a) the offender drives a motor vehicle on a road in such a manner that endangers another person’s life or personal safety; (b) the offender did so with the purpose of endangering another person’s life or personal safety; and (c) the offender’s driving caused death or grievous hurt to another person. However, such offenders will not face the death penalty.
Reviewing Fee Structure And Possible Tiered Service Options For Day Activity Centres
Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) whether the Ministry has assessed if the binary fee structure for Day Activity Centres where families above the means-test threshold pay up to about $2,000 monthly, suppresses apparent demand by pricing out middle-income households; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider tiered service options such as part-time attendance or co-payment scales for all Centres to improve accessibility without expanding fiscal commitments.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: The out-of-pocket fee structure for Day Activity Centres (DACs) is not binary, but rather, tiered based on per capita household income (PCHI). Clients can enrol in DACs on a part-time basis and pay pro-rated out-of pocket fees.
Update On Singapore Youth League
Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) what is the progress of the Singapore Youth League announced at the Ministry's 2023 Committee of Supply debate; and (b) whether the Ministry considers the reliance on private-owned football academies and their leagues for national youth development acceptable.
Mr David Neo: The Singapore Youth League (SYL) has made good progress since its inception in 2024. Today, 6,000 boys and girls participate in the SYL. Each one of them plays an average of 30 competitive matches per year, double the number before the SYL began.
It takes a whole of nation effort to develop our youths. Everyone, from private clubs and academies, to youth teams from our Singapore Premier League clubs, contributes to a strong and wide talent base, upon which our national youth teams can be built. Therefore we work closely with these stakeholders in the ecosystem to identify talents for the Junior National Development Centre (JNDC) and National Development Centre (NDC).
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik
Proportion Of SEN Students In Mainstream Schools And Ensuring Adequate Training For Teachers
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Minister for Education (a) what is the current proportion of students with special educational needs enrolled in mainstream schools; and (b) how does the Ministry ensure that teachers are adequately equipped to support these students while also meeting the learning needs of the broader student population.
Mr Desmond Lee: About 7% of the student population in mainstream schools have reported special educational needs (SEN). This proportion has remained stable over the past three years.
Our schools adopt a whole-school approach to support teaching and learning of all students, including those with SEN. This ecosystem of support comprises school leaders, key personnel overseeing the Case Management Team, Teachers trained in Special Needs (TSNs), subject teachers and SEN Officers.
For example, while all teachers have the basic knowledge and strategies to teach classrooms with diverse student needs, each school has about 5 to 10 TSNs with deeper expertise who are able to share best practices with other teachers to support students with more complex needs. There is also ongoing professional learning for teachers to build up confidence and strengthen their skills to support students with SEN.
Furthermore, every primary school is resourced with additional teachers specially trained to carry out targeted interventions such as TRANsition Support for InTegration (TRANSIT) and the School-based Dyslexia Remediation (SDR) Programme. Through TRANSIT, Primary 1 students identified with social and behavioural needs are placed in smaller class sizes of up to 10 to develop foundational self-management skills as they begin their schooling journey. Some students with SEN may also be in parallel pull-out small classes for learning support in English and Mathematics where they learn alongside other students with weak language and literacy skills.
Teachers trained in the SDR programme support Primary 3 and 4 students with dyslexia through explicit and systematic instruction that encompasses phonics teaching, sight word recognition and reading comprehension strategies. These targeted intervention sessions conducted in classes of four to six students enable students with dyslexia to strengthen literacy skills. Concurrently, in their regular English Language classes, teachers continue to reinforce these literacy skills using strategies that are essential for some students and beneficial for all.
Mainstream schools have SEN Officers who provide learning and behavioural support for students experiencing social-behavioural challenges and adjustment difficulties. This may be done in class, or in individual or small group settings. More SEN Officers are deployed to schools with a higher number of students with SEN.
Ensuring IHL Students From Disadvantaged Backgrounds Have Equitable Access To Internships
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Minister for Education what measures are in place by Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) to ensure that students from disadvantaged backgrounds have equitable access to internships.
Mr Desmond Lee: IHLs work with companies and sector agencies to offer students, regardless of background, a wide variety of quality internship opportunities. The IHLs also provide support to ensure that students who require the completion of an internship to graduate can secure one. This includes offering coaching and advice on resume writing and interview skills, to help students boost their chances at securing an internship. Where necessary, the IHLs may step in to identify and help match students to suitable internships to ensure that these students can complete an internship to meet their academic requirements.
Publication Of Advertising Code Of Conduct For Tuition Centres And Accompanying Enforcement Actions
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Minister for Education (a) when will the Ministry release the advertising code of conduct for tuition centres; and (b) whether the guidelines will enable the Ministry to take enforcement actions against errant tuition centres.
Mr Desmond Lee: This question has been addressed by the answer to oral Parliamentary Question No 1 on 24 February 2026.
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong
Data For Rentals Of Privately-Owned HDB Shops And For Licensing Of Outdoor Refreshment Areas
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for National Development (a) why does HDB not collect or publish rental transaction data for privately-owned HDB shops and licensing data for outdoor refreshment areas; and (b) whether the Ministry will require such data to be reported and published to allow for an evidence-based assessment of rental pressures on heartland businesses.
Mr Chee Hong Tat: The member’s question pertains to privately-owned HDB shops. For privately owned shops, different government agencies may collect and publish related aggregated data, which allows for data transparency while balancing commercial sensitivities. For example, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) maintains records on lease and tenancy transactions that are submitted to IRAS for the payment of stamp duty, including those for privately-owned HDB shops. The rental data collected by IRAS are made available by geographical location and property type on the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Real Estate Information System (REALIS).
HDB announced in January 2026 that for HDB-owned coffeeshops, the government will start collecting data on stall rents charged by rental coffee shop operators. HDB will assess how the stall rents data can be made publicly available, to enable stallholders to make better-informed decisions. In the same vein, HDB is looking to make available Temporary Occupation Licence (TOL) data for outdoor refreshment areas (ORA) to provide greater transparency on ORA TOL fees paid by HDB coffee shop operators.
Ms He Ting Ru
Total Salaries Of Political Office Holders Seconded To NTUC In Last Five Years
Ms He Ting Ru asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (a) what is the Government’s policy relating to or agreement with the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) where political office holders also hold senior or executive roles within NTUC; and (b) in the last five years, what was the total clean wage equivalent amount attributable to salaries of political office holders seconded to NTUC under this arrangement.
Mr Chan Chun Sing: From time to time, the Government seconds political office holders to take on roles within the National Trades Unions Congress (NTUC). This arrangement enables the Government to strengthen our longstanding partnership with the labour union, understand workers’ concerns; and collaborate closely to shape policies that benefit Singapore and Singaporeans.
Political office holders who are seconded to NTUC receive only one pay package as an appointment holder, as outlined in the 2012 White Paper on Salaries for a Capable and Committed Government. The cost is shared between the Government, and NTUC.
Appropriate Assessment Models For Primary School Students To Balance Exam Preparation With Inquiry-Based Learning And Well-Being
Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Education given growing concerns about academic stress and mental health issues among children in Singapore, particularly in relation to the PSLE, how will the Ministry consider using more developmentally appropriate assessment models for primary school children, such as project- or portfolio-based assessments and regular bite-sized computer-adaptive testing.
Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Education whether the Ministry can provide an updated assessment of Singapore’s use of Primary 6 examinations, compared to other educational systems overseas that perform well for the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), in balancing examination preparation with inquiry-based learning and well-being.
Mr Desmond Lee: Our teachers use a range of pedagogies to facilitate students’ learning, such as inquiry-based and collaborative learning. They also use a variety of assessment modes that are fit-for-purpose for school-based assessment, including modes like project work and oral presentation.
The Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) serves a different purpose to school-based assessment. Apart from being a useful checkpoint on students’ mastery of the primary school curriculum, the results also provide guidance for their next stage of learning and offer an objective way of posting students to secondary schools. Hence, the appropriate mode of PSLE is subject to more complex considerations.
Any form of assessment is likely to generate some stress. However, this does not necessarily mean that the assessment mode is not developmentally appropriate. Often, it is not the assessment itself, but what the assessment results are used for, and the expectation of one’s performance that drives academic stress. Changing the form of assessment without addressing the causes will ultimately not be effective and may even be counterproductive.
Over the years, efforts have been made to reduce the overemphasis on academic results and encourage a societal mindset shift towards holistic development. The blunting of the PSLE scoring system and the removal of mid-year examinations are some examples.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) continually studies high-performing overseas educational systems for practices that can potentially be adapted to our context. However, we are mindful that these systems operate in different contexts and deal with different trade-offs.
As part of the upcoming Education Conversations, MOE will engage and seek views from stakeholders on how we can address concerns over an education ‘arms race’ and reduce examination stakes, among other issues. Given the complexity of the issue and the diverse views among stakeholders, any major changes will need to be considered carefully.
Written Questions
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik
Data On Employment Pass Holders In Statutory Boards And Government Agencies
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (a) how many Employment Pass holders are currently employed across all statutory boards and Government agencies; and (b) what are the most common roles that Employment Pass holders are employed for across all statutory boards and Government agencies.
Mr Chan Chun Sing: There are currently around 2,700 Employment Pass Holders in Ministries and Statutory Boards. They generally work in job roles that require skills that are in shortage among our local workforce, such as engineering and information technology.
Yearly Statistics Of Employment Assistance Payment (EAP) Payouts To Retiring Workers For 2024 And 2025
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Minister for Manpower in each year of 2024 and 2025 (a) how many workers who reached the statutory retirement age were paid the Employment Assistance Payment (EAP) in lieu of being offered re employment; and (b) what was the average quantum of EAP paid across these cases.
Dr Tan See Leng : In both 2024 and 2025, more than 98% of resident workers who reached the statutory retirement age and wished to continue working were offered re-employment. In 2024, 0.4% of these resident workers were paid the Employment Assistance Payment (EAP)1 in lieu of being offered re-employment while in 2025, the corresponding proportion was 0.6%. The average EAP quantum was $12,300 in 2024 and $17,400 in 2025.
Note(s) to Question No(s) 20:
1 The average EAP quantum may vary from year to year as it is computed based on employees’ last drawn monthly salaries.
Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat
Risk Management And Corporate Accountability Of Companies Receiving Edb Incentives
Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether EDB incentives currently require sign-off from both regional and global headquarters of recipient companies; (b) what mechanisms ensure continuity of commitments when regional executives rotate; and (c) whether the Ministry will consider requiring a global headquarters interlocutor as a condition for incentive approval to prevent orphaned projects.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: The Economic Development Board administers incentives to support companies undertaking substantive economic activities in Singapore. The incentive is awarded to the Singapore entity that will be carrying out the project and legally binds it to specified economic commitments. The award includes clawback provisions when commitments are not met. Personnel changes do not affect the company’s legal obligations under the incentive award.
Implementing Differentiated Age-Tiered Payout Ratios Under Workfare For Workers
Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Minister for Manpower (a) what is the rationale for maintaining the Workfare payout ratio of 60% CPF and 40% cash for workers aged 70 and above, who have significantly shorter expected lifespans than workers aged 60-69; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider implementing a differentiated, age-tiered Workfare payout ratio that provides higher cash component for older workers to better support their immediate needs.
Dr Tan See Leng : The Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) is designed to supplement the incomes of lower-wage workers and build up their Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings for retirement, housing and healthcare. The current 40% cash and 60% CPF payout structure reflects this dual objective in helping lower-wage workers meet their immediate needs, while building up CPF savings for future needs.1
Although the cash to CPF ratio is the same for workers aged 70 and above, the CPF component of WIS effectively supports their near-term needs. The CPF component that goes into their Medisave Account can be used to defray medical expenses. The part that goes into the Retirement Account is converted into retirement payouts. The Ministry of Manpower has recently enhanced WIS payments from 2025 across all age bands, which increases the quantum of cash received. For example, a 70-year-old employee earning $1,700 a month saw their total WIS payment increase from $4,200 to $4,900 per year from 2025. The cash quantum correspondingly increased from $1,680 to $1,960.
To support seniors with greater financial needs, the Government has provided various forms of support to help Singaporeans cope with cost-of-living concerns. For instance, Budget 2026 introduced support measures such as: up to $570 of U-Save rebates in FY2026 for eligible Singaporean Housing and Development Board households, to help with their utilities expenses; $200 to $400 Cost-of-Living Special Payment in cash for eligible Singaporean adults; and $500 CDC Vouchers for all Singaporean households.
Note(s) to Question No(s) 18:
1 Self-employed persons and platform workers receive 10% of their Workfare payments in cash and 90% in their MediSave Account.
Mr Fadli Fawzi
Breakdown Of IPPT Performance For National Servicemen By Age Group In Past 10 Years
Mr Fadli Fawzi asked the Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence in each of the last 10 years, what percentage of NSmen who take the Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) obtained a (i) Pass (ii) Pass with Incentive (iii) Silver and (iv) Gold, respectively, on their first attempt, broken down by age group.
Mr Chan Chun Sing: Over the last 10 years, the Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) passing rate for NSmen has remained stable, and are similar across age groups.
Among those who attempted IPPT, the proportion of NSmen who achieved Gold or Silver Awards is about 35%; those who achieved Pass with Incentive is about 35%; and those who achieved a Pass is about 15%. The percentages have been relatively stable across the years since 2017.
Total Investment And Annual Operating Expenses Allocated To Nesst Singapore Limited For Dormitory Operations
Mr Fadli Fawzi asked the Minister for Manpower (a) how much funding has the Government provided to NESST Singapore Limited; (b) what is the total cost of constructing NESST Tukang Dormitory; and (c) what is the estimated annual operating cost of NESST Tukang Dormitory.
Dr Tan See Leng: The Tukang Purpose-Built Dormitory (Tukang PBD) is built and owned by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) at a total construction cost of $58 million. NESST Singapore Limited (NESST) operates Tukang PBD and pays a monthly lease payment to MOM based on market valuation under a Government Build-Own-Lease arrangement.
MOM has provided about $6.2 million to NESST since its establishment in March 2023. The funding was provided to set up NESST as MOM’s Company Limited by Guarantee in the initial years, as well as pilot innovations in migrant worker housing, and grow capabilities in dormitory management.
We are unable to share commercially sensitive information about NESST, including Tukang PBD’s operating costs.
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong
Acceptance Rates Of Revised Healthhub Terms Of Use And Alternative Access Options
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health since the updates to HealthHub’s terms of use in September and November 2025 (a) how many users have not accepted the revised terms of use in full or have given up access to HealthHub; and (b) how else can such users access similar information previously accessible on HealthHub, other than through the platform.
Mr Ong Ye Kung: HealthHub’s Terms of Use were updated in September 2025 and November 2025 arising from Data Protection Trustmark requirements and enhancement of the Caregiver Access module respectively. Since then, there has not been a reduction in the number of monthly unique HealthHub users.
Residents who prefer not to use HealthHub have the option of contacting the public healthcare institutions directly through service counters and contact centres.
Energy Consumption Projections Of AI Park At one-north And Energy Efficiency Measures
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information (a) what is the projected annual electricity and water consumption at full capacity for the new artificial intelligence (AI) park at one-north; (b) how will the Ministry measure software-level energy efficiency for firms under the national AI Missions; and (c) whether the Government will mandate energy-intensity disclosures for large-scale AI models to mitigate any rebound effect on national energy demand.
Mrs Josephine Teo: The planned AI park at One-North is not a data centre (DC) park. It is designed to be a hub for a growing community of AI developers and solution providers. We therefore expect its annual electricity and water consumption to be comparable to other technology-intensive industrial estates such as the Punggol Digital District.
Singapore is committed to advancing our AI capabilities in a sustainable manner. Under the National AI Research and Development plan, we have identified resource efficient AI as a research priority. This, along with close monitoring of practices elsewhere, will help us consider appropriate policy measures.
For example, green or energy-efficient AI software is a still a nascent field, and there is no internationally recognised standard today. Nonetheless, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) is working closely with the Green Software Foundation (GSF) on the methodology for the new Software Carbon Intensity (SCI) ISO standard, which provides an indication of energy usage for general software applications. In the meantime, IMDA promotes the efficient use of computing resources through initiatives such as the Green Software Trials, and the recently launched Practical Green Software Guide for Enterprises, which provides actionable steps for businesses to reduce their software carbon footprint.
We have also taken steps to improve the sustainability of our DCs through IMDA’s Green DC roadmap. MDDI will introduce baseline energy efficiency standards for DCs through the Digital Infrastructure Act (DIA), which we are developing in consultation with the industry.
Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim
Guidelines On School Admissions Policy Between Affiliated And Non-Affiliated Students
Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for Education in respect of secondary school and junior college admissions, whether the Ministry provides guidelines or imposes limits on the maximum permissible difference in entry scores between affiliated and non-affiliated students admitted to the same school.
Mr Desmond Lee: Affiliated schools contribute to our variegated education landscape, with their long history and distinctive school culture. In recognition of this, affiliated schools are allowed to accord some priority to affiliated students, which provides them with the opportunity to consistently imbue their school values, ethos and culture into their students over a longer period, while still adhering to the admission framework set by the Ministry of Education (MOE).
From 2004, all affiliated secondary schools need to set Affiliate Minimum Requirements (AMR) – the minimum PSLE score that students from affiliated primary schools must meet for affiliation priority. Since then, MOE has encouraged affiliated schools’ proposals to progressively tighten their AMR to facilitate greater access for non-affiliated students. From 2019, MOE has also required schools to reserve at least 20% of places in each Posting Group at Secondary One for non affiliated students. MOE does not cap the difference between the Cut-Off Point (COP) for non-affiliated students and the AMR, as the COP is determined by demand and choice patterns.
For junior college (JC) admissions, affiliated students receive two bonus points when selecting their affiliated JC as first choice, with a maximum of four bonus points in the calculation of net First Language and Relevant Subject (L1R5). The COP for JC admissions is similarly determined by demand and choice patterns, reflecting the score of the last student posted to the school.
Ms He Ting Ru
Breakdown Of NTUC’s Yearly Disbursement Of Public Funds Across Programmes And Grants For Past Five Years
Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Manpower in each of the last five years (a) how much public funding was disbursed to the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), broken down into the various different grants or funding programmes; (b) whether public funds were granted for NTUC's operational and development expenditure; and (c) whether any public funds were given for the purposes of NTUC's staffing or executive remuneration, and if so, how much.
Dr Tan See Leng: The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), as the key body leading Singapore’s labour movement, delivers various programmes to upskill and uplift workers. NTUC is one of the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM’s) service delivery partners to whom we would provide funding, which could be either in part or in full, for programmes which are aligned with our policy objectives. These programmes and initiatives include employment facilitation services, Career Conversion Programmes, the administration of Company Training Committees (CTC), the Migrant Workers’ Centre, and the U Care Centre which provides lower wage workers with guidance on work-related issues and opportunities for earning a better living. For example, the Government has set aside a total of $300 million for NTUC’s CTC Grant to support companies in enterprise and workforce transformation. As is common for such programme partnerships, a portion of the grants might include funding for our partners’ manpower to support the programmes.
MOM does not track consolidated funding to NTUC across the whole-of Government. MOM does not provide dedicated funding for NTUC’s general staffing or executive remuneration.
Updates On Non-Unionised Employee Representation By NGOs At Employment Claims Tribunal
Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Manpower whether the Ministry can provide an update on whether it will consider allowing non-unionised employees to be represented by non-legal non-governmental organisations at the Employment Claims Tribunal, in order to level the playing field with employers, who may be represented by legally-trained staff or staff acting on legal advice.
Dr Tan See Leng: The Employment Claims Tribunals (ECT) adopts a simplified and guided process that is accessible to parties even without legal representation. Workers, including non-unionised employees, may also apply for a Community Courts Tribunals (CCT) Friend, which will allow a third party to be present during tribunal proceedings to provide support. This third party can be a person from a non governmental organisation.
