I raised a question in Parliament about whether the Ministry of Manpower proactively informs retrenched low-wage workers about the Short-Term Relief Fund (STRF) when employers submit retrenchment notifications or enter liquidation. I asked this question because I was concerned that many lower income workers may be unaware that this support exists during company closures.
The Acting Minister for Manpower explained that when employees file salary claims with the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM), TADM first engages employers to attempt salary recovery, a process which can take one to two months. If mediation fails and the salary cannot be recovered despite best efforts, TADM will then process STRF disbursements for eligible claimants. Those with urgent financial needs are referred to Social Service Offices.
This is the full question and answer from 4 Aug 2026:
Improving Short-Term Relief Fund Outreach To Retrenched Low-Wage Workers And Expediting Emergency Payouts After Company Closure
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Acting Minister for Manpower (a) whether the Ministry proactively informs retrenched local, low-wage workers about the Short-Term Relief Fund soon after employers submit retrenchment notifications or enter liquidation; and (b) whether it will consider an interim emergency payout within one week of company closure, given that current disbursements take one to two months after claim verification.
Ms Jasmin Lau: The Short-Term Relief Fund (STRF) provides financial relief as a last resort to eligible local lower income workers when their owed salaries, which their employers are legally obligated to pay, cannot be recovered. When employees file salary claims with the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM), TADM will first engage their employers, mediate and help to recover the owed salaries from the employers. If the salary cannot be recovered despite best efforts, TADM will process STRF disbursements for eligible claimants. The disbursement may take one to two months as TADM needs to establish that the claims are valid and the salaries owed genuinely cannot be recovered. For those with urgent financial needs, we will refer them to their respective Social Service Office for financial assistance to meet their basic needs.
Elevating Skilled Trades into High-Value Careers
Speech on the Motion “An Economy of the Future that Works for All”, 5 Aug 2026.
Gerald Giam (Aljunied GRC)
Mr Speaker,
For decades, skilled tradespersons—from electricians and plumbers to lift engineers and infrastructure technicians—have not been accorded the prestige and pay that match their vital economic contribution. We have relied on foreign labour arbitrage and allowed unlicensed workers to perform tasks meant for certified practitioners, inevitably suppressing local trade earnings over time.
With a median monthly income of just $2,700 in 2023, skilled trades are seldom seen as a career of first-choice for young Singaporeans. Over the past decade, the local craft workforce has shrunk by 40% to 50%. Of the 186,000 craftsmen and trades workers in Singapore, only 28% are locals—and their ranks are ageing, with a median age of 56.
Yet, skilled tradespersons form the bedrock of our national infrastructure. While artificial intelligence can automate administrative reports and overseas remote workers can process corporate accounts, they cannot physically re-wire a server room, repair a water main or maintain critical infrastructure in Singapore. These crafts are inherently localised, highly skilled and resistant to remote replacement.
If we want to offer genuine economic mobility to our vocational graduates, we cannot leave the skilled trades trapped by undercutting from unlicensed workers, rigid licensing regimes and limited career progression pathways. We must elevate these vocations into respected, high-earning avenues of trade entrepreneurship and national pride.
Confronting the Structural Limits of Upskilling
While upskilling is essential, classroom retraining has limited utility in technical crafts compared to master-led apprenticeships. And training alone cannot resolve deeper market distortions.
As we look to elevate skilled technical vocations, relying on frameworks patterned after the Progressive Wage Model or the Career Progression Model will reach natural structural limits. While these models establish important wage floors across foundational sectors, their design relies heavily on climbing fixed corporate ladders into administrative or supervisory roles—positions that are inherently limited in number and compel artisans to abandon their practical craft just to earn a higher income.
To enable our artisans to achieve true, long-term wage progression, we must look beyond administrative ladders and restructure the underlying market so that technical mastery naturally commands the true market value of their craft.
The Market-Friendly Trade Competency Framework
To achieve this, we must introduce a market-friendly Trade Competency Framework that elevates skilled trades into highly respected avenues of independent enterprise and professional advancement. We must enable tradespersons to contribute to and build prosperous, scalable businesses, ensuring they do not feel stuck in demanding jobs with limited prospects.
The Economic Strategy Review (ESR) report rightly acknowledges that essential physical trades are vital to Singapore’s economic resilience. However, its recommendations continue to rely on incremental tweaks within employer-led models. While the ESR points to outsourcing and weak skills recognition, it remains silent on the deeper structural distortions depressing trade wages.
The report features an inspiring young electrician whose grit is truly commendable. Yet his pathway is telling: unlocking high earnings required four academic degrees, from NITEC all the way to a Master’s degree. I applaud his drive, but question the system. Why force a master craftsman through an academic obstacle course instead of directly valuing hands-on mastery and independent enterprise?
Proposal 1: Ensure Safety Standards Are Upheld by Tackling the Unlicensed Market
This paradigm shift must begin with how these essential vocations are regulated and protected in the open market.
Consider our current licensing regimes. Almost all fixed electrical work legally requires an EMA-Licensed Electrical Worker, while regulated plumbing requires a PUB-Licensed Plumber. While non-compliance carries statutory fines up to $10,000, a jail term of up to three years, or both, daily practice reveals a massive gap between the rates charged by licensed tradespersons and unregulated marketplace alternatives.
This economic gap tempts cash-constrained buyers to opt for uncertified options across many routine property maintenance tasks.
Such choices carry serious public safety risks. Uncertified electrical work can cause loose connections, arcing, structural fires or electrocution, while improper plumbing joints can lead to concealed leaks, sewage backflow or water supply contamination.
In 2016, the improper wiring of a water heater to a three-pin plug by workers unlicensed to do electrical work resulted in the tragic electrocution of a 15-year-old boy in his HDB flat. Similarly, in 2020, an elderly couple and their son were electrocuted to death in their Jurong flat due to a similar unsafe installation of a water heater.
To protect public safety and shield local artisans from wage-depressing undercutting, regulators, including EMA and PUB, must enforce strict regulatory baselines for all market players, whether local or foreign, to ensure local artisans compete on a true level playing field of technical quality and safety. This will require the agencies to staff sufficient inspectors and auditors to conduct enforcement, and respond to whistleblowing complaints.
Proposal 2: Streamlining Vocational Pathways Through Modular Trade Endorsements
Second, we must streamline how local talent enters and moves through the vocational talent pipeline. Local manpower supply is currently constrained by rigid structures that force junior workers and mid-career entrants through a long, uncertain route just to secure a licence.
We should promote the skilled trades to students and mid-career switchers as viable, respected alternatives to polytechnic diplomas and university degrees. Training pathways already exist—whether through full-time ITE programmes or certification courses at the BCA Academy or Singapore Institute of Power and Gas for mid-career switchers. However, despite completing their classroom education, aspiring tradespersons face structural challenges when attempting to translate those qualifications into licensed, independent careers.
The structural bottleneck lies in the post-graduation licensing requirement of completing two years of practical experience covering a full spectrum of trade work. Trade practitioners I spoke to have highlighted that, in reality, almost no small contractor covers the entire spectrum of work. Expecting a residential service plumber to log experience across industrial supply systems creates a practical bottleneck, as current evaluation criteria favour multi-year commercial construction projects over day-to-day residential maintenance.
We can resolve the licensing bottleneck by implementing a Modular Trade Endorsement Pathway. Instead of requiring two years of full spectrum experience before a worker can practise independently, this pathway certifies specific, verified competencies task by task.
Each cleared module would legally authorise a tradesperson for that specific scope of work—whether in water heater installations, sanitary piping or wiring loops. These milestones are verified via hands-on practical assessments, customer ratings and structured peer reviews by master practitioners. This allows local apprentices to start practising legally and earning a respectable living for the tasks they have mastered, while progressively expanding their certified scope over time.
Proposal 3: Tradesperson Skills Ledger and National Trades Marketplace
To operationalise these modular endorsements, we need a modern digital architecture: an official Tradesperson Skills Ledger platform.
This platform serves a dual purpose. It allows tradespersons to log task-specific trade endorsements verified under the supervision of licensed artisans, creating an immutable record of their practical milestones.
It can also double as a national trades marketplace, connecting buyers—both enterprises and homeowners—directly with licensed tradespersons based on verified modular competencies, domain expertise and clear rate schedules set transparently by the artisans themselves. Clear benchmark call-out rate bands can be established—providing upfront price transparency for property owners while guaranteeing fair off-hours compensation for artisans, eliminating both predatory surge gouging and artificial wage caps. By streamlining matching and reducing administrative overhead for both small contractors and buyers, the system enables tradespersons to establish sustainable commercial clients, secure corporate procurement contracts and build long-term business equity.
Proposal 4: Addressing the Employer Hold-up Problem
Fourth, we must eliminate the structural over-reliance on an employer’s sole discretion to advance an apprentice’s career. Across skilled trades, the government currently enforces safety through rigid employer-tied licensing requirements, inadvertently granting employers veto power over an entry-level worker’s advancement.
Under the current market structure, established employers have little commercial incentive to sign off on the logbooks and testimonials of apprentices, who may later become direct competitors. While on-the-job training under senior practitioners remains essential, we must ensure that if an apprentice faces unreasonable administrative delays or employer gatekeeping, an independent audit mechanism exists.
An apprentice should be able to submit their immutable digital work logs and project portfolios to an independent Technical Panel for verification. This preserves direct supervisory accountability while protecting apprentices from career stagnation and employer hold-up.
Proposal 5: Setting Up the Singapore Guild of Skilled Tradespersons
Finally, to tie these pillars together, I propose establishing a new, autonomous entity called the Singapore Guild of Skilled Tradespersons, which will define baseline competencies, advocate for fair commercial rates, manage the Tradesperson Skills Ledger, and empower local tradespersons to self-regulate and scale their operations.
Existing industry bodies like the Singapore Plumbing Society, the Singapore Electrical Contractors and Licensed Electrical Workers Association and the Specialist Trade Alliance of Singapore possess relevant sectoral familiarity. These trade societies can be reformed and integrated as dedicated Chambers under this Guild. This will give every tradesperson a direct voice, remove corporate employer gatekeeping and empower artisans to govern their craft under a self-regulatory model similar to those enjoyed by doctors, engineers and accountants.
Under this four-sided partnership of shared accountability:
- Employers provide structured apprenticeships, with all progress and milestones logged transparently on the Tradesperson Skills Ledger.
- The Singapore Guild of Skilled Tradespersons acts as an independent quality auditor and serves as safety guardian.
- Tradespersons maintain verified digital profiles and direct statutory accountability for work within their endorsed scope.
- And consumers gain direct access to a trusted, transparent marketplace with verified quality assurance.
Institutionalising Professional Stature and Social Standing
Mr Speaker, elevating our physical crafts requires more than just policy tweaks; it demands restoring the social standing and institutional dignity of our artisans. When we give skilled tradespersons the autonomy to govern their own professions, command transparent commercial returns for their mastery, and build independent, high-earning businesses, we can fundamentally change how society views this form of blue-collar work.
By replacing rigid academic treadmills with direct market rewards for technical excellence, entering a trade will no longer be seen as a second-best option born of academic detour, but a proud, lucrative and respected pathway into entrepreneurship and master craftsmanship. Through independent representation, technology-driven competency tracking and structured apprenticeships, this comprehensive structural redesign will restore our workers’ leverage and ensure that national economic progress serves the dignity and prosperity of every Singaporean.
I support the original motion standing in the names of my Honourable Friends, Mr Kenneth Tiong, the Member for Aljunied GRC, and Assoc Prof Jamus Lim, the Member for Sengkang GRC.
Architects, Not Just Adopters: Moving Beyond Concrete Infrastructure to Secure Digital Leverage and Empowered Workers
Motion on Reinforcing Singapore’s Position as a Global Transport Hub
Gerald Giam (Aljunied)
7 July 2026
Mr Speaker, I support the spirit of reinforcing Singapore’s long-term economic competitiveness as a globally-connected aviation, maritime and logistics hub.
Physical Infrastructure vs Digital Architecture
The government’s traditional playbook focuses heavily on building world-class infrastructure like Changi Terminal 5 and the Tuas Next Generation Port. However, focusing too much on physical infrastructure carries structural risks in a changing global economy.
As my Honourable Friend the MP for Aljunied Kenneth Tiong pointed out earlier, a neutral hub port holds traffic only by staying competitive, and a port cannot pick its carriers because carriers pick their ports. We saw the reality of this structural vulnerability when Maersk shifted its transhipment hub to the Port of Tanjung Pelepas in the year 2000, and again in 2025 when the Gemini Cooperation shifted the bulk of their joint shipping volume to PTP. If we do not own the shipping lines or control the underlying cargo movements, relying solely on massive physical infrastructure leaves our economy exposed to a sunk cost dependency risk.
The global trading system is under threat from protectionism and geopolitical rivalries. In addition, there is the possibility that an opening of the Northern Sea Route through the Arctic, or the creation of a land bridge across — or a canal through — the Kra Isthmus will divert maritime traffic away from Singapore. The massive fixed cost of our expanded port may become a fiscal drag if shipping volumes fall short of the government’s projections.
The long-term justification for Changi Terminal 5’s massive capacity relies on historical hub-and-spoke models where long-distance traffic requires consolidated transit nodes. However, next-generation, hyper-efficient aircraft, such as the long-range narrowbody Airbus A321XLR, completely disrupt this model. These aircraft allow airlines to establish economically viable “long and thin” direct routes between secondary cities without requiring physical stopovers or refueling hubs like Singapore. As a result, Changi Airport may face the risk of capital expansions outpacing the growth of traditional transit passengers.
To hedge our exposure to physical trade volatility, Singapore must pivot from being just a physical gatekeeper to also becoming the sovereign digital architect of global trade. By anchoring the financial, legal and operational code of international shipping lines within Singapore’s data jurisdiction, we secure a stronger position of leverage. Even if mega alliances berth physically at regional competitors’ ports, the critical financial transaction layers and supply chain networks running those operations will still run through digital nodes owned by Singapore.
We must therefore rebalance our long-term capital spending. For every dollar spent on pouring physical concrete for Changi T5 or the Tuas berths, a fixed percentage should be redirected toward strategically acquiring, centralising and developing next-generation supply chain software patents under Singapore’s sovereign control—such as automated customs clearing platforms and predictive route-management networks. As my Honourable Friend the MP for Hougang Dennis Tan highlighted, Singapore must shift from being an outstanding adopter of foreign technology to a creator of our own proprietary systems if we want to capture high-margin value. By securing direct ownership over these foundational digital assets across key international trading jurisdictions, we can protect our economic independence and collect licensing rents globally. This allows us to successfully reduce our reliance on absolute, volatile physical cargo throughput, ensuring our national revenue is buffered even if global trade patterns shift away from our shores.
We do not just need a more competitive hub; we need a structurally resilient one that owns the software of global trade, rather than just the concrete it sits on.
Frontier technologies and Algorithmic Management
This strategic resilience must also extend to the second pillar of the motion, which champions the use of frontier technologies to anchor good jobs. While automation drives corporate efficiency, we must build a system that governs these tools to protect the daily working conditions of our workers. If we do not actively govern the code running inside our transport infrastructure, frontier technology can inadvertently lead to the extraction of productivity solely at the expense of human well-being.
This is not a theoretical anxiety. A 2024 report titled “Algorithmic Management practices in regular workplaces: case studies in logistics and healthcare” by the International Labour Organisation and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre provides empirical evidence of what happens when algorithmic management is introduced in regular transport and logistics workspaces. The report notes that competitive pressures related to cost efficiency and timely deliveries have driven an increased centralisation of control and monitoring through corporate governance structures, shifting the power balance within organisations heavily towards management.
In advanced logistics networks across the world, we are already witnessing these technologies being used in ways that constrain worker autonomy and intensify the pace of work. For instance, the report highlights automated postal and distribution networks where algorithms generate precise, hyper-optimised itineraries, giving workers compressed, exact time slots for each delivery. These machine-generated instructions can become so detailed that they leave minimal space for human judgment or physical adjustment.
The report also underscores cases of asymmetric accountability and glitch penalisation. Workers are uniquely vulnerable to connectivity issues and system failures. The report found that when software scanners freeze or experience network disruptions, automated systems can register these technical errors as drops in worker efficiency. As a result, workers risk being unfairly held accountable for mistakes originating from computer errors rather than human errors.
The report found that the introduction of digital tools had a positive impact on job quality in some more developed countries, but a negative impact in some developing ones. The authors attributed this to differences in institutional and regulatory frameworks. Businesses in Singapore have to use digital tools to improve productivity and efficiency, but we must also ensure that these changes will benefit workers rather than harm them.
We must remain firmly pro-innovation. Our goal should not be to ban automation or turn our backs on technology, but to govern it so that productivity gains are equitably shared with workers rather than extracted solely from their physical and mental well-being. To achieve this, I wish to make three policy proposals.
First, we should update the subsidiary regulations in the Workplace Safety and Health Act to mandate that workforce management and dispatch algorithms used in critical transport hubs explicitly factor in human physiological constraints. The code must include safety buffers for ambient heat stress, which is vital for Singapore’s tarmac and port environments, alongside a mandatory human-in-the-loop override. This will give terminal safety supervisors and operations managers the clear statutory authority to adjust AI targets by a safety buffer during peak operational strain or adverse weather, without incurring penalties.
Second, we should introduce algorithmic transparency and explainability requirements under the Employment Act to give workers a statutory Right to Explanation. Any automated tracking platform used to grade performance, allocate split shifts or determine contract renewals must provide employees with a clear, plain-language breakdown of its underlying metrics. This ensures workers have open, accessible administrative channels to contest unfair automated penalties caused by network disruptions, hardware glitches or system errors.
Finally, we should consider implementing a transport sector Digital Dividend framework. When transport, logistics and aviation operators achieve major productivity breakthroughs through the use of AI, those productivity gains must be shared. Instead of squeezing headcount or expanding workloads, operators should be required to pass these gains down in the form of structured wage increases or compressed, human-centric working hours with no loss in base pay.
Conclusion
Mr Speaker, we cannot allow physical infrastructure expansion to blind us to the shifting digital geography of global trade, nor should we allow frontier technology to reduce the economic agency of our transport workers. We must, instead, make it our goal to ensure that as our infrastructure and machines grow more capable, our citizens grow more secure. By implementing these targeted worker safeguards and digital asset strategies, we can ensure that technological progress serves the dignity, economic agency, and long-term resilience of every Singaporean.
Advocating for workers facing unpaid wages
How can your salary rights be better protected during sudden company closures?
Advocating for workers facing unpaid wages is a critical priority, ensuring they are not left behind when companies close abruptly.
I raised questions in Parliament on 13 January 2026 regarding wage non-payment issues, questioning why we still lack mandatory wage recovery insurance and personal liability for directors. The Minister highlighted existing priority rankings for unsecured debts and the Short-Term Relief Fund but did not address these specific legislative gaps. This response remains inadequate because without tracking full data or implementing tougher measures, we cannot fully protect workers’ livelihoods.
Looking forward, I have filed four follow-up Parliamentary Questions for the upcoming sitting on 8 July 2026. I am continuing to push for proactive investigations before liquidation happens and asking why the authorities do not track the total number of affected workers. I am also advocating for mandatory wage recovery insurance, personal liability for company directors, and an interim emergency payout within one week of company closures to better protect employees.
Read the full questions and answers below.
Support for Employees Affected by Abrupt Closure of Companies and Proposal to Amend Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 to Prioritise Payout to Employees (13 Jan 2026)
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Manpower for each of the last three years (a) how many workers have been affected by corporate liquidations and what is the total quantum of unpaid wages; (b) how many workers received payouts from the short-term relief fund; and (c) what is the total amount disbursed to these affected individuals to help them tide through financial difficulties following the abrupt closure of their employers.
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Manpower whether the Ministry will explore (i) mandatory wage recovery insurance, (ii) personal liability for directors for unpaid salaries and (iii) amending the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 to prioritise employees over secured creditors by default without requiring employees to file claims with the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management, to deter irresponsible business closures and ensure workers are paid first.
Dr Tan See Leng: When businesses wind up, including preparing for and during liquidation proceedings, firms should act responsibly and ensure that workers’ salaries are paid on time to the best of their abilities.
The Government fully recognises the importance of employees’ claims on salaries in the event of their employers winding up. In the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act, employees’ claims are already ranked first and above all other unsecured debts, and are behind only the costs and expenses of administration, which are necessary for the winding up to proceed smoothly.
We have measures in place to support employees and ensure responsible business practices. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) investigates and takes action against employers who breach employment legislation when winding up, including those who wilfully do not pay salaries despite having the means to do so. If employers truly cannot pay their salary arrears due to business failure, the Short-Term Relief Fund (STRF) is available to provide financial assistance to eligible local lower-income workers.
Between 2023 to 2025, about $600,000 was disbursed from the STRF to 260 workers who did not receive their salaries due to corporate liquidation. MOM does not track the total number of workers with unpaid wages due to corporate liquidations.
We also provide workers who have lost their jobs with support to search for and take on new jobs with good longer-term prospects. Local workers may tap on career matching services and training programmes offered by Workforce Singapore (WSG), SkillsFuture Singapore and Employment and Employability Institute, and may also receive temporary financial support under the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme. Lower-income households who require financial assistance to meet basic needs may also approach their Social Service Office.
Beyond measures to support displaced workers, the Government encourages and supports Singaporeans to take care of their career health and stay relevant in their jobs. Under the Career Health SG programme, workers can tap on various tools to do so, such as the CareersFinder feature on WSG’s MyCareersFuture job portal and the Polaris career guidance programme. Such programmes help workers to be better equipped to navigate challenges and stay resilient in their careers.
Source: Singapore Parliament Reports (Hansard)
Questions Filed for 8 July 2026:
*Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song: To ask the Minister for Manpower (a) what are the reasons for not introducing mandatory wage recovery insurance and personal liability for company directors for unpaid salaries; and (b) what legislative hurdles exist in amending the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 to prioritise employees over secured creditors.
*Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song: To ask the Minister for Manpower (a) what specific thresholds of non-payment or delayed Central Provident Fund contributions trigger an active, proactive investigation into an employer before corporate liquidation proceedings begin; and (b) how many such proactive investigations have been conducted by the Ministry in the past year.
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song: To ask the Minister for Manpower (a) why the Ministry does not track the total number of workers with unpaid wages due to corporate liquidations; (b) how it accurately assesses the full scale of the wage arrears problem and evaluates the adequacy of existing financial safety nets without this baseline data; and (c) whether the Ministry will begin tracking such data to improve policy reviews.
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song: To ask the Minister for Manpower (a) whether the Ministry proactively informs retrenched local, low-wage workers about the Short-Term Relief Fund soon after employers submit retrenchment notifications or enter liquidation; and (b) whether it will consider an interim emergency payout within one week of company closure, given that current disbursements take one to two months after claim verification.
* denotes a question for oral answer
Boosting youth financial literacy in Singapore
I raised a question in Parliament about Singapore’s participation in the optional PISA financial literacy study. I asked why we have not opted in and if we evaluate how our 15-year-old students compare against peers from other developed nations.
The Minister explained that Singapore avoids optional PISA components to prevent overloading schools and students. The Ministry of Education and MoneySense monitor local progress instead, with internal surveys showing that most secondary students possess age-appropriate skills in budgeting and saving.
While keeping student workload manageable is important, the OECD is now urging Singapore to join this global study (see here). Participating would give us objective data to benchmark our youth against the world. We should reconsider our stance to ensure our financial education is keeping pace with (and, hopefully, exceeding) global standards.
Should Singapore heed the calls to join this global financial literacy study?
Read the full question and answer from 6 May 2026:
Singapore’s Participation in PISA Financial Literacy Assessment and Comparative Assessment of Financial Literacy of Singapore’s 15-Year-Olds with Other Developed Nations
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Education (a) whether Singapore has been participating in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) for financial literacy and, if not, why not; and (b) whether the Ministry has assessed the financial literacy levels of 15-year-old students in Singapore compared to other developed nations.
Mr Desmond Lee: The financial literacy study is one of several optional instruments in Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Most PISA-participating systems, including Singapore, do not opt for it. We are mindful in our choice of PISA options to avoid overloading our schools and students with international benchmarking studies.
The Ministry of Education and MoneySense, our national financial education programme, regularly monitor our students’ and youths’ financial literacy levels. Our surveys show that most secondary school students have age-appropriate financial literacy, such as knowing the difference between needs and wants, understanding concepts like compound interest and inflation and appreciating the importance of saving and budgeting.
Protecting our children through better background checks
I asked in Parliament whether a centralised national screening agency could be establed to conduct background checks for every person seeking employment or volunteer roles that involve direct contact with minors. Currently there is no requirement for employers in unregulated sectors to verify criminal records which leaves a potential gap in our safety net for children in various private settings.
The Minister explained that public agencies already screen individuals in preschools and schools while sports coaches must declare records to Sport Singapore. He noted that the Government is currently considering further measures to strengthen the screening framework for all jobs involving contact with children.
It is vital that we close existing loopholes to ensure no child is at risk. I believe a centralised system would provide a more robust and consistent safeguard for our community.
This is the full question and answer from 6 May 2026:
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether the Ministry will consider establishing a centralised national screening agency to conduct mandatory background checks for all persons seeking employment or volunteer roles involving direct contact with minors; and (b) what current requirements exist for private organisations and sports clubs to verify the criminal records of staff working with children.
Mr K Shanmugam: For jobs under the purview of public agencies that involve contact with children and young persons, there are already measures in place to screen for past offences. For example, pre-employment background checks are conducted for individuals deployed to preschools licensed under the Early Childhood Development Centres Act, personnel in Student Care Centres registered as Student Care Fee Assistance Administrators who have prolonged contact with students, and individuals working in the Ministry of Education (MOE) schools.
In the sport sector, applicants to the National Registry of Coaches are required to declare disciplinary and criminal records to Sport Singapore. Applicants who have been convicted of offences such as sexual crimes will not be admitted to the registry.
There is currently no requirement for employers in unregulated sectors to verify the criminal records of employees. However, they may still request that prospective employees declare any past offences, and take this into consideration in their hiring decision.
The Government has been considering further measures on how to strengthen the screening framework for jobs involving contact with children and young persons. The framework will have to be set up in a way which is possible to implement.
Solving the driving school bottleneck
I raised a question in Parliament about the chronic bottlenecks and long lesson wait times for driving learners. My proposal suggested a modular framework where driving schools focus on providing foundational circuit and simulator training, and accredited private driving instructors (PDIs) would handle some of the on-road practical instruction to increase overall capacity. I also asked if the Ministry would consider resuming the issuance of PDI licences to support this shift.
The Minister replied that the authorities have been reviewing policies to meet the sharp rise in demand for lessons over the last few years. However he stated there are no plans to re-issue private licences. The government maintains that the current model which started in 1987 ensures a professional and standardised approach through a structured curriculum within driving schools.
I believe we must be more open to flexible training models to clear the current backlog. While standardisation is important the current wait times are frustrating for many young people and workers who need a licence. Using private instructors for road modules while keeping schools for circuit work could strike a better balance.
What are your thoughts on involving more private instructors to reduce the wait for driving tests?
This is the full question and answer from 6 May 2026:
Proposal For Disaggregated Framework Where Driving Schools Provide Foundational Circuit And Simulator Training While Accredited Instructors Provide On-Road Practical Training
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether the Ministry will consider establishing a disaggregated modular framework where driving schools provide foundational circuit and simulator training while accredited PDIs focus on on-road practical instruction, to alleviate chronic bottlenecks and reduce lesson wait times for learners; and (b) in light of such a framework, whether the Ministry will consider resuming the issuance of PDI licences.
Mr K Shanmugam: The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Traffic Police (TP) have been reviewing the driving school ecosystem and policies, to increase the capacity of the schools to meet the sharp rise in demand for lessons in driving schools over the last few years.
TP has no plans to re-issue private driving instructor licences. We stopped doing so in 1987 to create a more professional and standardised approach to driver education, where driving schools operate within a structured curriculum and training framework approved by TP.
Source: Singapore Parliament Reports (Hansard)
Modernising insurance for fairer claims
I raised a question in Parliament regarding the need to update medical insurance contracts to include modern and less invasive surgical procedures. My concern is that legacy policy wording might be used to deny claims for more effective treatments simply because they did not exist when the plan was bought. We must ensure that insurers do not prioritise rigid definitions over the well being of their clients and the collective interest of other policyholders who deserve up to date protection.
The Minister explained that while MediShield Life updates its list regularly critical illness policies often stick to older definitions to maintain premium sustainability. He noted that the Life Insurance Association is currently studying the feasibility of allowing policyholders to adjust their existing coverage to include newer treatments.
It is vital that our insurance framework evolves as quickly as medical science. I believe that policyholders should not be penalised for choosing safer and more advanced medical options. We need a system where coverage is flexible enough to recognise medical progress without waiting years for a definition review.
This is the full question and answer from 7 May 2026:
Regulations To Prevent Insurers From Denying Claims On Newer Procedures Not Explicitly Listed In Legacy Policy Wording
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (a) whether MAS will review medical insurance contracts to ensure that definitions of surgical procedures are updated to include modern, less invasive medical advances; and (b) what regulatory measures are being considered to prevent insurers from denying claims solely because a newer, more effective procedure is not explicitly listed in legacy policy wording.
Mr Gan Kim Yong (for the Prime Minister): With constantly advancing medical care, it is natural for policyholders to ask if their existing insurance coverage keeps pace with newer, less invasive procedures.
Let me explain how this works for two broad types of health insurance. MediShield Life pays for medically necessary treatments and surgical procedures that are listed in the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) Table of Surgical Procedures (TOSP). MOH regularly updates the TOSP to keep MediShield Life relevant and adjusts the premiums where necessary. Integrated Shield Plans generally align with MediShield Life.
Critical illness insurance, or CI, works differently. Severe stage CI policies pay a fixed lump sum when a person is diagnosed with an advanced stage CI or undergoes a specified major procedure. The Life Insurance Association, Singapore (LIA) regularly updates its standardised severe stage CI definitions to reflect medical advances. Insurers will adopt LIA’s latest definitions when issuing new severe stage CI policies. Existing policies, however, do not assume the updated LIA definitions, as the updated severe stage CI definitions and any associated newer procedures and treatments could widen the scope of policy coverage and increase the incidence of claims. Doing so without a corresponding premium adjustment could impact the sustainability of the product.
LIA is studying the feasibility of allowing policyholders of existing CI policies to adjust their coverage to include newer treatments with appropriate premium adjustments. As there are complex implications on the actuarial assessment, the study will take time.
Meanwhile, I encourage consumers to regularly review the type, coverage and affordability of their health insurance policies in line with their evolving needs. As medical technology evolves, some conditions can now be treated through less invasive procedures with shorter recovery times. For coverage of these treatments, insurers offer comprehensive or early stage CI plans, which cover a broader range of procedures. The scope of coverage and cost for these products varies amongst insurers. Consumers can seek financial advice to help determine the level of protection that suits their needs and budget.
Source: Singapore Parliament Reports (Hansard)
Better tech to prevent cable damage
I asked in Parliament about whether the Ministry will review current methods for finding underground utilities. My focus was on how we can better detect non metallic assets like fibre optic cables that often elude standard tools. I cited the recent accident where a contractor hit underground cables during North South Corridor works. This caused a 20 hour broadband outage for over 5,000 households and disrupted bus arrival timings. I also asked if the Government would provide subsidies to help our contractors adopt advanced detection technologies to prevent such incidents.
The Minister explained that the Government has mandated metallic tracer cables for new fibre since 2015 to make them easier to find. He noted that certain projects must now use advanced non-invasive tools like Multi Channel Ground Penetrating Radar. The authorities are currently studying how to help the industry scale up these technologies and will test new solutions to improve detection accuracy.
It is good to see progress but we must ensure these high tech tools become the industry standard rather than the exception. I believe more direct financial support for smaller contractors would speed up this transition and protect our essential services.
This is the full question and answer from 7 May 2026:
Review Of Detection Methods And Gaps For Underground Utilities, And Subsidies For Adoption Of Advanced Detection Technologies By Contractors
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether the Ministry will review the adequacy of current methods for verifying the exact locations and depths of underground utilities; (b) how the detection gap for non conductive and non-metallic assets, such as fibre optic cables and PVC pipes, is being addressed; and (c) whether the Government will provide subsidies to contractors for the adoption of advanced detection technologies.
Mr Chee Hong Tat: As most of our utilities are delivered through underground cables and pipelines, there are processes in place to minimise the risks of accidental damage to them. For example, contractors are required to undertake topography surveys and conduct trial trenches to verify the locations and depths of existing cables and pipelines before works can be conducted in their vicinity.
The Government has improved these processes as well as the methods used to verify the locations and depths of underground cables and pipelines over the years. For example, to enhance the detectability of non-conductive assets such as fibre optic cables, the Government has, since 2015, mandated Telcos to implement metallic tracer cables alongside all newly laid fibre optic cables. The Government also required contractors of selected infrastructure projects to adopt advanced non-invasive geo referenced technologies such as the Electro-Magnetic Locator (EML) and Multi Channel Ground Penetrating Radar (MCGPR) to supplement trial trenches and improve the efficacy of detecting different underground utilities.
We will continue to improve the processes and methods for verifying the exact locations and depths of underground utilities, and to study how best to support the industry in scaling up the adoption of these technologies. We will also try out technology solutions that can further enhance the industry’s ability to detect underground cables and pipelines.
Source: Singapore Parliament Reports (Hansard)
Safer ways to cross the Causeway
I raised a question in Parliament about whether our government will work with the Malaysian authorities to build a covered pedestrian and cycling pathway on the Causeway. This link would provide a safer and greener route for those who are willing to walk across one of the world busiest land crossings. My goal is to help commuters who prefer alternatives to motorised transport by providing a designated track for safe and active travel.
The Acting Minister for Transport replied that there are currently no plans for such a pathway because Malaysia prohibits walking along the Causeway.
It is disappointing that this alternative transport mode is not going to be made available. I hope we can continue to engage our neighbours to change this policy and improve accessibility for everyone.
This is the full question and answer from 7 May 2026:
Covered Pedestrian And Cycling Pathway On Causeway
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Acting Minister for Transport (a) whether the Ministry will coordinate with the Malaysian authorities to construct a designated, covered pedestrian and cycling pathway on the Causeway to provide a safer, greener and more efficient alternative to motorised transport on one of the world’s busiest land crossings; and (b) what discussions have already taken place on this matter, if any.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: While cycling is permitted on both sides of the Causeway, Malaysia currently prohibits walking along the Causeway. There are currently no plans for a covered pedestrian and cycling pathway along the Causeway.
Source: Singapore Parliament Reports (Hansard)