Gerald Giam is the Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC. He is the Head of Policy Research of the Workers' Party of Singapore. The opinions expressed on this page are his alone.
Caring for elderly parents or relatives is a heavy responsibility that many Singaporeans bear and it can take a toll on their physical and mental health, leading to burnout. Many caregivers are women or single adults who sacrifice their careers or personal lives to be caregivers. Our society must recognise caregivers’ challenges and give them more support.
The Home Caregiving Grant (HCG) is now between $250 to $400 per month. However, those who have a household monthly income per person of more than $2,800 do not qualify.
A study by researchers at Duke-NUS Medical School found that the cost of informal caregiving time for a care recipient who needs help with three or more Activities of Daily Living is about $53,244 annually, or $4,437 monthly.
Can I propose that the Government extend the HCG to households earning up to the prevailing median income per household member? This will help more middle income earners who struggle with the cost of caregiving.
Second, caregivers sometimes need temporary nursing home places for their loved ones so that they can occasionally travel or have some respite care. Can MOH expand the availability and accessibility of such temporary nursing home places?
And lastly, I would like to reiterate my call — and that of other Members — for Family Care Leave to be legislated. While this is not a panacea to address caregiving challenges, it can be part of a package of help that is extended to caregivers.
Caregiving is probably one of the most stressful responsibilities for anyone to bear. Implementing these suggestions will go some way to assure caregivers that they have not been forgotten in their difficult and often lonely journey.
___________
Committee of Supply Debate, Ministry of Health, 3 March 2023
By 2030, almost one in three people in Singapore will need some form of eldercare service. However, Singapore’s limited assisted living options mean seniors have few choices beyond living unassisted at home, engaging a foreign domestic helper or moving into a nursing home.
Nursing home residents in Singapore tend to stay for extended periods of five to 15 years. In contrast, the typical nursing home stay in the US is about two years, in part due to its more diverse aged care options like retirement villages and assisted living.
The high demand for nursing homes has led to bed occupancy rates exceeding 90%. More nursing homes should be built, but these are expensive to construct and operate.
HDB’s Community Care Apartments (CCA) could be a cost effective alternative for seniors who need assisted living but are not in need of round-the-clock care.
What has been the take up rate for CCAs so far? What is the projected demand and how many CCAs does HDB plan to build in the next 10 years?
The Government could boost the availability of CCA by purchasing and renovating existing HDB flats. This was suggested during a roundtable organised by the Leadership Institute for Global Health Transformation and reported in the Straits Times. By converting these flats into CCAs, seniors will be able to more conveniently access the care services they need. It will help scale up the provision of CCAs to more seniors and enable more of them to age in place, in familiar surroundings.
________
Committee of Supply Debate, Ministry of National Development, 2 March 2023
About 78% of persons with disabilities (PwDs) have reported experiencing discrimination at the workplace, according to a survey last August by AWARE and Milieu Insight. Discrimination faced by PwDs can range from exploitation and denigration, to stereotyping and displaying patronising attitudes towards them.
The Government has announced its intention to enshrine the TAFEP Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices in a new workplace anti-discrimination law. It is important to ensure that this legislation provides sufficient protection for PwDs. To achieve this, the law should incorporate several key provisions, which have also been recommended by the Disabled People’s Association.
First, it needs a definition of disability that is inclusive of the entire disability population in Singapore.
Second, it should require employers to provide reasonable accommodations to PwD employees. A reasonable accommodation is a modification to a job or work environment that enables a qualified PwD to perform the essential functions of the job and have the same employment opportunities as their able-bodied colleagues, without imposing an unreasonable burden on the employer. Singapore ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) a decade ago. Article 27 of the CRPD requires signatories to take appropriate steps, including legislation, to ensure that reasonable accommodation is provided to PwDs in the workplace. Examples of reasonable accommodations may include providing screen readers, installing ramps, offering flexible work arrangements, or conducting meetings online.
And third, the legislation must be enforceable in a timely manner and provide the necessary remedies and measures to prevent repeat offences.
Enshrining these provisions in the anti-discrimination legislation will ensure it is effective in preventing PwDs from being excluded from the workforce.
We need to change societal attitudes to foster inclusivity in the workplace for PwDs. Rather than viewing PwDs as beneficiaries of charity, we must recognise them as individuals and workers who possess equal rights and contribute valuable skills to the workforce.
Is the Ministry looking to do more to highlight the contributions to PwDs in the workplace?
___________
Committee of Supply Debate, Ministry of Manpower, 1 March 2023
The Shortage Occupation List (SOL) is one of the criteria in the COMPASS framework. MOM has said that the first SOL will be announced this month. It is expected to identify occupations requiring skills that are currently in shortage in the local workforce.
Could the Minister share what occupations will be included in the SOL?
Will the SOL take into account the pipeline of local ITE, polytechnic and university graduates in both local and foreign institutions?For example, if there are going to be many Singaporean graduates in, say, ICT, next year, the SOL should be revised accordingly.
With the knowledge of skills shortages in the SOL, schools, tertiary institutions and adult education centres can better plan their curriculum and intake size to better prepare local students and workers to fill them. The Government should work closely with ITEs, polytechnics and universities to expand their intake of courses for occupations in the SOL.
How frequently will the SOL be reviewed? I hope it will be reviewed frequently so that it can be responsive to changes in industry requirements, and we will not have situations where an occupation remains on the SOL when there is sufficient local talent in that area.
Finally, the SOL should be included as one of the foundational criteria of COMPASS instead of being only a bonus criteria. This could prompt firms to search harder for available local talent before turning to foreigners.
All this can help create more opportunities for Singaporeans in the workplace and reduce the heavy reliance on foreigners in our workforce.
________
Committee of Supply Debate, Ministry of Manpower, 1 March 2023
[Declaration of interest] I declare that I am an owner and director of a company that provides software for the administration of SkillsFuture-funded courses.
Persons with disabilities (PwDs) need access to training and lifelong learning just as much as their able-bodied counterparts. However, they sometimes face barriers to attending courses. According to the Disabled People’s Association, PwDs have encountered SkillsFuture-funded courses that use charts or diagrams with no text descriptions, creating difficulties for visually-impaired persons.
Accessibility should be embedded in all SkillsFuture-funded courses. There should be a set of guidelines to ensure that reasonable accommodations are provided. MOE could also establish a Disability Support Office to provide support to PwDs and training providers to implement reasonable accommodations for SkillsFuture courses.
I appreciate that SG Enable is curating courses suitable for the disability community and the Enabling Academy will assist in creating accessible courses. However, to be fully inclusive, PwDs need access to all courses that are open to the general public, not just a curated subset.
Can I ask the Minister what proportion of SkillsFuture courses are currently accessible to PwDs? How is SSG ensuring that most SkillsFuture courses are accessible and will there be a standardisation of accessibility for all SkillsFuture courses?
Committee of Supply Debate, Ministry of Education, 28 Feb 2023
Digitalisation has taken off in a big way in Singapore. Unfortunately, this has also left many elderly and less tech-savvy citizens behind.
What takes digital natives a few seconds to complete can be painfully difficult for some seniors. Many struggle to come up with strong passwords, and have difficulty typing them. Tapping a phone screen or double-clicking a mouse poses dexterity challenges.
The solution, however, is not to run manual and digital services in parallel forever. That would negate the productivity benefits brought about by digitalisation. Instead, firms and government agencies should provide in-person assistance to seniors to navigate their digital services.
I am aware that ServiceSG centres have been set up to assist seniors with government digital services. However, there are only six such centres, which may not be within easy reach for all residents.
Can more ServiceSG centres be set up in every neighbourhood? More importantly, how is the Government raising awareness among residents about their availability?
Are private sector organisations like banks expected to provide such services for their less digitally savvy customers?
Many seniors are already wary of using technology. The threat of scams amplifies their fears. While seniors are not the only victims of scams, they tend to feel much more vulnerable. Their adult children, government advertisements and the media are constantly sounding warnings to them. That message has sunk in to such an extent that many of them avoid using digital services like internet banking altogether, for fear of being scammed. However, without internet banking accounts, they will encounter many roadblocks in an increasingly cashless society.
How is the Government tackling the challenge of getting seniors to embrace digital technology while also ensuring they are informed about basic precautions to avoid falling victim to scams?
____
This is a speech I made in Parliament during the Committee of Supply Debate for the Ministry of Information and Communications on 28 Feb 2023.
Of all the Ministries, MFA’s work is probably the most esoteric to many Singaporeans. Some think that foreign policy is too complicated, is not as relevant to their daily lives as many domestic issues or is too sensitive to have open discussions about. As a result, foreign policy is often left out from public discussions. This is not healthy in a nation as educated, and with as much access to information from around the world as Singaporeans are.
In a speech in July 2017, the Foreign Minister stated that “our diplomacy is only credible, if we are able to maintain a domestic consensus on Singapore’s core interests and our foreign policy priorities.”
If there is insufficient engagement with Singaporeans on foreign policy, it will be close to impossible to build and maintain that “domestic consensus”, especially in the face of a plethora of news and information from abroad, including disinformation.
How is MFA engaging Singaporeans on foreign policy matters and explaining our core interests to citizens of all ages and education levels? Do our Missions engage overseas Singaporeans on foreign policy?
How is the Ministry countering some of the narratives put out by foreign actors that attempt to influence Singaporeans’ views on policy that may go against our national interest?
During the debate on the FICA (Foreign Interference [Counter Measures]) Bill in 2021, Minister K. Shanmugam acknowledged that a whole-of-society effort is required for public education and that he “welcome(s) everyone’s assistance in helping to engage and educate the population.”
How is MFA facilitating this? Is the Ministry working with schools, academic institutions, NGOs, and business chambers here and abroad to engage, inform and involve them in Singapore’s foreign policy?
Committee of Supply Debate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 27 Feb 2023
The Workers’ Party supports Singapore’s efforts to work with our neighbours to bolster ASEAN. The regional grouping plays an important role in fostering deeper social, cultural and economic ties, enhancing regional stability and integrating Southeast Asian economies. An effective ASEAN can help countries in the region — including Singapore — punch above their weight when dealing with major powers.
Despite all its benefits, ASEAN’s flaws have been laid bare on several occasions, most recently with the crisis in Myanmar.
A key tenet of ASEAN is the requirement for decision-making to be based on “consultation and consensus”, effectively giving any member the veto power over decisions. This requirement can hamper ASEAN’s ability to address critical security issues.
How is Singapore working with ASEAN to overcome situations where consensus is hindered by a minority of member states? According to Article 20 of the ASEAN Charter, “where a consensus cannot be achieved, the ASEAN Summit may decide how a specific decision can be made”.
Has there ever been any push by Singapore at the ASEAN Summit for a decision to be taken by majority vote, on issues where arriving at a consensus is impossible?
Has Singapore asked ASEAN to adopt stronger mechanisms to enforce its own consensus decisions? For example, little progress has been achieved by the Myanmar Armed Forces in the implementation of ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus to put Myanmar back on the path to peace following the military coup. Does the ASEAN Summit have the authority to decide by a vote to suspend Myanmar from participation in all ASEAN meetings and initiatives? This will send a strong signal to the country’s military rulers that their violent actions against their own citizens are not compatible with ASEAN’s principles.
Committee of Supply Debate on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 27 Feb 2023. Cover photo by nguyenthuantien on Pixabay
MINDEF’s total expenditure in FY2023 is projected to increase 5.6% over FY2022, on top of an 11.3% increase from FY2021 to FY2022. In the Revenue and Expenditure Estimates for FY 2023/24, “Military Expenditure” is just a single line item with an amount of $17.0 billion, without any further breakdown.
MINDEF does explain that operating expenditure includes the payments for the (i) purchase of military equipment, (ii) maintenance of equipment and camps, (iii) allowances for national servicemen, and (iv) salaries of regular servicemen and women.While I understand the need for military secrecy, can MINDEF minimally provide the estimated expenditure for each of these four items? This is common practice in public budget estimates in other territories, including Taiwan, Latvia and Finland, all of whom face real and existential threats.
I am aware that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) conducts scrutiny of the Government’s expenditure and accounts, including the defence budget. However, does the PAC have access to any breakdown of military expenditure? If not, it will be difficult for the Committee to scrutinise the defence budget, given that military expenditure comprises almost 95% of the Ministry’s total budget.
Sir, I am proud to have served my full-time NS and completed all my Operationally Ready NS cycles. I support the need to maintain a strong and credible SAF to effectively defend Singapore. This is why I believe that more thorough scrutiny of MINDEF’s budget and expenditure will help maintain public confidence that the $17.97 billion allocated to the Ministry — the highest among all the Ministries — is going entirely towards achieving its mission.
Committee of Supply Debate – Ministry of Defence, 24 Feb 2023
As we step out of the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic, Singapore continues to face numerous challenges as we navigate the uncertainties ahead of us. In my response to the Budget Statement, I would like to discuss the challenges faced by three stakeholders in our society: businesses, workers and families.
Businesses: Costs and rent
The Singapore Business Federation’s latest National Business Survey highlighted that the key challenges faced by businesses in Singapore were an increase in overall business costs, and the availability and retention of manpower. The main cost pressures include raw material costs, energy costs, manpower costs and rental costs. Singapore is generally a price taker on raw materials and energy. Higher manpower costs, while challenging to businesses, can improve the welfare of our workers by increasing their income, as long as the wage increases do not set off a sustained wage-price spiral.
High rental costs in Singapore, however, benefit a narrower segment of society, namely landlords and property owners, and come at the expense of tenants, especially SMEs, who may struggle to afford the rent. They can also affect the competitiveness of these businesses, which have to allocate more resources to rental expenses and less to other more productive aspects of their operations.
The Government needs to look for ways to moderate industrial and commercial rental costs for SMEs. This will benefit a broader base of businesses which play a critical part in growing our economy and providing good jobs for our people. To achieve this, JTC could expand its market share for industrial space that offers more low-rent options to SMEs, and HDB also could offer lower rent commercial spaces allocated by ballot, to stimulate micro-businesses and entrepreneurship in the heartlands.
Attracting Singaporeans to promising industries
Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash
Next, I would like to discuss the challenges faced by workers in Singapore, particularly those in industries that heavily rely on foreign workers. In recent years, the Government has implemented various work pass restrictions to manage the inflow of foreign workers and professionals. Additionally, the Government has allocated funding to help local companies become more productive and manpower-lean.
However, there needs to be more emphasis on attracting Singaporeans to work in industries that are currently over-dependent on foreign workers, such as the marine, manufacturing and construction industries.
The Government has introduced several programmes, such as career conversion and professional conversion initiatives, to equip those who have decided to switch to these industries. However, there has been less success in urging our local workers to switch to these industries in the first place. While the Government has been working to raise awareness of the job opportunities and career prospects in these sectors, more needs to be done to address the perception that these industries are less attractive or prestigious than other sectors like finance, technology, and law.
It is commonly believed that Singaporeans are not interested in working in these industries due to the long hours, shift work, low pay, and difficult working conditions. However, the popularity of platform food delivery jobs indicates that many Singaporeans are willing to work in physically demanding jobs. Food delivery riders work long hours, with many cycling around town for over 12 hours a day. The job can be dangerous, with around one-third of riders having been in accidents that required medical attention. And the median income is less than $2,000, according to a paper by researchers at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS).
The IPS paper also found that of the platform delivery workers who intended to leave the food delivery industry for other industries, they were looking for higher salaries, longer-term career pathways and opportunities to learn new skills in their next jobs. A significant number were seeking flexible work hours, although less than a third were looking for jobs in air-conditioned offices.
If the industries that are currently lacking in local workers can provide these benefits, they will be able to attract more locals to join them. Some progress has been made in attracting more locals to work as nurses and early childhood educators. The same effort should be undertaken to upgrade other industries that are facing local worker shortages.
However, even after these human resource matters are resolved, these industries may still face difficulties attracting job applications from Singaporeans due to a lack of awareness of jobs in those industries.
To address this, there is a need to increase awareness of these industries among students early on in their school life. Schools can work with industry representatives to introduce these career opportunities to students as early as lower secondary school. By doing so, students and their parents will be more aware of the career prospects in these industries and be better equipped to select suitable subject combinations in Secondary 3 and eventually make informed career choices when they are graduating from school.
Our success in reducing dependence on foreign workers and professionals heavily relies on being able to raise local talent in these occupations. By providing better pay, training and career pathways, and better work-life balance, and by increasing awareness of these industries among young people, we can attract more locals to work in these industries and reduce our dependence on foreign workers.
Families: Impact of the increased CPF Housing Grant
Photo by Jiachen Lin on Unsplash
Finally, I’d like to discuss the increased CPF Housing Grant and its effect on homebuyers. The Government has announced that it will raise the CPF Housing Grant for first-time homebuyer families purchasing resale HDB flats by $30,000 for those buying 2-, 3- and 4-room resale flats, and by $10,000 for those buying 5-room or larger resale flats. First-timer singles will get half the increase given to married couples.
This increase in the CPF Housing Grant will be welcomed by many first-time homebuyers, especially those who are looking to get a flat in a mature estate near their parents’ home, but have been unsuccessful in balloting for a BTO flat in a mature estate.
However, some property analysts have cautioned that the increased grant amount may also raise demand and prices of resale flats. The Hon. Member Hazel Poa also raised this concern in her speech. This could potentially offset any progress made towards enhancing the affordability of resale flats.
As such, it’s important to understand the Government’s projections on how much this increase in the CPF Housing Grant will elevate resale HDB flat prices over the next two years.
Has the Government projected any resale price increases as a result of the CPF Housing Grant increase, by modelling the large amount of housing transaction data available to HDB?
Additionally, since only first-timers will benefit from the increase in the CPF Housing Grant, non-first-timers may end up having to pay even more for resale flats.
I hope the Government can provide more information on its projections to help Members assess the net effect of the CPF Housing Grant increase.
More fundamentally, is increasing housing grants going to continue to be the Government’s main approach to making resale flats affordable?
Has the Government considered the alternative proposals which I shared during the debate on the housing motions earlier this month to moderate resale flat prices?
These include, one, providing more help to “empty nesters” who are prepared to sell their larger flats to obtain 2-room flexi flats and Community Care Apartments; two, requiring future buyers of private property to sell their HDB flats; and three, incentivising those who currently own both a private property and an HDB flat to sell their flat by rebating the Additional Buyer Stamp Duty they paid on their private property.
These proposals may provide longer-term solutions to moderating the price of HDB resale flats.
Conclusion
As we contemplate the future, it’s natural that Singaporeans are apprehensive, particularly for their children. The soaring property prices have made it increasingly challenging for families to purchase a new home. The Deputy Prime Minister has cautioned that we may continue to confront a period of high inflation, which is likely to persist throughout the first half of this year.
In these trying times, it’s imperative for us to keep our minds open to workable solutions — regardless of where they might emerge from — so that we can help our fellow Singaporeans in need, and progress and prosper together as a nation.
This was my speech in Parliament during the debate on the Budget Statement on 23 Feb 2023.
