Parliament Highlights - 8 Oct 2014

Edusave contributions extended to all students
By Monica Kotwani, Channel NewsAsia, 8 Oct 2014

Parliament on Wednesday (Oct 8) passed a bill that will extend Edusave contributions to Singaporean children aged between seven and 16 including those studying in madrasahs, private schools, those who are home-schooled, and who are residing overseas.

The Education Ministry estimates that about 20,000 students will benefit from this.

Minister of State for Education, Sim Ann said students aged seven to 12 will receive an Edusave contribution of S$200 a year. This amount is given to students in mainstream primary schools. Similarly, those aged 13 to 16 will receive S$240 a year - same as what secondary school students receive.

Other amendments to the Act relate to the improvement in administrative and operational aspects of the Edusave and Post-Secondary Education Schemes.

MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar asked if home-schooled students can use the funds for enrichment programmes, and if they have to submit such activities for approval.

Ms Sim said parents are the education providers of those who are home-schooled and Edusave can be used to fund activities organised by parents, who will have to make their claims directly at the Education Ministry.

Details of what activities are permitted will be set out in the regulations. Non-Constituency MP Yee Jenn Jong said enrichment programme providers will likely not rush to provide services to this new group which will now have access to Edusave as the scale of business is small, compared to what they receive from mainstream schools.

"I'd like to suggest that MOE can look into having schools open up participation, especially of Edusave-funded enrichment courses in their schools to those that are home-schooled or those in smaller religious and private schools nearby. This can be a nationwide effort coordinated through MOE," Mr Yee said.

He added that certain schools around Singapore can be "satellite centres", partnering with students who are in religious schools, smaller private schools, and those who are home-schooled.

"This will foster interaction through joint programmes which will help develop the social and emotional learning for those outside mainstream schools, while helping students in mainstream schools better understand their learning under a different educational system," Mr Yee said.

Ms Sim noted Mr Yee's concerns about the difference in scale. "I think the extension of Edusave contribution is not meant on its own to equalise all conditions between students in different kinds of educational arrangements. Our preference remains for students to undergo national education system where they can grow up together with other Singaporeans," she said.

Ms Sim added that Mr Yee's suggestions on more interactions for those outside mainstream schools is something that will be looked into.

Get set for more free Wi-Fi on the go
By Tham Yuen-C, The Straits Times, 9 Oct 2014

COMMUTERS could soon find it easier to connect to free Wi-Fi while travelling, as the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is looking into providing Wi-Fi access at more MRT stations, at bus interchanges, and on buses too.

Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim announced this in Parliament yesterday, as he disclosed measures to improve the public transport system.

Separately, Senior Minister of State for Transport Josephine Teo told the House that a central bus management system is being developed to give up-to-date information to commuters.

Satisfaction with public transport has declined in the past few years, due to delays and overcrowding. The Government has taken measures to improve the travel experience.

Providing Wi-Fi at MRT stations reflects its commitment to this end, said Mr Faishal.

Since the WiFi@MRT trial began in August at City Hall, Orchard and Raffles Place stations, daily usage has grown from 100,000 commuters to more than 145,000. All MRT stations will have the service if the trial proves successful. The LTA is also looking into providing Wi-Fi on buses and at bus interchanges, said Mr Faishal.

Mrs Teo said the central bus management system being developed by LTA will relay real- time information between buses and bus stops. It will allow transport operators to give useful information to commuters on the go. This can also be delivered via smartphone apps.

Ms Teo said the system will be implemented progressively from the end of next year and be completed by 2017.

She gave the details in her reply to Non-Constituency MP Gerald Giam, who asked if the LTA would consider using technology on buses and at bus stops to announce bus arrivals for visually impaired people.

While broadcasts on buses and apps are possible, providing the same information at bus stops will have to be considered "more carefully" as some stops are near homes, she said.

'Disparity in views over co-regulation must narrow first'
Any test for licensing scheme not meaningful before that: Yaacob
By Nur Asyiqin Mohamad Salleh, The Straits Times, 9 Oct 2014

A SCHEME to let arts groups classify their own performances will be shelved until the disparity in views on co-regulation between them and the Government narrows, said Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim yesterday.

He also turned down a suggestion from Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Chua Chu Kang GRC) to do a trial test of the scheme with some key arts groups in the meantime to see how it could work.

Mr Zaqy, who is chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Communications and Information, made the proposal during the debate on the Public Entertainments and Meetings (Amendment) Bill, which was later passed by Parliament.

But Dr Yaacob said: "We have no plans to pursue co-regulation of the arts entertainment for the foreseeable future until the fundamental differences of views over co-regulation between MDA and the arts groups can be narrowed.

"It will not be meaningful, I think, to implement any pilot test for the scheme."

The controversial Arts Term Licensing Scheme was dropped from the new legislation after it was rejected by arts groups in Singapore.

The Media Development Authority (MDA) had proposed it as a step towards "co-regulation".

But artists' network Arts Engage released a paper, signed by 45 arts groups, that outlined their objections.

Referring to the objections, Mr Zaqy said they feared they would be "functioning as extensions of MDA, resulting in self-censorship".

They highlighted the "subjective and arbitrary nature of classifying arts content", he added, noting that they had cited instances when the same content was rated differently by arts groups and the MDA.

A public consultation exercise held by the MDA had, however, produced differing views, said Dr Yaacob.

While arts groups asked if lighter penalties could be levied for breaches of the classification code, some members of the public called for stricter measures to deter arts groups planning to intentionally mis-classify their performances.

MDA, therefore, has to find some middle ground.

"As regulator of arts entertainment, MDA has to weigh the interests and concerns of both arts groups and the general public," said Dr Yaacob.

"The arts community cannot expect MDA to accommodate only their concerns because the Arts Entertainment Classification Code is one in which all Singaporeans, you and me, have an interest."

The arts groups also want the "Not Allowed for All Ratings" (NAR) classification to be scrapped, he added.

"Underpinning the classification code are our community norms and values and the underlying importance of maintaining social, racial and religious harmony," he said.

"An NAR category is necessary as an upper limit as there will be instances when a performance is deemed inappropriate for staging."

For instance, the desecration of religious icons just because the performer deems it an artistic act will not be condoned, he added.

Still, the Government will continue working towards co-regulation which, Dr Yaacob said, is already practised in the broadcast sector, where content producers ensure they are offering age-appropriate content.

"In the case of the arts groups, however, the extensive and in-depth engagements MDA has had with the arts groups have shown that co-regulation is not such a straightforward matter," he said.

The missing link in the debate on access to arts content
By Lydia Lim Associate Opinion Editor, The Straits Times, 9 Oct 2014

YESTERDAY was the second day in a row that censorship came up for discussion in the House.

At issue is the NAR or Not Allowed for All Ratings classification, which when applied to a film or arts performance, disallows public screenings and stagings.

Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim revealed that a disagreement between regulators and arts groups over the need for an NAR classification, was one reason a proposed term-licensing scheme was scrapped.

The scheme was to be a voluntary one for arts groups to classify their own works, instead of submitting each work to the Media Development Authority for classification. It was to have been the most significant change in the Public Entertainments and Meetings (Amendment) Bill, or Pema, passed yesterday.

But it was dropped after strong objection from arts groups, some of whom worried that the scheme would lead to self-censorship.

The debate over Pema came a day after three MPs quizzed Dr Yaacob over the NAR classification for To Singapore With Love, on the grounds that the film posed a threat to national security.

Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Chua Chu Kang GRC) described NAR as a "point of contention" and said arts groups were of the view that arts content should only be classified, not banned.

The chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Communications and Information was the only member to speak on Pema.

He said he appreciated the need to protect racial and religious harmony and national security, but called for the NAR classification process to be made more transparent and its framework more robust.

He also pointed out the limits of using such a classification to restrict access, when Singaporeans could catch screenings of NAR films across the Causeway or online, as many have done with To Singapore With Love.

Dr Yaacob, on his part, said that when consulted on term-licensing, arts groups wanted changes made to the classification system such that "any content should be allowed at the highest rating of R18 and there should be no Not Allowed for All Ratings or NAR category".

But he made clear that was not tenable as regulators also have to give due consideration to the differing views of other groups who also gave feedback.

He cited one such concern, which was that the Term Licensing Scheme would result in a liberalisation of content standards.

"So as regulator of arts entertainment, MDA has to weigh the interests and concerns of both arts groups and the general public. Public consultations must be in good faith and in a spirit of give and take. The arts community cannot expect MDA to only accommodate their concerns because the Arts Entertainment Code is one in which all Singaporeans have an interest," he said.

He also defended the current classification code, which was developed after consultation with arts group, arts entertainment licensees and community-based panels last year.

"Underpinning the classification code are our community norms and values, and underlying importance of maintaining social, racial and religious harmony.

"An NAR category is necessary as an upper limit as there will be instances when a performance is deemed inappropriate for staging. For example, we certainly would not condone religious icons being desecrated in a performance just because the performer deems it artistic.

"This was also the perspective of the Censorship Review Committee in 2010," he said.

What was missing from yesterday's debate was someone to articulate the liberal view that audiences should have access to all kinds of arts content, and be trusted to judge for themselves what is right and wrong.

That was a perspective actress Janice Koh would have given voice to if she were still in the House, but her two-year term as Nominated MP ended in August.

Based on yesterday's debate on Pema, it would seem that most MPs do not question the status quo when it comes to arts classification and censorship, and perhaps even have limited interest in the subject.

Certainly, the topics of HDB upgrading, rusting lift frames and jobs and benefits for older workers sparked livelier exchanges between frontbenchers and backbenchers during yesterday's Question Time.

That, too, may reflect the relative weight most Singaporeans give to arts and culture as compared to the bread-and-butter issues that affect their daily lives.

Reverse mortgage not a popular option, but will be further studied
By Walter Sim, The Straits Times, 9 Oct 2014

AN ONGOING study into reverse mortgage schemes in other countries has shown that their take-up rates are low, Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan said yesterday.

Still, the Government will continue to study the scheme, which allows a property owner to convert some of the value of the home he owns into cash while still living in it, he added.

He did not name the countries under study but said: "I'm not giving up and we want to continue to explore."

He also said that "as the reverse mortgage is a complex financial product, we need to study it carefully, before we decide whether to introduce it as an additional option for our seniors."

Mr Khaw made the point in Parliament when replying to Ms Lee Bee Wah (Nee Soon GRC), who had asked for an update on the study. He noted that insurer NTUC Income previously offered such a scheme, but it did not take off. Only 24 households took it up between its launch in 2006 and it being scrapped in 2008.

While there are no regulations stopping financial institutions from offering the scheme to private property owners, the fact that they are not doing so indicates a lack of demand, he added.

Despite its unpopularity, the Government is still looking at whether there have been "changes in the business model" which may make it suitable for some.

Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Chua Chu Kang GRC) asked how the Government will help citizens differentiate between reverse mortgages, if these are offered, and the current Lease Buyback Scheme, that lets owners of HDB flats of up to three rooms sell part of their remaining lease back to the Government. This will be extended to four- room flats from next April.

"The key is informed decision-making, which therefore means very close handholding," said Mr Khaw. "If we were to offer such products, our staff have to be well-trained so that we can conduct individual counselling and go down to the specifics… because these are long-term commitments - 30 years, 40 years - down the road."

Concerns raised over Bill allowing 'dual-class' shares
Questions related to rules applying to listed firms and pricing issues
By Yasmine Yahya, The Straits Times, 9 Oct 2014

TWO MPs raised concerns yesterday that changes to the Companies Act allowing certain firms to issue shares with different voting rights could affect retail investors.

The Companies (Amendment) Bill passed yesterday removes a one-share-one-vote restriction on public companies.

The change applies to 800 public non-listed companies. These firms can have more than 50 shareholders and their constitutions do not restrict the right to transfer shares.

The Singapore Exchange and the Monetary Authority of Singapore are reviewing whether listed firms should also be permitted to issue such "dual-class" shares, which critics said are unfair to small shareholders.

Mr Ong Teng Koon (Sembawang GRC) told Parliament that the change will help Singapore retain its competitiveness as a financial centre but there are still risks, especially if the rule is eventually applied to listed firms.

He suggested that the Ministry of Finance (MOF) consider setting limits on the proportion of non-voting shares a company can issue or providing a sunset clause so that dual-class shares expire after a set period.

Senior Minister of State for Finance Josephine Teo said the Bill does not include such provisions as its aim is to give greater flexibility to public companies raising capital.

But it will have checks and balances for all public companies, listed or not, she added.

It will, for example, require firms to specify clearly the rights attached to each class of share.

Mr Liang Eng Hwa (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) asked whether Singapore's financial markets were efficient enough to fairly price shares with different voting rights.

Mrs Teo responded that pricing will have to be determined by the firms and that investors will have to assess for themselves whether the discount or premium being offered is fair.

Mr Ong and Mr Liang also raised questions about a clause allowing small firms to be exempt from auditing their accounts.

Mr Ong asked how the Government will ensure that these firms continue to keep proper accounts so that the risk of tax evasion does not increase.

Mr Liang raised a concern that the big firms might spin off small ones to enjoy audit exemptions.

Mrs Teo said the law will still require small companies to keep proper accounts and has measures to prevent abuse by bigger firms.

The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore has been selectively checking on the record-keeping practices of small companies and will continue to do so to ensure that their tax declarations are correct, she said.

In addition, the Bill will require that a company that is part of a group must not only qualify as a small company to obtain the exemption, but also that the group as a whole must meet at least two of the three exemption criteria.

Parliament passed three other MOF Bills yesterday - the Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, the Stamp Duties (Amendment) Bill and the Business Names Registration Bill. This last Bill simplifies the process of registering business names.

The Statutes (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Bill was made law on Tuesday.

ACRA to introduce 6 new fees
Channel NewsAsia, 8 Oct 2014

The Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) will introduce six new fees and streamline its regulatory fee structure for businesses, said the regulator in a statement on Wednesday (Oct 8).

ACRA said the new fees were introduced following the recent passing by Parliament of the Companies (Amendment) Bill, the Business Names Registration Bill and the ACRA (Amendment) Bill. The new fees include those for application for registration or annual renewal as a Qualified Individual for Corporate Service Providers.

At the same time, some businesses may have to pay higher annual fees following the streamlining of the fee structure. According to ACRA, the increase will range from S$10 to S$40 per year depending on the business type.

For sole-proprietorships, partnerships and limited partnerships, there will also be a fee increase of S$50 for the initial registration of the business. ACRA added that the increase is necessary to ensure that its operating costs to maintain an accurate and comprehensive register of business entities can continue to be recovered at cost.

Meanwhile, fees related to ad-hoc applications for waivers, exemptions or extension of time to comply with statutory requirements such as filing of accounts and holding the annual general meeting will also increase by a range of S$30 to S$170. ACRA explained this is to adequately reflect the resources spent to process such applications.

These fee changes will take effect with the implementation of the legislative changes, which is expected to take place no later than first quarter of 2015.

Transport operators may review concessions for more students
By Tham Yuen-C, The Straits Times, 9 Oct 2014

A TRAIN or bus ride could get cheaper for some full-time students of tertiary institutions who do not qualify for concession fares.

Public transport operators said they would consider a request from the regulator to offer such fares to these students, even if such commuters are receiving some form of income.

Their response to the request from the Public Transport Council (PTC) was disclosed in Parliament yesterday by Senior Minister of State for Transport Josephine Teo.

Currently, only university, polytechnic and Institute of Technical Education students who have the Tertiary Student Concession Card or the ITE Student Concession card get discounted travel on buses and trains. They qualify for these cards even when they receive scholarships or bursaries. But those who receive income - from companies that employ them, or organisations that pay them an allowance or sponsor them - are not eligible.

Mr Baey Yam Keng (Tampines GRC) had asked why this was so.

Mrs Teo said student concession schemes are granted on the basis that students generally are "not financially independent".

Students with an income, however, are deemed to be financially independent.

But she noted that the number of such students is "not large". Also, it was hard to make a distinction between them and students receiving scholarships or bursaries. As such, the PTC had asked the public transport operators to consider extending the concession to all the students.

Revised vehicle scheme gains traction
By Christopher Tan, The Straits Times, 9 Oct 2014

A REVISED version of a scheme to persuade business owners to replace their old, pollutive diesel vehicles is gaining traction at an "encouraging" rate.

As at the end of last month, 3,212 vehicles were replaced under the Early Turnover Scheme (ETS) after it was enhanced in March, said Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim.

This represents 77 per cent of the total number of vehicles replaced under the scheme since it began in April last year, Dr Faishal said yesterday, when replying to Mr Ang Wei Neng (Jurong GRC).

"The increase in ETS take-up is encouraging," he added.

When an eligible vehicle is deregistered, its certificate of entitlement (COE) does not go into the next COE quota for bidding. Instead, the owner pays a pro-rated premium to have it tied to the new vehicle.

"This means the owners can purchase a new vehicle without having to bid for a fresh COE," Dr Faishal noted.

By not channelling the COE of a deregistered vehicle back into the bidding pool, this "may appear on the surface" to reduce the number of COEs available for new commercial vehicle buyers, he said.

But on the other hand, "it makes available an additional COE outside of the bidding system". In turn, it takes demand out of the system, he added.

"So we should not be unduly worried if there are low quotas available for bidding," he said.

Mr Ang also asked how the scheme had affected COE prices, but Dr Faishal said it was hard to say.

"The price of COEs is determined by many other demand and supply factors, such as the prevailing economic conditions and the vehicle statutory life remaining," he said.

No need for competition wins to make good CCA records: Heng Swee Keat
Channel NewsAsia, 8 Oct 2014

Under the revised co-curricular recognition system implemented from 2014's Secondary One cohort onwards, students are recognised for their balanced development in the co-curriculum, according to Education Minister Heng Swee Keat.

This new framework means "students can receive recognition for a range of activities beyond co-curricular activities (CCA) and the school. There is no necessity for students to win in competitions to achieve good co-curricular records”, he stated in a written reply for Parliament on Wednesday (Oct 8). The Education Ministry also does not set any Key Performance Indicators for schools in co-curricular activities, he added.

Mr Heng was responding to questions about opportunities to pursue sports in schools from Nominated Member of Parliament Benedict Tan, a former national sailor.

About 50 schools compete in each sport under the National School Games, with the average number of participating schools rising to about 100 for popular sports like badminton, basketball, football and netball. ”This shows that schools do offer CCAs, even when they do not excel in it,” wrote Mr Heng. Schools also offer alternative sports CCAs where no there are no inter-school competitions, he noted.

All students participate in sports through Physical Education lessons, and a third of them participate in sports CCAs. There are more than 60 sports CCAs offered across all schools, but while schools "strive to meet the diverse needs of their students, it is not possible to cater to every demand, given the constraints on the ground. In determining the enrolment for each CCA, schools will need to consider, amongst other factors, the availability of space, quality coaching, and overall support for the student athletes", he pointed out.

More than 400 Public Service scholarships for engineering awarded between 2009 and 2013: DPM Teo
Channel NewsAsia, 8 Oct 2014

While no President's Scholar has applied to major in engineering since 2006, the Public Service awarded more than 400 scholarships for the engineering courses between 2009 and 2013, revealed Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean in Parliament on Wednesday (Oct 8). He added more than 1,200 scholarships were also awarded for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), translating to about four in ten of all Public Service scholarships awarded.

He said this in in a written reply to MP Lee Bee Wah, who had asked if it was a concern that no President's Scholar has applied to major in engineering since 2006, and if any action has been taken to rectify the situation, or if this trend will result in a shortage of engineers.

Many of these Public Service scholarship holders for engineering have been matched with agencies including the Land Transport Authority, HDB, and the Defence Science and Technology Agency, said Mr Teo. Of the 80 to 90 Public Service Commission (PSC) scholarship recipients every year, one quarter pursued STEM courses in 2013 while one fifth did so in 2014, he added.

Mr Teo said the Public Service will continue to recruit officers in a variety of fields to serve in the different sectors. For engineering, the Government will also be developing career paths to attract and retain good engineers, he added.

PROMOTING ENGINEERING EDUCATION

The Government has been promoting engineering education through various programmes and outreach strategies to ignite students’ interest to pursue STEM-related courses and a career in the STEM-related industries, said Mr Teo.

He elaborated that in 2013, a total of 8,500 students entered STEM-related degree courses, including 5,700 students who entered courses in Engineering Sciences and Information Technology. He allayed fears that the apparent lack of interest among top scholars to study engineering will result in a shortage of engineers, as local autonomous universities such as the Singapore Institute of Technology and Singapore University of Technology and Design have continued to increase their intake of engineering students.

The Ministry of Education has been working closely with the Manpower Ministry to ensure a steady flow of graduates from local universities are meeting the engineering industry’s demand, Mr Teo said. The plan to build a new Science Centre in Jurong is also part of the strategy to arouse the interests of students in science and technology, added Mr Teo.

9 in 10 civil servants reaching retirement age offered re-employment: DPM Teo
Channel NewsAsia, 8 Oct 2014

Since July 2011, nine in 10 civil servants reaching the retirement age have been offered re-employment. This update was given in Parliament by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in Charge of the Civil Service Teo Chee Hean on Wednesday (Oct 8).

Mr Teo said the approach in the public service is to provide re-employment to all officers who meet the performance criteria, conduct criteria and are medically fit to continue working.

Government agencies are also encouraged to re-employ the majority of officers in their existing jobs and at last drawn pay as far as possible. They are allowed to offer re-employment at lower grades for the more senior grades, only if the post is no longer available or needs to be freed up for leadership renewal.

Last Thursday (Oct 2), the Public Service Division announced that all eligible officers will be offered re-employment till the age of 67.

Responding to Nominated Member of Parliament Chia Yong Yong on hiring persons with disabilities, Mr Teo said the Public Service Division is working with the Social and Family Development Ministry to hire and tap on their "diverse abilities".

Ms Chia is also the president of SPD, formerly the Society for the Physically Disabled.

"Recruitment into the public service is based on individual merit through fair and open competition. We do employ officers with disabilities in the service and are prepared to do more," said Mr Teo.

99% of private sector local employees who turned 62 offered re-employment
Channel NewsAsia, 8 Oct 2014

Almost all private sector local employees who turned 62 in the year ending June 2013 were offered re-employment, said Mr Tan Chuan-Jin.

Of the 99 per cent who were offered re-employment, most - 98 per cent - accepted the offer, the Minister for Manpower noted on Wednesday (Oct 8).

In a written reply to a parliamentary question from Mr K Karthikeyan, who asked if the Manpower Ministry would allow those not re-employed at 62 years old to draw down their CPF monies early, Mr Tan said that various schemes and programmes, such as WorkPro, are in place for older Singaporeans who need assistance with finding a job.

He added that those who are unable to continue working due to medical reasons can apply for an early withdrawal of their CPF savings on medical grounds. Government assistance schemes are also available to help unemployed and needy Singaporeans tide over difficult periods.

Flexi-work a 'feasible approach' to work-life harmony: Tan Chuan-Jin
Channel NewsAsia, 8 Oct 2014

Encouraging employers to adopt flexible work arrangements is a "more pragmatic and feasible approach" to promoting work-life harmony than reducing work hours, said Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin.

"Flexible work arrangements, such as telecommuting or flexible working hours, can allow employees to find the right fit that suits their personal needs," Mr Tan said. "Many research studies have also shown that employees on flexible work arrangements are also more productive and engaged at the workplace."

This was in response to a question raised in Parliament by NMP K Karthikeyan on whether the Ministry of Manpower would consider reducing official work hours to 40 hours per week to achieve work-life balance.

The Manpower Minister stated the Employment Act regulates that for employees earning a basic monthly salary not exceeding S$2,500 and workmen with a basic monthly salary not exceeding S$4,500, their work hours should not be more than eight hours a day, or 44 hours a week.

Those who work longer at the request of their employer will have to be paid extra for overtime work, he added.

"For other employees whose work hours are not regulated by law, their nature of work is not time-based. As such, it is not practical for the Government to regulate their working hours," Mr Tan stated.

ENCOURAGING FLEXI-WORK ARRANGEMENTS

The minister added he is "heartened" that more employers are now offering flexible work arrangements to their employees. About 44 per cent of organisations in Singapore offered at least on form of such arrangements in 2013, up from 25 per cent in 2007, he noted.

Going forward, the Tripartite Committee (TriCom) on Work-Life Strategy will organise a week-long Work-Life Campaign in November to increase awareness of the benefits of flexible work arrangements.

In conjunction with the campaign, the TriCom will also be issuing a Tripartite Advisory on Flexible Work Arrangements to guide employers, supervisors and employees in implementing and using flexible work arrangements, he said.

MOH outlines strategies to recruit, retain allied health professionals
Channel NewsAsia, 8 Oct 2014

Allied health professionals (AHP) play an important role in the Republic's healthcare sector, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong on Wednesday (Oct 8), who noted that there are several strategies already implemented to recruit and retain such professionals.

Mr Gan said that as of Jun 2 this year, 607 physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists in the intermediate and long-term care (ILTC) and social services were registered with the Allied Health Professions Council. Registration will help raise the recognition and enhance the attractiveness of the profession, he added.

In terms of retaining professionals, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) have put in place several strategies to support service providers in retaining AHP manpower - both local and foreign.

These include additional funding to providers to keep wages competitive with the market, and provision of subsidised training programmes to help new staff adapt to the work environment and deepen their expertise, the minister added.

BETTER CAREER PROGRESSION

Mr Gan also pointed out that MSF, MOH, the National Council of Social Services and the Agency for Integrated Care are supporting therapy hubs, which provide therapy services to social and ILTC institutions, to help them better meed service needs.

These hubs can facilitate better career development opportunities for the therapists, leading to better attraction and retention of these skilled workers, he said.

MOH also introduced a central employment scheme called Career Resourcing and Development of Allied Health Talents (CREATE) in 2012 to recruit and deploy AHPs to ILTC institutions. To date, 33 physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists have signed up via the scheme, the minister said.

As for broadening the pipeline of talent coming through, Mr Gan said the total physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy intakes at Nanyang Polytechnic and the National University of Singapore (NUS) have increased by 75 per cent from 124 in 2007 to 218 in 2013.

"We will continue to review the manpower demand and supply regularly, and build up the local training pipelines," he said.

India-Singapore trade reached S$25.5b last year
Channel NewsAsia, 8 Oct 2014

Trade between India and Singapore rose to S$25.5 billion in 2013 from S$16.6 billion in 2005, when an economic cooperation agreement between the two countries came into force, Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang said in Parliament on Wednesday (Oct 8).

Answering a query by Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Gerald Giam, Mr Lim said the India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) has helped to boost investment flows into Singapore, with foreign direct investment from India into the Republic growing from SS$1.3 billion in 2005 to S$20 billion in 2012. “This has helped to promote economic growth and create good jobs for Singaporeans,” he said.

CECA AND THE WORK PASS FRAMEWORK

If there are special privileges negotiated under a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Singapore will follow the rules strictly, said Mr Lim. But these privileges will not deviate from Singapore's right to apply measures to regulate the entry of foreign nationals and temporary stays.

This was in response to Mr Giam's question about whether India is entitled to special access to Singapore's labour market or banking licences under the CECA's terms. Mr Giam's question comes amid reports from Indian media that Singapore's tightening of the work pass framework violates terms under the treaty, and that it would affect Indian nationals working as middle-level managers, executives and technicians.

Mr Lim said the CECA, which is under a second review after entering into force in 2007, allows for conveniences to businesses on both sides. For example, Singapore granted three bank licences with qualifying full bank (QFB) to Indian banks under the agreement. So far, the State Bank of India and ICICI Bank have been approved in Singapore. Meanwhile, India has allowed the three Singapore banks to open 15 branches in India, of which 11 have been approved.

One big privilege under the agreement is to allow for intra-corporate transferees. For example, Singapore will facilitate the transfer of corporate employees from India to help set up the business. Mr Lim said while the time frame for intra-corporate employees under the World Trade Organization's General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) is five years, the CECA gives India eight years.

"My question is, are we granting them all the privileges they are entitled to under this CECA, or they saying we are not granting them enough? If it is the latter, would that mean that effectively, the Indians are asking for more work passes for themselves?" Mr Giam asked.

Mr Lim responded: "The privileges are clearly delineated in the FTA's CECA. Say for example, intra-corporate transferees, if the Indians dispute we are not giving them eight years as we agreed, then they can refer the case to us and ultimately, there is a dispute resolution process."