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Holding Events at Hong Lim Park

20 May 2013

In light of the recent events held at Hong Lim Park, contributors had raised some questions on the involvement of foreigners in such events, and the regulations governing the holding of demonstrations and events at Speakers’ Corner.

Here are some facts on who can organise and take part in events held at Hong Lim Park, presented by Factually:

The Speakers’ Corner was established in September 2000 at Hong Lim Park to provide a place for Singaporeans to express themselves in various ways, such as delivering public speeches, holding peaceful demonstrations, exhibitions or performances. According to regulations, a person who intends to speak or stage a demonstration, exhibition or performance at Speakers’ Corner has to register online with the National Parks Board (NParks) (www.nparks.gov.sg).

While the law does not prohibit foreigners from attending as spectators or observers, under the Public Order Act, a demonstration at the Speakers' Corner will be exempted from the requirement of a police permit if the participants consist of only Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents, provided the other exemption conditions under the Public Order (Unrestricted Area) Order 2013 are met.

A separate Public Entertainment licence will also be required if the intended event or activity is regulated by the Public Entertainments and Meetings Act, but the applicant is unable to fulfil the exemption conditions listed in the Public Entertainments and Meetings (Speakers’ Corner) (Exemption) Order 2013.

Read the full Factually article.

Sources:

• Speaker's Corner - Terms and Conditions for Use

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Public Order Act

• Public Entertainment and Meetings Act

• Public Entertainment and Meetings (Speakers' Corner) (Exemption) Order 2013

• Public Order (Unrestricted Area) Order 2013

Visit Factually for more facts!

Private Car Loan Exemptions for Disabled & their Caregivers

12 Mar 2013

Many Singaporeans, including REACH contributors, have spoken up about the impact of private car loan curbs, announced on 26 Feb by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

The new restrictions limit consumers to borrowing 50% or 60% of the purchase price of a motor vehicle, depending on its open market value (OMV). The tenure of the loan will also be capped at five years.

While noting that the curbs will encourage financial prudence, REACH contributors are concerned that Singaporeans who may need vehicles, such as larger families and the physically disabled, may be priced out due to the loan curbs. This was also raised by Members of Parliament (MPs) in Parliament.

Within slightly over a week from the initial announcement, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam announced on 7 March in Parliament that the physically disabled or their caregivers will now be exempted from the loan restrictions for one car. He also emphasized that the new restrictions are not permanent and will be reviewed, depending on market circumstances.

MAS has since announced that the exemption for the physically disabled will take reference from the criteria in existing assistance schemes for the physically disabled.

Read the MAS press release for the full details, and join in the discussion forum on car loans.

^[1] A person will be considered a physically disabled person if he meets one of the following three criteria:
(i) qualifies for payout under the ElderShield Scheme or the Interim Disability Assistance Programme for the Elderly; or
(ii) has been issued a car park label under the Car Park Label Scheme administered by the Centre for Enabled Living; or
(iii) has been certified by a physician appointed by the Ministry of Health (MOH) to be physically disabled and incapable of commuting by bus and Mass Rapid Transit. The list of MOH-appointed physicians for this purpose will be available from 15 April 2013 onwards.

Creating Good Jobs & Opportunities for Singaporeans

5 Mar 2013

Since the release of the Population White Paper on 29 January 2013, many REACH contributors have come forward to share their views.

We appreciate the concerns raised by contributors about foreigners and jobs in Singapore. We would like to take the opportunity to provide the assurance that the interest of Singaporeans is, and will continue to be our priority.

Singapore residents comprise 79% of our PMET workforce while non-residents (or foreigners) account for the remaining 21%. In line with the Population White Paper’s recommendations, the Ministry of Manpower has continued to tighten our foreign labour policies through the raising of salary requirements for Employment and S passes, bringing down dependency ratio ceiling and raising levies for foreign workers to help spur productivity growth. Coupled with efforts in job redesign and providing training to Singaporean workers, we expect a rise in the number of Singaporeans taking on higher value-added jobs. Read more information on the profile of foreigners in our workforce and the proportion of foreigners to Singaporeans in PMET jobs below. You can also read our full list of FAQs on the Population White Paper.

Regards,
National Population and Talent Division

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What is the profile of the foreign workers in Singapore?

The majority of our foreign workers in Singapore are work permit holders. They form the largest segment or 46%, of our non-resident (foreigner) population in Singapore. They are often employed in sectors such as construction, which helps us build our infrastructure. 13% of our foreigners are foreign domestic workers, while Employment Pass holders who are foreign professionals, executives or specialists form 12% of foreigners and S Pass holders, considered mid-level skilled workers, make up 9% of the non-resident population.

What is the proportion of foreigners to Singaporeans in PMET jobs?

As at December 2011, Singapore’s total workforce was 3.02 million, excluding foreign domestic workers. Among PMETs (Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians), residents comprised 79% of the PMET workforce while foreigners accounted for 21%. Among non-PMET jobs, residents made up 57% while foreigners the other 43%.

Even so, the Ministry of Manpower has continued to tighten the tap on foreign labour by raising qualifying salaries for EP and S Pass holders, and bringing down the dependency ratio ceilings and raising levies for foreign workers to spur productivity growth, particularly for sectors which need to reduce their reliance on foreign labour. These measures help the restructuring of Singapore’s businesses, and are being put in place to ensure good job opportunities for Singaporeans. Please also refer to MOM’s press release on enhancements to foreign manpower policy for quality growth and higher wages.

Through job redesign, and by providing training to Singaporeans, the proportion of Singaporeans taking on higher-paying PMET jobs will rise. Two out of three Singaporeans are expected to hold a PMET job come 2030, up from one in two today.

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Composition of the Foreign Workforce

5 Mar 2013

Contributors often have queries on the composition of the foreign workforce in Singapore and the different types work and employment passes.

Read the below article from Factually to find out the facts!

We often hear that foreign workers in Singapore compete with Singaporeans for high-paying professional, managerial and executive (or PME) positions. The government is considering measures to ensure that Singaporeans are treated fairly when it comes to PME jobs and it will reduce the inflow of both S-Pass and EP holding foreigners. In the meantime, it is important to realise that the overwhelming majority of non-resident foreigners in Singapore are here to do jobs that Singaporeans do not want to do.

There are many different types of foreign workers in Singapore. According to population figures from June 2012, work permit holders make up the largest group of foreigners working in Singapore at 46%, followed by dependents of Singapore citizens/PRs/work pass holders (15%), and foreign domestic workers (13%). Employment Pass and S Pass holders make up the smallest groups at about 12% and 9% of the non-resident population respectively.

While Employment Pass and S Pass holders are usually educated, meet a specific salary criterion, and hold PMET (professionals, managers, executives and technicians) positions, work permit holders usually refers to semi-skilled/unskilled foreign workers that come here to take up jobs that Singaporeans might not wish to do. This helps alleviate labour shortage problems in some industries.

This essentially means that majority of non-resident foreign workers in Singaporeans are not here to compete with Singaporeans for high-paying professional or managerial jobs. Rather they are here to help build our homes, keep our roads clean, and make our lives just a little more comfortable.

The following table has more information on the different employment passes and permits:

Pass, Permit or Programme	Type of Applicants	Examples of Eligibility Criteria
Employment Pass (EP)
P1 Employment Pass	Professionals, Managers, Executives or Specialists	Fixed monthly salary of at least $8,000 Possesses acceptable qualifications
P2 Employment Pass	Professionals, Managers, Executives or Specialists	Fixed monthly salary of at least $4,500 Possesses acceptable qualifications
Q1 Employment Pass	Professionals, Managers, Executives or Specialists	Young graduates from good institutions could qualify if they earn at least $3,000 Older applicants would have to command higher salaries to qualify, commensurate with the work experience and quality they are expected to bring
S Pass
S Pass	Mid-level skilled workers (e.g. Technicians)	Fixed monthly salary of at least $2,000 (This will be raised to $2,200 and higher from July 2013.) Older applicants would have to command higher salaries to qualify, commensurate with the work experience and quality they are expected to bring
Work Permits
Work Permit	Semi-skilled or unskilled Foreign Workers	-
Work Permit (for Foreign Domestic Workers)	Foreign Domestic Workers or helpers	-

Sources:

Visit Factually for more facts.

Race Classification for New Citizens

20 Feb 2013

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has addressed speculation that new Singapore citizens of Filipino origin are being categorised as Malay. In a Forum letter published in The Straits Times on 18 Feb 2013, the ICA refuted the rumours as “not true”. They added that new Singapore citizens of Filipino origin are typically classified as “Others” under the race category.

Talk on the matter renewed with the release of the White Paper on Population, with some discussion on REACH. Most notably, during the recent parliamentary debate, Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC MP Zainal Sapari highlighted the concern among the Malay-Muslim community.

Read the full response from ICA.

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Filipino migrants are 'Others'

PASIR Ris-Punggol GRC MP Zainal Sapari asked whether it was true that new Singapore citizens of Filipino origin are classified as Malays ("What about Malay migrants?"; Feb 8).

This is not true. They are typically classified as "Others" under the race category.

Vincent Ng
Head, Public & Internal Communications
Corporate Communications Division
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority

Protection of Personal Information under New Law

2 Nov 2012

Following strong public support for data protection legislation, Singapore’s new Data Protection Bill was passed in Parliament in October 2012. The bill protects personal information from being stolen or indiscriminately collected and used for marketing purposes.

With this legislation in place, companies, for example, must reveal how they plan to use consumers' contact details at the point of collection. They must also get consumers' explicit consent before they can call or text them to market products or services.

In addition, the Do-Not-Call (DNC) registry, targeted for launch in 2014, will enable consumers to opt out of telemarketing calls, faxes as well as text and multimedia messages - including those sent via smartphone apps like WhatsApp and Viber - to their Singapore phone number.

The overarching data protection law will apply to all companies, including those based overseas but collect and use data on consumers in Singapore. There are however key exceptions including personal data used for court documents, news reports, medical emergencies, etc.

Organisations have 18 months to adjust to the new Personal Data Protection Act, starting January 2013, before rules come into force.

A Personal Data Protection Commission will be set up to enforce and oversee matters relating to the new Act. The Commission will also focus on educating consumers and businesses on the Act when it comes into play, and devise compliance guidelines to help organisations understand the law's requirements.

Read more in The Straits Times Article “Data protection bill passed in Parliament”.

Enhancing Medishield for Better Coverage

2 Nov 2012

The Ministry of Health has announced enhancements to the healthcare insurance scheme, MediShield, to provide better coverage. The public shared their views through the consultation exercise held in July and August, which saw strong support for the proposed amendments.

The following enhancements will be made to MediShield effective from 1 March 2013:

Increasing the maximum coverage age to 90;
Extending the coverage to inpatient psychiatric treatment at $100 per day up to 35 days per year;
Increasing the policy year and lifetime limits from $50,000 to $70,000 and from $200,000 to $300,000 respectively;
Extending the coverage to short-stay wards in Emergency Departments; and
Increasing the Class B2/C deductibles moderately by $500 for those aged 80 and below.

In addition, other enhancements arising from public suggestions will be implemented. These include:

Increasing the Medisave withdrawal limits for MediShield and Integrated Shield Plans premiums from $800 to $1,000 for those aged 76 to 80 and from $1,150 to $1,200 for those above age 80; and
Removing the MediShield maximum entry age of 75 to enable healthy uninsured elderly to obtain coverage.

MOH is also looking into the extension of coverage to congenital and neonatal conditions (see discussion on Congenital and Neo-natal Conditions for MediShield) as part of a broader review on supporting healthcare costs for children. This will tie in with the ongoing review to encourage marriage and parenthood and the Singapore Conversation discussion.

MediShield premiums will be updated to support the benefit enhancements. To alleviate concerns over premium affordability, the Government will provide a one-off Medisave top-up of up to $400 in March 2013, as announced in Budget 2012, to help offset part of or the full premium increase for up to two years. Eligible low-income and elderly Singaporeans will receive additional assistance.

Read more in the press release by MOH, the Channel NewsAsia article and take part in existing discussions on Medishield.

Proposed Amendments to Casino Control Act

25 Oct 2012

Several amendments were announced in Parliament on 15 October 2012 to increase the safeguards under the Casinos Control Act. This came after a month-long public consultation exercise on the draft Casino Control (Amendment) Bill that ended on 6 August 2012, with public feedback taken into account in finalising the legislative amendments.

Amendment Proposed to Legislation Dealing with Death Penalty

16 Oct 2012

Further amendments have been proposed to the three pieces of legislation dealing with the mandatory death penalty for murder and drug trafficking cases in Parliament.

Earlier in July, the application of the mandatory death penalty for drug trafficking and homicide offences was reviewed and debated in Parliament (see discussion on Debate on Proposed Changes to Death Penalty).

At the most recent Parliament session on Monday, 15 October, amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code, Penal Code and the Misuse of Drugs Act were introduced.

The Criminal Procedure Code amendment would ensure an automatic process of appeal for cases where the death sentence has been meted out, with the creation of a mechanism for the Court of Appeal to review a death sentence where there is no appeal by the accused.
Under the amendment to the Penal Code, in murder cases where killing is not intentional, the court can sentence the accused to death or life imprisonment.
Amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act will allow the prosecution to issue a "Certificate of Cooperation", if the trafficker only played the role of courier and is not involved in any activity related to the supply or distribution of drugs. Such a discretion only applies if the trafficker has also cooperated with the Central Narcotics Bureau in a substantive way or has a mental disability which substantially impairs his appreciation of the act. "Substantive cooperation" is defined as "substantively assisting in CNB's operations to disrupt drug trafficking activities within or outside of Singapore".

Currently, there are 34 people on death row for murder and drug trafficking cases, and executions were suspended since June 2011 and will continue till the proposed changes are enacted. All existing cases if eligible, will be considered for re-sentencing under the new law.

The Bills will be debated at a future sitting of Parliament.

Read the Channel NewsAsia articles on the amendments to the legislation dealing with the death penalty and amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code.

NParks: Bicycle Purchase Could be Handled Better

19 Jul 2012

The Chief Executive Officer of NParks Poon Hong Yuen has responded to letters from the public on the Straits Times Forum page regarding the purchase of 26 Brompton bicycles costing $2,200 each.

In his reply, he acknowledged that the purchase could have been handled better, by setting a longer quotation period or recalling the quotation. This is although NParks had adhered to procurement guidelines by putting up specifications on GeBIZ over a six-day period.

Mr Poon also reiterated National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan’s comments on the rationale behind purchasing foldable bicycles, that it was the ease of transporting the bicycles via public transport, and quality of the bicycles that would ultimately translate to cost savings and increased productivity.

Read NParks CEO’s full reply below, and share your views on this topic in REACH’s Discussion Forum.

Letter from NParks CEO (14 July)

WE THANK the writers for last Saturday's feedback ('Seeking clarity over $2,200-bike purchase' by Mr Tan Buck Yam; and 'Shocked by $2,200 price tag' by Mr Thong Kok Kheong and 'Target price should have been less than $1,000' by Mr Wong Kah Khoon, both on Forum Online).

As a public agency, we are aware of our duty to ensure value for money when public funds are involved. We acknowledge that we could have handled this purchase better.

Upon closing of the quotation, we received two offers from one vendor, both of which met our specifications. We chose the cheaper model of bicycle offered as the price quoted was lower than the retail price, and within our estimated budget.

In hindsight, we could have set a longer quotation period, and considered recalling the quotation when only one vendor made a bid.

All three writers asked why foldable bicycles were needed.

Productivity enhancement was a major consideration as our officers' workload has increased significantly. For example, we have increased tree inspection frequency by at least 30 per cent due to adverse weather patterns, and opened up another 50km of park connectors in the past two years.

We had to find ways to boost productivity as an alternative to hiring more people.

Our staff used to take public transport and walk to various locations to inspect roadside trees and park connectors.

As an alternative, we introduced non-foldable bicycles, but we needed a van to ferry these around.

With foldable bicycles, staff can use public transport to reach various locations, and cycle within their work sites, halving inspection times and delivering $600 of savings per month per officer.

We believe it is important to equip our staff with the right tools to perform their work well. As our staff cycle 30km to 40km daily, sometimes over rough terrain, we require good foldable bicycles that are compact, lightweight and durable.

To ensure that the appropriate equipment is procured, we also tested foldable bikes of different sizes and makes on public transport.

Prevailing government procurement guidelines require agencies to put up purchases up to $70,000 through an open invitation-to-quote process via GeBIZ, which is open to all vendors. This process is more transparent than notifying a few vendors to quote, as suggested by Mr Tan.

We adhered to the procedures by putting up specifications on GeBIZ over a six-day period, including four working days. We did not indicate any brands in our quotation.

We will work with the Ministry of National Development to draw lessons from this purchase.

Poon Hong Yuen

Chief Executive Officer

National Parks Board (NParks)