In Parliament: NTUC Labour MPs raise questions on job security, platform work and workplace safety

From job security and platform workers’ welfare to workplace safety and health, NTUC Labour Members of Parliament (MPs) raised questions to the Government on a range of hot-button topics close to workers’ hearts during the Parliament session over 14-15 October 2025.

These burning issues included the impact of Malaysian cross-border drivers on platform workers’ jobs and the Jobseeker Support Scheme’s qualifying income.

Read on to discover how NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng, NTUC Assistant Secretaries-General Melvin Yong, Patrick Tay and Yeo Wan Ling, and NTUC e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) Stakeholder Management Director Wan Rizal championed workers on the national platform.

Job security

Mr Tay, MP for Pioneer SMC, asked Manpower Minister Tan See Leng whether his ministry would consider raising the Jobseeker Support Scheme’s current qualifying income of $5,000 to the 75th percentile of gross monthly income, excluding CPF contributions, to support more involuntarily displaced Singaporeans.

In its reply, the Manpower Ministry (MOM) explained that the scheme targets lower-to-middle-income workers and that the $5,000 qualifying salary already exceeds the $4,900 median income of Singaporeans in 2024. MOM added that it will review the effectiveness of the scheme and assess its suitability for extending to higher-earning individuals, given that the 75th percentile gross income is about $8,100.

Platform workers

Ms Yeo, MP of Punggol GRC, asked the Transport Ministry (MOT) about the efforts to safeguard the livelihoods of Singaporean cabbies and private-hire drivers amid more licenses being issued to Malaysian cross-border services.

In her reply, Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling explained that MOT and Land Transport Authority (LTA) have been in talks to liberalise the services to create more business for drivers.

Proposals include allowing Malaysian cross-border taxis to drop off passengers anywhere in Singapore, and Singaporean taxis to do likewise in Johor Bahru. However, these foreign taxis would only be allowed to pick up passengers at designated points, to ensure they do not affect local drivers’ business. Plans are also underway to identify more pick-up points in both countries. 

Ms Sun added that MOT will continue to gather feedback from the National Taxi Association (NTA) and the National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NPHVA). In addition to continued enforcement action on illegal cross-border driving services in Singapore, the ministry is also exploring the use of location tracking, including ERP 2.0, and other measures.

In a separate question on platform workers, Ms Yeo asked the Manpower Minister if platform workers had raised the issue of missing or delayed CPF contributions when they moved to a new platform operator. She also asked if the ministry was prepared to review its operational processes and introduce ways to ensure proper disbursement.

In response, MOM shared that there were some instances where platform operators declared incorrect earnings, resulting in riders and drivers receiving inaccurate CPF contributions. However, these cases have been promptly resolved. The ministry added that it will continue to monitor the timeliness and accuracy of platform operators’ CPF contributions.

Workplace safety and health

Healthcare adequacy

Jalan Kayu SMC MP Mr Ng asked Health Minister Ong Ye Kung about the number of Singaporeans who had used MediSave for family members in the past three years, and whether they are at risk of having insufficient funds for their own use.

In his response, Mr Ong revealed that between 2022 and 2024, around 210,000 Singaporeans earning different incomes have supported family members with their own MediSave funds. 
Pointing out that Singaporeans typically use MediSave for their own healthcare needs, he said that any risk is likely to arise from self-usage rather than family support. He shared that Singaporeans with lower MediSave balances can receive help from Government top-ups and additional premium support for national insurance schemes. He added that safeguards, such as MediFund, are in place to support those who have exhausted MediSave balances and are unable to pay for bills incurred at public healthcare institutions.

Occupational diseases

Radin Mas SMC MP Melvin Yong asked the Manpower Ministry for an update on the enhanced measures for earlier detection of occupational diseases (OD), and their diagnosis, classification and treatment.

In its reply, MOM shared that it has increased the number of workplaces in its health surveillance programme from 1,200 in 2020 to 3,500 by 2025 to promote preventive care. The ministry has also updated the guidelines for diagnosing and managing ODs to provide additional guidance to doctors. Additionally, from 1 December 2025, all occupational infectious diseases in healthcare, research facilities and laboratory settings, as well as all work-related musculoskeletal disorders, can be reported and compensated. Meanwhile, the reporting processes for primary care doctors have been simplified for earlier detection and interventions.

The ministry added that it will continue to work closely with the Health Ministry, NTUC, medical practitioners, and tripartite industry partners to enhance OD detection and management.

In another OD-related question addressed to the Manpower Minister, Mr Yong brought up the topic of tackling driver fatigue, as vehicular accidents were the top cause of workplace fatalities in the first half of 2025. 

MOM said it will continue to engage employers and industry associations to raise awareness of fatigue management guidelines, including providing rest breaks and managing shift work. It will also continue to promote the adoption of vehicular safety technologies, such as cameras and sensors that companies can deploy on their vehicles. In addition to improving drivers’ situational awareness and warning them of collision risks, the technology can also detect driver fatigue or distraction.

Mr Yong, who is also the Built Environment and Urban Trades Employees' Union’s Executive Secretary, asked whether more can be done to reduce workplace fatalities and injuries among construction SMEs, given the high number of accidents in the sector.

Replying to Mr Yong, MOM shared that it has increased inspections at smaller-scale construction works this year. These include solar panel installation works, renovation projects in major shopping malls, and small residential projects. Checks are ramped up during festive seasons when work may be rushed to meet deadlines. Companies with major injuries are now required to carry out professional audits and address gaps to prevent further incidents. MOM’s work with partners will continue to help SMEs build internal workplace safety and health capabilities, such as through the StartSAFE programme and greater adoption of technology.

Migrant Domestic Workers

In his question to the Manpower Minister, Jalan Besar GRC MP Wan Rizal asked about the number and types of migrant domestic worker (MDW) safety incidents, including falls from height. He also wanted to know the number of enforcement actions against employers or agencies.

Replying to Mr Rizal, MOM disclosed that there was an average of 35 incidents each year, between 2020 and 2024, including falls from height. Enforcement actions have been taken against all employers and three employment agencies involved, the latter for failing to ensure safety agreements between employers and workers.

Separately, Mr Yong and Mr Rizal wanted to know about MDWs involved in high-rise window cleaning. Mr Yong was interested in the annual figure of fatalities and injuries and whether safety measures need to be increased to prevent future accidents. Mr Rizal wanted to find out if the current rules on window cleaning are adequate. He also asked if MOM would consider making employer safety briefings mandatory during the issuance and renewal of work permits, as well as expanding confidential mental health support and rest-day protections for MDWs through multilingual helplines.

MOM replied to say that in the last 10 years, enforcement actions have been taken against six employers whose workers fell from height. Over the same period, an average of 15 employers per year were taken to task for failing to comply with window cleaning safety standards. 

Under the Employment of Foreign Manpower (Work Passes) law, helpers are not permitted to clean the exterior surface of any window that is not fitted with a locked grille without supervision. Employers who flout the law can be fined up to $10,000 and/or imprisoned for up to 12 months. They may also be banned from employing an MDW.

Additionally, all first-time employers and MDWs must attend mandatory orientation programmes before employment to learn about essential safety practices, including those related to window cleaning. Employers are also required to sign a safety agreement with their MDWs to ensure compliance with MOM’s restrictions on cleaning windowpane exteriors. MOM also distributes reminders to employers on maintaining safe work environments. The ministry will continue to monitor such incidents and enhance education and enforcement, if necessary.

MOM also has several existing measures to support MDWs who need mental health or rest-day advice. These include helplines operated by MOM and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), such as the Centre for Domestic Employees (CDE).

Low-wage workers

In his question to the Manpower Minister, Pioneer SMC MP Mr Tay was keen to know about the policies to uplift lower-wage workers and narrow wage gaps between low- and-middle-income workers. He also wanted to understand the employer compliance rate with the National Wages Council’s (NWC) recommendations by sector and profitability.

In response, MOM said it remains committed to partnering with the tripartite partners to narrow the wage gap. It revealed that from 2021 to 2024, full-time employed residents’ real gross monthly incomes at the 20th percentile rose by 6.3 per cent, which is higher than the median worker’s 3.2 per cent increase.

Meanwhile, MOM’s lower-wage employees’ report 2024 indicated that 76 per cent of employers have implemented at least one Flexible Wage System under NWC guidelines that year. However, the overall trend points to a gradual decline over the past decade.

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