Tuesday, May 9, 2017 – 09:13
Others
‘Encouraging’ response to WP proposal for redundancy insurance: Daniel Goh
SINGAPORE: During an adjournment motion in Parliament on Monday (May 8), the Workers’ Party (WP) refloated its proposal for an insurance scheme aimed at helping retrenched workers while they look for another job, saying a “modest” public consultation on the scheme was encouraging.
Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Daniel Goh said that the Redundancy Insurance scheme would reduce financial pressure, especially on older workers above the age of 40 who find it harder to get re-employed, and also reduce insecurity for younger workers, who are being increasingly laid off. Older workers face a “triple whammy,” with higher risk of getting laid off, having to support their children, and their elderly parents, and paying more bills, he said.
The scheme calls for monthly contributions of 0.1 per cent of monthly salary shared between employers and employees, which works out to an average of S$3.80 per worker. This would mean up to S$1,200 payout monthly for six months, he said. Associate Professor Goh said that such systems exist in other countries like Canada, Japan and South Korea, and that the proposed scheme has been adapted to the local culture, situation and existing programmes. He added that if it is “properly calibrated and launched in a timely manner,” the fund could become self-sustainable in the long run and cost close to nothing to the Government
The scheme would also reduce under-employment, as retrenched workers will not jump into the first job they get out of desperation, he said. With the financial independence provided by the payouts, workers could retrain without worrying, or getting distracted, he stated.
The opposition party first called for a redundancy insurance scheme during the Committee of Supply debate in April last year. WP chairman Sylvia Lim said then that it was a “feasible scheme” that would provide workers with a safety net to tide them through difficult times. WP published the proposal in November last year(16).
In her response to the proposal, Second Minister for Manpower Josephine Teo said that the 0.1 per cent figure sounds “too good to be true,” given that the South Korea paid a 1.35 premium in 2013, and that the figure stands at 2.2 per cent today. She said that the figure will need to be at least 1 to 2 per cent here, and highlighted an increase in cost to the employer. She added that the unemployment in the countries mentioned are generally significantly higher, and that many people in these countries can see themselves having to depend on the payouts. Singapore is not in the same position, as there has been a focus on employment support through training and subsidies, with the full support of unions and employers, which other countries find harder to do, she said.
Second Minister for Manpower Josephine Teo said that the Government has many schemes and to help workers find jobs. Employment support is the best way forward to guard against unemployment, she said.
Mrs Teo said that the PAP Government has never taken its eye off job creation. This approach has kept Singaporeans employed, and unemployment low, she said. When restructuring became necessary and a concern, the Government built programmes, she said, highlighting the Career Support Programme for professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) that gives up to S$42,000 in salary support to help someone who loses a job to find a new employer, and the work trial programme, for rank and file workers, and short-term relief options like ComCare. The schemes all have a single purpose to get workers back at work with new and useful skills, she said.
She added: “We have not hesitated to give generous wage support and training subsidies but always conditional, on the worker making the effort, by attending a training course or accepting a placement opportunity.”
Assoc Prof Goh suggested that the insurance scheme could be included in the Government’s Adapt and Grow initiative, which helps workers find new jobs or switch jobs. While acknowledging that there is help for the retrenched, he said that programmes in place will only work if retrenched workers turn to the Government for help. “After many years of cultivating a resilient and independent workforce, turning to the Government immediately for assistance on labour market endeavours after losing one’s job is a foreign concept for Singaporean workers,” he said.
Addressing counter arguments to the scheme that he had prepared, Assoc Prof Goh said that it was “quite ridiculous” that workers would be discouraged from saving because of a potential maximum S$7,200 payout. Another argument against Redundancy Insurance is more insecurity, as employers may be more willing to retrench workers, or give less retrenchment benefits, but these criticisms are “only valid if employers operate in an unregulated and demoralised environment”, he said.
“I find it strange that employers would push their workers off the building knowing that there is a safety net below,” he added.
Mrs Teo said the most serious downside to redundancy insurance is that it reduces incentive to find work. She referred to a study in Denmark that showed that while many get a job within the payout period, many more wait till just before payouts expire, delaying taking jobs up.
“This is a real pity, because the longer a person stays out of a job, the harder it is to find work. As a result, long-term unemployment goes up,” she said. Mrs Teo also questioned if employers would offset the premium by paying their workers less, and have less obligation to retain and retrain, and be less willing to pay workers retrenchment benefits.
“All things considered, we should persist with our present approach, do everything possible to help displaced workers find replacement jobs, and give displaced worker every incentive to make the effort to help themselves. This is the right strategic approach and will go a long way,” she said.
In concluding her response, Mrs Teo said: “Whatever our political persuasion, we can all agree on the need for protection against unemployment. But how we do it is important. And the experience of other countries should give us caution.”
Getting it wrong could mean more long-term unemployment, more redundancy, lower retrenchment benefits, higher cost burden to businesses and a false sense of security for the workers, she said.
She reiterated that there are many schemes to help workers in Singapore keep their jobs, and help those who lose their jobs find new ones.
“We provide generous wage support, training subsidies and temporary relief. We grow the economy to create more good jobs.The Government provides full funding for these programmes without putting the burden on our businesses. To guard against unemployment, we emphasise employment support because it is still the best way forward,” she said.
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Republic Polytechnic’s Momentum Dance Festival 2017
Republic Polytechnic’s Momentum Dance Festival 2017
from Saturday, August 12, 2017 at 12:00 AM to Sunday, August 20, 2017 at 12:00 AM
from Saturday, August 12, 2017 at 12:00 AM to Sunday, August 20, 2017 at 12:00 AM
The Republic Cultural Centre
9 Woodlands Avenue 9, Woodlands, Singapore
Enhanced police powers among changes to Public Entertainments Act
SINGAPORE: Nightclubs and other entertainment outlets such as gaming centres and Internet cafes will have to comply with stricter regulations, after amendments to the Public Entertainments and Meetings Act were passed in Parliament on Monday (May 8).
As part of the changes, the police will be given greater powers to deal with illicit activities more quickly, all nightclubs will be required to install CCTV cameras at entrances and exits, and the maximum penalties for providing public entertainment without a valid licence will be doubled.
During the debate, Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs Amrin Amin said the changes are targeted at “a small group of errant establishments”.
Last year, for instance, about 20 per cent of the 2,700 public entertainment establishments were found to have breached licensing conditions. Mr Amrin said 90 per cent of those breaches were considered minor, such as failing to maintain a proper record of employees, while the remaining 10 per cent involved major breaches such as overcrowding.
Following the changes, the Act is now known as the Public Entertainments Act. Mr Amrin said that is because the “meetings” it previously covered, such as rallies and forums, are already regulated under the Public Order Act enacted in 2009.
FORCED ENTRY BY POLICE OFFICERS AND APPOINTING AUTHORISED PERSONS WITH INSPECTION POWERS
A new addition to the Act includes allowing the Licensing Officer to appoint “suitably trained” individuals as “authorised persons” to conduct inspections on entertainment establishments and events.
Mr Amrin said this would give the police “operational flexibility” in deploying their manpower more effectively and conducting frequent checks if needed.
However, many Members of Parliament (MP) asked for clarity on what “suitably trained” means, and who would qualify to become authorised officers. Workers’ Party MP Sylvia Lim said this clarity is important as officers will be able to retrieve information and interview suspects on site.
“If the Government is referring to auxiliary police officers becoming authorised officers for licensing inspections, does their training cover the necessary skill competencies to handle the confrontational scenarios envisaged in Clause 17?” Ms Lim asked.
MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC Intan Azura also questioned the criteria in appointing individuals to carry out such duties.
A row of bars and restaurants along Boat Quay in Singapore. (File photo: AFP)
Mr Amrin said suitably trained people include auxiliary police officers (APO) and retired police officers with the requisite skill and experience. Even so, Mr Amrin said their powers are only limited to that set out under the Act, which includes making copies of documents and requesting for explanations.
“Routine inspections such as checks on staff records are usually uneventful but in the event of the escalation of violence, authorised officers drawn on the ranks of APOs and retired officers would have received training and experience in managing licensing inspections and managing difficult situations. And they can also call for police backup,” Mr Amrin explained.
Police officers will also be allowed to enter public entertainment premises by using “necessary force” if they suspect that illicit activities are being carried out. Mr Amrin said the reason why they are being empowered with the authority to do so now is that some entertainment outlets have resorted to locking their premises once the police arrives.
“This provides them with the opportunity to dispose of evidence and (gives them) lead time to stop any unlawful activities,” he said.
Currently a search warrant from the courts is needed before the police can gain entry to conduct licensing checks. “The new powers of forced entry will allow police to take swift and effective action to detect and enforce licensing breaches,” Mr Amrin told the House.
OTHER CHANGES: MAXIMUM PENALTY INCREASED AND APPEALS BOARD TO BE FORMED
Mr Amrin said current checks are in place to weed out unsuitable individuals from receiving a public entertainment licence. With new changes passed, the assessment will include people who are “related” to the applicant – those with a “substantial” interest in the business and those who are able to control over the applicant’s business. These could include company directors and partners.
The maximum penalty for running a public entertainment outlet without a licence or doing so while the licence is suspended would also be increased from S$10,000 to S$20,000.
Police officers will also be able to immediately suspend a licence if anyone relevant to the business is charged in court for committing serious crimes in connection with the entertainment outlet. These could include drug offences and human trafficking.
In addition, an Appeals Board will be set up to allow an independent review of police licensing decisions. Mr Amrin said members will be appointed from diverse fields that include those in the legal, education and business sector.
In consolidating feedback for making changes to the Act, Mr Amrin said his ministry consulted the public entertainment industry through the Singapore Nightlife Business Association (SNBA). He said close to 180 establishments contributed to the feedback, and that they support the amendments.
MORE CAN BE DONE: MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
In supporting changes to the Act, some of the 11 MPs who spoke during the debate questioned if more could be done to deal with the scourge of drugs, violence and unruly behaviour within and outside entertainment premises.
“Entertainment outlets such as nightclubs are popular venues for young people to congregate, make friends and have fun,” said MP Joan Pereira.
“There they are open to new and exciting experiences and hence very vulnerable to taking higher risks as they experiment with perceived adult consumables such as smoking, alcohol or drugs … We must ensure a safe environment for them to have clean fun and protect them from the ravages of drugs.”
MP Lee Bee Wah asked if entertainment operators should take greater responsibility in ensuring that public order is maintained in the area around their premises. Mr Amrin said his ministry shared their concerns, and that all nightclubs would be required to install closed circuit cameras at entrances and exits.
“This will deter crimes in and around the public entertainment establishment, as well as facilitate investigations into any such crimes that take place,” he said, adding that many establishments have already installed CCTVs.
Channel NewsAsia understands that the changes are expected to come into force in the later part of this year.
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Jollibee releases new weekday e-coupons valid from 8 – 31 May 2017
JOLLIBEE new e-coupons! Valid on weekdays till 31 May 2017
Jollibee releases new weekday e-coupons valid from 8 – 31 May 2017
Jolly deals alert! Indulge in your all-time Jollibee favorites for less on weekdays. Flash the following coupons to the cashiers upon ordering to redeem. Valid until 31 May 2017. Terms and conditions apply.
National University Heart Centre, Singapore
The HEART Truth Symposium by the National University Heart Centre, Singapore (NUHCS) is back for its 5th installment! Understand your heart and find out how you can keep it healthy for a fulfilling life! Tickets are available through SISTIC at http://www.sistic.com.sg/events/cheart0717!
National University Heart Centre, Singapore
Your <3 beats more than 2.5 billion times during an average lifetime, pumping oxygen and blood throughout the body. Amazing, isn't it? ;) Learn how you can keep your heart pumping strong at the upcoming The HEART Truth Symposium 2017! Purchase the tickets NOW at an exclusive early bird rate of $8 per ticket! PAssion Card members are entitled to additional 25% discount across all ticket prices. Simply key in the first four digits of your card number on the promo code section of the website or quote the digits over the hotline to receive the discount! Purchase your tickets here: http://www.sistic.com.sg/events/cheart0717 #TheHEARTTruth #NUHCSfamily
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Sister Act actress couldn’t speak English before she moved to US
She did not speak a word of English when she first arrived in New York in 2011.
But with lots of tears and sweat, Korean actress Sophie Kim picked up the language and finally got her biggest break yet when she landed a role in the cast of the musical Sister Act, which opens in Singapore today.
Kim, who looks just like a K-pop star, told AsiaOne that being in the cast of Sister Act is like a dream come true for her.
The 36-year-old is the first Asian to be cast in the role of Sister Mary Robert in the American production, which is an adaptation of the 1992 comedy that Whoopi Goldberg is famous for.
Born Kim So Hyang, she grew up in a theatre district in Seoul, Korea and her mother often took her to shows when she was young. Her desire to sing and act began there.
While in Korea, Kim performed in many shows such as “Mamma Mia”, “Dreamgirls” and “West Side Story”.
But that stage was not big enough for her.
Kim shared that she felt empty after acting for 10 years locally and needed to learn more – even if it meant starting all over again.
So she took a big leap of faith, moved to the US and enrolled herself in the New York Film Academy.
Humble Beginnings
Her move to New York was not an easy one. Language was a huge hurdle for her as she did not know any English. Learning to sing and act in a foreign language was even more arduous.
When asked about how she coped with the stress of handling the new language and her new life there, Kim recalled, “I cried a lot. I cried every single day.”
To catch up on her classes, Kim woke up at 6am every day to memorise lyrics, lines and monologues, and became a “theatre nerd”, she joked.
Mary Robert is just like me in the US. I obeyed what people told me to do or what is right to do. But like her in the show, I am gaining confidence and becoming braver in the US.
Sophie Kim
Apart from studying and performing, Kim also hit the gym every morning to warm up her body and vocals, which has become a crucial part of her daily routine up till now.
And her hard work is paying off.
When casting calls for the Broadway production opened, Kim knew she wanted to audition for the role of Mary Robert but wasn’t sure since there are no roles for Asians in the play. But it was her agent who egged her on to try it out since it was an Asian tour, so she did and the rest is history.
“Mary Robert has been my dream since forever,” the actress said with wide-eyed wonder.
She shared that she knew she wanted to be a part of Sister Act after watching it for the first time.
“As soon as I saw it (Sister Act), I really want to be a part (of it). I went for a lot of auditions for this role, but the role has never been taken by Asian before. That’s why it’s a really big dream for me.”
Fans of the nun-on-the-run comedy can look forward to seeing the first Asian face on stage. Kim’s character, Mary Robert, does not argue, yell or fight with anyone but after meeting main character Deloris, she breaks out of her shell and discovers her true self, standing up for what she believes in.
“Mary Robert is just like me in the US. I obeyed what people told me is right to do. But like her in the show, I am gaining confidence and becoming braver in the US,” said Kim.
As the only Asian in the cast, she will probably stand out or be so convincing that she might blend right into character.
Either way, with such an affinity for Mary Robert, Sophie Kim might just convert you.
Sister Act, the Musical opens on May 9, 2017, at the MasterCard Theatres, Marina Bay Sands and lasts till May 28, 2017. Tickets start from $65, excluding booking fee.
maryanns@sph.com.sg
ongymm@sph.com.sg
Tuesday, May 9, 2017 – 16:32
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