Average Number of Leave Days for Resident Workers in Outsourced Sectors
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the average annual leave for resident workers in outsourced sectors and their leave accumulation when service providers change. Minister for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng reported that resident employees in cleaning, security, and landscape sectors average 11 days of leave for under 10 years of service and 14 days for 10 years or more. He highlighted that the Tripartite Advisory on Best Sourcing Practices encourages service buyers to recognize the length of service of incumbent workers and offer remuneration packages that are no worse-off than before. The Advisory further promotes prioritizing service quality over the lowest price to safeguard workers' employment conditions. He noted that buyers are encouraged to focus on outcomes so providers compete on quality rather than costs at the expense of worker well-being.
Transcript
34 Mr Mohd Fahmi Aliman asked the Minister for Manpower (a) what is the current average number of annual leave days that resident workers in outsourced sectors, such as cleaning and security services, receive based on their years of service; and (b) for outsourced workers who remain in the same workplace, but whose employers change when service buyers switch service providers, how will the Ministry ensure that they are not left behind in their annual leave accumulation, despite their years of continued service in the same workplace.
Dr Tan See Leng: Based on trends observed from 2018 to 2023, the average number of annual leave days provided to all full-time resident employees aged 25 to 64 in the cleaning, security and landscape sectors is 11 days for those who have worked for less than 10 years and 14 days for those who have worked for 10 years or more. The Ministry of Manpower does not specifically track the number of leave days of outsourced workers who remain in the same workplace, but whose employers change when service buyers switch service providers.
To improve employment conditions for our workers, the tripartite partners introduced the Tripartite Advisory on Best Sourcing Practices in 2008. It encourages service buyers to offer no worse-off remuneration packages and to recognise the length of service of incumbent workers whom they employ under the new contracts.
The Advisory also encourages service buyers to emphasise service quality and outcomes in their contract terms, so that service providers compete on delivering quality services instead of solely trying to offer the lowest price, at the expense of their workers’ employment conditions and well-being.