Measures to Prevent Patients on Kidney Dialysis from Being Discriminated against at Workplace

The following question stood in the name of Dr Tan Wu Meng –

16 To ask the Minister for Manpower (a) what are the current measures to prevent dialysis patients from being discriminated against at the workplace; and (b) given the prevalence of kidney failure, what is being done to promote flexible working arrangements (FWAs) to accommodate these patients’ attendance at life-supporting dialysis centres.

Mr Alex Yam (Marsiling-Yew Tee): Question No 16.

The Senior Minister of State for Manpower (Dr Koh Poh Koon) (for the Minister for Manpower): Sir, the tripartite partners support all employees, including those requiring dialysis treatment, to enter and remain in the workforce while managing their personal responsibilities and circumstances. We do so by promoting the adoption of flexible work arrangements (FWAs) and work-life strategies as well as ensuring that such employees are not discriminated against at the workplace.

In 2020, 93% of firms offered some form of formal or ad hoc FWAs to employees. To further entrench the implementation of such work arrangements, the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) actively promotes the Tripartite Standard on FWAs to companies through its publicity campaigns, briefings to members of trade associations and chambers (TACs) and also, conduct workshops. Progressive employers who adopt this Standard are required to inform their employees of the types of FWAs available, such as "flexi-time" and "flexi-load" which allow employees, including those with medical conditions, to vary their working hours and job functions to manage their work and personal responsibilities.

To ensure greater success in the implementation of FWAs, employees are also encouraged to proactively engage their supervisors on their personal responsibilities and circumstances. This allows employers and employees to discuss and explore varied FWAs that meet employers' business needs while enabling employees to manage their personal responsibilities.

Employees requiring dialysis treatment, or having any other medical conditions, are protected against discrimination through the Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices (TGFEP) which is based on the principles of fair and merit-based employment practices at the workplace. Employees who feel that they have encountered workplace discrimination should lodge a complaint with TAFEP.

Mr Deputy Speaker: I am sorry, if Members could stand up when you raise your hand because we cannot see your face from here. Ms Ng Ling Ling.

Ms Ng Ling Ling (Ang Mo Kio): Thank you, Deputy Speaker, and I thank the Senior Minister of State for the comprehensive reply. I would just like to ask a question. With the concern of a rising number of individuals needing dialysis, whether the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Ministry of Manpower will consider and what kind of measures they might implement for more upstream measures such as workplace education on the risk factors leading to kidney diseases.

A lot of laymen are not very aware that, for example, common chronic diseases like diabetes can lead to chronic kidney diseases, if not well managed, and the chronic kidney diseases, if worsened, will require dialysis. So, I would like to check if there are any upstream measures that are implemented in the workplace.

Dr Koh Poh Koon: Sir, I think going upstream to prevent consequences of disease is something that we do in a very broad-based manner at MOH. I think if the Member remembers, we do have a War on Diabetes and the Diabetic Task Force has been formed a couple of years back, at least to really look at comprehensively engaging people through lifestyle changes, through exercise, through stakeholders in the community as well as in the medical fraternity, to make sure we target the management and treatment of diabetes to prevent the downstream consequences of renal impairment and kidney failure.

So, engaging employers and employees at the workplace to continue to adopt healthy lifestyle is part of the work of educating the public and we will continue to do so through many of our partners and stakeholders as well as through the Labour Movement.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Mr Sharael Taha.

Mr Sharael Taha (Pasir Ris-Punggol): Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, and I thank Senior Minister of State Koh Poh Koon for his reply. Sir, I would like to ask a question: can the Ministry also consider how it can work together with companies to encourage the employment of our dialysis patients through flexible work arrangements? For example, can the Ministry consider a scheme for call centres to hire dialysis patients as work-from-home call operators?

In Pasir Ris, I have a few residents who are dialysis patients in their late 30s and early 40s. They are still able to work but they struggled to find employment as their dialysis is usually three or four times a week. So, can we encourage more employment for abled, less fortunate residents by leveraging on flexible work arrangements?

Dr Koh Poh Koon: Sir, I thank the Member for his question. I think it is quite clear that we all desire to make sure that we help the vulnerable amongst us, whether it is a person on kidney dialysis or a person with physical disability, to continue to remain in the workforce. But I think we do understand that there are very diverse workplace arrangements and different job roles and requirements . Legislating a requirement like this would probably be challenging to implement because different businesses and operating models may have different needs.

What we should do though is to continue to engage with our employers through the Singapore National Employers Federation as well as our Labour Movement, to continue that conversation and helping employers to look at redesigning their jobs, so that more people with disability, or even those who need flexible arrangement for dialysis treatment, can continue to be meaningfully engaged and contribute to the workforce and also to the companies' operations as well. This is an ongoing effort. We will continue to engage our stakeholders.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Next question, Mr Saktiandi Supaat.