Reviewing Manpower Policies to Better Protect Full-time Workers

61 Mr Edward Chia Bing Hui asked the Minister for Manpower whether the Ministry will review existing manpower policies to better protect workers who are employed full-time under fixed-term service contracts rather than as freelancers.

Dr Tan See Leng: Employees under a contract of service, including those on fixed-term contracts, have set working conditions as agreed with their employers in their employment contract. They are also protected under employment legislation, such as the Employment Act, Central Provident Fund Act and Work Injury Compensation Act. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) regularly reviews these protections, such as the ongoing tripartite review of the Employment Act. Conversely, freelancers under a contract for service have greater autonomy in determining their working conditions but are not accorded the same legislative protections.

In reviewing our employment protections, MOM works with tripartite partners to study the needs of different groups of workers including those on fixed-term contracts. MOM will continue to monitor the needs of our workforce to ensure that workers receive the support that they need.