Social Security Protection Requirements for Crew on Singapore-based and Foreign-based Maritime Vessels
Ministry of TransportSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong’s inquiry regarding government support for shipping companies to meet social security requirements for crew under the Maritime Labour Convention 2006. Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan stated that Singaporean legislation provides medical, injury, and invalidity benefits for all seafarers on Singapore-flagged vessels. He noted that Singaporean seafarers and their employers must generally make CPF contributions regardless of the vessel's flag, provided the employment is entered into locally. Additionally, Singaporeans employed by local companies are entitled to work injury compensation, and no cases of denied benefits have been reported to the authorities. The Government will continue to collaborate with tripartite partners to ensure that Singaporean seafarers receive the social security protections provided under the convention.
Transcript
17 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Transport whether the Government can assist Singapore-based vessel-owning companies as well as foreign-based shipping companies employing Singaporeans to comply with social security protection requirements for all crew members serving onboard their ships as required by the Maritime Labour Convention 2006.
Mr Deputy Speaker: Minister, you only have three minutes.
The Minister for Transport (Mr Khaw Boon Wan): I shall be quick. Singapore is committed to protecting the well-being of seafarers. In 2011, Singapore was the first country in Asia to ratify the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), which is a comprehensive global labour instrument adopted by the International Labour Organization to provide for the rights and protection of seafarers working onboard vessels.
Our legislation provides for medical care, employment injury and invalidity benefits for all seafarers, Singaporeans or otherwise, employed on Singapore-flagged vessels.
In addition, Singaporean seafarers who enter into employment in Singapore and their employers are generally required to make CPF contributions for the seafarers' retirement needs, regardless of whether they are working on Singapore or foreign-flagged vessels. Singaporean seafarers who are employed by Singapore-based companies are also entitled to compensation for injuries sustained in the course of their work.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore has not come across any cases of Singaporean seafarers who have been denied the requisite social security benefits.
The Government will continue to work with our tripartite partners to ensure that Singaporean seafarers are accorded the social security protection provided for under the MLC.
3.00 pm
Mr Deputy Speaker: Thank you, Minister, for the concise reply. Order, end of question time.
[Pursuant to Standing Order No 22(3), provided that Members had not asked for questions standing in their names to be postponed to a later Sitting day or withdrawn, written answers to questions not reached by the end of Question Time are reproduced in the Appendix.]