Terms and Conditions to Protect Employees Hired as Individual Contractors in the Public Sector
Prime Minister's OfficeSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the employment terms and conversion processes for contract officers in the public sector, as raised by Mr Leon Perera. Minister Chan Chun Sing stated that approximately 14,600 officers were on contracts as of late 2017, receiving similar benefits and salary structures as permanent staff. Contracts are limited to four years, with high-performing officers typically offered permanent positions after one or two years to ensure assessment suitability. For those transitioning to permanent roles, prior contract service counts toward their seniority and salary to ensure continuous service recognition. Finally, Minister Chan Chun Sing noted that grievance handling procedures are available to all officers to investigate and resolve workplace concerns.
Transcript
50 Mr Leon Perera asked the Prime Minister with regard to employees hired as individual contractors by the public sector (a) how many employees does the public service have on such contracts currently; (b) what guidelines are in place to protect the interests of these workers in terms of leave benefits and compensation review; (c) what channels are available to them to seek redress on their grievances; (d) whether there are limits to the duration of such contracts; and (e) when such contractors go on to secure permanent employment in the public sector, whether there are provisions to ensure that their prior contract work counts towards the compensation and grade they obtain.
Mr Chan Chun Sing (for the Prime Minister): The intent of the contract framework is to allow public agencies the flexibility to employ officers to undertake specific projects over a fixed period, or as a means to assess their suitability for the job. As at 31 December 2017, about 10% of all public officers or 14,600 public officers are employed on contracts, excluding those on re-employment contracts. Contract officers generally enjoy the same leave and medical benefits and are paid according to the same salary structure as permanent officers1.
Public agencies can appoint officers on contract for up to four years to assess their suitability for the job. For officers who perform well in the job and are assessed to be suitable for a long term career with the Public Service, agencies will offer them permanent positions after one or two years. When contract officers are emplaced as permanent officers, their period of service is considered continuous from the contract employment episode. Agencies also consider the period of contract service when determining the substantive grade and corresponding salary to offer at the point of emplacement.
As adopters of the Tripartite Standard on Grievance Handling, public agencies have grievance handling procedures in place for officers, whether contract or permanent, to raise their grievances and for these grievances to be properly investigated and resolved.