Hansard, 2005-07-20

PERMISSION TO MEMBERS TO BE ABSENT Under the provisions of clause 2(d) of Article 46 of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore, the following Members have been granted permission to be or to remain absent from sittings of Parliament (or any Committee of Parliament to which they have been appointed) for the periods stated: Name From (2005) To (2005) Dr Loo Choon Yong 19 Jul 22 Jul Mr Alexander Chan Meng Wah 20 Jul 20 Jul Dr Chong Weng Chiew 20 Jul 21 Jul Dr Tan Cheng Bock 20 Jul 21 Jul Mr Arthur Fong 21 Jul 23 Jul Mr Charles Chong 21 Jul 22 Jul Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong 21 Jul 21 Jul Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat 01 Aug 03 Aug Mr Lawrence Leow Chin Hin 02 Aug 07 Aug Dr Geh Min 20 Aug 23 Aug 29 Sep 10 Oct

PERMISSION TO MEMBERS TO BE ABSENT ABDULLAH TARMUGI Speaker Parliament of Singapore

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS [Mr Speaker in the Chair]

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - EMPLOYMENT ACT - Amendment to provide better protection to pregnant female employees 1. Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Minister for Manpower whether his Ministry will amend the Employment Act to provide better protection to pregnant female employees by providing for such employees to be paid maternity benefit at any time during the period of their pregnancy if they are retrenched or terminated from service other than due to misconduct.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - EMPLOYMENT ACT - Amendment to provide better protection to pregnant female employees Mr Speaker, Sir, under the present Employment Act, female employees whose services are terminated during the three months before their confinement are entitled to their maternity pay. This does not apply to terminations due to retrenchments and misconduct, and in addition they have to satisfy the qualifying condition of having worked for the employer for a minimum period of six months.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - EMPLOYMENT ACT - Amendment to provide better protection to pregnant female employees The Ministry of Manpower agrees with the Member that pregnant women should not be discriminated against at the workplace. In this regard, legislation can protect their rights and benefits. However, legislation is not always the complete solution. In consultations for the Marriage and Parenthood (M&P) package announced last year - and these were during dialogue sessions with employers prior to us formulating the M&P package - many employers, including female employers who have had families in their careers, gave us realistic feedback that if statutory benefits for pregnant employees are too onerous, some employers may choose not to employ married women. They told us that such employers might be fearful of having to adjust to and bear the costs of maternity related benefits, and that they might discriminate against all women who are of child bearing age. Indeed these female employers themselves counselled prudence and advised the Government to take an incremental approach in increasing legislated maternity benefits. This was borne out subsequent to our M&P package.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - EMPLOYMENT ACT - Amendment to provide better protection to pregnant female employees When we increased maternity benefits from 8 weeks to 12 weeks of paid maternity leave, there was a small surge in the number of pregnancy related complaints received over the first five months of 2005. We received 36 cases in those five months. The usual number of cases received from 2001 to 2004 ranged from 15 to 28 annually.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - EMPLOYMENT ACT - Amendment to provide better protection to pregnant female employees This small surge indicates that we have to work together with our social partners - employers and unions - to change mindsets and facilitate work patterns so that employers and employees are able to meet both the economic needs of the company and the social needs of employees. This is the thrust of our Work-Life and other facilitation programmes. As Members may know, we launched the Work-Life Week yesterday.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - EMPLOYMENT ACT - Amendment to provide better protection to pregnant female employees MOM will continue such efforts with our partners to help us remain economically competitive, as well as to improve work conditions to promote marriage and parenthood.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - EMPLOYMENT ACT - Amendment to provide better protection to pregnant female employees Sir, I agree with the Minister that there is a need for a balance to take into account both employers' and workers' interests and we do not want invariably too much improvement or protection to result in a reverse effect of employers not employing female workers. On the other hand, the question I would like to ask the Minister is, if we give enhanced benefits as well as other benefits but, at the same time, these benefits are not protected, will it not be counter-productive in the sense that it will not be effective because the female workers will not be able to enjoy these benefits?

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - EMPLOYMENT ACT - Amendment to provide better protection to pregnant female employees So I would like to ask the Minister, bearing in mind the need for this balance and also the fact that female workers whose services are terminated and without maternity benefits will find it difficult to get another employment, would not the Ministry reconsider its position and review this legislation to provide more effective protection for pregnant female employees?

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - EMPLOYMENT ACT - Amendment to provide better protection to pregnant female employees Sir, I agree with the Member that where the law clearly prescribes and if employers are shown to have acted contrary to provisions, the employee who is entitled to these benefits can seek recourse. They can seek recourse either through the union who will represent them or they can write to the Minister for Manpower who can address the issue and, as I have said, we do receive some complaints and the Ministry will act on their behalf to help them receive those benefits.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - EMPLOYMENT ACT - Amendment to provide better protection to pregnant female employees But the point is: should we continue to enhance and increase these benefits and there is a balance, as the Member has rightly pointed out, to be achieved? My own sense is that we have just moved recently to enhance these benefits from eight weeks to 12 weeks plus a number of other aspects related to the Baby Bonus and we will have to work hand in hand with employers to help them incrementally accept that there is a business case and part of these facilitation methods will be what we are focusing on in our work-life harmony.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - EMPLOYMENT ACT - Amendment to provide better protection to pregnant female employees As Members know, we launched the WoW (Work-Life Works) Fund and there are many enlightened employers and CEOs who have subscribed to this fund. The basic thrust of this fund is to have employers change the HR system to build flexi-work programmes into their companies. I think that if we help employers build this flexibility they will recognise that they want to keep good employees, including female employees and especially female employees who may, from time to time, need to have flexible work arrangements to meet their other social needs in terms of being parents and care-givers. So I take it that legislation and facilitation need to go hand in hand and that helps us to achieve the balance. But my own sense is that, at this point of time, since we have just moved on a number of legislative aspects to promote marriage and parenthood, let us move on the facilitation aspects before we consider further legislation.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - EMPLOYMENT ACT - Amendment to provide better protection to pregnant female employees Sir, I would like to ask the Minister whether he will not agree with me that maternity benefits are actually very basic benefits and if a female employee is retrenched it is usually through no fault of hers and therefore she should be entitled to maternity benefits if she is retrenched. Also, the existing law already provides that a female worker must have worked with the employer for 180 days. Is that not a sufficient condition for entitlement?

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - EMPLOYMENT ACT - Amendment to provide better protection to pregnant female employees Sir, I do not disagree with the Member on principle and that we should try to prescribe maternity related benefits to both protect and help women at the workplace. The issue is one of balance. Currently, maternity benefits are prescribed three months before confinement. The Member has asked pointedly whether we should extend it. In other words, if a female employee is four months' pregnant and she loses her job, should we prescribe in law that she is eligible for maternity benefits? This is the point where I said that in our discussions with CEOs, many female CEOs cautioned against radical changes. Because what it could result - and this is realistic feedback from them unsolicited - is that if employers felt that the maternity benefits were too heavily prescribed in legislation, they may develop an inherent bias against employing all female employees of child-bearing age. This was the issue.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - EMPLOYMENT ACT - Amendment to provide better protection to pregnant female employees I take the point that we need to take into account the social and cultural context. In other countries, there are more benefits for maternity-related aspects. In some other countries, they are worse. We are somewhere in between. My own sense is that we have just moved last year in terms of enhancing these benefits and we have to continue the facilitation methods before we can consider prescribing more benefits.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - EMPLOYMENT ACT - Amendment to provide better protection to pregnant female employees Sir, can I ask the Minister whether he will consider a sliding scale where female employees who have worked longer in the company would be entitled to, if they are retrenched or lose their jobs, get pregnancy benefits from day one? Whereas those who have been working in the company for only 180 days it is difficult for the employers to accept that they should get benefits from the moment that they are pregnant. Can a sliding scale be considered to facilitate this principle?

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - EMPLOYMENT ACT - Amendment to provide better protection to pregnant female employees Sir, I think those suggestions can be taken when we next review the larger issue of whether we want to prescribe in law greater protection and more benefits or whether it is shorter requirement before they can qualify for maternity-paid benefits or extending from three months to even longer. In other words, now it applies to someone who is six months' pregnant or more, should we reduce it even further? I think all these details can be considered. But I think the larger issue is one of balance.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - EMPLOYMENT ACT - Amendment to provide better protection to pregnant female employees There is a trade-off. If the culture at the workplace and the hiring patterns in terms of mindsets of employers do not move, the trade-off is that they can discriminate against female employees. This is a reality. This is something that we should work to change over time but I think we have to accept that this is a reality because many employers, including female employers who have themselves moved up the ranks, tell us so. I think it will be wise for us to listen to them and we will have to see and judge through our facilitation methods as we work with the unions and other employer groups when we can enhance further benefits.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - EMPLOYMENT ACT - Amendment to provide better protection to pregnant female employees Sir, the Minister made extensive references to the need to consult stakeholders, which I agree entirely with him. Our own feedback also shows that when it comes to retrenchment of pregnant female employees, actually employers are a lot more generous and have been paying maternity benefits. I would like to ask the Minister whether the Ministry will now initiate facilitation and consultation among the stakeholders on this issue.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - EMPLOYMENT ACT - Amendment to provide better protection to pregnant female employees The answer is of course yes. Indeed, this is the focus of our Work-Life Programme. The Member brought up the fact that even outside prescribed legislation, employers are not obliged to give maternity-related benefits because they are not prescribed in law, but because of union representation, the employers have decided to give on their own. I laud these efforts. I think it is fair for them and if we continue to work in these efforts, when and if we change legislation, that it will not result in greater discrimination against female employees.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - FOREIGN WORKERS - Quota system of allocation 2. Prof. Ivan Png Paak Liang asked the Minister for Manpower if he will consider changing the system of allocating foreign workers to one where the Government sets a national quota for each year and then auctions the rights to employ the foreign workers, and which also permits unrestricted re-sale of quotas and transfer of workers among employers.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - FOREIGN WORKERS - Quota system of allocation Mr Speaker, Sir, the Nominated Member is essentially proposing a COE-like system for foreign workers. In other words, he has suggested why not the Government sets the national quota for the foreign workers that we want and employers can bid and trade their rights to employ foreign workers, through auction.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - FOREIGN WORKERS - Quota system of allocation From the purely economic point of view, such a free-market system using price as the only mechanism to distribute foreign workers is neater and more efficient. It is certainly simpler for the regulator. The Government decides the total number of foreign workers it can allow but leaves it to employers to decide how much they are willing to bid against others to meet their manpower needs. In other words, the one who bids the highest employs that number of foreign workers he wants.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - FOREIGN WORKERS - Quota system of allocation We do use the foreign worker levy as a price mechanism to ration the supply of foreign workers.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - FOREIGN WORKERS - Quota system of allocation But our foreign worker policies also have to take into account other non-economic considerations. In practice, we cannot always apply the same economic yardstick to different sectors and groups of workers. Indeed, this is so in all countries. In other words, no country that I know of practises or regulates foreign workers based on a purely economic point of view because it is too artificial and workers are human beings, and you are allowing them through social contacts.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - FOREIGN WORKERS - Quota system of allocation For example, in our system, we differentiate between Traditional Source (TS) and Non-Traditional Source (NTS) foreign workers, because Traditional Source foreign workers, for example, Malaysians fit more easily into our society and their social cost is lower. We generally allow Non-Traditional Source workers only in the construction and marine industries, because a large influx of less assimilable nationalities could impact our social rubric. Therefore, this is one instance where we do not apply only the price mechanism when we take into account non-economic reasons.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - FOREIGN WORKERS - Quota system of allocation We complement the foreign worker levy with the dependency limit, as another tool to regulate foreign workers. Why? From a purely economic point of view, the Nominated Member may say this is inefficient. So why do we set a dependency limit on top of our foreign worker levy? We use the dependency limit because it can and does shape recruitment behaviour within companies. In other words, what we are saying is that, even if you are willing to pay more for foreign workers, you reach the limit. It is a hard limit and signals to human resource managers that they must have some proportion of Singaporeans within their companies' workforce. Many Members in this House have said that we have to assure Singaporeans of jobs and the dependency limit is a tool that we use to ensure that. In other words, for example, in the manufacturing sector, it is now 50%. You can only hire 50 foreign workers if, and it is a hard "if", you have 50 Singaporean workers. If we did not have that mechanism and said, "Well, you could just bid by price", you could have many situations where many companies could have 100% foreign workers because they are willing to pay for it. The dependency limit also gives us useful reassurance to Singaporeans that the foreign workers that we allow in are helping to increase the number of jobs for locals, because for every foreign worker that the company has to hire, he needs to hire a certain number of local workers.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - FOREIGN WORKERS - Quota system of allocation However, I agree broadly with the Nominated Member that it is possible even given these non-economic considerations to streamline our schemes to make them more economically efficient, which is to allow businesses to meet their manpower needs more flexibly, without compromising our social objectives. However, we have to do this carefully, so as not to cause any sudden increases in costs for employers or surges in the foreign worker population here. For example, we have recently allowed manufacturing and services sector companies to exceed existing dependency limits but up to again a higher limit with effect from 1st July 2005, provided they pay a higher levy of $500.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - FOREIGN WORKERS - Quota system of allocation We will continue to monitor and review rules controlling the deployment of foreign workers, and from time to time discard those that do not serve any useful purpose.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - FOREIGN WORKERS - Quota system of allocation Sir, I thank the Minister for his considered response to my suggestion. In June 29th Straits Times, it was reported that in the construction industry, building contractors are actively buying and selling foreign worker quotas. The going rate is $2,000-$3,000 a worker. In this light, I ask the Minister, would it not be better for this trade to be simply legalised and the revenue to go to the Government than some crooked building contractors?

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - FOREIGN WORKERS - Quota system of allocation Sir, we should not confuse enforcement with the primary policy tool. And indeed, if there are infringements, then let us deal with the enforcement. Contractors know that if someone spills the beans on them, they risk being put out of business because they will be banned from hiring any more foreign workers. It could be a lifetime ban. And if they do not have access, especially contractors who traditionally use a high proportion of foreign workers, if they are disallowed to have MYEs or employ foreign workers, it basically means that they are out of business. If they want to risk this, we will step up enforcement and if they are caught, then they risk that. So that is the enforcement aspect. Because they want to infringe on our rules, I do not think we should say that we should now change the whole system so that we will collect the revenue that goes to someone else. I think from time to time, we have to tweak the system in response.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - FOREIGN WORKERS - Quota system of allocation As Members may know, recently, we have allowed workers in the construction industry who have worked here for more than six years to be employed outside the MYE system. So, indeed, there is a recourse for contractors and subcontractors not to buy these MYEs. All they need to do is to find workers who have worked here for six years or more and they can employ as many workers as they like. So, from time to time, we will refine the system. But I think the primary system is a sound one. It helps us regulate the total proportion of foreign workers, and it also helps us meet our social objectives.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - FOREIGN WORKERS - Quota system of allocation Sir, would the Minister agree that auctioning foreign workers in the manner suggested is quite demeaning for the foreign workers because it amounts to auctioning human beings? My second question is, if we allow unrestricted transfer of foreign workers, that would also undermine our efforts and job redesign in certain areas?

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - FOREIGN WORKERS - Quota system of allocation Sir, Mdm Halimah Yacob has stated a very sensible view which unionists globally and even lay people would hold that, while it may be economically sensible and efficient to have an auction-like system, you are still dealing with workers, and it would be hard to explain to people why you are using this system. So, as I said, while, in principle, the theory that it is more economically efficient to use price may be attractive, in real life, you may bring on many more problems that you did not anticipate. So I think our current system is a robust one. It helps us to adjust from time to time what we need. And, as I have replied to the NMP, I think we have to make minor changes, but the system on the whole is quite sound.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - INTEGRATED RESORTS - Eco-friendly and energy-saving requirements 3. Dr Geh Min asked the Minister for Trade and Industry as the Integrated Resorts are intended to be iconic developments appropriate to Singapore's clean and green image, will the Singapore Tourism Board include eco-friendly technology and energy-saving requirements for these developments in their tender document.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - INTEGRATED RESORTS - Eco-friendly and energy-saving requirements Mr Speaker, Sir, the Integrated Resorts (IRs) will be required to comply with URA's planning requirements for the sites, including the provision of greenery and open spaces, as well as BCA's building regulations on energy-saving design. The IRs can also make use of existing Government schemes to promote greenery and eco-friendly features, such as BCA's Green Mark for Buildings Industry Programme and URA's Gross Floor Area exemption incentives for sky terraces and roof gardens.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - INTEGRATED RESORTS - Eco-friendly and energy-saving requirements Beyond that, our preference is to give IR developers as much space as possible to exercise their creativity and imagination to make the IRs distinctive developments that will boost Singapore's attractiveness as a tourism destination.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - INTEGRATED RESORTS - Eco-friendly and energy-saving requirements Sir, can I ask the Minister of State, in view of the fact that the IRs are very, very high profile developments, not just any other development in Singapore, they are given iconic sites and they are a focus of attention not just locally but globally, would it not be appropriate to go beyond present URA regulations? By the time the IRs are completed in 2010, I believe Kyoto Protocol will be approaching the time 2012 and it will be entering the second phase, and many, many countries, all responsible countries, will be increasingly carbon conscious. Would it not be appropriate for such a high profile development in Singapore to legitimatise the triple bottomline that is not just economically productive but socially responsible and environmentally sustainable?

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - INTEGRATED RESORTS - Eco-friendly and energy-saving requirements Mr Speaker, Sir, I believe that the guidelines by URA and BCA are robust and they do address the needs to balance amongst different requirements. There is no need for us, at this point, to argue in the abstract how those IR developments would actually come about. I think in time to come, when the submissions are there, we would see how they meet those requirements. But I do believe that the URA and BCA requirements, as they stand, are very good standards and they would put all developments in Singapore in good compliance with international standards.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - INTEGRATED RESORTS - Eco-friendly and energy-saving requirements Sir, may I ask the Minister of State, if two submissions are submitted, all else being equal, one is a glitzy energy gas-linked development and another is a green and eco-friendly energy efficient development, would not STB and the Ministry prefer the cleaner and greener development and, if so, would it not be fairer to put these guidelines at the beginning as an indication of what we would prefer as a nation for an icon?

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - INTEGRATED RESORTS - Eco-friendly and energy-saving requirements Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to reiterate that, at this point, there is really no need for us to hypothesise whether or not there will be two identical proposals except for the energy aspects. But I do want to reiterate that the URA and BCA guidelines would put us in good stead, vis-a-vis international standards.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - LAND RECLAMATION AT PULAU ULAR - Environmental impact 4. Dr Geh Min asked the Minister for Trade and Industry whether an Environmental Impact Assessment has been done with reference to land reclamation at Pulau Ular and, if so, what are the findings and recommendations particularly pertaining to the impact on coral reefs and marine lives of the surrounding areas and, if not, can one be done as soon as possible.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - LAND RECLAMATION AT PULAU ULAR - Environmental impact Mr Speaker, Sir, JTC, which is the appointed agent for the reclamation project at Pulau Ular, had commissioned an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study three years ago to determine the feasibility of reclaiming land at that particular site. The study was conducted by DHI Water and Environment (Singapore) Pte Ltd, which is an internationally renowned hydraulic institute, and included a survey of the corals and marine life around the area. Earlier this year, a supplementary assessment was also conducted to augment the earlier study.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - LAND RECLAMATION AT PULAU ULAR - Environmental impact DHI's assessment indicated that, with proper sequencing of the reclamation procedures and proper controls to limit the release of silt into the waters, marine life in these waters would not be endangered.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - LAND RECLAMATION AT PULAU ULAR - Environmental impact In line with DHI's assessment, JTC will work with the reclamation contractors to put in place necessary mitigating measures to minimise silt release. These include the use of fill materials with low silt content, and close monitoring of the sand filling process. In addition, at locations, such as Terumbu Bayan, where the corals will be directly impacted, these corals will be relocated to suitable locations. JTC will be pleased to work with interested organisations for this relocation exercise.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - LAND RECLAMATION AT PULAU ULAR - Environmental impact This reclamation project is currently in the advanced stage of planning. JTC has submitted its plans to the relevant regulatory agencies for approval. If necessary, JTC will work with the relevant agencies to put in place additional checks to ensure that the project minimises negative impact on the environment and marine habitats.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - LAND RECLAMATION AT PULAU ULAR - Environmental impact Sir, firstly, may I ask if the Environmental Impact Assessment can be made available to other stakeholders, in other words, the public who is interested and concerned about the marine life there? Can the Minister of State give me more information about the techniques used - whether suction dredges are used, what type of silt screens are going to be used, is it a dry type of reclamation, will the reclamation be conducted from the north or south side and, in particular, the islands in the south, Pulau Hantu, and the protection of these islands which are one of the richest for our coral life

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - LAND RECLAMATION AT PULAU ULAR - Environmental impact have been taken into account in the Environmental Impact Assessment?

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - LAND RECLAMATION AT PULAU ULAR - Environmental impact Mr Speaker, Sir, firstly, I will take the Nominated Member's suggestion about providing more information from the Environmental Impact Assessment and how to make it more available into consideration by the Ministry.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - LAND RECLAMATION AT PULAU ULAR - Environmental impact Secondly, in terms of the technical information of the EIA, I am afraid that I do not have those specific technical information. But I would just like to assure the Nominated Member and all Members of the House that, from the MTI's perspective, we certainly do not want to do any more disruption or damage to our natural habitat or marine life than is absolutely necessary. That is why, for a reclamation project like that, we commission a study and get it done by a body, in this case, DHI, that is competent in this regard. The entire purpose of doing this is to make sure that, even as we pursue the reclamation project in order to advance our economic objectives, we give balanced and focused attention on how we might be able to achieve that in tandem with taking care of our natural environment. So, this is the assurance that I would like to give to the Nominated Member and all Members of the House.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - LAND RECLAMATION AT PULAU ULAR - Environmental impact Sir, I would like to thank the Minister of State for his assurances. Could I ask whether the Ministry of Trade and Industry routinely, before designating an area for industrial development - in this case, in the southern islands - does an EIA and consults all stakeholders, or is this only done after it is designated for industrial use, as in the case of Pulau Ular? Perhaps, I could use an analogy here. There have been EIAs done. Some of them have been done late and they can, therefore, only suggest mitigating measures.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - LAND RECLAMATION AT PULAU ULAR - Environmental impact Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to reiterate the Ministry's stand that, in wanting to promote economic development in Singapore, we are actually on the side of wanting to achieve that objective in tandem with seeing how best to also protect our environment. Studies, like the Environmental Impact Assessment, are actually demonstrative of our commitment in this area. Economic development can happen anywhere in Singapore, depending on the places that are zoned for industrial use and so on. So, whether or not there is a need for a large-scale or detailed Environmental Impact Assessment, we will have got to judge it on a case-by-case basis.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - LAND RECLAMATION AT PULAU ULAR - Environmental impact But, again, I would want to return to my point here that, if there are suggestions that the Member would like to give to the Ministry as to how to better schedule such studies or see when such studies might be necessary, we will certainly welcome those comments, and we would take those into consideration in improving our methods where necessary.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - LAND RECLAMATION AT PULAU ULAR - Environmental impact Dr Geh Min. Last supplementary question.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - LAND RECLAMATION AT PULAU ULAR - Environmental impact Sir, I would like to thank the Minister of State for his offer. I have said this before, a more optimal way of approaching this problem is not to have MTI designate an area for industrial development and then have major reactions from various stakeholders - and I am not just talking about nature conservationists, I am talking about academics, scientists, other stakeholders, such as divers, fishermen ---

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - LAND RECLAMATION AT PULAU ULAR - Environmental impact Dr Geh Min, can you please ask your question?

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - LAND RECLAMATION AT PULAU ULAR - Environmental impact Yes, Sir. May I propose to the Ministry that there should be a proper mapping out of the southern islands, including all the bio-diversity, and which areas are particularly rich. I would like to point out here that Pulau Hantu, which is less than 100 metres south of Pulau Ular, is considered one of the richest areas in the southern islands. If we have a proper mapping out before designating which areas are to be used for what, it would give other Government Ministries a better idea of where to locate their developments. Can I also reiterate that it is important ---

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - LAND RECLAMATION AT PULAU ULAR - Environmental impact Dr Geh Min, I must insist that you ask your question, please.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - LAND RECLAMATION AT PULAU ULAR - Environmental impact Sir, the Minister of State asked me for some recommendations as to how they can best approach it.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - LAND RECLAMATION AT PULAU ULAR - Environmental impact You can give it later. This is Question Time.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - LAND RECLAMATION AT PULAU ULAR - Environmental impact Sir, my last question is: could we have a central coordinating body to protect the marine life and bio-diversity in the southern islands?

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - LAND RECLAMATION AT PULAU ULAR - Environmental impact Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Nominated Member for her views and suggestions. We will take in those views and consider them, as appropriate.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - LAND RECLAMATION AT PULAU ULAR - Environmental impact On the question whether or not we should map out, on a comprehensive national basis, our natural habitat, I would just like to point out that the mission of the MTI is an economic one. It is when we are pursuing this mission that we are looking at different places and we say that, "Now, let us do something here." But we also know that, if we want to do something at a particular location, there could, possibly in some cases, be environmental impact, and that is why when we decide to pick a particular place, then we go to that impact study to see how best to approach the subject matter, and not the other way around.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - LAND RECLAMATION AT PULAU ULAR - Environmental impact I would like to remind Members to be frugal with their supplementary questions, unless they are crucial, and please make them precise. Mdm Halimah Yacob.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - EMPLOYMENT ACT - Amendment to provide better protection to foreign domestic workers 5. Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Minister for Manpower whether his Ministry will consider amending the Employment Act to cover foreign domestic workers by prescribing certain minimum conditions, such as rest day and access to labour court, so as to ensure that they have better protection.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - EMPLOYMENT ACT - Amendment to provide better protection to foreign domestic workers Mr Speaker, Sir, domestic workers, both local and foreign, are excluded from the existing Employment Act for several reasons. Unlike other workers, foreign domestic workers work and stay in their employer's house. The nature of their duties are not uniform and would vary, depending on the specific needs of each household. Thus, legislating minimum employment terms and conditions for all households would result in rigidities and great inconvenience for many households. For example, requiring domestic workers to only work from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm may be impractical, as most families require help early in the morning to prepare children for school and, in the evening, when members of the family return.