SINGAPORE - After two days of debate, a landmark Bill covering a range of protections for platform workers, such as work injury compensation and retirement funds, was passed in Parliament.
The House also heard that legal action has been taken against relevant contractors involved in the various incidents related to Mobile Guardian, a device management application (DMA) used in student devices.
Here are the key takeaways:
New app to manage students’ device use expected by January 2025; legal action taken over Mobile Guardian incidents
Options for an alternative DMA, to manage use of students’ iPads and Chromebooks, are being studied by the Ministry of Education (MOE).
Speaking in Parliament on Sept 10, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing said the ministry will work towards rolling out the new DMA solution by January 2025.
The use of Mobile Guardian, a DMA, has been terminated in all students’ personal devices, he said. Legal action has been taken against relevant contractors involved in Mobile Guardian’s various incidents in 2024.
Why it matters
One in six of the 13,000 affected devices lost some data as a result of the cyber-security breach affecting Mobile Guardian in August. Less than 5 per cent of this group were unable to recover all their data as their devices had not been backed up.
MOE said that Mobile Guardian’s services were ceased from the end of August. Mobile Guardian is a DMA that helps parents manage their children’s device use, restricting screen time and access to specific websites and apps.
S’pore passes landmark Bill recognising ride-hail, delivery gig workers as distinct labour class
Cabbies, private-hire drivers and freelance delivery workers who rely on online matching platforms for income will get greater labour protections from Jan 1, 2025, after lawmakers passed a landmark Bill on Sept 10 designating them as a distinct legal category in between employees and the self-employed.
The 70,500-strong group of platform workers will be afforded greater levels of contributions to the Central Provident Fund savings scheme, aligned with what employees and employers pay today. Platform operators will also be required to provide them with standardised work injury compensation insurance policies, with the same level of coverage as employees.
In addition, platform workers, who cannot unionise under current laws, will be able to form representative bodies called platform work associations, with legal powers similar to those of trade unions.
Why it matters
The culmination of a three-year process that began in 2021, the Platform Workers Bill received support from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Singapore is among the first in the world to provide statutory protection for platform workers as a distinct group.
Platform workers provide services that have become integral to the daily lives of Singaporeans, but their work can be precarious as they are subject to various risks. These include uncertain earnings, traffic accidents and limited retirement funds, which the new law will address.
New offences, stricter laws for casino gamblers and operators
Gamblers at Singapore’s two casinos will soon face a new slew of potential offences and stricter laws regarding visit limits and exclusion orders.
With the passing of the Casino Control (Amendment) Bill in Parliament on Sept 10, two new offences of withdrawing bets after the result of a game is known, and recording non-card games in casinos will be introduced.
It will be easier for the authorities to prosecute excluded individuals for entering a casino, and it will also be a crime for people to breach their family visit limits.
Why it matters
While casino-related crime remains low, the authorities continually update the types of offences to deter crime. The changes to the Act are part of a regular review to ensure it keeps up with changes in the gambling industry. It was last amended in 2012.
For example, it is currently an offence to place a bet after the result is known, but not to withdraw it. There were 10 people investigated for this act between 2010 and 2023. But the police had to use other laws such as theft in dwelling to deal with them.
READ MORE HERE: New offences, stricter laws for MBS, RWS casino gamblers and operators
If you have a few more minutes
New gifted education approach will not change typical class sizes in schools
The new approach to gifted education will not result in changes to typical class sizes of 30 to 40 pupils in primary schools here, said Mr Chan on Sept 10.
He added that class sizes are not necessarily the most important determinant of educational outcomes; rather, it is the quality of teachers and the resources available to them.
The Education Minister was responding to questions from MPs on changes to the 40-year-old Gifted Education Programme announced in August.
Relief staff pool for special education teachers among efforts to improve their well-being
Special education (Sped) teachers will get more time off to go for training or step away for medical or urgent leave, as a pool of relief teachers will be developed, said Mr Chan, in response to a question by Mr Patrick Tay (Pioneer) on stress and burnout risks faced by Sped teachers.
MOE will work with Sped schools and social service agencies to form a pool of relief teachers who can step in when needed, added Mr Chan.
