SPEECH BY MR YIP HON WENG, MP FOR YIO CHU KANG SMC AT THE SECOND READING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH (AMENDMENT) BILL, FEBRUARY 2023

Mr Speaker Sir,?

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1.???I applaud the amendments to the Environmental Public Health Bill. Waste management and cleaning are essential tasks for the functioning of our society. They are also often physically demanding and hazardous. We must do more to recognise and value the contributions of workers in these sectors. This will make the industry more appealing, and safer to work in. I wish to seek clarifications on three key areas of the Bill.

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(A) Uplifting the Waste Management and Cleaning Sector

2.???First, Mr Speaker sir, it is imperative that we continue to expand the Progressive Wage Model (or PWM) to more groups of workers. I fully endorse diversifying the types of sectors that will benefit from the PWM. Are there plans to extend the PWM to other sub-sectors in the industry, beyond waste collection and materials recovery? If so, which sub-sectors are these? What is the median income of these workers? Furthermore, what is the timeline to onboard them onto the PWM? Likewise, for workers who are not yet on PWM, how will skills upgrading be made more accessible to them?

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3.???Before we can even talk about PWM, the workers have to be paid. As we push for better wages and improved earning power for workers, these efforts come to naught, if workers are not paid punctually by their employers. It is disheartening to hear of reports where cleaners do not receive their wages on time. A 2021 report revealed that 57 licensed cleaning companies did not pay eligible cleaners bonuses or progressive wages. Another 52 firms were issued warnings for similar breaches.[1] Are there more recent statistics that indicate whether this situation has improved? As we seek to enhance the Cleaning Business Licensing framework, I propose that the track records of companies on timely payment of wages and bonuses should be taken into consideration, when they apply for their licenses. Recalcitrant offenders must be held accountable. They should be required to demonstrate that they are proactively resolving this issue, before their licenses can be approved or renewed.

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4.???In order for workers to fulfil Workforce Skills Qualifications (or WSQ), I propose that companies should be mandated, or incentivised to give workers paid time off from work for training. Without this, it would firstly be difficult for workers to find the time and energy to attend these courses. Secondly, it is the companies that stand to benefit from qualified workers. As such, it is only fair that the companies pay for this benefit.

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5.???The proposed amendment of "Waste management licensees will be prohibited from deploying individuals in waste management work unless they are employees of waste management licensees" raises questions about who these individuals and workers are. How many of such workers are there and what percentage of the sector does this represent? What are the motivations behind this amendment? I agree that the proposed amendment is a step in the right direction. In particular, this will ensure that workers in waste management work are adequately trained and compensated under PWM. Otherwise, the existing manpower crunch in the sector will only worsen.

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(B) Revisions to Cleaning Business Licensing Framework

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6.???Second, Mr Speaker sir, whilst I support efforts to strengthen the cleaning industry through the Cleaning Business Licensing Framework, it is critical to have specific and viable targets and plans in place to achieve this. The framework’s goals of developing a skilled and resilient workforce, as well as creating better employment opportunities, are commendable. Nonetheless, it is important to acknowledge that the demanding nature of the work, as well as constant exposure to unsanitary environments, has discouraged some individuals from entering the field. To attract Singaporeans to this sector, we must do more to value the contributions of cleaning and waste management professionals. This includes enhancing working conditions, incentives and career development opportunities. What are the specific plans and measurable outcomes that have been established to achieve these goals?

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7.???Furthermore, with regard to the revised framework, I understand that there is a significant difference in the requirements for Class 1 and Class 2 licenses, specifically in terms of paid-up capital, which is ten times more for Class 1. What are the tangible incentives for businesses to upgrade from Class 2 to Class 1 license? Are there specific targets for increasing the number of companies making the transition from Class 2 to Class 1 licenses. If so, are the benefits sufficient to incentivise them to do so?

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(C) Statutory Presumption for Littering from Residential Flats

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8.???Lastly, Mr Speaker sir, as we work to strengthen our efforts to combat littering through the implementation of a new statutory presumption clause, it is imperative that we ensure both clarity and robust enforcement. To that end, I would like to know what percentage of littering cases are currently being attributed to children, the elderly, or individuals with certain disabilities. I fully agree that care and compassion should be exercised in investigating cases involving these groups of people. However, we must also recognise that being elderly, or having some form of disability, should not be a free pass to commit high-rise littering or any other forms of littering offences. Flats have rubbish chutes on every floor, and some even within their homes. As such, inconvenience should not be an excuse.

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9.???In cases involving children, parents or guardians should bear the responsibility of educating them, especially if it is a repeat offence. Stronger enforcement measures should be taken, if the household continues to be found guilty of littering despite multiple warnings, education attempts and fines. Unfortunately, there could also be a possibility that disingenuous individuals may push the blame for littering to individuals that are incapable of being found guilty of an offence, such as children under the age of 10. How will investigation officers determine whether these individuals are pushing the blame to children or other mentally-incapacitated relatives and tenants, in order to escape the penalties? ?

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10.???I understand that there may be operational difficulties in implementing this statutory presumption clause. I cite as an example, a flat owner who leaves his flat for a walk at night when the offence occurred. How does the owner prove that he was not at home, if there is no alibi? Will checks be made against the police cameras at the lift lobbies? If the presumption is difficult to rebut, it may be too onerous for residents who have limited abilities and resources to defend themselves. I am also concerned that some flat occupants may act in an inconsiderate manner, thinking that the responsibility is being placed on another tenant or owner of the flat .

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11.???Can the Ministry share what are the specific targets to determine the effectiveness of this new clause? How will progress be measured? What factors will be taken into consideration in measuring its success? What other plans and measures is the Government considering to bring down the number of high-rise littering cases?

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12.???Complaints about high-rise littering have in fact doubled between 2019 to 2021, compared to between 2016 to 2018.[2]?The proposed amendment is timely as this would reduce cost in proceedings against individuals who commit high-rise littering and allow for more effective use of public resources.

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13.???As we work to strengthen our enforcement efforts against littering, we should not forget the full range of penalties available to us, including the use of Correct Work Order. While fines may be an effective deterrent for some, they may not always have the desired impact for those who can afford to pay the fines without feeling the pinch.

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Conclusion

14.???In conclusion, Mr Speaker Sir, I believe the initiatives are positive steps towards transforming our cleaning and waste management sectors, and addressing the issue of littering from residential flats. Nevertheless, to truly tackle this problem, we cannot just rely on one or two tweaks. We need a systematic and comprehensive approach that addresses the underlying causes of littering, and focus on how to tackle the issue effectively. We need to move beyond industry development and enforcement.

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15.???One key lever is through education and changing norms and behaviour. We must embrace a culture that reduces waste, avoids buying unnecessary items, and practises consumption in moderation. By doing so, we create less waste, and even no waste and have less of a need to manage it. Besides, we must all strive to adopt and maintain good social habits to keep our environment and community clean. No number of cleaners or cleaning technology can keep up with the daily littering habits of hundreds and thousands of residents. Moreover, deploying more cleaners ultimately leads to higher service and conservancy fees. This may perpetuate the mentality that residents are paying for the service, and should make the most use of it. It creates a vicious cycle.

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16.???I recognise that public education on these issues is challenging and takes time. But public education is still essential for creating a society that is civic-minded, considerate, and cares for the environment. We must persist in our efforts and work towards fostering a culture of sustainability and environmental responsibility. This is critical to preserve our environment and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.

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17.???I support the Bill. Thank you.

[1] https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/57-cleaning-firms-fined-for-failing-to-pay-bonuses-progressive-wages-under

[2] https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/flat-owners-to-be-presumed-guilty-of-high-rise-littering-unless-they-can-prove-otherwise-under-proposed-law