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Parliament in brief: 3 things you should know

SINGAPORE — During the parliamentary session on Tuesday (Aug 6), Members of Parliament (MPs) spoke about various issues, including questions on whether Singapore will implement a charge on single-use plastic bags and the steps that the authorities are taking to support workers during any economic downturn.

Dr Amy Khor (pictured), Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources, told Parliament that there are no plans to introduce a charge on single-use plastic bags.

Dr Amy Khor (pictured), Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources, told Parliament that there are no plans to introduce a charge on single-use plastic bags.

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SINGAPORE — During the parliamentary session on Tuesday (Aug 6), Members of Parliament (MPs) spoke about various issues, including questions on whether Singapore will implement a charge on single-use plastic bags and the steps that the authorities are taking to support workers during any economic downturn.

The session also saw the passing of the Home Team Science and Technology Agency Bill, which paves the way for the new Home Team Science and Technology Agency.

1. MPs call for Singapore to start charging for plastic bags

Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Environment and Water Resources, said that the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) has no plans to roll out a charge for plastic bags in the near future.

She was responding to questions from three MPs who questioned MEWR’s resistance to do this island-wide.

Dr Lee Bee Wah, MP for Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency (GRC), said that residents in her constituency have asked why Singapore is not following the example of other countries in imposing a fee for single-use plastic carriers.

“Even Bangkok and Malacca charge for the use of plastic bags. So, they ask, why is it that Singapore is so reluctant to charge for plastic bags?”

Similarly, Mr Louis Ng, MP for Nee Soon GRC, who has previously called for a charge on single-use carriers, reiterated his belief that making consumers pay for plastic bags would reduce their use.

“I think we are not saying ban plastic bags, or replace plastic bags, but we are calling for the plastic-bag charge so that we do not over-consume them. I think if we focus on doing this, the (campaign to reduce waste) will go a lot faster,” he said.

Mr Lim Biow Chuan, MP for Mountbatten GRC, echoed Mr Ng’s sentiments: “I don’t see why MEWR is so resistant to impose charges on plastic bags. The general attitude of most consumers (when asked to pay for a plastic bag) is that they might as well cut on it. I really think it will help to reduce the use of plastic bags.”

In response, Dr Khor said that imposing such a charge would be “singling out the use of single-use plastics” when the focus should be on “reducing the excessive consumption of all types of disposables”.

She also noted that there is nothing stopping retailers who are environmentally conscious from implementing a charge themselves and they can choose to do so with MEWR’s support.

2. MOM prepared to support workers in the event of an economic downturn

While the economy has slowed in recent months, the current outlook is different from the situation in 2008 during the global financial crisis, Manpower Minister Josephine Teo said.

She was responding to a question by Mr Desmond Choo, MP for Tampines GRC, who asked whether previous downturn measures to help workers stay in their jobs or find new opportunities have been effective.

He also asked about the plans that the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has to support workers should the economy continue to slow down and result in job losses.

Mrs Teo said an MOM survey in 2009 found that three in four companies that had earlier had plans to retrench workers either postponed or reduced these layoffs as a result of government assistance made available during the global financial crisis.

She said that compared to the crisis, when an estimated 100,000 jobs were lost, retrenchments have remained fairly low and totalled 2,300 in the second quarter of this year.

That being said, MOM, together with the Ministry of Trade and Industry and other government agencies, are monitoring the economy closely and stand ready to ramp up support for companies and workers under the Adapt and Grow initiative, she added.

She also said that retrenched workers may seek help from the Taskforce for Responsible Retrenchment and Employment Facilitation, which pro-actively reaches out to retrenched workers and provides them with timely employment support.

3. Introduction of the new Home Team Science and Technology Agency

The Home Team Science and Technology Agency Bill was passed on Tuesday to facilitate the creation of the new Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX).

Mrs Josephine Te, who is also Second Minister for Home Affairs, said that the agency will make the most of cutting-edge and transformative technology to bolster the Home Team’s efficacy in mitigating threats to Singapore’s security.

“The formation of this agency will not only build mission-critical capabilities within the Home Team, but create synergies within the larger science and technology ecosystem in Singapore,'' she said.

While MPs expressed support for the creation of the agency, some concerns were raised on whether it will simply be duplicating existing efforts by other similar agencies.

Mr Patrick Tay, MP for West Coast GRC, asked whether the establishment of HTX will funnel talent and manpower away from organisations such as the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) and the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA).

Similarly, Dr Chia Shi-Lu, MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC, questioned whether research and development resources will be divided and diverted from current research and development institutions to accommodate the introduction of HTX.

Addressing these concerns, Mrs Teo stated that HTX will share its expertise and resources with other science and technology agencies which have similar needs to the Home Team.

She also said that HTX will work closely with firms in the public sector such as the Government Technology Agency (GovTech), DSTA and DSO National Laboratories.

Related topics

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