MEDISAVE (Contribution by taxi vocational licence holder)

The following Question stood in the name of Dr Wang Kai Yuen-

Dr Wang Kai Yuen: To ask the Minister for Health what is the rationale for requesting a taxi vocational licence holder to contribute to Medisave if he already has a full-time job and only possesses the vocational licence as a contingency measure against unemployment.

Mr Chng Hee Kok (Tampines GRC): Question No. 14, Sir.

Dr Aline Wong (for the Minister for Health): Mr Speaker, Sir, a self-employed person is only required to contribute to Medisave if his net trade income exceeds $2,400 a year. If a full-time employee holds a vocational licence as a contingency measure against unemployment and earns less than $2,400 a year from driving a taxi, there is no need for him to make additional contributions to Medisave.

However, if a full-time employee also derives income exceeding $2,400 a year from self-employment, he will have to contribute to Medisave based on all the sources of income. This is similar to employees who hold multiple employment.