CLAIM FOR LOSSES IN BONUSES BY NSMEN

Mr Ong Ah Heng asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence whether he will allow NSmen to claim losses in their bonuses and pay components, in view of the common use of flexible wage systems.

Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam: NSmen who attend NS training are eligible for the SAF service pay. To make up for the loss in their civilian salary, they are paid an additional make-up pay.

MINDEF recognises that with the increasing use of flexible wage systems in Singapore, more companies are linking the compensation of their workers to their output. Bonuses and other forms of payments are therefore very often an integral part of the regular income of our NSmen. It would not be fair for NSmen to suffer a loss in income when they are recalled for NS training. MINDEF will be amending the Enlistment Act to include bonuses and other regular payments in the computation of the make-up pay.