Singapore Law Blog

By 2010, public officers will enjoy an agile infocomm environment that promotes innovation and enhances productivity at work, with the establishment of a Standard ICT Operating Environment (SOEasy) for the public sector. The S$1.3 billion SOEasy (Public Sector) tender was awarded to oneMeridian, the consortium led by EDS International. The other key members in the consortium include Alcatel-Lucent, Avanade, Cisco Systems, Frontline, Microsoft, Singapore Computer Systems and SingTel.

The text of the speech by DPM Jayakumar made during the Committee of Supply Debate in Parliament on 27 Feb 2008.

The text of the speech by Senoir Minister of State A/P Ho Peng Kee in Parliament during the Committee of Supply Debate on 27 Feb 2008.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is seeking views on proposed Guidelines on Fair Dealing – Board and Senior Management Responsibility for Delivering Fair Dealing Outcomes to Consumers (Guidelines).

The Ministry of Health would like to invite public feedback on the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Bill (“MHCT Bill”). The proposed Bill is necessary to ensure relevance as the existing Mental Disorders and Treatment Act (MDTA) will be repealed. The Bill enhances certain safeguards to protect the interests of patients who are compulsorily admitted into psychiatric institutions. MOH is also taking the opportunity to update the penalty provisions to reflect current economic realities and the seriousness of the offences, and to be on par with equivalent legislation.

Singapore and Turkey signed an Investment Guarantee Agreement (IGA) today. The agreement was signed by Mr Lim Hng Kiang, Minister for Trade and Industry, Singapore, and Mr Binali Yildirim, Minister of Transport and Communications, Turkey.

With effect from 1 March 2008, six new sectors will be covered under the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Act. They are: (a) Healthcare Activities; (b)Veterinary Activities; (c) Hotels, Food and Beverage Sectors; (d) Water Supply, Sewerage and Waste Management Activities; (e) Landscape Care and Maintenance Service Activities; and (f) Services allied to Transportation of Goods.

The Singapore Budget 2007 has some initiatives that has an impact on legal practice. They include: (a) removal of estate duty on deaths occurring on or after 15 February 2008; (b) broaden tax reliefs for Singaporeans to top up their own CPF accounts and that of their family members; (c) tax incentives for expenses for fixtures and fittings by companies; and (d) unilateral tax credit claim for foreign income taxes.

Singapore Exchange (“SGX”) is inviting public comment on the proposed enforcement framework, comprising a Composition System and Mandatory Minimum Penalties, for the securities market. The proposed new measures and changes will ensure prompt enforcement actions and resolution of minor to egregious rule violations. The Exchange proposed a similar enforcement structure for the derivatives market recently on 19 December 2007.

IPOS is inviting feedback on the proposed changes to the jurisdiction and procedures of the Copyright Tribunal (“Tribunal”). These changes are intended to enhance the role of the Copyright Tribunal in meeting the growing needs of users and owners of copyright works in the digital age. Members of the public will have from 11th February to 10th March 2008 to review and give feedback on the consultation documents.

The United States will join Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore when they negotiate the outstanding investment and financial services chapters of the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (TPSEP, also known as P4), to be launched in early March 2008.

Singapore Exchange Limited (SGX) today announced the pioneer group of approved sponsors on Catalist, its sponsor-supervised board for local and international fast-growing companies.

From 1 February 2008, foreigners may enter Singapore to carry out arbitration and mediation activities here without a Work Pass. This applies to all persons providing services related to the arbitration or mediation, such as arbitrators and legal counsel.

From 1 February 2008, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) will no longer issue Professional Visit Passes (PVP) to foreigners working in Singapore on short term assignments. MOM will instead introduce two new Work Pass categories for such foreigners - the Miscellaneous Work Pass and the Work Permit (Performing Artiste).

Penal Code (Amendment) Act (Commencement) Notification 2008 was published on 28 January 2008. The President has given his assent to the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill which was passed by Parliament on 23 Oct 2007 . The Penal Code Amendments will come into force on 1 Feb 2008.

Singapore and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC [1]) have substantively concluded negotiations for the GCC-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (GSFTA).

The text of the Second Reading Speech by Mrs Lim Hwee Hua, Minister Of State For Finance And Transport On The Customs (Amendment) Bill is below.

Speech by Mr Gan Kim Yong, Minister of State (Education and Manpower) for the 2nd Reading of the Workmen’s Compensation (Amendment) Bill on 22 January 2008.

Under the Casino Control Act (2006), there are three types of exclusions from the casinos namely, Voluntary Self-Exclusion, Family Exclusion and Third Party Exclusion.

Parliament has approved the amendments to the Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA) to include Muslims from 1st August 2008. With the inclusion of Muslims under HOTA, Muslims who do not opt out of HOTA will be accorded the same priority as other Singaporeans who have not opted out of HOTA. The amended HOTA will also provide MOH with the necessary enforcement powers to investigate any offence under HOTA.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA), and the Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX) today established the Audit Committee Guidance Committee (ACGC). Tasked with developing practical guidance for audit committees, the industry-led ACGC is a key initiative announced by MAS and SGX in June 2007 to strengthen corporate governance practices of listed companies in Singapore.

The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) today announced the discontinuance of the Hotel Safeguarding Policy introduced in 1997. Under the Policy, hotels within designated areas were not allowed to convert to other uses. Hotels located outside these designated areas on the other hand could be converted to other uses such as residential or commercial, subject to planning approval.

The Competition Commission of Singapore (“the Commission”) has today issued its first infringement decision under the Competition Act (“the Act”) against six pest control companies. The companies were found to have infringed section 34 of the Act, which prohibits bid-rigging or collusive tendering.

The Bioethics Advisory Committee (BAC) announces the release of a Consultation Paper entitled “Human-Animal Combinations for Research". Human-animal combinations are entities resulting from the mixing of genes, cells or tissue of human origin with those of other species. The Paper discusses the ethical, legal and social issues arising from the creation and use of such entities for research.

The Singapore Sports Council (SSC) has taken another bold step to reinforce Singapore's position as a leading sports hub. Today, Singapore's first-ever Framework for Alternative Dispute Resolution for Sports (ADR Sports) to resolve sports disputes was officially launched with the signing of a memorandum of understanding among several parties at a signing ceremony held at SSC.