Employers can hire foreign domestic workers from countries other than Indonesia to avoid higher fees, says Manpower Minister

Employers can consider to hire foreign domestic workers (FDWs) other than those…

18 new cases of COVID-19 infection in S’pore; 1 case in the community

As of Wednesday noon (3 Feb), the Ministry of Health (MOH) has…

WhatsApp sends ‘Status’ updates assuring users it can’t read or listen to their conversations

Following the controversial new privacy policy terms update on its platform, Facebook-owned…

WHO expert calls for patience over sensitive Wuhan probe

by Laurie Chen There will be no quick answers into the origins…

【国会】时隔多月竟无人纠正维文失误? 林瑞莲:合力追踪数据风波本可避免

主管智慧国计划的外交部长维文,在本周国会会议提呈冠病(临时援助措施)(修正)法案,以限制防疫数据的使用方式。 维文曾在去年的记者会上,说服民众下载合力追踪应用程式,并承诺数据将仅用于病例接触者追踪。但在昨日的国会,坦言自己当时忽略了警方在刑事诉讼法下,有权调取任何数据查案,为此他愿意承担全责,并为造成恐慌和焦虑深感遗憾。 出于全民防疫的大局,尽管工人党仍支持有关提案,但该党主席、阿裕尼集选区议员林瑞莲,直言如果一开始政府就先说明,即警方可索取合力追踪数据,那么这场轩然大波本可避免。 遗憾的是,包括维文在内好几位部长,似乎都表达合力追踪仅限防疫用途。直到上月,维文才向国会坦白,他忽略了刑事诉讼法对防疫数据的权限,结果导致他“有许多不眠之夜”。 但林瑞莲也质问:“在这好几个月,难道政府里没有一个人站出来,纠正有关合力追踪数据的错误说法?” 上月4日,内政部政务部长陈国明在国会答复议员质询时证实,刑事诉讼法赋予警方权力,可获取任何数据,包括合力追踪便携器的数据。 此事引起坊间不满,有者抨击政府有误导群众之嫌;更多人坦言,即便警方可调用合力追踪数据,只要一开始政府说明白,大部分民众还是会认同的。但如今,是在议员在国会提问后,民众才得以知晓此事,只会引来群众的不信任。 而国会昨日通过的修正法案,旨在阐明警方只有在处理七种严重罪案,包括谋杀案、强奸案、绑架案等案件调查时,才可提取有关的数据。 对此,林瑞莲认可政府已尽力在缩小权限,民众也会认同让警方在这些严重罪行时索取资料调查。不过她也询问合力追踪数据的局限,包括人们可能关闭手机蓝牙功能、或是刻意不携带防疫器等。 她举例,例如澳洲等国家,则限制执法机构索取冠病追踪的数据。与此同时,她提及一些律师同业也询问,一些当事被告是否也能索取合力追踪数据。

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan ‘accepts responsibility’ for TraceTogether data blunder but hasn’t said sorry or faced repercussions

“We acknowledge our error in not stating that data from TraceTogether is…

WP’s Jamus Lim explains why he supports increasing carbon taxes via “raise and rebate”

The Workers’ Party (WP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Sengkang GRC Jamus…

71 homes destroyed as Australia bushfire rages near locked-down Perth

At least 71 homes have been destroyed in a bushfire raging out…

Additional COVID-19 testing for newly-arrived foreign workers with recent travel history to higher-risk areas, including maids and confinement nannies

The Multi-Ministry Taskforce (MTF) has decided to extend the post-stay-home notice (SHN)…

About 190 employers found to have underpaid their foreign workers yearly between 2015 and 2019, says Manpower Minister

Singapore’s Manpower Minister Josephine Teo revealed in Parliament on Tuesday (2 February)…