Operationally-ready national servicemen who become injured while fulfilling their duties will receive the same compensation and insurance coverage as their full-time counterparts, said Senior Minister of State in the Ministry for Defence, Heng Chee How on Monday (1 Mar).
Mr Heng was responding to the Workers’ Party (WP) Member of Parliament Gerald Giam’s seeking of clarifications on whether operationally-ready NSmen who suffer service injuries or accidents will receive the same compensation and insurance coverage as full-time NSmen.
“If not, can MINDEF move towards this, given the invaluable contributions of our NSmen to our nation’s defence?” Mr Giam said.
Singapore’s defence strategy, he stressed, “is dependent largely on the contributions of our National Servicemen”.
“It is important that, should our soldiers suffer injuries in the course of their service to the nation, they will be fairly compensated. This will give them the assurance to give their best during training and operations,” he said.
Mr Giam also asked whether there are plans to increase the existing group term insurance coverage.
Mr Heng replied saying that the Government will conduct a periodical review of the quantum of coverage and will “take into account all relevant factors as we conduct these reviews”.
Mr Giam further raised a question on whether a framework for enhanced payouts for servicemen who are injured or killed in actual operations is currently in place, to which Mr Heng replied in the affirmative.
