TR EMERITUS

Singapore is among the only 10 countries in UN like South Sudan, Tonga, Myanmar and Brunei, which received a "red card" for ratifying 4 or less out of the 18 International Human Rights Treaties [Link]. No other first world countries was in the 10: Even countries like Afghanistan, China, Iran, Syria, North Korea and many African countries ratified and signed more International Human Rights Treaties than Singapore did. The status of ratifications of the 18 International Human Rights Treaties is defined by UN as follows: Blue: 15-18 treaties Light Blue: 10-14 treaties Orange: 5-9 treaties Red: 0-4 treaties There are actually ten core international human rights instruments. Each of these instruments (9 human rights treaties and the Optional Protocol to the CAT) has established a committee of experts to monitor implementation of the treaty provisions by its States parties. Some of the treaties are supplemented by optional protocols dealing with specific concerns. Altogether, there 18 basic International Human Rights Treaties, including the optional protocols: International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, 21 Dec 1965, CERD International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 16 Dec 1966, CCPR Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 16 Dec 1966, CCPR Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, 15 Dec 1989, CCPR International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 16 Dec 1966, CESCR Optional Protocol to the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 10 Dec 2008, CESCR Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, 18 Dec 1979, CEDAW Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, 10 Dec 1999, CEDAW Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 10 Dec 1984, CAT Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 18 Dec 2002, SPT Convention on the Rights of the Child, 20 Nov 1989, CRC Optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, 25 May 2000, CRC Optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, 25 May 2000, CRC Optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure, 14 Apr 2014 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, 18 Dec 1990, CMW International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, 20 Dec 2006, CED Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 13 Dec 2006, CRPD Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 12 Dec 2006, CRPD Singapore only ratified 4 out of the 18. Even so, they came with reservations and qualifications: 1. Convention on the Rights of the Child (ratified in 1995) Declarations: "(1) The Republic of Singapore considers that a child's rights as defined in the Convention, in particular the rights defined in article 12 to 17, shall in accordance with articles 3 and 5 be exercised with respect for the authority of parents, schools and other persons who are entrusted with the care of the child and in the best interests of the child and in accordance with the customs, values and religions of Singapore's multi-racial and multi-religious society regarding the place of the child within and outside the family. (2) The Republic of Singapore considers that articles 19 and 37 of the Convention do not prohibit - (a) the application of any prevailing measures prescribed by law for maintaining law and order in the Republic of Singapore; (b) measures and restrictions which are prescribed by law and which are necessary in the interests of national security, public safety, public order, the protection of public health or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others; or (c) the judicious application of corporal punishment in the best interest of the child. Reservations: (3) The Constitution and the laws of the Republic of Singapore provide adequate protection and fundamental rights and liberties in the best interests of the child. The accession to the Convention by the Republic of Singapore does not imply the acceptance of obligations going beyond the limits prescribed by the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore nor the acceptance of any obligation to introduce any right beyond those prescribed under the Constitution. (4) Singapore is geographically one of the smallest independent countries in the world and one of the most densely populated. The Republic of Singapore accordingly reserves the right to apply such legislation and conditions concerning the entry into, stay in and departure from the Republic of Singapore of those who do not or who no longer have the right under the laws of the Republic ofSingapore, to enter and remain in the Republic of Singapore, and to the acquisition and possession of citizenship, as it may deem necessary from time to time and in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Singapore. (5) The employment legislation of the Republic of Singapore prohibits the employment of children below 12 years old and gives special protection to working children between the ages of 12 years and below the age of 16 years. The Republic of Singapore reserves the right to apply article 32 subject to such employment legislation. (6) With respect to article 28.1(a), the Republic of Singapore- (a) does not consider itself bound by the requirement to make primary education compulsory because such a measure is unnecessary in our social context where in practice virtually all children attend primary school; and (b) reserves the right to provide primary education free only to children who are citizens of Singapore." 2. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (ratified in 1995) Reservations: (1) In the context of Singapore's multiracial and multi-religious society and the need to respect the freedom of minorities to practice their religious and personal laws, the Republic of Singapore reserves the right not to apply the provisions of articles 2, paragraphs (a) to (f), and article 16, paragraphs 1(a), 1(c), 1(h), and article 16, paragraph 2, where compliance with these provisions would be contrary to their religious or personal laws. (2) [...] (3) Singapore interprets article 11, paragraph 1 in the light of the provisions of article 4, paragraph 2 as not precluding prohibitions, restrictions or conditions on the employment of women in certain areas, or on work done by them where this is considered necessary or desirable to protect the health and safety of women or the human foetus, including such prohibitions, restrictions or conditions imposed in consequence of other international obligations of Singapore and considers that legislation in respect of article 11 is unnecessary for the minority of women who do not fall within the ambit of Singapore's employmentlegislation. (4) The Republic of Singapore declares, in pursuance of article 29, paragraph 2 of the Convention that it will not be bound by the provisions of article 29, paragraph 1. 3. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (ratified in 2008) Declaration “Pursuant to Article 3, Paragraph 2 of the Optional Protocol, the Republic of Singapore declares that: 1. The minimum age at which persons may be voluntarily recruited or enlisted into the Singapore Armed Forces is 16 years and 6 months; and 2. The Republic of Singapore maintains the following safeguards in respect of voluntary recruitment or enlistment of persons below the age of 18 years into the Singapore Armed Forces - a. The person is required to produce documentary proof of age, including an authentic birth certificate and identity card; b. Written consent of a parent or legal guardian of the person is required; and c. The person is fully informed of the duties involved in military service by the Singapore Armed Forces through, among other things, informational brochures and career counselors to explain the demands of military life.” 4. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (ratified in 2013) Reservations: “1. The Republic of Singapore’s current legislative framework provides, as an appropriate and effective safeguard, oversight and supervision by competent, independent and impartial authorities or judicial bodies of measures relating to the exercise of legal capacity, upon applications made before them or which they initiate themselves in appropriate cases. The Republic of Singapore reserves the right to continue to apply its current legislative framework in lieu of the regular review referred to in Article 12, paragraph 4 of the Convention. 2. The Republic of Singapore recognises that persons with disabilities have the right to enjoyment of the highest attainable standards of health without discrimination on the basis of disability, with a reservation on the provision by private insurers of health insurance, and life insurance, other than national health insurance regulated by the Ministry of Health, Singapore, in Article 25, paragraph (e) of the Convention. 3. The Republic of Singapore is fully committed to ensuring the effective and full participation of persons with disabilities in political and public life, including through the protection of the exercise of their right to vote by secret ballot in elections and public referendums without intimidation. With respect to Article 29, subparagraph (a) (iii) of the Convention, the Republic of Singapore reserves the right to continue to apply its current electoral legislation which requires that assistance in voting procedures shall only be effected through a presiding officer who is appointed by the Returning Officer and has signed an oath to safeguard voting secrecy.”  Read More →

Guys, Please take a look at the FIFA ranking of Singapore's football: http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=sin/ranking/gender=m/index.html We are currently ranked 154th! Ranking History Date FIFA Ranking position July 2014 154 June 2014 155 May 2014 147 April 2014 145 March 2014 149 February 2014 150 January 2014 149 2013 150 2012 154 2011 145 2010 140 2009 110 2008 132 2007 126 2006 111 2005 92 2004 112 2003 106 2002 118 2001 115 2000 101 1999 104 1998 81 1997 103 1996 92 1995 104 1994 95 1993 75 Before LHL became our PM in 2004, our football ranking was at least in the 100th. Seems like after this guy took over as PM, everything in Singapore goes haywire! Our salaries stagnant, high rentals, high inflation, trains breakdown, hospital ran out of beds, productivity went down, housing cost went up, whole island crowded, Singaporeans losing their jobs to FTs, riots, highest cost to watch World Cup etc etc. Now, we even see FIFA ranking for our football going down! What does this tell us? Can the opposition please send a solid team to Ang Mo Kio in the next GE to contest? I want to see this guy voted out!   Fed-up * Submitted by TRE reader    Read More →

Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin (Photo TODAY) At the Institute of Policy Studies’ Forum today (22 Jul), Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin indicated that the Government is reviewing the CPF interest rates and more announcements will be made later on on this issue. Mr Tan said that concerns about inflation impacting retirement adequacy are valid. He said, "(Inflation) is a valid concern, (and) that is one area we have been looking at, to explore how best we address some of these concerns for the long term. It is something we will be making some announcements on." Mr Tan also said that the Government is reviewing how the CPF Minimum Sum is being calculated, which will in turn affect how much the Minimum Sum should be raised against inflation. The CPF Minimum Sum is currently pegged to inflation using the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and adjustments are made every year. One of the components constituting the CPI is the imputed rent. Mr Tan hinted that the imputed rent component may be dropped from the CPI when calculating the CPF Minimum Sum. He said that “we may want to consider not including” imputed rent when computing Singapore’s inflation rates. Imputed rental, which rises in line with the property market cycle, is what home owners would pay if they were renting out their homes. If this is dropped from the CPI when calculating the CPF Minimum Sum, it means that the Minimum Sum figures will end up lower and CPF members can withdraw more money out from their CPF when they reach 55 years old. Govt studying ways on providing better options for CPF members who can take higher risks DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam Speaking in the same forum today, DPM Tharman who is also the Finance Minister told the audience that the Government is currently studying ways on providing better options for CPF members who are able to take higher risks, so that they can earn higher returns compared to the CPF Investment Scheme system. One option that remains on the table is allowing members to use CPF monies to invest in private pension plans, he added. However, he cautioned against such options, saying that it has to be studied carefully and that people have to understand the risks involved. Mr Tharman did not talk about giving back more returns to CPF members if GIC, the Government vehicle to invest CPF members' monies, makes more returns. In a recent article to ST, NMP Laurence Lien thinks that the Singapore Government should share more with Singaporeans if it is able to make more in its investments using CPF members' monies ('NMP Lien on GIC: Pay out bonus returns periodically'). He said, “The Government is not a commercial entity that needs to be profitable and obtain compensation in return for taking risks. It can take a long-term view and smoothen returns on behalf of CPF members. Even the Ordinary Account can be invested in the long term. Although more liquid by design, the net contributions into the Ordinary Account are generally positive year on year.” “In fact, the total balances of CPF members have increased every year from $52 billion in 1993 to $253 billion in 2013. This gives GIC the stability that it needs to invest CPF funds for the long term,” he added. “Apart from more transparency, I believe the Government should commit to being revenue neutral over the long term on the investments of CPF funds. Based on GIC’s current asset allocation, the Government should be able to accumulate excess returns on invested CPF funds over the long term and pay out bonus returns periodically,” said Mr Lien. The CPF issues has been a hot topic among Singaporeans in recent days ever since PM Lee sued blogger Roy Ngerng over an article he wrote. Roy had alleged that PM Lee "criminally misappropriated" the CPF funds. The incident over Roy triggered the "awakenings" of many Singaporeans, with many questioning the CPF returns and wanting all their CPF monies returned back to them when they reach 55. Some have gone to Hong Lim Park to stage protests. A survey conducted by independent research company Blackbox Research, found that a shocking majority of Singaporeans believe the CPF system does not give a fair return ('Survey: Majority of SGs not happy with CPF returns'). Also, 3 in 5 felt that CPF returns will be a big issue at the coming 2016 General Elections.    Read More →