Workforce Singapore Agency Act 2003

• Jurisdiction: Singapore
• Coming into Force: 31 December 2021
• Record Number: Cap. 305D
• Published date: 31 December 2004
• Year: 2003
• Act Number: (Original Enactment: Act 14 of 2003)
• Enactment Date: 01 September 2003

Workforce Singapore Agency Act

(CHAPTER 305D)

(Original Enactment: Act 14 of 2003)

REVISED EDITION 2004

(31st December 2004)

An Act to establish and incorporate the Workforce Singapore Agency, to provide for its functions and powers, and for matters connected therewith. [Act 20 of 2016 wef 04/10/2016]

[1st September 2003]

PART I PRELIMINARY Short title 1. This Act may be cited as the Workforce Singapore Agency Act. [Act 20 of 2016 wef 04/10/2016] Interpretation 2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires — “Agency” means the Workforce Singapore Agency established under section 3; [Act 20 of 2016 wef 04/10/2016] “Chairman” means the member of the Agency who is appointed under section 7A as the Chairman of the Agency and includes any temporary Chairman of the Agency; [Act 20 of 2016 wef 04/10/2016] “chief executive” means the chief executive of the Agency, and includes any individual acting in that capacity; [Act 5 of 2018 wef 01/04/2018] “Deputy Chairman” means the member of the Agency who is appointed under section 7A as the Deputy Chairman of the Agency and includes any temporary Deputy Chairman of the Agency; [Act 20 of 2016 wef 04/10/2016] “member” means any member of the Agency and includes any temporary member of the Agency; “transferred agency” means any transferred agency specified in the second column of the Schedule; “transferring body” means any transferring body specified in the first column of the Schedule.

PART II ESTABLISHMENT, INCORPORATION AND CONSTITUTION OF AGENCY Establishment and incorporation of Workforce Singapore Agency 3.—(1) There is hereby established a body to be known as the Workforce Singapore Agency which shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and shall, by that name, be capable of — (a) suing and being sued; (b) acquiring, owning, holding and developing, or disposing of property, both movable and immovable; and (c) doing and suffering all such other acts or things as a body corporate may lawfully do and suffer. [Act 20 of 2016 wef 04/10/2016] (2) The Agency may perform any of its functions or carry out any of its duties under the business name of Workforce Singapore, or another business name that the Minister from time to time allows. [Act 20 of 2016 wef 04/10/2016] (3) The Agency must cause notice of every business name approved under subsection (2) to be published in the Gazette; but failure to do so does not invalidate the approval or use of that name. [Act 20 of 2016 wef 04/10/2016] [Act 20 of 2016 wef 04/10/2016] Common seal 4.—(1) The Agency shall have a common seal and such seal may, from time to time, be broken, changed, altered or made anew as the Agency thinks fit. (2) All deeds and other documents requiring the seal of the Agency shall be sealed with the common seal of the Agency. (3) All instruments to which the common seal is affixed shall be signed by any 2 members generally or specially authorised by the Agency for the purpose or by one member and the chief executive. (4) The Agency may, by resolution or otherwise in writing, appoint any officer of the Agency or any other agent either generally or in any particular case to execute or sign on behalf of the Agency any agreement or other instrument not under seal in relation to any matter coming within the powers of the Agency. (5) All courts, judges and persons acting judicially shall take judicial notice of the common seal of the Agency affixed to any document and shall presume that it was duly affixed. Constitution of Agency 5.—(1) The Agency consists of at least 9 and not more than 15 members. [Act 20 of 2016 wef 04/10/2016] (1A) Each member is to be appointed by the Minister by instrument in writing. [Act 20 of 2016 wef 04/10/2016] (2) The Minister may appoint the chief executive to be a member. Chairman may delegate functions 6. The Chairman may in writing authorise any member to exercise any power or perform any function conferred on the Chairman by or under this Act. Term of office of members 7.—(1) A member shall hold office on such conditions and for such term, not exceeding 3 years, as the Minister shall specify in his appointment, and may from time to time be re-appointed. (2) Any member may at any time, by notice in writing to the Minister, resign from his office. (3) The Minister may at any time revoke the appointment of any member without assigning any reason. (4) If a member dies or resigns or has his appointment revoked, the Minister may appoint any person to fill the vacancy for the residue of the term for which the vacating member was appointed. (5) The Agency shall pay to the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman and other members such salaries, fees and allowances as the Minister may, from time to time, determine. Chairman and Deputy Chairman 7A.—(1) The Minister may, by instrument in writing, appoint — (a) a member to be the Chairman of the Agency for such period as is specified in the instrument; and (b) a member (other than the Chairman of the Agency) to be the Deputy Chairman of the Agency for such period as is specified in the instrument. (2) The Chairman or Deputy Chairman holds office until — (a) his term of office as Chairman or Deputy Chairman (as the case may be) expires; (b) he ceases to hold office as a member of the Agency; or (c) the Minister terminates his appointment as Chairman or Deputy Chairman (as the case may be), whichever first happens. (3) The Deputy Chairman of the Agency has and may exercise all of the functions and powers of the Chairman in relation to a matter if — (a) the Chairman is unavailable; or (b) the Chairman is interested in the matter within the meaning of section 23 of the Public Sector (Governance) Act 2018. [Act 5 of 2018 wef 01/04/2018] [Act 20 of 2016 wef 04/10/2016] Temporary Chairman, etc. 8. The Minister may appoint any person to be a temporary Chairman, temporary Deputy Chairman or temporary member during the temporary incapacity from illness or otherwise, or during the temporary absence from Singapore, of the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman or any member, as the case may be. Meetings and proceedings of Agency 9.—(1) The quorum at every meeting of the Agency shall be one-third of the total number of members. [25/2009 wef 15/01/2009] (2) The Chairman or, in his absence, the Deputy Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Agency and, in the absence of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman, the members present shall elect one of their number to preside. (3) Meetings of the Agency shall be held at such times and places as the Chairman may determine. (4) All questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes of the members present and voting. (5) At any meeting of the Agency, the Chairman or, in his absence, the Deputy Chairman or member elected under subsection (2) to preside, shall have a deliberative vote and, in the case of an equality of votes, he shall also have a casting vote. [Act 20 of 2016 wef 04/10/2016] (6) The validity of any proceedings of the Agency shall not be affected by any vacancy amongst its members or by any defect in the appointment of any member. (7) Subject to the provisions of this Act and the Public Sector (Governance) Act 2018, the Agency may regulate its own proceedings. [Act 5 of 2018 wef 01/04/2018] 10. [Repealed by Act 5 of 2018 wef 01/04/2018]

PART III FUNCTIONS, DUTIES AND POWERS OF AGENCY Functions and duties of Agency 11.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the functions and duties of the Agency shall be — (a) to promote and facilitate employment and re-employment in Singapore through services and facilities that help citizens and residents of Singapore find and keep jobs; [Act 20 of 2016 wef 04/10/2016] (b) to collaborate with and support employers, relevant representatives of commerce or industry and public sector agencies in Singapore — (i) to identify and promote the enhancement of industry-specific skills; (ii) to enhance individuals’ employability; and (iii) to increase workforce productivity and improve the international competitiveness of commerce and industry; [Act 20 of 2016 wef 04/10/2016] (c) to promote and facilitate productive employment and employee career development, including through review and reallocation of job duties and tasks among employees (commonly called job redesign); [Act 20 of 2016 wef 04/10/2016] (d) to promote and facilitate the adoption of best practices in the management of human capital in Singapore; [Act 20 of 2016 wef 04/10/2016] (e) to advise and make recommendations to the Government on policies, measures and laws connected with the Agency’s functions under this Act or any other written law; [Act 20 of 2016 wef 04/10/2016] (f) to cooperate and collaborate with the SkillsFuture Singapore Agency in the discharge of its functions under the SkillsFuture Singapore Agency Act 2016; [Act 20 of 2016 wef 04/10/2016] (g) to encourage, promote and facilitate the development of the human resources industry in Singapore; (h) to promote or undertake research in Singapore into matters relating to the Singapore workforce; [Act 20 of 2016 wef 04/10/2016] (i) [Deleted by Act 20 of 2016 wef 04/10/2016] (j) [Deleted by Act 20 of 2016 wef 04/10/2016] (k) [Deleted by Act 20 of 2016 wef 04/10/2016] (l) [Deleted by Act 20 of 2016 wef 04/10/2016] (m) [Deleted by Act 20 of 2016 wef 04/10/2016] (n) [Deleted by Act 20 of 2016 wef 04/10/2016] (o) to provide financial support by way of grants, loans or otherwise so as to give effect to the functions and objects of the Agency; (p) to undertake, direct and support the analysis and dissemination of labour market information and trends to the public; (q) to represent the Government internationally in respect of matters relating to workforce development and public employment services; and [Act 20 of 2016 wef 04/10/2016] (r) to carry out such other functions as are imposed upon the Agency by or under this Act or any other written law. (2) The Agency may undertake such other functions as the Minister may assign to the Agency and in so doing, the Agency shall be deemed to be fulfilling the purposes of this Act, and the provisions of this Act shall apply to the Agency in ...