SINGAPORE: Amendments to four legislations were introduced in Parliament on Monday.

First, the Central Provident Fund (Amendment) Bill which seeks to modify the statutory framework for the making of voluntary contributions to the CPF.

The aim is to allow more savings to be made for retirement needs. Other proposed changes aim to better regulate withdrawals and extend the range of courses for which CPF withdrawals may be made, and also modify the scope of protection of investment made by the CPF member.

Second, the Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Bill which aims to increase levels of accountability and governance in the co-operative societies sector.

It will also consolidate the regulatory role of the Registrar of Co-operative Societies and provide for a more risk-based regulatory scheme, particularly for those which receive deposits or grant loans.

A third Bill, the Environmental Public Health (Amendment) Bill, seeks to enable the Director-General of Public Health to require the owner of any premises to provide bins for the deposit of recyclables.

Also introduced was the Merchant Shipping (Civil Liability and Compensation for Bunker Oil Pollution) Bill.

This is to enable Singapore to give effect to the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage 2001, which will come into force this November.

The Bunker Convention is a treaty covering liability and compensation for pollution damage caused by oil spills from tankers.

Once in force, it makes a ship owner liable for pollution damage in Singapore resulting from discharge of bunker oil from the ship. - CNA/vm