Letters | Domestic worker case in Singapore points to need for ombudsman
- Questions have been raised about how the relevant government agencies dealt with the case of a helper accused of theft by her employer
- An Office of the Ombudsman with the power to investigate the actions of public authorities would help boost trust in the government
Singapore’s pioneering leaders have demonstrated that trust is essential for social cohesion, as it affects the government’s ability to govern and enables it to act in citizens’ best interest during times of uncertainty.
Lack of trust compromises the willingness of citizens and businesses to respond to public policies and contribute to a sustainable economic recovery particularly during crises such as the pandemic. Public trust empowers the government to act decisively and is crucial to the government’s fair and effective functioning.
It is time for Singapore to set up an Office of the Ombudsman, with an independent officer of the Parliament responsible for investigating the actions of the public authorities, including government ministries, agencies, statutory boards and town councils.
While an ombudsman is mostly known to deal with complaints related to maladministration by public bodies, it could contribute to service delivery improvements and promote citizen engagement in demanding accountability. This would help build trust between government and stakeholders, particularly citizens.
An ombudsman would recognise the power of the public authorities to affect people’s daily lives, the need for these agencies to be accountable for this power, and the desirability of an office that provides a timely, accessible and low-cost means for people to provide feedback and resolve disputes with these agencies.