Chau Sik Ting
Singapore
“Sir, approximately when will the project be completed? Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I think tenders will be called sometime next year. It usually takes about two years to complete a flyover because it is quite a large one. HONG SAN TEMPLE (TOL fee) 2.”
“I agree with what the Minister has said. It is my hope that Government will make more financial provision in this area. My second point is that a larger pool of dialysed patients will make it more likely for a donated kidney to find a good match; and the better the match is, the lesser the risk to the recipient and the better the quality…”
“However, from well documented scientific evidence, few can deny that such transmission of communicable infections can and do occur. Be that as it may, perhaps it is timely for us to bring our now famous "Keep Clean" campaign one step further and focus public attention at this spitting habit in public places with the objective of inculcati…”
“As to whether this move would lead to increased lending costs to commercial enterprises, in particular the small ones, since the banks would be deprived of the so-called "free funds", keen competition in the market-place may, however, dictate otherwise.”
“Member for Anson would like to include regular inspection of factory toilets. Sir, that is not the priority area I mean. Safety, as the Hon. Minister has indicated, is the priority. Nevertheless, I hope that at the appropriate time when circumstances warrant it, the Hon. Minister will bring about such a change.”
“But its inclusion will not only enhance the reputation of the National Health Plan but more importantly, it will guide the direction and development of proper preventive rather than solely curative health care programmes at the local factory level in the years to come.”
The complete record
Every one of 91 lines we hold for Chau Sik Ting, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 2 of 2.
“Mr Speaker, Sir, first, do I understand that workers exposed to noise-induced deafness will soon have the protection of statutory medical examinations? Adding this on to the list of occupational diseases does not mean that it has the protection of statutory medical examinations. Secondly, since the Hon. Minister of State has not indicated any long-range plan for preventive health care for workers similar to the proposed 20-year National Health Plan, is the Ministry of Labour in close touch with the Ministry of Health in the formulation of a preventive health care programme for workers so that it can be reflected in the 20-year National Health Plan?”
“But this is largely because of the fact that many occupational diseases have a long latency period of between five, 10 and even 20 years after initial exposure before they begin to appear. There is the lack of recognition of dangers of certain industrial exposure. For example, most people can perceive the imminent danger from an unguarded blade of a rotary saw but it is not so easy to perceive the latent danger contained in a brief exposure to asbestos dust for it may take 15 to 20 years for the asbestos to cause a lung tumour and finally death. The probability of dying from lung cancer due to exposure to asbestos dust is just as great as dying from an accident with an unguarded rotary saw. I would therefore like to inquire from the Ministry of Labour, which is responsible for the health of workers, whether it has taken a similar 20-year long range look at the health care for the most important segment of our population, namely, the industrial population, and if it has done so, whether it would make public the profile of the plan and the directions the health care of workers should take so that it could be included in the 20-year national health plan when its details are formally announced by the Ministry of Health in the near future.”
“At present, the majority of doctors looking after industries are general practitioners with little training in dealing with occupational diseases. They are mainly concerned with treatment of common ailments and they lack the essential skills to institute preventive measures. There is therefore a need for these general practitioners to receive further training in occupational health so that they can become designated factory doctors (DFDs) required for statutory medical examinations. Sir, I have proposed that such a designated factory doctor system should be introduced. Having said that, my question therefore is: after a lapse of one year, what has really happened to the follow-up of this item? Sometime last year the Minister for Health mooted a long-term 20-year national health plan for Singapore. More recently the idea of company welfarism, which included medical care for employees as one of its basic tenets, was promoted. These plans are very commend- able for its foresight and aims. What I want to do now is to underline the growing importance of looking after the health of the ever-expanding industrial population. It is not necessary to belabour the point that since we began to industrialize in the early sixties our industrial population in the manufacturing sector has increased substantially. Higher technology, and newer materials and newer industries have introduced into the workplace new materials, new chemicals, new processes in the form of heat, dust, vapours, fumes, noise, vibration and radiation. Workers are subject to the exposure of such hazards for six to eight hours a day and every day of their working lives. It is fortunate that the industrial disease figures for the past five years do not give a grim picture of the situation.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head R be reduced by $10 in respect of Subhead RD-04 of the Main Estimates*. Before I speak on this amendment, Sir, I wish to state that I am involved in industrial medical practice as well as in the National University of Singapore Post-Graduate M.Sc. course on Occupational medicine. Sir, last year in my maiden speech I raised the question of widening the scope of statutory medical examination from the present four to include two or more areas of risk, and also the question of introducing a system of designated factory doctors who would be competent to perform this statutory medical examination. The Minister for Labour indicated that he would look into them. Since then, a year has passed and I would like to know what has happened to the follow-up of these two items. What I stated last year in brief is this. As far as I knew, statutory medical examinations were required for four areas of risk, namely, exposure to ionizing radiation, asbestos, silicosis and benzene. There were, however, other important areas of risk which were glaringly left out. The 1980 figures of notifiable industrial diseases showed that industrial dermatitis headed the list with 255 cases and noise-induced deafness a close second with 229 cases, and compressed air illness ranking third with 25 cases. For 1981, I believe the pattern is the same with perhaps far more cases of industrial dermatitis notified. I mentioned that these areas of risk, namely, workers exposed to industrial der- matitis and noise-induced deafness should have the protection of statutory medical examinations. I also mentioned that statutory medical examinations of workers should be done by professionally competent doctors.”
“Sir, I support the views of the Member for Chong Boon. Apart from helping our police to improve their physical fitness, this visible presence of the police on bicycles will be most welcome by residents of my constituency, particularly now that we have more than our fair share of serious armed robberies.”
“Moreover, even with this tax relief, a taxpayer in the 20% tax bracket, for example, still has to pay for the bulk of the hospital bills, i.e. 80%. I am aware that there will be difficulties with implementation but such difficulties should not preclude consideration of this proposal. Rather they should be successfully overcome as this Government has done with almost all the difficulties ii has been confronted with. Mr Speaker, Sir, we are able to have such a painless budget together with several tax concessions because our people have worked hard under an able leadership to build a strong economy. With more hard work and further upgrading of skills, we will have a sustained economic growth and a healthier state of finance such that the Hon. Minister would in due course consider this proposal of individual tax relief for hospitalization expenses. Sir, I support the Budget Statement. 5.45 p.m.”
“Would it not be fair also to allow hospitalization expenses for curative purposes for this group of people to be tax deductible? Mr Speaker, Sir, we welcome the tax concession in respect of the care of aged parents as provided in the Budget Statement but it is far from adequate. Much emphasis has been given of late to encourage the three-generation family. As such, there will be an increasing number of people who have to take care of their aged parents. Should these aged parents incur hospitalization expenses, it would be an added incentive to our young working population to support their aged parents if tax relief can be claimed for hospitalization expenses. The point I would like to make is that, in the matter of tax relief, due emphasis must be given to the promotion of the physical well-being of human resource. Whilst for the care of the aged, such a tax relief will constitute another incentive for our young working population to look after their aged parents. This move will be in line with our Government's policy to foster closer family ties in a three-generation or even a four-generation family and, in rare cases, a five-generation family. This added tax relief hopefully may also influence patients to seek treatment in private hospitals, thus relieving the pressure on our public hospitals. Sir, in making this proposal, two questions came to my mind. First, can we afford such a tax relief? I think the answer is yes. Secondly, will there be, as a result, an increased consumption of our hospital services? The answer is no. Certainly Singaporeans, or for that matter Asians in general, do not look forward to hospitalization. It is something to be avoided.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to join hon. Members of this House in congratulating the Minister for Trade and Industry for presenting a painless Budget Statement which has drawn up an economic development strategy for the 80's. Manpower, with capital and land, are the three basic factors of production. The cost of repair of many items in the nature of capital investment, such as plant and machinery, fixtures or premises, are allowable as tax deductible expenses incurred in the production of income. The irony is: whilst the cost of repair of machinery, fixtures and premises is allowed tax relief, the cost of servicing and repairing the human body as the basic factor of manpower is disallowed. The cost of repairing the human body could be in the form of hospitalization or outpatient charges. For hospitalization, and I stress hospitalization only, the charges can be extremely high, particularly if the stay is for a prolonged period or the hospitalization involves complicated surgery or other medical procedures. It would seem a good idea to also allow hospitalization charges to be tax deductible. Generally speaking, hospitalization charges for the public sector employees are being taken care of by the Government. However, they still have to pay 20% and 50% of the ward charges, respectively, for themselves and their families. In the private sector those who are in the employ of companies are to a certain extent also being covered by their employers. Again, this is not to the full extent but subject to certain limits. There is yet a third group of people in the private sector, namely, those who are self-employed. They have to pay fully for their hospitalization charges.”
“Sir, this is a very grave matter. It concerns public safety. First, can the Minister assure the House that contractors are selected on a basis of proven experience and track record on safety? Secondly, will the PWD in future cordon off the affected roads for these projects until the structures are certified to be safely secured?”
“Yes, I have already asked my supplementary question.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in the absence of relevant statistics attributing a high accident rate to mechanical failure, as opposed to human factors, as a cause of accidents among this group of cars, would the Minister be prepared to consider compulsory inspection only for cars five years old and above, and not three years old? This will relieve the great majority of motorists of this unnecessary chore and expense. In fact, two-thirds of the cars in Singapore are under five years old, and motorists generally maintain their cars well as it is very expensive to replace with new cars. Furthermore the average distance covered -”
“Though they have registered with the HDB for more than six months, will these people have to pay the increased cost of flats? Though there has been enhanced compensation for resettlement cases since March this year, these people were paid the old rates. As such, there should be some flexibility in the decision to allow them to pay the old prices for their flats. It is only fair. Even if they have been given a so-called choice before and did not take it, they should not be penalized as there was no warning to them by the Board of so much increase in so short a time. It is necessary to have a cut-off date but such administrative convenience does not preclude the need for flexibility to consider certain cases on their own merits. On the measures to minimize future increases, I would like to refer to the recent statement by the HDB's Head of Social and Research Unit that the best hope lies in prefabricated housing to help solve the chronic labour shortage in the building industry. Will this, in fact, help to cut down costs in the long-term? Perhaps the Hon. Minister would like to enlighten this House on this point. The other matter of public interest is the recent accusation of short delivery by building suppliers. This is another area that needs to be looked into urgently because chronic short deliveries will mean eventually extra cost to the HDB and the average Singaporean. 5.16 p.m.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Hon. Minister for National Development has revealed some painful truths behind his policy decisions and statements. There can be no doubt about the rising cost of construction, of land, of clearance, of resettlement and of financing. However, like my fellow colleagues who have dealt with this subject of HDB price hike exhaustively, I would like to emphasize and to seek further clarification from the Hon. Minister on the following three points: (1) land cost; (2) status of resettlement cases; and (3) the measures Government is taking to minimise future increases. On land cost, according to the Ministerial Statement on 24th May this year that despite the increases, i.e. 15% in 1979, 20% in 1980 and 38% this year, public housing continues to be heavily subsidized and that the subsidy given reflects land cost at less than half of the market rates. This is an important point. What is market rate? Is it market rate of 1973 or 1981 based on URA tenders? The information released indicates that land cost accounts for as much as 48% of the total cost of a 3-room new generation flat in the Central Core and about 30% in the New Town. The Government through land reclamation and urban renewal programmes has acquired a large land bank at presumably manageable cost, Is this land bank adequate for our projected future housing needs? The H DB has to acquire land from the Government but has it got to be at current market prices or even half the current market prices? Can the Government in selling land to the H DB do so at cost? This can help lower the price of public housing. On resettlement cases of which I have a fair share, there are a number of cases who have not been allocated HDB flats for administrative and other reasons.”
“Sir, SBS has seen fit to increase its fares all round in view of higher operating costs. What proportion of this is due to higher fuel cost and what proportion to labour cost? What steps are being taken to increase productivity? To the general commuters, buses under the Scheme B Service, on whom the Registry of Vehicles are more stringent, appear to be not only better maintained but their charges are also lower. They also face the same problem of high fuel and labour costs. would the Minister care to comment on this?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to support hon. Members' views on the rates of compensation. First, I would like to touch on the temples in my constituency. I believe my constituency has the most number of temples and they are affected by public redevelopment schemes. Can I ask the Hon. Minister what plans the Minister has on the resettlement of these temples, big and small, which have been in existence for maybe 30 to 50 years? Secondly, I notice in a recent newspaper that the HDB has published the sites for open tender for the construction of temples. Would the resettlement cases be considered on a priority basis or on certain other basis? Thirdly, I wonder whether the Minister can give some assurance as to whether some of the temples which are considered landmarks will be allowed to remain?”
“This is just one case where I think perhaps the Minister would consider. I fully agree with the Member for Toa Payoh when he suggested that there should be a cut-off date for the application of this new set of rules and regulations. It is only fair.”
“Sir, the Hon. Minister has just mentioned the fact that we must keep the family together. However, I would like to ask him whether he is prepared to consider each case on its own merit. In other words, I am about to relate the case of one of my constituents, a young female professional who has just returned from her post-graduate studies. She was shocked that her application was no longer valid. She has no parents because both of them passed away years ago. She has got no family nucleus and unless, of course, I match her with the hon. Member for Alexandra, it would not solve the problem. By the way, she is quite attractive.”
“Sir, the Senior Parliamentary Secretary has definitely not included the big group of sub-contractor workers working in shipyards. This is just to mention one category of workers whom his Ministry has not done any audiometric examination. Of course, for administrative reasons, it would be difficult to be able to examine them and get hold of them. As regards Mindef, and I am also speaking as a soldier, I am aware that quite a number of them, after their ROD, do have noise-induced deafness. As to why they get it, I am not here to explain. However, I think it has got something to do with their training. Anyway, Sir, I beg to withdraw my amendment. Amendment by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, I am grateful for the satisfactory reply given by the Senior Parliamentary Secretary. However, I still maintain that the figures released by the Ministry is an under-estimate. Imagine examining an average of 5,000 workers annually compared to the total workforce who are exposed to noise, we can find no difficulty in coming to the conclusion that it is an under-estimate. As regards deep-sea divers, the health education programme mounted by the Ministry of Labour has been successful to a certain extent, but I still would like the Ministry of Labour to seriously consider this move to make it a statutory medical examination because in this way the consciousness of the deep-sea divers to this particular hazard will be raised.”
“My impression is that a good number of our national servicemen, particularly technicians with the Air Force, have a certain degree of noise-induced deafness. If they are not made aware of this, and they subsequently join Singapore Airlines' workshop or work in other noisy environment, their hearing will be further impaired as they are not likely to take the necessary preventive measures. As noise-induced deafness is a serious and irreversible but a preventable condition, it is definitely timely now to introduce legislation to make audiometric examination a statutory medical examination for those workforce exposed to high noise levels. Five years of promotional work by the Industrial Health Division should be long enough for the idea of workers' protection against noise to take root. But it is, in fact, not so; simply because such an examination has not been made statutory. Another area of concern is the increasing number of compressed air illness among our deep-sea divers who, as a result of this condition, have either died or suffer permanent paralysis of the lower limbs. This serious condition is again preventable and if deep-sea divers are made to undergo statutory medical examination to ensure their fitness for the job and at the same time to impart knowledge of the hazards and their immediate preventive measures, the incidence of this condition will definitely decline. More concerted effort is needed to ensure the safety and health of our deep-sea divers who are already in short supply. 4.00 p.m.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head R be reduced by $10 in respect of Subhead RD-04 of the Main Estimates. Sir, may I beg your indulgence to raise this subject as it is of public interest, even though I myself am involved with occupational health practice. In my recent speech on the Ministry of Labour's Addendum to the Presidential Address, I have mentioned the four areas of risk, namely, exposure to ionizing radiation to silica, to asbestos and to benzene for which statutory medical examinations are required. I have also highlighted noise-induced deafness with a notified incidence of 229 cases confirmed in 1980. Sir, when noise-induced deafness was made a compensable industrial disease more than five years ago, the Industrial Health Division of the Ministry of Labour initiated a hearing conservation programme with a view to promoting awareness among employers of this particular occupational hazard. This ongoing programme is already five years old. Has there been any evaluation of the effectiveness of this programme? The rising trend of noise-induced deafness surely indicates failure of this programme. If that is so, what further measures are likely to be taken to arrest this trend? So far, audiometric examinations have been done on a voluntary basis. As such, there was only a very limited response. The figures on cases of noise-induced deafness release,d by the Ministry of Labour is definitely an under-estimate. This underestimation of the true incidence of noise-induced deafness will increase from year to year because employers including MINDEF are not legally obliged to have audiometric examinations done on their employees and their national servicemen before the run-out date.”
“Although the Sembawang Expressway is being planned, will it be able to effectively cope with the expected increased volume of traffic generated with the full development of the adjacent New Towns? Would it specifically help reduce congestion along both Upper Thomson Road and Thomson Road? If not, are there any alternative plans?”
“Sir, for 15 years or more, residents of the Thomson Constituency have been inconvenienced by recurrent road-work connected with road-widening programmes and change of traffic system. These projects, however, turned out to be only short-term measures. The root cause is the bottleneck situation at the junctions mentioned in my Question. In spite of the opening of Marymount Road, the situation is still as bad as before. I understand that there was a plan before 1965 to construct a flyover at the present Westlake Housing Estate which would have effectively solved the problems, in the view of many residents with whom I have discussed this subject. That, however, did not materialize.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Senior Parliamentary Secretary told this House in 1978 that the green light was given to set up the proposed Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. In fact, it was budgeted for FY 80 and FY 81. A proper study must have been made. And I accept his explanation on the purpose of this present study. The Japanese Government set up such an Institute soon after the war, and it has contributed significantly to their much lower industrial accident rate. Concern for the safety and health of our workers is an important area. We must learn from the Japanese as well as the West. It will mean greater productivity in the long run. However, if we drag our feet further, our workers will continue to lose their lives and limbs. Could the Senior Parliamentary Secretary not accelerate the introduction of the necessary legislation for the establishment of this Institute?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in view of the substantial profits accrued to the insurance industry from the implementation of the Workmen's Compensation Act, could not a certain proportion of this enormous profit be ploughed back to help promote occupational safety and health to prevent further injuries and disability? It is important to place a certain amount of social responsibility publicly on the insurance industry to contribute towards the preservation of worker's lives and limbs rather than just raking in profits. All preventive measures will help reduce industrial accidents and diseases which, in turn, will help reduce the amount of compensation paid out, thus benefiting the insurance industry. Could the Hon. Minister not take concrete steps to ensure that the insurance industry make such a contribution? For example, the Hon. Minister can take measures to influence the insurance industry to form their own environmental and health inspectorate to ensure that the insured companies maintain at least statutory standards of industrial safety and health in their premises.”
“Sir, I would like to suggest here that unskilled workers who have made sacrifices for many years should not be neglected. Measures ought to be taken to give them appropriate skills according to their ability so that these loyal workers will not be dropped out and left behind in the race and in the efforts to restructure the country's economy in the use of new technology in the new industries in the future. To the young workers who have just entered the labour market, they must be instilled with a positive and enthusiastic attitude, a spirit of discipline and responsibility because every worker should be conscious of his role to further stabilize and develop the economic and social condition of our state. In conclusion, I would like once again to congratulate the Minister for Trade and Industry and Minister for Health for his joyful Budget. ADJOURNMENT With the consent of Mr Speaker and the general assent of Members present, Question put, and agreed to. Resolved, "That, notwithstanding the Standing Orders, Parliament do now adjourn." - [Mr Chua Sian Chin]. Adjourned accordingly at Four minutes past Five o'clock p.m.”
“I would like to suggest that the Government should further improve the income tax structure by raising the personal relief from $2,000 to $3,000 because this is more in line with the diminishing purchasing power of money. This will benefit workers in the medium-income brackets who earn between $5,000 and $35,000 a year. Another suggestion which I would like to put forward with social objectives is that the tax relief for the maintenance of aged parents be further raised from the present $750 to $2,000 which is equivalent to the relief for the maintenance of handicapped dependants. I feel that maintaining aged parents who are very old is not an easy task. And this task is even greater if the burden is shouldered by workers in the lower income and middle income groups. Sir, allow me now to touch on other matters mentioned by the Minister for Trade and Industry and Minister for Health besides the detailed statement made by him when he drew attention to the increase in the price of oil. The most important statement made by him is the challenge to workers and employers to create a favourable climate for cooperation in order to achieve common objectives and to refrain from working for their separate self-interests. The budget reflects optimism that targets will be achieved. What is hoped for is that both employers and workers change their attitudes and understand fully our economic and social objectives and to move forward together and work hand in hand in harmony for common survival. They should be dependent on each other; one requiring the help and assistance of the other so as to maintain and further strengthen the standard of living and economic position.”
“A feature in the Budget that exudes euphoria is the income tax rebate of 10% for this year and the announcement that next year the income tax rates will be lowered. The impression created is very clear - the aim of the Budget is to achieve national economic and social objectives. From the economic point of view, this is in line with our national economic policy for the next 10-year plan which is moving towards industrialization. This means that higher skills and expertise is required, thus giving an opportunity to workers to upgrade their skills and earn higher incomes. And with higher incomes, they will certainly be in a better financial position. For the purpose of striking a social equilibrium, the increase in the relief for the maintenance of handicapped dependants from $1,000 to $2,000 is most welcome. Mr Speaker, Sir, after studying this year's Budget, I find it difficult to fault or to criticize it, as it is not quite possible to think of a more satisfactory budget. I say this on the basis of the current world economic climate and forecasts of uncertainty in the years to come. From the reactions of the public, it appears that this year's Budget will greatly contribute towards the general welfare of workers in Singapore. Sir, the plan to broaden the income tax net by bringing in those categories of people who were not previously taxed, such as hawkers, taxi drivers, etc., is most appropriate and timely because the task of shouldering the burden of public expenditure should be shared by all citizens with regular incomes and not just by wage-earners who are unable to evade tax because they cannot hide their actual income.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I now proceed to my second point? The Hon. Minister in his Budget Speech emphasized that manpower development is the key to the long-term success of our economic restructuring strategy and steps are being taken in that direction. But having trained our engineers, business executives and other professionals, what further steps have been taken to meet their rising expectations? To them, a decent quality of life means: (1) ownership of a middle-class home, at least HUDC and not HDB type; (2) ownership of a car; (3) reasonable salary, sufficient to maintain a satisfactory living standard. With today's increasing inflation, most of the young executives and professionals will find it almost impossible, after years of hard work and savings, to own a house. This, surely, is an area of concern. Unless positive steps are taken, this situation will lead to a serious brain drain which we can ill-afford, especially with our present economic restructuring programme and targeting for qualitative growth. In this respect, the HUDC can make a substantial contribution by stepping up its building programmes which have failed to keep pace with the growing demand. With our present economic resources, we can respond positively and adequately by building more units of HUDC housing instead of imposing short-term measures such as the various restrictions to overcome this longterm problem. Sir, I support the Budget Statement. 4.56 p.m. Encik Abbas Abu Amin (Pasir Panjang)( In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, I wish to congratulate the Minister for Trade and Industry and Minister for Health who has presented a Budget that will certainly make all those involved, namely, workers and taxpayers, happy.”
“The earnings from our reserves will more than offset the initial loss resulting from reduction of 10% in corporate tax to the manufacturing sector. Our present economic strength, therefore, can permit us to effect a progressive reduction in our corporate tax structure which, together with improvement of our industrial infrastructure and expansion in our manpower development, will help to enhance our attractiveness to new and more sophisticated investments, thereby stimulating further economic growth. The downward trend in foreign investments which the Minister has indicated in his Budget Statement and I quote, "EDB's potential investment pipeline has become smaller since the middle of 1980" will hopefully be arrested and perhaps reversed. In any case, this move will be a great incentive to our local investors. Mr Speaker, Sir, the above briefly outlines the many areas and difficulties facing manufacturers in Singapore today, particularly the local companies. In order that Singapore could sustain a viable and growing manufacturing sector, it is imperative that the problem areas outlined above be carefully considered by the Hon. Minister and that steps are taken to reduce the burden on manufacturers while at the same time stimulating them towards greater enterprise. This would have to be a serious and concerted effort by the Government to ensure that the plans recently announced by the Hon. Minister can bear fruit as envisioned by him. He also stressed strongly the role of the private sector both in his Budget Speech and in his speech to the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently. The manufacturers, I am sure, would be willing to work closely with the Government to try to achieve the targets set in the 10-year development plan for the decade.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in order that manufacturers could sustain their operations and even consider expansion, there must be adequate and sufficient assistance for their operations. Our Government should give due consideration to the manufacturing sector, since it is virtually the dynamo of the economy generating much of the services and trades that the other sectors depend on to a large extent. Perhaps the following suggestions could be considered by the Hon. Minister: (a) A conscious effort by the Government to constrain increases in overhead burdens to manufacturers, especially in areas such as utilities, land and rental costs and statutory contributions. (b) A more flexible and wide-ranging application of existing tax and financial incentives to cover as many of the smaller and medium-sized companies as possible. (c) Possible progressive reduction of corporate income tax for the manufacturing sector from the current 40% to perhaps 30% level. A 30% corporate income tax could provide a tremendous boost to industries which can then re-channel the tax savings accrued into expansion and diversification programmes. Most of them at present are overly concerned about meeting tax payments rather than devoting their energies at reinvestment schemes from their corporate profits. Singapore is now setting up a Government Investment Corporation because our reserves have not been getting a fair return. From available statistics, a conservative estimate of our surplus public funds (in foreign reserves as well as in deposits of Singapore dollars with the Singapore banking system) is not less than $15 billion which, on the basis of a modest 5% additional return, will add $750 million profit to our State coffers annually.”
“e. 20 1/2% CPF, 2% payroll tax, 4% Skills Development Fund, in addition to the NWC recommendations. Apart from these statutory contributions, other areas affecting manufacturers are: (a) High utility charges (it is anticipated that these rates will again be raised this year.) (b) Higher rentals for industrial land and facilities. The JTC is systematically revising its rates by the full 50% in its industrial estates. The HDB, while following a different system from the JTC, is using an open tender system for industrial facilities. This tends to push up land and facilities costs to higher levels. Owing to the above difficulties, most manufacturers find it difficult to maintain a reasonable return on their investments. While detailed figures are not available, it would appear from feedback received from manufacturers, that most of them have lower and lower returns on investments. This compares very unfavourably with the other sectors such as trading, property, finance and commercial services. When we consider the many problem areas that manufacturers have to contend with in their operations, and then deriving such a low return, it is no wonder that many are seriously considering opting out of the manufacturing sector to go in for the less rigorous commercial and non-manufacturing sectors. Governmental incentives so far have benefited relatively few of the small to medium-sized factories in Singapore since the criteria used for awarding incentives such as pioneer status, export incentives etc., are very stringent. Only the Small Industries Finance Scheme has seen a better response during the last year or so because of the more aggressive marketing programmes mounted by the banks and finance companies participating in the scheme.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to join my colleagues in their praise of the Budget Statement and I share the sentiments of the Member for Katong. Like the previous speakers, I am no economist and cannot adequately comment on the Budget Statement. Nevertheless, I am sure the first of the two points I am about to raise makes sense, at least there is no self-interest here. Mr Speaker, Sir, the Economic Survey for 1980 has shown that the manufacturing sector contributed 25% to the GDP of Singapore last year. This was lower than the 31% contribution achieved by the sector in 1979. In the recent Budget Speech of the Minister for Trade and Industry, the Government spelt out its intention to keep economic growth at 8% to 10% of GDP for the coming years and to achieve a higher contribution to GDP of 31% by 1990 for the manufacturing sector. All these would mean sustaining the momentum and, in fact, increasing the investment commitments in the manufacturing sector for the rest of the decade. There will have to be a sustained and significant increase in fixed assets in the sector, involving factories, plant and machinery, skills training and development. In addition, the manufacturers, in further mechanizing and automating their operations, would require an expanded export market to offset the increased capacity and production levels created. Sufficient numbers of skilled and semi-skilled workers would have to be employed and managers upgraded to meet the higher capital investments and greater export marketing drives. Sir, while market development is an important problem area, one of the main factors inhibiting manufacturers currently is the high overheads that have to be borne. At present, employers in the manufacturing sector have to contend with high statutory contributions, i.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I trust that I have succeeded in drawing attention to the need for the establishment of an Institute of Occupational Health and Safety, the necessity of widening the scope of statutory medical examinations by competent designated factory doctors and the vigilance required to protect our workers and citizens from radioactive hazards. Sir, I support the Motion thanking the President for the Speech which he delivered on behalf of the Government. 3.10 p.m.”
“There is a common practice of requiring an annual chest X-ray examination for workers generally, and this has been incorporated into many collective agreements. I question its necessity and the validity of continuing such a practice. More than 15 years ago annual chest X-ray examination was introduced for the purpose of the early detection of pulmonary tuberculosis because tuberculosis was prevalent then. Today, thanks to our Government's effective leadership and success at improving our people's standard of living, pulmonary tuberculosis is a receding disease. Is there then a necessity to continue this practice instead of making it a relic of the past? The interval between chest X-ray examinations should be increased from one to three years except for those exposed to specific hazards. It is not so much a question of saving expense and inconvenience for the employers but rather we need to constantly review some of our common practices to see if they are still relevant today. The radiation hazard of a single chest X-ray is, of course, minimal; but then our health conscious citizens will want X-ray examination for the slightest injury as well as requesting for other more sophisticated diagnostic procedures, such as the barium meal and the intravenous pyelogram in addition to having routine X-rays while in national service. The total dose may not be insignificant. The workers in Singapore are not in a position to recommend any change and doctors are reluctant to do so for their own reasons. Could the Ministry of Health come up with an authoritative and considered clear-cut opinion on this issue of annual chest X-ray examination for workers in general?”
“Since then, it is surprising to note that these particular radioactive wastes are still awaiting disposal. Surely there must be a more effective and speedy way to solve this problem. The possibilities of sources being lost through negligence or otherwise are always there. Are there any incidents other than the National Iron & Steel Mills' case where sources have been reported lost but not made public? Mr Speaker, Sir, we are a small country with one of the highest population concentrations in the world. Any calculated risk in the area of radioactive contamination must be avoided at all costs. This unseen, unfelt and unheard enemy poses great danger to our well-being. The Ministry of Science and Technology should upgrade and increase the number of trained staff in its Radiation Protection Inspectorate to effectively implement the Radiation Protection Act of 1973 and to enforce its regulations. I know it is going to be taken over by the Ministry of Health. It is an excellent piece of legislation which has helped to minimize to a certain extent the hazards of ionizing radiation in Singapore. The control is basically done through a system of licensing and inspection by the radiation protection officers and also through a system of medical surveillance of ionizing radiation workers and members of the public who may be exposed to radiation. To maintain effective control over the increasing use of radioactive materials and irradiating apparatus to protect our workers' health will require more trained manpower than are presently available. While on the subject of radiation, may I digress a little and shift to the Ministry of Health.”
“Statutory medical examination of workers should be done by professionally competent doctors. As I have said earlier, the majority of doctors looking after industry are general practitioners with little or virtually no training in dealing with occupational diseases. They are mainly concerned with treatment of common ailments and they lack the essential skills to institute preventive measures. There is a need for these general practitioners to receive further training in occupational health so that they can become Designated Factory Doctors (DFD) for statutory medical examinations. Mr Speaker, Sir, what I am again trying to suggest is a widening of the scope of statutory medical examination from the present four to include two more and others which the Ministry would like to look into, such as exposure to hazards from lead, and to introduce a system of designated factory doctors who will be competent to perform these statutory medical examinations for the protection of workers. Mr Speaker, Sir, my third and final point is my observation on the Addendum of the Ministry of Science and Technology, notwithstanding its impending disintegration. It is stated that the Department of Scientific Services will upgrade the services it provides to the Government departments. Why only to Government departments and not to the private sector as well? More than two years ago, the public was suddenly made aware of the accidental inclusion of a radioactive source among the scrap delivered to National Iron & Steel Mills Ltd., subjecting a number of our workers to unnecessary risk. While blame cannot be attached to our system of control in this particular case, it does reveal a point of weakness.”
“It is hoped that the early establishment of the Institute, with its increased availability of professional and skilled manpower and laboratory facilities, will ensure that this programme is effective and the House can be informed every year that occupational cancer figures remain at zero. Mr Speaker, Sir, the second point I would like to take up is the statutory medical examination of workers in certain industries to safeguard workers' health. At present, as far as I know, statutory medical examinations are required for four areas of risk, namely, for workers exposed to ionizing radiations, to silica, to asbestos and to benzene. There are, however, other very important areas of risk which have been glaringly left out. According to the latest figures of notifiable diseases given to me for the year 1980, industrial dermatitis heads the list with 255 cases and noise-induced deafness a close second with 229 cases, and compressed air illness ranking third with 25 cases. One would have thought that these areas of risk, namely, workers exposed to the risk of industrial dermatitis and noise-induced deafness, should have the protection of statutory medical examination. Though the damage due to industrial dermatitis rarely becomes permanent, it can nevertheless contribute significantly to sickness absence and, therefore, directly affecting productivity. Noise-induced deafness, on the other hand, is irreversible and there is no known cure. Its potential cost to industry is probably greater than for any other occupational disease. This cost should be computed not only in terms of hearing impairment but also in terms of workmen's compensation, reduced productivity, increased accident rates, communication difficulty and other factors.”
“Nine months have passed since then; nay, more than 20 months have elapsed. But what of the birth? We are still waiting. An hon. Member: Overdue! Dr Chau Sik Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, the proposed Institute is indispensable to our Government's aim to improve standards of safety and health. Call it by whatever name, an Institute or Board of Occupational Safety and Health, it will be no white elephant. Initially it should be mainly concerned with training, with the provision of part-time professional courses for the safety officers, industrial nurses, industrial hygienists and industrial doctors. As in the case of the Ministry of Health, the Labour Ministry should consider. inviting some renowned foreign consultants for short teaching stints at the proposed Institute. Some degree of consultancy work and operational research need to be done and these will expand in due course when we have more trained manpower. In the midst of our earnest quest for rapid industrialization and technological advancement, the establishment of this Institute or Board to serve as a focus for the proper development of occupational safety and health to protect the interest of our workers is timely. This is not to say that the Ministry of Labour is unconcerned. In fact, it has gone through the different levels of safety and health training for personnel in industry. But the effort has not been concentrated enough and is, therefore, inadequate. Furthermore, it has launched several programmes, the latest being the Occupational Cancer Prevention Programme.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, what I am trying to suggest is that in line with our Government's policy of upgrading skill at all levels, safety personnel, nurses, hygienists and doctors involved with industry need to be further trained, and trained in sufficient numbers, to help our factories improve their health and safety administration. I note with interest the Ministry's earlier Addendum to the Presidential Address on 26th December, 1978, which stated that there would be a proposed Institute of Occupational Safety and Health which, I quote, "will concentrate on meeting the need for systematic training of safety and health personnel in industry". Further, in March, 1979, the Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Labour told the House that his Ministry was given the green light to proceed with the establishment of the Institute of Occupational Health and Safety. He interestingly stated at the time that his Ministry was undergoing a period of labour pains on the drafting of the necessary legislation to give final birth to this Institute.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to join my colleagues in this House in thanking the President for his speech delivered at the opening of the First Session of the Fifth Parliament. Sir, may I refer to the Ministry of Labour's Addendum to the Presidential Address. The Ministry is to be congratulated for its continued effort to help factories improve their safety and health administration. One of the important ways to do this is to have competent trained staff of the required types and in sufficient numbers to man the services in industry. There are four key types of trained manpower required, namely, the safety officers, the industrial nurses, the industrial hygienists and the industrial doctors. There is a dearth of trained safety officers at present. I understand that under the factory legislation at least 250 trained safety officers are required in the factories. But how many are there at present?. I understand that the figure is 127, just a little more than 50% of the number required. No wonder there has been very little or no improvement in the industrial accident statistics over the past years. There are many nurses now working in industry and their numbers are probably insufficient. The majority of them have little or no training in occupational health and safety. As for industrial hygienists, there is not even a single individual qualified in Singapore, as far as I know. The majority of doctors looking after industry are general practitioners with virtually little skill and competence to deal with occupational diseases and environmental conditions, particularly in its preventive aspect.”