Eric Cheong Yuen Chee
Singapore
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head Q be reduced by $10 in respect of Code QI 1000 of the Main Estimates. The Minister has announced the issue of new identity cards. Since it affects the vast majority of the population the registration process should be made more convenient.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, as we all know, ambulance services are run by the Singapore Fire Service and also by the Government hospitals. As there is an increasing need for the sick and aged to be transported from place to place, many of these cases are non-emergency cases requiring an ambulance run by the Fire Service.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head Q be reduced by $10 in respect of Code QH 1000 of the Main Estimates. Sir, at present a work permit holder who marries a Singapore citizen without getting prior approval from the Commissioner for Employment is banned permanently from entering Singapore.”
“Sir, my other colleagues have a wide range of subjects on the drug control. I have just one point to make, and that is, whether the Minister will consider the confiscation of vehicles used in the transportation of illegal drugs. This is different from confiscation of assets that may belong to the drug traffickers.”
“Police, because of limited manpower, will emphasize high efficiency and optimum use and deployment for all the various functions, and greater emphasis will be given to mechanization and computerization. But while doing all this, the Police must continue to strive to get public support and community support.”
“Sir, the points that I wish to raise have already been covered by the Member for Boon Teck. But I have just one little point, and that is, to reinforce his argument that there is a reduction in manpower in the NPP. Originally it was eight per shift, now it has been reduced to four.”
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“They can obtain loans through mortgages for such purchases or enter into partnerships. The argument may be that if an owner of a HDB flat can afford to purchase a commercial property, he should be able to purchase a private flat or a house. Soon such an argument became far-fetched. There appears to be some contradiction in granting exemption to certain cases. For example, if a person owns a shophouse where he carries on his business and where it is not possible for him to live in it, he may be granted exemption. There should be no distinction in granting exemption if a commercial property without living quarters is used by the owner for the conduct of his own business. The second point I wish to raise, Sir, is the need for the Housing and Development Board to help to improve the livelihood of tenants of one-room flats. In Toa Payoh, for instance, there are several blocks of one-room flats whose occupants have been living there for more than 10 years. Many of them are earning a subsistence wage. Due to various reasons they are unable to afford to purchase a larger flat under the home ownership scheme. Many of these residents have applied for hawker stalls to supplement the family income. Such applications are rejected by the Housing Board on the grounds that one or other members of the family are already employed. I would like to quote an excerpt of a speech by the Hon. Minister for Labour at the opening of the Sixth International Metal Workers Federation, Asian Youth and Women Symposium: `We also want mothers to continue to work, partly to solve the problem of labour shortage and partly to supplement the family income` By helping to supplement the family income it will help to improve the standard of living of families living in one-room flats.”
“Sir, the way in which the HDB compulsorily acquire flats on serious breaches of the Housing and Development Board (Amendment) Act has, in practice, caused hardship and anguish to the people concerned. A few cases would illustrate these difficulties. An unmarried woman, a Singapore citizen, qualifies for a HDB flat and is given one. She lives in it with her parents and sisters, all of whom are permanent residents but with Malaysian citizenship. In due time the owner of the flat married and moved into the matrimonial home of her husband. Because the husband owned the house, the woman was asked by the HDB to surrender her flat. She is now unable to perform her filial duty to her parents who must now vacate the flat. The second instance is of a father who qualifies for a HDB flat but purchased it in the name of his eldest son. The father provided the entire purchase price of the flat. In due time the eldest son married and seek to transfer the flat back to the father, so that he, the son, could apply for his own flat. The HDB could not do it under current policy. There are other cases where owners have gone on to acquire other commercial properties and to improve themselves. Such owners are also required to surrender the flat. Sir, I believe the HDB has arbitrarily fixed the value of such commercial properties without giving any thought to the hardship caused to the owners. There are many other instances to show how inflexible applications of policies have resulted in dispossessed families. The Urban Renewal Authority and other authorities are encouraging the development of private shopping and commercial complexes. Such complexes are usually sold by the developers. A buyer need not necessarily pay cash for the purchase of these shopping and commercial complexes.”
“Sir, we have to import our livestock, particularly cattle, from neighbouring countries. We have been obtaining our beef requirements mainly from Australia and New Zealand at very high cost to the consumers. The recent agreement signed with Thailand to proceed with the joint project on cattle raising for export to Singapore is indeed a welcome move. May I ask the Minister whether this project includes the provision of veterinary services and abattoir facilities to our partners in Southern Thailand? Furthermore, whether there are any plans to start a similar project with other ASEAN countries, for instance, Indonesia? Finally, whether such a project will help to reduce the cost of such beef in Singapore? 2.45 p.m.”
“(4) Where departments frequently underestimate, is any attempt made to investigate and understand the attitude of the people making the estimates with a view to establishing a better rapport? In a company. the financial controller or chief executive must understand the ability and mental make-up of his staff, and where cases of non-achievement are known, as in the case of a bad estimate, we must search for clues behind the failure to perform. The investigation into the attitude of his managers is often a first task. I believe the human factor should similarly be given due weight in the public service. Sir, I want to make it clear that I am not criticising the Budget Division of the Ministry of Finance or the user departments concerned for poor performance in fund allocation - not in this debate anyway as I do not have actual examples of callous under-estimation. I am just being academic. To me, under-estimation is as much a flaw as poor implementation. It suggests a certain weakness in control. It is a management problem and it would lead to losses in the business sense. If, for example, we could prevent a loss of $26 million through better estimation and control, we have an additional argument for income tax reliefs to be increased!”
“In view of the Minister's reply, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn, Mr Goh Chok Tong: Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head X be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead BAA 8102. Sir, I notice that the provision for "New Projects and Under Estimation" has been increased by more than 10 times from $10 million in FY 76 to $105 million in FY 77. The Memorandum on the Main and Development Estimates does not give us any clue as to what the new projects are and we must, therefore, ask the Minister for Finance to give us a breakdown of the $105 million into provision for new projects and provision for under-estimation for on-going projects. Regarding under-estimation for project cost, I would like to ask a few more questions:- (1) When funds for projects are under-estimated, is there a re-evaluation of the cost-benefits of the projects before additional funds are disbursed? (2) Are the reasons for the underestimation thoroughly investigated for each and every case of significant underestimation? (3) In the business world, good estimates are critical to profits. When companies or firms tender for a contract, they must stand by their tendered price. Thus, whether they end up with a profit or loss depends on whether they have correctly estimated their own costs in the first place. Part of the problem in the procedure of allocating Government development funds is that Ministries and departments do not have to produce balance sheets and profit-and-loss statements. Thus, under-estimation, which in business normally results in a loss, is not penalised. Can a system be worked out to monitor the performance of departments in estimating the costs of their projects with a view to improving the quality of such estimates?”
“Sir, may I make a further comment? The reduction in the property tax rate was brought about some years ago when I brought up this matter on the need to have a uniform rate of property tax for HDB properties. There were at that time other properties which attracted the rate of 36%, and all were subsequently brought down. As we are all aware, property tax is based on whether the property is in a rural, urban or certain divisions. This rate was brought down to 23% irrespective of where the Housing Board estates are but, unfortunately, I believe that there may be an oversight on the part of the Property Tax Department in missing out these two areas. I wonder whether the Minister would consider reviewing this position once again.”
“Sir, I beg to move. That the sum to be allocated for Head X be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead DEE 1101. Sir, the Hon. Minister in his reply to a Question for Oral Answer last week said that all HDB dwellings enjoy a concessionary rate of 23% property tax. This is not correct, Sir. In some dwellings in St. Michael's and Queenstown estates, the rate is still 36%. Could the Minister enlighten the House on this matter?”
“In view of the Minister's favourable reply, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head X be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead DEC 1101*. (* The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Teong Eng Siong). On 2nd September, 1970 [Hansard, Vol. 30, cols. 183-4] when I brought up the question of allowing contributors of private provident fund to utilise their deposits to purchase flats under the HDB Home Ownership scheme, the then Minister of State for Finance in his reply stated that he was "prepared to ask the Commissioner of Inland Revenue to consider sympathetically such amendments without affecting its approved status." Consequent upon that assurance, contributors of one particular private provident fund were allowed by the Comptroller of Income Tax to transfer part of their deposits to the Central Provident Fund for the purpose of purchasing HDB flats under the Home Ownership scheme. However, permission was withdrawn by the Comptroller of Income Tax on 4th June. 1975, without giving any apparent reasons. As an approved fund under the CPF, contributors need not make any contribution to the CPF owing to certain rules, the concurrence of the Comptroller of Income Tax must be obtained before any part of the credit balance can be transferred over to the CPF. May I ask the Minister whether he will consider reviewing this matter again.”
“Sir, in view of the Minister's reply, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head X be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead BBA 1101* (* The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr P. Govindaswamy). Sir, we are informed that newly appointed Division I officers are required to attend induction courses conducted by the Civil Service Staff Development Institute. Participants in these courses are assigned to attend MP's meet-the-people sessions in order to have a better understanding of the socio-economic problems that exist in Singapore. Through such assignments it is hoped that our top civil servants will be able to provide a more courteous and effective service to the public. From time to time our civil servants are subjected to criticisms on the manner in which they interpret and discharge Government policies. I must say that such courses are necessary if the Government is to implement its policies successfully. The point I wish to make is whether there is any follow-up action on the part of the CSSDI or whether any assessment is made on the participants to ensure that such useful experiences gained are put to effective use. Do these civil servants impart the knowledge gained to their subordinates? As we are aware, not all Division I civil servants have direct or personal contacts with members of the public in the course of their duties. In many cases such contacts are normally delegated to their subordinates. In view of this, would it not be desirable for the Minister for Finance to provide such experience to civil servants in other divisions who are constantly in contact with members of the public in the course of their duties? There may be other older Division I officers who may not have the benefit of attending such courses.”
“Sir, is the Minister aware that not all HDB dwellings get the concessionary rate of 23%? There are some HDB dwellings in Stirling Road, Queenstown, and St. Michael's estate which draw a rate of 36%.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would just like to reply to one point raised by the Minister. He has given some statistics on the number of TV licences and so on. One of the points he has missed is this. Whatever documentaries or newsreels we produce, a lot depends on the title. If the title is unattractive enough for the home audience, they will not tune in. For instance, whenever TV news or a documentary comes on, some families just switch off and wait for the next feature programme. I do not think he can base his argument on the number of TV sets owned by the people. As mentioned by the Member for Sembawang, if these documentaries are shown in the cinemas, there is a ready audience and the impact is very much greater. But I accept the Minister's explanation that the size of the film matters in producing documentaries and newsreels. In so doing, I would like to beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head Q be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead BAA 1101. Sir, the Member for Sembawang has just raised a point on the production of documentaries for screening in our cinemas and the Hon. Minister has replied that it is not considered. However, we must recognise that there is a constant need to promote and develop national consciousness among our citizens, particularly our young, through the mass media like TV. Documentary films or newsreels depicting our national development, health and safety measures, educational and cultural activities, are from time to time shown on TV. But all of us know that TV programmes are screened at fixed times, and these times may not be convenient for all home viewers to tune in to. Or on the other hand, if the titles are not sufficiently attractive enough, viewers could miss a good programme. 5.53 p.m. [Mr Deputy Speaker in the Chair] In order to reach a wider audience and also at the same time to achieve good impact, may I suggest that the Ministry of Culture make it compulsory for cinemas to screen such documentaries and newsreels that are from time to time made available by RTS. After all, most of the cinemas, or I should say all of them, do screen documentaries and newsreels from foreign countries which in some cases have no relevance to Singapore at all. With the revenue thus collected from these documentaries and newsreels, perhaps the Ministry of Culture could further develop and expand its publicity services to cater to the needs of our young citizens.”
“Sir, just a point of clarification. I would like to confirm what the Member for Kim Seng has said. It is quite customary for MPs to give approval before a permit is given, for one very important reason, i.e. I think many people who organise these wayangs are non-residents. Some of them are professionals. They strike up a deal with the residents, shopkeepers or hawkers and say, "All right, we will organise a wayang show. but how much will we get as a matter of profit?" To eliminate this malpractice, invariably the HDB Area Officers always ask for the MP's recommendation before official approval is given.”
“Sales of commercial vehicles are improving and the Company has been successful in penetrating the bus business in volume.' 6.30 p.m. Sir, it is understandable for companies to resort to a retrenchment exercise to avoid successive trading losses or adverse trading conditions. But for companies to resort to retrenchment exercise at the expense of workers, I must say, is highly immoral. This brings up the question of whether the Ministry of Labour's monitoring system is effective enough to counter such abuses and also whether employers are paying heed to the Ministry's guidelines. I would therefore, urge the Ministry of Labour to look into such abuses more seriously.”
“Sir, in last year's Budget session I raised the question of the possibility of certain companies indulging in unjustifiable and unfair retrenchment exercises. In his reply, the Minister of State for Labour stated, and I quote from Hansard, Vol. 35 col. 404: `The managements of firms which intend to retrench workers have been advised by the Ministry of Labour, and guidelines have been given by the Ministry for such an exercise ... The Ministry has been monitoring closely the retrenchment Situation. We are satisfied that generally there have not been abuses by managements.' Sir, I would like, in this instance, to bring to the attention of the House a blatant abuse of one particular company. I shall be bringing up another case when I have obtained sufficient facts. This company I am now referring to carried out a retrenchment exercise in 1975 and a second one in 1976. A total of 207 workers were retrenched in both cases. In 1975 the company paid out $1.7 million in retrenchment benefits but subsequently made a net profit of $2.9 million in that year. In 1976 the same company paid out $539,000 in retrenchment benefits and made a profit of $10 million, This is net profit. In a statement to shareholders, the chairman of this particular company spoke in glowing terms, which I would like to quote: `With the momentum generated by management and the improvement in trading conditions, the company looks forward to the new year with some confidence. I would not like to mention the particular model of the car. This particular model which was introduced in October 1976 was well received. The demand outpaces the supply. Then another make of car continues to achieve higher market penetration in both Singapore and Malaysia.”
“To my mind, it seems most unfair that such dismissed or retrenched workers who have been deprived of the opportunity to forge a career with the former employers are now to be deprived of their NWC increments from the new employer simply by reason of a change of employment, I hope that the Ministry and the NWC will seriously and carefully consider all the various ramifications and aspects of the problem of job-hopping before implementing any decision on the matter. Mr Teo Chong Tee rose -”
“It is for this reason, Mr Speaker, Sir, that I find it hard to understand the fashionable posture in Singapore to ascribe to the workers anything that goes wrong on the industrial scene in Singapore. Thus, in the Addendum on the Ministry of Labour it is stated that the National Wages Council is to consider whether job-hopping employees should be granted the full wage increase recommended by the NWC. It is implicit in such a statement that job-hopping is a socially undesirable practice and that job-hopping employees are wholly to be blamed. With due respect to the Ministry of Labour. I think it is unfair to blame employees for being wholly responsible for the practice of job-hopping. Just as it takes two hands to clap, it also requires two parties to give rise to the practice of job-hopping. Undoubtedly, there are workers who, as stated in the Addendum on the Prime Minister's Office, have high expectations, the desire to seek jobs in comfortable surroundings or who are even impatient to succeed financially. On the other hand, there are employers who have not the faintest idea of career development for their employees and who have no desire to accord to their employees even the minimum statutory rights. Such employers have no scruples in dismissing their employees under the pretext of reorganisation in order to prevent the employees from being unionised. Similarly, it is not an uncommon practice for employers to get rid of their employees who are on top of their respective scales under the pretext of reorganisation or redundancy.”
“It is less painful to ascribe the existence of such a situation to a preference of Singaporeans for foreign products. But I think this is an oversimplified explanation. The reason why Singaporeans, and for that matter all other persons, buy jeans supposedly made in USA, is not because they are made in USA but because these jeans are marketed with a continuously massive advertisement campaign in all media. I do not think the Singapore manufacturers of jeans are prepared to fork out a big outlay in a similar advertising campaign to create a brand name preference and following for their own products. It is rather strange that we are prepared to view in a charitable light the failure of local manufacturing employers to show the kind of enterprise and initiative shown by manufacturing employers in other parts of the world, like for instance, Japan. It was not too long ago that I read in a magazine an account of the reaction of British workers to the Japanese management of a Japanese industry in England. Now British employers have become synonymous with low productivity. Yet the productivity of British workers in Japanese firms in Britain is of such a level as to even satisfy the exacting requirements of the Japanese management. It appears that one of the reasons for such sterling performance by British workers is that they have been greatly impressed by the example of the Japanese management. For one thing. Japanese managers and executives do not indulge in lunch hours of two-hour duration as their British counterparts are wont to do. Whatever perks and privileges enjoyed by the Japanese managers and executives are enjoyed outside their working hours which are not less than the working hours of the ordinary workers.”
“Similarly, the character of our pragmatic society is reflected in the statement that those who work harder or who show greater enterprise are entitled to a greater slice of the cake than those who are not prepared to work hard or as enterprisingly. Nonetheless, any statement to this effect has to be properly qualified or else it is just likely to be misquoted out of context. It is generally assumed that employers and other decision makers, because of the greater and more taxing responsibility and duty, have to work for their perks and other privileges that go with their positions. As a result of this assumption it has become fashionable in certain circles in Singapore to blame entirely the workers for any low productivity in industry or establishment. Unfortunately, it is easy to spotlight or pinpoint the incompetent or unsatisfactory performance of workers. On the other hand, it is not easy to prove or show up the inefficiency or the lack of initiative on the part of management. If an industry or establishment is not as productive as it should be, it may be due to the workers or it may as well be due to the failure of employers or management to provide suitable machinery or equipment or to devise an effective system of work and congenial working conditions. The subject of productivity has many aspects and ramifications but emphasis in Singapore is wholly focussed on the alleged or proven failure of workers. This, in my view, is a rather distorted perception of the problem of productivity. In support of my view I call the attention of this House to a recent story in the local press of certain articles of clothing being manufactured in and exported from Singapore and then imported back into Singapore and sold at three or four times the factory price.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Presidential Address is a sober review of past events and future prospects of Singapore. In brief, there is no easy short-cut to prosperity at least where Singapore is concerned. The message is clear - that all Singporeans are expected to do their share towards making Singapore a viable, independent and sovereign Republic. But I am afraid that such a message is likely to become distorted or misinterpreted by persons because of their own self-interest. In the Addendum on the Prime Minister's Office it is stated that the average earnings of the modal group of workers have trebled since 1965 and that those who have achieved more and earned more have done so because they have worked harder or shown greater enterprise. The statement I have just quoted is correct and is in itself a testimony to the excellent performance and the creditable leadership of our Government. But such a statement is a bald statement of fact which, without proper qualification, may lend itself to misquotation out of context. While the average earnings of the modal group of workers have undoubtedly trebled since 1 965 the increase in earnings has to a considerable extent been offset by a corresponding increase in the cost of living since 1965. This is in no way meant to detract from the achievements of the Government in securing such a great increase in the earnings of the workers but the danger is that some employers may pounce upon such statement with cynical delight and use it to irritate and provoke workers who are too aware of the increased cost of living since 1965.”
“Sir, this is precisely the point that I have raised. When a working mother applies for a place for her child, she is charged the maximum rate of $3 pending the verification of the family's income. I would like to repeat that this is a deterrent to the applicants. If a working mother has an income of $300. she is entitled to pay only 20 cents. But in the meantime while an investigation is being conducted, she has to pay $3. Moreover, the opening hours of the creche do not actually help the mothers, the majority of whom are working on a weekly shift, alternating with a day or night shift.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to support the Member for Jurong in asking whether the present system of running creches is really suitable for the working mothers. The present rate of fees is very discouraging. Firstly, even before an application is approved the working mother has to pay the full rate of $3 per day. All applicants have to wait until such time as their actual financial standing has been determined before they are allowed the concessionary rate of 20 cents as against $3 per day. This tends to discourage working mothers from putting their children in the creches. The other point I would like to raise is the opening hours. The creche in Toa Payoh is open from 7.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. I think this does not take into consideration the fact that the factories in the area operate a three-shift system. This is another reason why most of the creches are under-utilised. May I suggest that the Ministry review the existing system so that more working mothers would be able to make use of the creches. For those creches which are under-utilised, may I suggest that they should be thrown open to children in primary schools as day centres so that the children will not run around the streets in the housing estates.”
“It is true that the People's Association has to pay for the land based on current land rate. What I am suggesting to the Minister is this: why cannot the Minister negotiate with the Housing and Development Board for special terms and get it free of charge for social services?”
“Sir, may I put forward a suggestion to the Minister to help him reduce the financial burden in the construction of new community centres? In all Housing Board estates there is provision for the construction of recreational and sports facilities and swimming pools, which are subsequently handed over to the Sports Council. May I suggest to the Minister to make an approach to the Housing Board to include the provision of community centre sites in their overall planning. This will help him to reduce his financial burden.”
“Sir, in view of the Minister's reply, I beg leave to withdraw, Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister could have misunderstood me on the matter of rentals for shop-houses. I am not opposed to the tender system. What I am saying is that the rentals have been revised. The costs of building have increased over the years. It is, therefore, quite fair for the Housing Board to raise the minimum rental from time to time, and this will consequently affect the tender price. This is fair. In the tender form various categories of approved trade are listed, A, B, C, D and E. I believe there is a certain maximum rental for each category. But what these people are grumbling about is this. In Toa Payoh there is the old section and the new section. When a person tendered for a grocery shop on any other shop in the old section, the normal minimum rental was $185 p.m. This was way back in 1968. Some years later the minimum rental was increased to $280 p.m. But now the rental is about $320 p.m. However, if a person had successfully tendered for a stall in the old section of Toa Payoh and subsequently changes his trade to another trade but within the same category, he is asked to pay the rental which is currently in force. I think this is not fair. In Toa Payoh there are three Area Offices with three community halls. Two of them have already been turned into Car Park Offices. In the case of the third one in my constituency, one-third of it has been converted into a Car Park Office. So there are no facilities left for the people.”
“First, there are anxieties in my constituency, particularly among the residents in Serangoon Gardens Estate, about the possibility of the Housing Board's acquisition of land area on which the Ang Mo Kio New Town is to be developed. There is the anxiety that such an acquisition would extend to the Serangoon Gardens Estate. I myself believe that this acquisition will not extend to the Serangoon Gardens Estate. But if the Minister could so state in this House, I think it will relieve a lot of anxiety of the residents in Serangoon Gardens Estate. The second matter I wish to raise concerns the farmers and residents in Ang Mo Kio, who are being cleared from the area. To-date, I do not think the Board has made it a policy to grant such resettlement cases priority in the issue of licences in the HDB markets on hawker centres, many of which are yet to come up in the Ang Mo Kio area. But I do know that the Board attempts to assist deserving applicants who are resident farmers and who are being cleared from the Ang Mo Kb area. What I wish to know is whether the Board intends to make it a policy to accord priority to the applicants from resettlement areas for stalls in the HDB markets in the Ang Mo Kio area. Thirdly, if the Minister could touch on the prospect of farmers and residents who are being cleared from Ang Mo Kio. As a result of resettlement they now have to reside in Sin Ming estate. But they wish eventually to go to Neighbourhood II or Neighbourhood III in the Ang Mo Kio area when the flats are up. Will there be a policy to accord such a facility to these resettlement cases who would want a transfer back to the Ang Mo Kio area?”
“The Housing Board insists on a certain percentage of each type of goods to be sold, without regard to the viability of one's business. The end result is that the shopkeeper will be asked to revert to his original trade or pay the current market rate of rental or quit altogether. Current market rates of rental are arbitrarily fixed by the Housing Board. I believe they are based on the latest tendered price. This can be quite absurd. For instance, if a shopkeeper had tendered $500 a month for a shophouse in 1968, should he decide to change his trade then, under the present system he would have to pay a revised rental of nearly $2,000 per month. This is tantamount to telling the shopkeeper to close his shop and cease business. Sir, I am aware that rentals derived from shophouses in housing estates help to offset the subsidised rentals of fIats for the lower income group of citizens. But surely some equitable rates could be imposed. I would suggest that a review be made of the system of restriction of a change of trade for the present lawful shop tenants. As a matter of fact, no such restrictions are imposed on emporiums and supermarkets. I believe that the reason for this is that the rentals charged for such premises are sufficiently high. But based on floor areas, the rentals of some shophouses are nearly equivalent to the rentals charged for emporiums or supermarkets, which are based on the rate per square foot. I hope the Minister will give consideration to my suggestion. Mr L. P. Rodrigo (Serangoon Gardens): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am taking this opportunity to raise certain matters which affect my constituency.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. Sir. It is quite obvious that when a person runs more than one shop he could not be present in all his shops at one and the same time. On many occasions, shop tenants are taken to task for not being present to run their business. It is quite logical for some shopkeepers to employ someone else to help them in their businesses. The officers in the Area Offices insisted that shopkeepers who operate more than one shop must furnish to the Board a time-table showing when they are present in each shop. One shopkeeper who went abroad for two months on business was asked to produce his passport for inspection to prove that he went overseas. In several instances, allegations of subletting and unauthorised assignments were proved to be unfounded. Sir, I am not against the action taken for serious breaches of the Board's regulations, but frivolous actions of this nature tend to give a bad image of the Board. The Board has a good reputation for public housing. Let us not spoil it. Sir, another point I would like to raise is the stipulation of approved trades for shophouses. It is stated quite clearly in the tender forms that consideration may be given to permit dual or multiple trades provided such trades fall under the same category as defined in the tender forms. 4.00 p.m. Most intending businessmen tender for the trade of department stones, where one can sell a wide variety of goods. A businessman will obviously choose a trade in which he can sell larger quantities of goods than go in for other lines. So if textiles are the best selling lines, the shopkeeper tends to trade in textiles. But this is not permitted by the Area Officers.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head O be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead AAA 1004*. (* The same amendment also stood in the names of Messrs. L. P. Rodrigo, Chiang Hai Ding, Ng Kah Ting and P. Govindaswamy.) Sir, during the last Budget debate I brought up the question of the need to improve public relations in the Housing and Development Board. It appears that there is not much improvement in this direction. There are still some officers in the Housing Board who are arrogant and rude when dealing with members of the public. In periodic inspections of flats and shophouses certain officials tend to be crude and rude when asking for information. As you may be aware, Sir, many working couples leave their homes in the care of relatives or friends while they are at work during the day. In one particular instance, a housing inspector barged into the bedroom of a flat and demanded of the caretaker as to who slept in which bed. Shopkeepers are Similarly harassed, Under present regulations any person can tender for more than one shophouse in the same estate or other estates.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister has just stated that the Employment Service has only been successful in getting employment for those workers in the lower skilled jobs. I wonder what sort of information or facilities they have provided to employers in the private sector. It appears that there is a misconception amongst employers in the private sector that the workers that are being registered at the Employment Service are people of a lower education. So they do not make use of it as we can see from the regular advertisements in the newspapers for jobs in the higher level of employment, and so on. I wonder what steps the Ministry will take to encourage private employers to make use of the Employment Service.”
“Sir, I am afraid I am not very happy with the reply given. However, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The following amendments stood on the Order Paper Supplement -”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, there are no adequate safeguards at all in the Employment Act regarding retrenchment, besides the limitation of three years' service. I must say that most employers do not follow the guidelines set by the Ministry. The Minister of State should know that in a recent retrenchment exercise by some commercial firms, even salesmen with 20 years of service on more have been retrenched while junior salesmen have been retained in the service. Of course, as I have mentioned earlier in my speech, it is very difficult to prove it. That is the reason why I am asking for consideration whether certain measures can be taken. Unless the Ministry can give us an assurance that effective steps, like imposing certain penalties on the management, are taken. there is no point in sending a letter warning them that they should not indulge in these unfair practices. But then nothing further can be done. As I have mentioned in one particular instance involving a trading organisation, the Ministry did send a letter of warning, but that is the end of the story.”
“(2) The present limitation of retrenchment benefits for employees with less than three years' service should not apply to established trading companies with more than 10 years' trading in Singapore, taking into account take-overs, mergers and change of business names. (3) Provision for lay-off and reemployment of retrenched workers, and lastly, (4) Provision for appeal to the Minister under the same procedure as section 35 (2) of the Industrial Relations Act, if the foregoing proposals are found unacceptable.”
“While the Act has been promulgated to preserve industrial harmony so essential to the development of our economy it would certainly not augur well for the economy if workers' rights for job security and union representation are jeopardised by employers who act without any moral conscience or sense of social responsibility towards the employees. 7.15 p.m. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in one particular case, an established trading company retrenched its entire sales force of 12 counter salesgirls under the guise of adverse trading conditions. Within three months the same company recruited another team of salesgirls at lower salaries for its sales counters. Following representation made by the union to the Minister for Labour, the Ministry conducted an investigation. It was found that this company had indeed abused the provisions of the Industrial Relations Act. The company was accordingly warned by the Ministry. There are instances where it is difficult for the unions to obtain sufficient evidence to prove their case. Quite a few established trading houses have resorted to retrenchment of higher paid employees with long service. Workers within the age group of 40-45, with children still in secondary schools, face the difficult task of getting alternative employment at the same last drawn salary, in order to support their families. As theme are no adequate safeguards against the retrenchment of workers, I would like to put forward the following proposals to the Minister for his consideration, with a view to amending the relevant provisions of the Industrial Relations Act. (1) Provision for unions to seek the intervention of the Ministry of Labour and to hold inquiries in cases which are unwarranted and are suggestive of manipulation by management.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head N be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead AAA 1003*. (* The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr P. Govindaswamy.) Sir, retrenchment exercises have been rampant in the Republic from 1974 to 1975. While some sectors of the economy are more directly affected by recessionary trends, such as the manufacturing sector, not all retrenchments carried out are justified. There is always the possibility of a few black sheep employers taking advantage of the present economic situation to indulge in anti-labour practices. Current legislation under the Industrial Relations Act provides limited scope for unions to check such unfair practices by management. The provisions are restrictive as the rule of "last in, first Out" no longer applies. Trade unions are further hampered in negotiations by the statutory limits on retrenchment benefits to those with less than three years' service. It is perhaps ironical that the three-year period intended to protect infant industries in Singapore should have - such a wide application of the law that trading firms and companies with long established business in Singapore and with less compelling reasons to retrench can now do so as an economic expedient without having to pay any retrenchment benefits to employees with less than three years' service. With the limited safeguards under the Act, abuses are bound to occur. Employers must be made to realise that the provisions of the Industrial Relations Act are not a carte blanche for management to retrench at will non can they flout the provisions under the coven of management prerogatives.”
“If the provision of paragraph (c) of subsection (10) can be adopted without any retrospective effect, it will help to soften the impact of the Bill on the workers even if there had been no modification whatsoever to this provision.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Member for Boon Teck, and I agree with the points raised by the Member for Bukit Ho Swee. I would like to add that from my own personal knowledge I am aware that in quite a number of establishments the managements and the respective trade unions have agreed on the payment of additional sums of money over and above the prescribed limits for annual wage supplement or bonus. Such payments have not been made for the purpose of nullifying the provisions of the Employment Act regulating the payment of annual wage supplement or annual bonus. They have been made solely for the purpose of giving effect to the interests of the employer rather than the interests of the workers. For that reason, Mr Speaker, Sir, lam of the view that if it is not possible for the Minister for Labour to accede to the request of my colleague to modify the provision of paragraph (c) of subsection (10) as set out in clause 2 of the Bill, then perhaps the Minister would consider changing the cut-off date from 1st July 1972 to, say, 1st July 1975. As it stands now at present, the Bill if adopted by this House without any changes at all would undoubtedly have a retrospective effect in relation to the payment of such additional sums of money as contained in collective agreements. In other words, the moment this Bill is adopted without any modification, any provision in a collective agreement to pay an additional sum of money over and above the prescribed annual wage supplement would be nullified, regardless of the fact that the agreement had been concluded two years before the implementation of this Bill.”
“Sir, I would like to seek further clarification. In that case the employer must first terminate the services of the employee before he can submit a fresh application.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to seek a point of clarification from the Minister of State. Clause 2 of the Bill says that: `No employer or contractor shall employ an employee or contract worker, as the case may he, otherwise than in accordance with the conditions contained in the work permit.' Sir, what happens if an employer, who originally engages a worker as a factory hand, subsequently promotes the employee to a higher grade, say, a clerical post, because of his efficiency? It appears that there is no provision in this amendment Bill for appropriate endorsements on the work permit of the employee concerned.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Chairman of PERNAS, Tengku Razaleigh, has in a statement in Utusan Melayu stated that retaliatory measures may be taken against Singapore, if we do not oblige. May I ask the Minister whether such measures, economic, political or otherwise, have been taken against Singapore in this respect?”
“No. He cannot do that unless it is a simple crossed cheque. If the cheque is an account payee cheque, only the person named on the cheque can bank it if he has his own bank account.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I seek clarification from the Minister for Social Affairs on clause 5, amendment to section 16 of the Act, which requires a moneylender to make a loan to the borrower in the form of an account payee crossed cheque. I am afraid this may create difficulties for the borrower because, in encashing the cheque that is so endorsed, the borrower must have a banking account unless he banks it in the Post Office Savings Bank. Moreover, if the borrower wants to open a bank account, he must have a minimum of $500. In other words, we are encouraging a borrower to borrow more than $500. Administratively this requirement will create some difficulty for the borrower. May I seek clarification whether any other form of payment can be allowed, such as the moneylender purchasing a money order or a postal order in the name of the borrower?”
“(8) That the sum to be allocated for Head V reduced by $10 in respect of subhead DEC 1111.”
“The control of a cooperative society can be strictly supervised and regulated by the Registry of Cooperative Societies without in any way restricting the right of a trade union to participate in the affairs of the cooperative societies. I may also state that the Budget estimates for the Registry of Cooperative Societies for 11975 does not seem to indicate any drastic change in the staffing position. With the range of business conducted by the cooperative societies becoming more complex and esoteric, such as housing, supermarkets, transport, insurance and possibly banking, it may be necessary to beef up the Registry with more qualified and competent staff not only to supervise but also to advise the management of the various cooperative societies in Singapore.”
“For one thing, it has been forgotten that cooperative societies in other parts of the world first developed in the form of producers' cooperatives, whose members are small farmers or small businessmen. Such members usually have considerable surplus funds at their individual disposal. The cooperative societies in Singapore have been, until recently, mainly consumer cooperatives whose members are usually workers with hardly any surplus funds at their disposal. It is not surprising that, prior to the participation of the NTUC and other institutions in the cooperative movement, the cooperative societies in Singapore usually take the form of thrift and loan societies with more emphasis on loans than on savings. The trade unions in Singapore, therefore, can assist in the further development of the cooperative movement in the Republic. The trade unions, by reason of the fact that they are precluded from giving loans to members, have been able to build up surplus funds which can be invested in the cooperative movement. It is desirable that a trade union should be allowed to participate in the affairs of cooperative societies without having to seek the permission , of the Minister each time it wishes to do so. The concept of a rigid and strict separation between cooperative movement and trade union movement should be discarded as being impractical. If the Ministry is worried that the unrestrictive participation by a trade union in the affairs of a cooperative society may lead to abuse, it should be noted that the membership, the shareholding and the control of a cooperative society are not synonymous.”
“As the Members of this House may be aware, the trade union movement in Singapore, which is comparable as a social institution to the cooperative movement in Singapore, has prided itself on its refusal to accept unquestioningly the concept and practice of trade unionism as developed in other parts of the world, particularly in the industrialised countries of the West. The trade unions in Singapore believe that they must develop their own mode and style of operation in harmony with the socio-economic circumstances prevailing in Singapore. It is also a belief, if I may say so, which the Government has shared and supported. Now, the same consideration should also apply to the development of the cooperative movement in the Republic. It is true that the concept and the practice of cooperative societies in other parts of the world are mostly valid in the Republic. To that extent, the recommendations of the ILO experts may be accepted and translated into future reenactment of the Cooperative Societies Act, so as to improve the quality of the cooperative movement in the Republic. But at the same time certain aspects of cooperative affairs in Singapore did not seem to have been considered. For instance, the membership of a cooperative society is presently confined to natural persons or other cooperative societies. If a trade union desires to participate in a cooperative society the permission of the Minister has to be obtained and published by notification in the Government Gazette. Sir, I am of the view that restrictive participation of a trade union in the affairs of a cooperative society is neither necessary nor practical.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Ministry of Social Affairs, I must say, was quite aware of the shortcomings of the Registry of Cooperative Societies. It is to the credit of the Ministry that an effort was made to rectify this deficiency. What the Ministry did was to ask for guidance and consultation in the form of two International Labour Organisation experts. With the wealth of their combined experience and expertise, the two ILO experts made some rather drastic recommendations on the reorganisation of the Registry of Cooperative Societies itself and on the reorganisation of the cooperative movement in Singapore. One of these recommendations is the proposal to form an Apex Council to supervise and regulate the functions of the various cooperative societies in Singapore. But what has given me cause for concern is the announcement by the Ministry of the total acceptance of the recommendations of the two ILO experts who, I must acknowledge, have spent several months in Singapore before drawing up their comprehensive recommendations. I am not sure that it is desirable for the Ministry to accept every single bit of the recommendations of the ILO experts. For one thing, I regret to say that the staff of the Registry of Cooperative Societies in the Ministry, due to the rather high turnover of staff in that particular department, cannot be said to possess in-depth knowledge of cooperative society affairs in the Republic as to be in a position to make critical comment in relation to such recommendations. For another thing, the concept and practice of cooperative societies in other parts of the world may not be introduced into Singapore without first undergoing some form of suitable adjustment. 3.00 p.m.”