STATEMENTS BY THE CHIEF MINISTER (Committee on Minimum Standards of Livelihood)

The Chief Minister (Mr D. S. Marshall): If it please you, Mr Speaker, Sir, I have to announce that the Government has set up a Committee to enquire into the field of possible government action to establish minimum standards of livelihood among the people. The full terms of reference are:

"To examine and report upon the desirability and feasibility of Government action to promote the establishment of minimum standards of livelihood for the people of Singapore, including the institution of unemployment insurance, the prescribing of minimum wages, either generally or in selected industries, and the extension of existing measures of social security through pensions, provident schemes or otherwise."

The Committee, Sir, will be presided over by the Economic Adviser, Sir Sydney Caine, and the following have agreed to serve on it: Mr Cheong Hock Hai. Dr. Kai-Loo Huang. Dr. Lim Tay Boh. Mr S. Rajaratnam. Miss J. M. Robertson.

The Secretary, Sir, will be the Assistant to the Economic Adviser, Mr P. A. Wilson. In addition, the Committee will be assisted by the International Labour Office expert, Mr Brocklehurst, who is already working with the Ministry of Labour, and it is our hope, Sir, by an expert from Australia on minimum wage legislation.

The principal organisations of employees and employers, as well as all interested members of the public, will be invited to submit their representations to this Committee.