TRADE DISPUTES ORDINANCE (Picketing)

Mr Lim Ching Siong asked the Minister for Labour and Welfare whether he is aware that from the workers' point of view the provisions relating to picketing in the local Trade Disputes Ordinance are susceptible of improvement; and whether he will consider introducing legislation to bring the provisions of the local Trade Disputes Ordinance into line with the Trade Disputes Act in force in the United Kingdom.

Mr Lim Yew Hock: I would explain that the Trade Disputes Ordinance legalises strikes and other actions by trade unions and striking employees which, because they do damage to an employer's trade or business, might otherwise be criminal offences.

Another aspect of this Ordinance is that it codifies the powers of picketing. In this connection, I note that certain pseudo trade unionists are repeatedly blaming the Police for interfering with what they call peaceful picketing. I should like to take this opportunity to stress that in their interpretation of the Trade Disputes Ordinance, which is a perfectly clear law, the Police are not depriving strikers of their lawful right to carry on picketing in a peaceful manner, and that they are solely concerned with the enforcement of the law on obstruction, intimidation, or behaviour calculated to lead to a breach of the peace. The Government will carefully consider not only any constructive suggestions for improvement of the Ordinance from the point of view of the workers, but will also be obliged to take into consideration the views of employers and also considerations of public safety.

In regard to the second part of the question, I can assure the Member for Bukit Timah that the question of amending the Trade Disputes Ordinance has been occupying my mind for some time. But I must say that I am only prepared to introduce amending legislation if I consider the interests of Singapore require it, and not merely because the legislation has been enacted elsewhere.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew: Does the Minister for Labour realise that the legislation which is now in force in this Colony was enacted here because it was enacted elsewhere, copied therefrom?

Mr Lim Yew Hock: Sir, two wrongs do not make one right!

Mr Lee Kuan Yew: Will the Minister for Labour tell us what he meant by a pseudo trade unionist?

Mr Lim Yew Hock: Please look up the dictionary!

Mr Lee Kuan Yew: It does not answer the question.