WORKMEN IN EMPLOYMENT, AND REGISTERED FOR EMPLOYMENT AT GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES

Mr John Ede asked the Minister for Labour and Welfare whether he will state -

(a) the number of workmen (as defined by the Labour Ordinance) employed in Singapore on (i) 30th June, 1955, (ii) 30th September, 1955 and (iii) 31st December, 1955;

(b) the monthly figures of new applicants for registration for employment at the Government Employment Exchanges for each month from May 1955 to February 1956;

(c) the total number of applicants, both new and old, registered for employment at the Government Employment Exchanges for each month from May 1955 to February 1956;

(d) the monthly figures of placings in employment by the Exchanges for each month from May 1955 to February 1956.

Mr Lim Yew Hock: (a) Figures are not available for 30th June and 31st December, 1955 as surveys were not conducted on these dates. The figure for 30th September, 1955 is 117,552.

(b) The monthly figures of new applicants for registration for employment at the Government Employment Exchanges for each month from May 1955 to February 1956 are as follows: 1955 May 1,119 June 1,302 July 1,246 August 1,472 September 1,281 October 1,221 November 1,302 December 1,479 1956 January 1,551 February 1,196

(c) The total number of applicants, both new and old, registered for employment at the Government Employment Exchanges, counted on a certain day in the month, for each month from May 1955 to February 1956 is as follows: 1955 May 30th 6,662 June 27th 6,363 July 25th 6,741 August 29th 6,593 September 26th 6,210 October 31st 5,930 November 28th 6,036 December 26th 6,334 1956 January 30th 6,636 February 29th 7,231

A "new" applicant is taken to be one who registers for employment in the current month.

An "old" applicant is taken to be one who has registered for employment in the preceding months and whose name is still on the register.

(d) The monthly figures of placings in employment by the Exchanges for each month from May 1955 to February 1956 are as follows : - 1955 May 325 June 267 July 432 August 392 September 406 October 488 November 232 December 396 1956 January 375 February 359