SINGAPORE HARBOUR BOARD (Setting up of Court of Inquiry) (Statement by the Minister for Labour and Welfare)

The Minister for Labour and Welfare (Mr Lim Yew Hock): Mr Speaker, Sir, as Minister for Labour and Welfare, I have set up under section 6 of the Industrial Courts Ordinance a Court of Inquiry consisting of a Chairman and two members with the following terms of reference:

"1. To enquire-

(a) into the causes and circumstances of the go-slow method adopted by the workers at the Singapore Harbour Board;

(b) whether with regard to the claim of the Singapore Harbour Board Staff Association that it merits recognition as representing all daily-rated and monthly-rated employees in the Singapore Harbour Board, it in fact does represent the majority of workers in the Singapore Harbour Board: and

2. To report its findings thereon."

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members will notice of course that that has reference to item 2 on the Order Paper and if any hon. Member thinks fit to ask questions, he can do so now.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew (Tanjong Pagar): Mr Speaker, Sir, is the Minister prepared to direct the Court of Inquiry to make recommendations to contain the dispute pending the final recommendations for a settlement?

Mr Lim Yew Hock: Sir, under the Industrial Courts Ordinance, there does not appear to be a dispute but I have set up the Court because there may be a dispute that is coming up and therefore it is to apprehend a dispute that the Court of Inquiry was set up.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew: Is the Minister seriously suggesting that there is no dispute in being in the Singapore Harbour Board?

Mr Lim Yew Hock: Mr Speaker, Sir, the go-slow, as far as I know, has been the result of the withdrawal of a pass. Since then, there has been talk of demands being sent in to the Singapore Harbour Board but according to what I know from later information, no such demands have been submitted.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew: Mr Speaker, Sir, this is not an appropriate time to debate the merits of the dispute but does not the Minister for Labour and Welfare agree that it is in the interests of everybody in Singapore, of the Singapore Harbour Board and of the union concerned to prevent the dispute from becoming a much larger one?

Mr Lim Yew Hock: Mr Speaker, Sir, it is for that very reason that I have appointed a Court of Inquiry.