TRADE UNIONS (Registration refused or cancelled)

Mr Lee Choon Eng asked the Minister for Labour and Welfare to state -

(a) how many applications for registration as Trade Unions were refused between January 1948 and October 1958, and the grounds of refusal; and

(b) how many Trade Unions have had their certificates of registration cancelled by the Registrar of Trade Unions for not submitting their annual returns for the year ending 31st March, 1958, by 8th September, 1958.

Tun Lim Yew Hock: (a) Between April 1955 and October 1958 during which period this Government has been in office, five applications for registration as trade unions were refused under section 14 of the Trade Unions Ordinance (Cap. 154) on the ground that the Registrar of Trade Unions was not satisfied that they had complied with the provisions of the Ordinance or of the Regulations made thereunder. This Government is not responsible for action taken before it came into office.

(b) Eight Certificates of Registration were cancelled by the Registrar of Trade Unions for not submitting their annual returns for the year ending 31st March. 1958, by 8th September, 1958.