UNEMPLOYED PERSONS AND UNEMPLOYMENT SITUATION, 1959/1960

Mr Thio Chan Bee asked the Minister for Labour and Law to state-

(a) the number of unemployed persons registered with the Government Labour Exchange as at the end of October, 1959;

(b) the estimated number of additional persons who will be looking for employment in the first quarter of 1960; and

(c) what immediate measures the Government proposes to take to solve or relieve the worsening unemployment situation.

Mr K. M. Byrne: (a) The number of unemployed persons registered with the Government Employment Exchange as at the end of October, 1959 was 45,624.

(b) For the corresponding period of this year no reliable estimates are available from which a forecast can be made of the numbers who will be looking for employment in the first quarter of 1960.

(c) Government proposes to step up work on development projects which will give some relief to the unemployment situation. The low cost housing programme will also be begun shortly and several thousands more persons, additional to those already engaged in the various trades, will be recruited from amongst those registered with the Employment Exchange and given employment. It is also Government's policy to foster and expand secondary industries in various fields.