LABOUR

Steps are being taken to implement the Industrial Relations Ordinance and to appoint the President and panels of members of the Court and the recruitment of the necessary staff. The Court will be housed in the Supreme Court Building.

The Trade Unions Bill which did not receive my assent before the prorogation will be re-introduced with some amendments to enable the unification policy to be implemented.

A Labour Advisory Council will be set up on which there will be representatives of industry, the trade unions and Government. The work of the Council will be:-

(i) to advise the Government in relation to employment, industrial relations, employee welfare, and related industrial and economic matters; and

(ii) to advise the Ministry of Labour and Law in relation to matters within the Ministry.

A Committee will be set up with representatives from the Singapore Trades Union Congress to advise on the designing and the detailed planning for a Trade Union House to be built for the use of the Singapore Trades Union Congress and its affiliates.

An Employment Bill will be introduced which will repeal the three Ordinances dealing with the conditions of labourers, clerks and shop assistants. The scope of the Bill will be enlarged to include these employees as well as other categories of employees which were not hitherto included. Provisions implementing some of the recommendations of the Contract Labour Commission Report will also be included in the Bill. The Bill will also contain powers to compel the notification of vacancies where non-citizens are to be employed.

It is proposed to streamline the procedures for registration in the Employment Exchange and to set up a Labour Market Information Service with a view to better placing of all employable persons, including recent school leavers, in gainful employment.

Women's Rights

The Government will re-introduce the Women's Charter. The Bill will have regard to the proposals for amendment which were made to the Select Committee of the last session.

The Government will introduce comprehensive legislation for the regulation of Muslim marriage and divorce and Muslim religious affairs on the lines of legislation in the States of the Federation of Malaya.