INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ORDINANCE, 1960 (Reasons for delay in operation)

Mrs Seow Peck Leng: Mr Speaker, Sir, before I ask the question*, may I seek the guidance of the Chair as to whether I should withdraw the last sentence of the question, as it has been announced that this Ordinance has been brought into operation.

• 11. To ask the Minister for labour and law what are the reasons for the nearly seven months' delay in bringing into operation the Industrial Relations Ordinance, 1960, which was assented to on the 25th of February, 1960; and when he intends to bring it into operation.

Mr Speaker: I think the hon. Member will get a reply from the Minister. Perhaps the Member will just ask the question.

Mrs Seow Peck Leng: Mr Speaker, Sir, question No. 11.

Mr Byrne: Mr Speaker, Sir, to the first part of the question:

`What are the reasons for the nearly seven months' delay in bringing into operation the Industrial Relations Ordinance, 1960, which was assented to on the 25th of February, 1960;',

this is the reply. It was necessary to house the Court in the Supreme Court Building to add to the prestige and dignity of the Court. We had to wait until the Estate Duty Office in the Supreme Court Building was vacated, and as soon as the office was vacated, building of the Court was commenced. Building plans were made well in advance so that there was no time lag between the vacation of the Estate Duty Office and the commencement of building operations.

The Corrupt Practices Investigation Office below the Estate Duty Office is to serve as the Registry of the Court, and this office will be vacated shortly. Funds for the payment of the President, the Registrar and the subordinate staff have just been voted by the Assembly, and we can get on with the job of making the necessary recruitments. It is obvious that the Industrial Relations Ordinance could not be brought into force until the Court House itself was nearly ready. There was nothing which the Ministry could do to speed up this work.

To the second part of the question, Mr Speaker, Sir, the Industrial Relations Ordinance was brought into force on 15th September this year.

Mr Rajah: Mr Speaker, Sir, does the Minister then say that the first sitting of this Court is entirely dependent upon the construction of the Court House, or does it depend on legislation which is to be introduced in this Assembly?

Mr Byrne: The legislation has already been enacted in this Assembly. The Industrial Relations Ordinance has been enacted and it was brought into force on 15th September. I do not quite get the point that the Member for Farrer Park wishes to make.

Mr Rajah: I will be more explicit. Mr Speaker, Sir. It seems to me that before the Industrial Relations Ordinance could be effectively brought into force, it needed the support provided for in the new Ordinance known as the Trade Unions Ordinance. Now, would it be true to say that the Industrial Relations Ordinance would not be brought into effective operation until a new Trade Unions Bill has been introduced and passed by the Assembly?

Mr Byrne: No, Mr Speaker, Sir, they are entirely two different Ordinances. The Industrial Relations Ordinance deals with the processes of collective bargaining, trade disputes and the settlement of trade disputes. It has nothing to do with the Trade Unions. Ordinance which is concerned with the registration of trade unions, their organisation, and their structure. There is no relationship whatsoever between the Industrial Relations Ordinance and a Trade Unions Ordinance.