INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION FOR UNIFICATION OF TRADE UNION MOVEMENT

Mr David Marshall asked the Minister for Labour whether it is his intention to introduce legislation for the unification of the trade union movement, and when.

Inche Ahmad Bin Ibrahim: Mr Speaker, Sir, the answer is very simple and brief. Now that the leadership of the trade union movement is openly split into two camps - the nationalist T.U.C. on the one hand and the pro-Communist S.A.T.U. on the other - each group pursuing objectives diametrically opposed, the Government feels that it is not feasible at this juncture to introduce the Bill.

Mr Bani: Sir, the unification plan of the P.A.P. is an election pledge. I wonder whether the Minister will say that his Government seeks to nullify this pledge.

Inche Ahmad Bin Ibrahim: The Member for Thomson was with us at that time and I think he is fully aware that by unification of the trade union movement we mean the unification of a non-Communist trade union movement for a non-Communist State.

Mr David Marshall: Mr Speaker, Sir, the workers are non-political. Could we not have a Trade Union Ordinance and an unemployment insurance scheme to apply impartially to all our workers irrespective of their political views?

Inche Ahmad Bin Ibrahim: The problem is not as simple as the Member for Anson thinks. I am not arguing about the workers' inclination to any political Party. As far as the workers are concerned, the policy of the Government is pro-labour. I am not disputing that. But what we are disputing now is the leadership which is trying to make use of and exploit the workers for its own political ends. That is why we have to be very careful before we do such a thing.

Tun Lim Yew Hock: Sir, may I ask the Minister for which Party's political ends is the exploitation of the civil servants carried out by the A.U.P.E.?

Mr Speaker: That is a different question, hut the Minister may answer it if he so wishes.

Inche Ahmad Bin Ibrahim: In fairness to me, I think the Member for Cairnhill has got to prove when this thing happened and on what occasion. Then I will be quite prepared to answer him.

Mr Bani: Will the Minister agree with me that the fact that there is a split in the trade union movement today is the making of the P.A.P. Government?

Mr Speaker: It is a matter of Opinion.

Mr David Marshall: I have not had a reply to my question. Could I enquire yet once more? Laws apply impartially to all human beings. Could we not have a Bill for the unification of the trade union movement or to apply to trade unions - an improvement of the present one - and a Bill for unemployment insurance without bringing politics in?

Inche Ahmad Bin Ibrahim: I think the answer is yes, but as I have said earlier, the time will come when I will do that.