EQUAL CONDITIONS OF SERVICE FOR WOMEN IN CIVIL SERVICE

Mrs Seow Peck Leng asked the Minister for Finance whether he will give reasons why Women Teachers, Principals, Lecturers and Inspectors of Schools are paid less than their male counterparts.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance (Mr S. Ramaswamy) (for the Minister for Finance): Can we take the next question together?

Mr Speaker: If it is convenient. Question 6 will be taken together.

Mrs Seow Peck Leng asked the Minister for Finance whether equal pay for equal work and parity in terms of service will be extended to all women in the Civil Service.

Mr Ramaswamy: The reasons, as far as I can make out, are historical. This grade of officers have been paid less than their male counterparts as far as recorded history goes. This period includes, of course, the period of office of the previous Government when the colleagues of the hon. Member were in office. Nothing was done then even to examine whether there was any justification for a perpetuation of this differentiation.

The Government received a memorandum last November from the People's Action Party Women's League. The memorandum draws attention not only to the women teachers, principals, lecturers and Inspectors of Schools but to all grades in the civil service. It is under close study in the Ministry of Finance. The examination of the ramifications of this subject has not been completed. I therefore do not wish at this juncture to anticipate what the final outcome will be. All I can say is that the People's Action Party has stated quite clearly that it supports the principle of equality for women.

Mr David Marshall: Hear, hear!

Mr Ramaswamy: This principle will be implemented to the extent that circumstances and the resources of the State permit.

Hon. Members will realise that the implementation of equal pay and parity of treatment for the whole of the civil service amounts to a major administrative and political reform of great significance. The importance of the subject demands that it be treated with due care and deliberation. It is not merely a matter of arguing the merits or demerits of individual grades of officers. We have to study what the effects would be not only within the civil service but in other sectors of the economy. We have also to study precedents in countries which have effected this reform to see just how and how far similar measures can be taken in Singapore.

Mrs Seow Peck Leng: Mr Speaker, Sir, I wonder whether the Parliamentary Secretary is aware that this question has been studied and considered by "men" Governments since 1948. It has been a question of negotiations between the Singapore Teachers Union and the Government since 1948, and the women are beginning to lose confidence in all the studies that the Government has been making. Would the Parliamentary Secretary he kind enough to give us an idea of when he thinks, very roughly, the Government will come to a decision?

Mr Ramaswamy: I cannot answer that now, Sir.

Mr David Marshall: Is the Parliamentary Secretary conscious that the reasons he has given seem to suggest that it is the desire to bury the subject under the soot of time? If not, would he indicate if there is, in fact, a Committee, or an individual, or a number of individuals, or just nobody studying the issue, but it is being carried benevolently in mind?

Mr Ramaswamy: There is a Committee, Sir.

Tun Lim Yew Hock: Sir, what Committee is that?

Mr Ramaswamy: It is ministerial responsibility, Sir.

Mr Rajah: Mr Speaker, Sir, is the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance aware that the City Council have, in fact, accepted the equality of status for men and women so far as work and pay are concerned, and have a long time ago implemented that principle?

Mr Speaker: The question really gives some information to the Parliamentary Secretary. He may or may not know. Therefore, it is out of order on that score. But a supplementary question can, of course, put it in order.

Mr Rajah: Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the problem is one of urgency because of the fact that the City Council employees have now been amalgamated into the Government service; and as the City Council have accepted equality in pay, does he say that it will take him years to study this question?

Mr Ramaswamy: The City Council is a very small institution, and it is difficult to implement this in a matter of a few months or so. It will take some time, Sir.