PIONEER INDUSTRIES IN JURONG AND RED HILL (Number of persons newly employed)

Mr Chio Cheng Thun asked the Minister for Finance what is the number of persons newly employed in pioneer industries set up in the Jurong and Red Hill industrial sites.

Dr Goh Keng Swee: Sir, the Member asks about the number of workers newly employed in pioneer industries set up in Jurong and Red Hill industrial sites. There are now 31 pioneer industries in operation in the whole of Singapore, and the total employment provided is 3,186. Of these 31 industries, seven are sited in Jurong with an employment of 495, four in Red Hill with an employment of 142. The total number of persons employed in Jurong and Red Hill both in pioneer and non-pioneer industries comes to 1,135. I may add, Sir, that while the Government have succeeded in creating 3,186 new jobs in pioneer industries alone, the pro-Communist unions, as a result of political strikes or ill-considered industrial strikes, have caused 1,253 persons to lose their jobs. In addition, another 632 persons lost their jobs in the People's Association and Work Brigade. You will recollect, Mr Speaker, Sir, that when I raised this point two days ago, it was greeted with some scepticism, and I now wish, with your permission, to table detailed lists* of the number of workers who have lost their jobs because of strikes by pro-Communist trade unions in the former strike-happy days.

• Appendix II, cols. 633-36. ENTERPRISES WHICH CLOSED DOWN OR RE-OPENED WITH LESS STAFF AS A RESULT OF STRIKES OF UNIONS BELONGING TO THE SO-CALLED SINGAPORE ASSOCIATION OF TRADE UNIONS (SATU)(Cols 0633-0636)

Documents handed in to the Clerk and distributed to hon. Members.

So the total number of persons who lost their jobs comes to 1,885 as against 3,186 new jobs created in pioneer industries. The hon. Member will doubtless be happy to learn that the constructive efforts of the P.A.P. Government have been able to keep ahead of the destruction caused by the pro-Communist unions.

Mr Tan Cheng Tong (Jalan Kayu): (In Mandarin): I am not quite clear about the Minister's answer. He said the number of workers employed. Is it in the planning stage or are they already being employed?

Dr Goh Keng Swee: These are already working. According to plans for industrial expansion, the number that will be working by June next year will be more than 4,600 directly employed and another 2,000 indirectly employed, making a total of 6,600. If the Member for Jalan Kayu is in some doubt, I would like to table a list of industries+ where they are sited and the number of workers employed.

• Appendix III, cols. 637-40. NAMES OF FIRMS THAT HAVE STARTED PRODUCTION AS AT DECEMBER 1963 AND NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES(Cols 0637-0640)

Documents handed in to the Clerk and distributed to hon. Members.

Mr Tan Cheng Tong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, about the workers indirectly employed - does the Minister mean workers employed in building construction work, building factories?

Dr Goh Keng Swee: The figure includes workers in factories. It does not include workers building roads in Jurong or working in rubber estates. That would be another few thousand, but you cannot consider them as working in the factories.