BAR WAITRESSES UNDER 21

Mr Ho See Beng asked the Minister for Labour if he will consider introducing legislation to prohibit girls under the age of 21 from working as bar waitresses.

Mr Barker: Under the existing law, waitresses under the age of 17 years are prohibited from being employed in bars. This age ceiling for employment to bar waitresses is considered to be adequate in the interest of such workers. Unless there are very strong and compelling reasons for the proposal made by the Member for Bras Basah, the Government does not propose to raise the age restriction to under 21 years.

Mr Ho See Beng (Bras Basah): Mr Speaker, Sir, there is a provision in the Labour Ordinance which prohibits female factory workers from working after 10 p.m. I wonder whether the Acting Minister for Labour will consider applying the same provision to bar waitresses.

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, the present prohibition of employment of waitresses under 17 years of age is contained in the Liquors Licensing Regulations, 1962, which were made under the Customs Ordinance, 1960. Rule 43 (1) of the Liquors Licensing Regulations reads:

'No licensee shall employ or permit to be employed in his licensed premises any waitress -

(a) who has not reached the age of 17 years, or

(b) who he knows or has reason to believe is a prostitute or of bad character.'

The relevant regulations dealing with bars make no restriction as to the time within which such girls should work. But if the Member for Bras Basah feels so strongly about the matter, I will certainly look into it and perhaps extend the relevant section of the Labour Ordinance to bar girls.

Mr Ho See Beng: Mr Speaker, Sir, I think all of us are aware that when the P.A.P. first came to power in 1959, the former Minister for Labour introduced an Ordinance relating to bars. At that time, the lights in the bars were not allowed to be dimmed. But nowadays if any one of us here goes to bars, he will find that they are made to appear like the Black Hole of Calcutta. Will the Acting Minister for Labour also consider the enforcement of the Ordinance to make proprietors brighten the lights in their bars?

Mr Speaker: Mr Ho, unless you can relate the light in bars to the age of waitresses, I think your question goes beyond the bounds of a supplementary.

Mr Ho See Beng: Mr Speaker, the Acting Minister for Labour has said that he will be looking into the question of bar waitresses under the age of 21, but I am afraid he may not be able to do anything. So I am appealing to him, if he cannot restrict girls under the age of 21 from working in bars, to prohibit the dimming of lights in bars.

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, this is a difficult question. Some people would prefer to have their drinks in rather dark and cool surroundings. On the other hand, the hon. Member's concern is the protection of these young girls. But I wonder what can happen even in a dimly-lighted bar? I am only the Acting Minister for Labour, and when the Minister returns from Manila, I will submit to him the Member's request.