STRIKE BY CLEANSING WORKERS

Mr Ho See Beng asked the Minister for Health what plans he has to meet the threatened strike by the cleansing workers of the Ministry of Health.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, as the Ministry of Health has been planning for a complete re-organisation of the public cleansing service for some time and has also been gradually building up an Emergency Cleansing Corps towards this end, I can assure the Member for Bras Basah that should the cleansing service go on strike at midnight on 29th December, 1966, we shall be able to maintain not just a skeleton service during the strike but at the start perhaps provide one-half of the present service with a gradual buildup thereafter.

On the 26th of August this year, I reported to this House that the then strength of our Emergency Cleansing Corps was 624 and it could be stepped up without limit to keep up with the requirements of re-organisation. I am happy to state that the present-day strength of our Emergency Cleansing Corps is 1,325. This is twice the strength of what it was four months ago and is equivalent to one-half of the strength of the present work force in the Public Cleansing Department of the Ministry should they go on strike.

I wish to add, Sir, that strike or no strike, I shall personally take charge of the complete re-organisation of the public cleansing service with effect from the 3rd of January, 1967, which is only two weeks ahead. Re-organisation will proceed along the following principles.

Firstly, our public cleansing service will henceforth be on a two-shift basis and this has twofold advantages. One, productivity will be practically doubled because the same equipment and vehicles could be used to clear twice the present output of refuse daily. Two, we can double our work force if necessary and thus provide excellent employment opportunities for our large pool of unemployed citizens now numbering about 70,000.

Secondly, it will put a stop to the nonsensical system of cleansing workers turning up for work on Sundays for double pay and public holidays for triple pay as of right and absenting themselves on Mondays and days following public holidays! This racket has unfortunately gone on for too long even since 1960 - for six long years! We must put an end to this historical farce! Hereafter, Sunday and public holiday work, if any, will be at the request of the employer, which is and has been the prevailing situation in Singapore for some time.

Finally, since the re-organisation is to take effect, strike or no strike, as from 3rd January, 1967, I am now in the position to offer to all members of our Emergency Cleansing Corps prospects of permanent employment in 1967 subject, of course, to completion of three months' satisfactory service in the Emergency Cleansing Corps.

Mr Ho See Beng (Bras Basah): Can the Minister assure this House that during the period of the strike, the Government will not use blacklegs to break it?

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: I can give the Member for Bras Basah this assurance that we shall step up the strength of the Emergency Cleansing Corps from the present 1,325 to as much as is needed to carry out an essential service for the public.