LOCAL EMPLOYEES OF BRITISH MILITARY ESTABLISHMENTS (Measures for retraining for other occupations)

Mr Bernard Rodrigues asked the Minister for Labour, in view of the proposed retrenchment of local employees of the British military establish ments, what measures are being contemplated by the Government for their retraining for other occupations.

Mr Jek Yeun Thong: Mr Speaker, Sir, the hon. Member will, of course, realise that the problem of retraining some thousands of local employees who will be affected by the run-down of the British bases is a task of considerable magnitude. Before any concrete plans can be formulated, it is necessary to obtain detailed information of civilian employees who will be retrenched, such as age, type of work currently performing, qualifications, experience and so on to enable a detailed study to be made of the type and scope of retraining that is required for alternative jobs in commerce and industry. This matter cannot he isolated from the fact that increasing numbers of youths who are entering the labour market will also need vocational training to fit them for jobs, it will, therefore, be necessary to consider this problem as a whole.

The Government, however, assures the hon. Member that it will make every effort to formulate plans for the retraining of retrenched employees and training for our youths as soon as the required information which will be made available by the British authorities is studied in detail. This matter is now receiving the earnest consideration of my Ministry.