REGISTRATION CENTRES FOR EMPLOYMENT IN CONSTITUENCIES

Mr Tay Boon Too asked the Minister for Labour whether he will consider establishing registration centres of the Employment Exchange in all the 51 constituencies so that unemployed persons may register or re-register themselves, as the case may be, in their respective constituencies and need not have to incur unnecessary transport expenditure in having to go to the Labour Ministry at Havelock Road.

The Minister for Labour (Mr Jek Yeun Thong): Mr Speaker, Sir, the hon. Member may not be aware that my Ministry operates at present three employment exchanges. The main one is at Havelock Road, a branch at Bukit Panjang, and another at the Jurong industrial estate. I do not consider it necessary to establish employment exchanges in all the 51 constituencies. It will be a waste of public money to do so.

Singapore is a small island with excellent and cheap public transport to any part of the island. Any unemployed person can easily go to any one of the present three exchanges and register himself there.