RETIRED CIVIL SERVANTS (Re-employment in Government service)

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Mr Ang Nam Piau asked the Minister for Finance (a) how many civil servants have retired on reaching the age-limit since 9th August, 1965; (b) how many of them have been re-employed in Government service and which department employs the most; (c) how many retired officers have been re-employed for more than one year, the reasons for their continued employment and the basic salaries they are being paid; and (d) if Government will consider avOiding the re-employment of retired officers for more than one year so as to make more jobs available for Singapore's growing population.

The Minister for Finance (Dr Goh Keng Swee): Sir, a total of 1,075 civil servants retired on reaching the age limit since 9th August, 1965.

Of these, 73 persons or 6.8 per cent have been re-employed. The hospitals and primary schools employed ihe largest numbers. The hospitals le employed a total ef 16 pensioners, 14 of whom are medical ancillary staff and 2 are medical officers. The primary schools re-employed 12 retired teachers.

Twenty-nine retired officers have been re-employed for more than one year. A re-employed pensioner is normally paid four-fifths of basic salary and variable allowance or the difference between his last drawn salary and his pension, whichever is the lesser.

The Government does not re-employ retired officers without good reason. The number of retired officers re-employed for more than one year, namely, 29, will not make any difference to the level of unemployment.

Inche Mohd. Ariff Bin Suradi (Kampong Kembangan): (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, if I am not wrong, the Minister for Education has stated that there are enough teachers. Why are retired teachers now being re-employed?

Dr Goh Keng Swee: There are only 12 retired primary school teachers. I do not think that is a very large number.