INDUSTRIAL ARBITRATION COURTS (Delay in handing down decision on completion of hearing)

Mr Ho See Beng asked the Minister for Labour whether he is aware that the Industrial Arbitration Courts are often unable to hand down decisions within two weeks after the completion of the hearing as provided under section 66 (3) of the Industrial Relations Ordinance; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this situation.

Mr Jek Yeun Thong: Mr Speaker, Sir, it has always been known that owing to the complexities of many cases, the Industrial Arbitration Courts may be unable to hand down decisions in two weeks after completion of its hearing as generally provided for in section 66 (3) of the Industrial Relations Ordinance, 1960. I have to point out to the hon. Member that it was for this reason that when the Ordinance was first enacted, a further provision was added to the same subsection giving the court discretion to hand down decisions within such extended time as in special circumstances the Court considers to be required for the proper consideration of the dispute or matter. At the appropriate time, I will introduce an amendment to the Industrial Relations Ordinance to do away with the two weeks' time limit so as to give the Court the discretion to hand down its award at any time it considers appropriate in the light of the circumstances of each particular case.

Mr Ho See Beng (Bras Basah): Will the Minister indicate, when the time comes for him to introduce an amendment to the Industrial Relations Ordinance, whether it will improve the present system, or it will make the present system worse?

Mr Jek Yeun Thong: Mr Speaker, Sir, of course, we are trying to improve the system of arbitration. There is no question of making it worse.

Mr Ho See Beng: Mr Speaker, Sir, I think the Minister has misunderstood my question. At the moment, our complaint is that the awards are unduly delayed. With the provision of two weeks the Arbitration Court is now apparently unable to hand down awards in the required time. The Minister has said that he is going to remove the two weeks' period. Would this mean that he is going to make the period even longer?

Mr Jek Yeun Thong: I think the delay is not because of the system. It is because of the availability of persons as members on the panel. If we want to improve the system, we should get more persons on the panel.