EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE (Number of registrants as at 31-10-68 and number placed in employment between 1-1-68 and 31-10-68)

Mr P. Govindaswamy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Labour (a) what was the total number of persons registered with the Employment Exchange for employment assistance as at 31st October, 1968; and (b) how many registrants had been placed in employment by the Exchange between 1st January and 31st October, 1968, and whether their registration cards have been taken back by the Exchange.

Mr Sia Kah Hui (for the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Labour): Mr Speaker, Sir, the total number of persons registered in the Employment Exchange for employment assistance as at 31st October, 1968, was 62,095. From January to October 1968 the Employment Exchange had placed 3,880 registrants in employment.

It is not the practice of the Employment Exchange to take back registration cards from registrants.

Mr P. Govindaswamy (Anson): (In Tamil): Take, for example, a person who has been employed. Does not the Parliamentary Secretary agree that if you do not take away his registration card, he will go from one place of work to another to seek employment?

Mr Sia Kah Hui: Mr Speaker, Sir, that will not be possible because once we have sent a registrant out to a prospective employer, his card in the Employment Exchange is automatically endorsed. His name is therefore taken out of the register.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: (In Tamil): My question is whether the card can be taken back or not.

Mr Sia Kah Hui: I do not understand. I do not know what card can be taken back.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: I wish to know whether the registration card will be taken back, that is, the employment card. Once a person is employed, should not his registration card be taken back? Otherwise can he not continue to seek a better job at another place? That is the question I am asking and I hope the Parliamentary Secretary will answer it.

Mr Sia Kah Hui: Mr Speaker, Sir, as I said earlier, it is not possible for that registrant to move from job to job. Once he is sent out by the Employment Exchange, he brings with him a card addressed to the prospective employer and there is a return card. If he is taken on, then the card in which the particulars are properly entered will be sent back to the Employment Exchange by the employer. The registrant's name will then be removed from the register. In other words, he is already an employed person and his name does not remain in the register. The card that he originally had will serve no purpose whatsoever.