PORT OF SINGAPORE AUTHORITY (Employment of convicted persons)

Mr P. Govindaswamy asked the Minister for Communications if he is aware that applicants for employment with the Port of Singapore Authority who have any criminal convictions recorded against them are rejected outright by the Authority; and if he will ascertain from the Authority whether the Authority will give consideration to such applicants in future recruitments in cases where the offences committed by them are not of a nature which will in any way be prejudicial to the interests of the Authority and the persons concerned have satisfactorily served their sentences, as employment will assist in rehabilitating them in society.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Anson is no doubt aware that the Port of Singapore Authority employs a very large work force of approximately 9,000 persons, and since the smooth operation of our port activities is vital to the economic weIl.being of Singapore, it follows that the P.S.A, must make a careful assessment so that only persons of reasonably good character and integrity are recruited into its service.

It is incorrect to say that all applicants with criminal convictions are being rejected outright by the P.S.A. As a matter of fact, since 1966, 62 persons with minor offences and 16 persons with criminal records have been recruited, after satj~fying the P.S.A, that they had indeed turned over a new leaf.