FACTORY INSPECTORATE (Increase and upgrading of staff)

Inche Abdul Aziz Karim asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Labour if he will consider (i) strengthening the Factory inspectorate by increasing the numbers of Senior Inspectors and Inspectors of Factories; (ii) upgrading the posts of Chief Inspector, Senior Inspector and Inspector of Factories and (iii) re-organising the Factory Inspectorate to increase its enforcement capability.

Mr Sia Kah Hui (for the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Labour): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Factory Inspectorate has already been strengthened by the creation of two posts of Inspector of Factories, one in 1968 and another in 1969. In 1967, the Factory Inspectorate had only four posts of Inspector of Factories in addition to the Chief Inspector of Factories and the Senior Inspector of Factories. The established posts of Inspector of Factories have now been increased to six in the I 969-70 Estimates. Although all the posts of Inspector of Factories have been filled, two of the officers have been taken into national service. To make up for the loss of service of these two Inspectors of Factories, provision has been made in the 1969-70 Estimates for a supernumerary Inspector of Factories to be recruited. Attempts are now being made to fill this post on a temporary basis until the return of the two Inspectors of Factories from national service, one in April and the other in September 1970.

The salary scale of Factory Inspectors, including the Chief Inspector of Factories and Senior Inspector of Factories who are all qualified engineers, was revised in July this year to bring it into line with that of engineers employed in other departments of Government, such as the Public Works Department. Since the staff in the department is limited in number, consisting in all of 18 persons, Government has not seen fit to upgrade the post of Chief Inspector of Factories and Senior Inspector of Factories. If, however, the department is reorganised, consideration will be given to upgrade these two posts.

Recognising the importance of industrial safety in the context of rapid industrialisation, Government has obtained the services of two International Executive Service Corps experts to make a study of industrial safety and health in industrial establishments. They have completed their reports and their recommendations are being studied by the Government with a view to their implementation.

The reorganisation of the Factory Inspectorate to increase its effectiveness is one of the recommendations made by the experts. However, industrial safety and health is not just a problem of enforcement. Both management and workers at factory level must themselves ensure that the laws enacted for the health and safety of workers are strictly observed.

Inche Abdul Aziz Karim: Mr Speaker, Sir, does the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that a staff complement of one Chief Inspector of Factories, one Senior Inspector of Factories and five Inspectors of Factories is far from adequate to ensure that the minimum standards of safety, health and welfare of persons engaged in factories are observed? When the position in 1968 is compared to that in 1959 when industrialisation was first mooted, there was one Chief Inspector of Factories, an Industrial Training Officer --

Mr Speaker: Order. Inche Abdul Aziz, what you are saying sounds more like a speech than a supplementary question. What is the question?

Inche Abdul Aziz Karim: Mr Speaker, Sir, does the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that the position in 1968 is far from favourable or satisfactory as compared to the position in 1959?

Mr Sia Kah Hui: Mr Speaker, Sir, I think every department would like to increase its staff, but there is always a limit. I am sure as time goes on and when the need is such as to enable us to convince the Minister for Finance, I am sure more posts could be created.

Inche Abdul Aziz Karim: Does the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that with rapid industrialisation and increase in the number of factories and diversity of the kinds of factories, a total of seven Inspectors of Factories is far from adequate and satisfactory to cope with the cases in hand?

Mr Sia Kah Hui: Mr Speaker, Sir, I have already indicated that we have increased the number of posts in the Factory Inspectorate and that is as far as we can go just now.

Inche Abdul Aziz Karim: Mr Speaker, Sir, can the present number of Inspectors of Factories deal efficiently and expeditiously with all the cases in hand?

Mr Sia Kah Hui: I do not know whether the Member can indicate an instance where the Inspectors of Factories were not available to deal with any case in hand. As far as I know, there has been no complaint of any negligence or unsatisfactory performance of their duties. But, as I said, if we can make out a strong case that there is really a need for an increase in the number of Inspectors of Factories, I am sure the Minister for Finance will give it sympathetic consideration.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether he agrees that this is a question of priority? If there are frequent occurrences of accidents in factories, I think we should consider it as a priority question.

Mr Sia Kah Hui: Sir, I fully agree with what the Member for Sembawang has said.

Mr Sia Khoon Seong (Moulmein): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Labour has said that he will prepare a strong case to the Minister for Finance if there is such a need. I want to know whether his Ministry at this juncture think that there is such a need and whether, in fact, his Ministry is taking steps to prepare such a case for the consideration of the Minister for Finance for the provision of extra personnel for this particular department.

Mr Sia Kah Hui: Sir, I have already indicated in my answer that the number of posts has already been increased in the 1969-70 Estimates. I think that is as far as we can go at this stage.

An hon. Member: Is there a need?

Inche Abdul Aziz Karim: Mr Speaker, Sir, what assurance can the Parliamentary Secretary give to the House that persons of the highest calibre arid qualifications are engaged as Inspectors of Factories?

Mr Sia Kah Hui: Sir, that is the common practice when recruiting Government officers.

Inche Abdul Aziz Karim: Sir, what are the qualifications of Inspectors of Factories?

Mr Speaker: Order. I do not think that is a supplementary question that properly arises out of the original question. In any event, the information asked is easily available in publications of the Public Service Commission.