FORTY-TWO HOUR WEEK FOR CIVIL SERVANTS (Evaluation of benefits)

Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for Finance if it is feasible for his Ministry to evaluate what benefit has been derived from the introduction of the 42-hour week, by the increase of an hour per day, in all sectors of the civil service, and whether any inconvenience has been encountered by civil servants by the change in the times of arrival at, and departure from work.

Mr Tang See Chim (for the Minister for Finance): Mr Speaker, Sir, it is not possible to quantify the benefits of the changed working hours. However, the fact that offices are now open from 8.00 a.m, to 5.00 p.m, on weekdays except Saturdays, instead of from 9.00 a.m, to 4.30 p.m. as before, means an improved service to the public in the sense that they now have more time to visit these offices to get their affairs attended to.

No survey has been conducted and it is, therefore, not known definitely whether any inconvenience has been encountered by civil servants by the change. As far as can be judged, it would appear that while some civil servants did encounter some inconvenience in the beginning in adjusting to the new routine, all of them by and large are now used to the changed hours of work.