MINISTRY OF LABOUR

Our ability to take into our stride the adverse effects of the ills afflicting the world economy depends on the continued tripartite co-operation of the Government, labour and management. The two most important factors are the discipline, hard work, efficiency and skill of our workers, and the enterprise and innovation of our entrepreneurs.

I MODERNISATION

We will continue to pursue our twin objectives of upgrading skills and increasing productivity. The National Productivity Board will assist those who are prepared to set up productivity committees. It will shortly convene the National Industrial Relations Committee to consider the issue of productivity and wages.

The National Productivity Board will continue to assist small and medium industries to improve the expertise of their lower and middle management. It will also continue to help to improve the skills of their supervisory staff. To help local industries to upgrade their technology, the Board has established a Low Cost Automation Unit. It has also planned additional services in the fields of design engineering, metal trade engineering, quality control, preventive maintenance, management information system and electronic data processing.

II INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

The effects of inflation and recession. the pursuit of modemisation of our economy and the strive for higher productivity can disrupt our present industrial peace and stability. To ensure that this will not happen, our tripartite structure of industrial relations has to be strengthened and the quality of industrial relations improved. This will call for positive personnel management and sound trade union policies. It will also require capable personnel managers and trade unionists. The Ministry has decided to set up an Industrial Relations Division with high level staff. It will provide conciliation services as well as preventive mediation to eliminate areas of industrial friction.

III SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELFARE OF WORKERS

Safety and Health

The Ministry is determined to raise standards of industrial safety and health especially in building construction, shipbuilding and ship-repairing. These have the highest rates of industrial accidents. A special unit each has already been set up for these two industries. A Study Group on accident prevention in the shipbuilding and ship-repairing industry is expected to submit its report shortly. Industrial dermatitis and noise-induced deaf ness will be added to the list of diseases for which workmen's compensation is payable. The Factories Act will be amended to provide for more stringent safety measures to be observed for work in hazardous enclosed places. Enhanced penalties will be imposed where contraventions are likely to cause death or bodily injury.

Workmen's Compensation

The Ministry will present to Parliament a new Workmen's Compensation Bill which will increase the quantum of compensation. Procedures will be simplified to ensure expeditious payment. The maximum compensation will be increased from $21,600 to $35,000 for a fatal case and from $28,800 to $45,000 in the case of permanent incapacity.

Placement

The Ministry has set up a special retrenchment unit in August 1974 to assist retrenched workers to seek alternative employment.

Employment of Young Persons

The recent Committee on Crime and Delinquency found that the requirement that young persons seeking employment in industry must obtain Certificates of Registration from the Commissioner for Labour has contributed to the delinquency of young school dropouts. The Ministry will amend the Employment Act to allow young persons between 14 and 16 years of age to work in industrial establishments without the prior approval of the Commissioner for Labour. Children between the ages of 12 and 14 will be allowed to work in industrial undertakings under approved apprenticeship schemes. However, the existing provisions on safety, health and welfare governing their employment will be re-enacted in separate regulations.