NOTIFIABLE INDUSTRIAL DISEASES, 1977 AND JANUARY 1978

Mr Ivan Baptist asked the Minister for Labour the monthly figures in 1977 and January 1978 (a) of confirmed cases of notifiable industrial diseases; and (b) the quantum of compensation paid out in relation to those industrial diseases.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: The monthly figures of confirmed cases of notifiable industrial diseases for 1977 and January 1978 are given below:- Month No. of confirmed notifiable industrial diseases Jan 77 42 Feb 77 23 Mar 77 94 Apr 77 32 May 77 42 Jun 77 77 Jul 77 32 Aug 77 92 Sep 77 104 Oct 77 61 Nov 77 43 Dec 77 92 Jan 78 23

From January 1977 to January 1978, a total of $206,111.84 were paid out as compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Act to workers suffering from notifiable industrial diseases. The monthly figures of compensation paid in relation to these industrial diseases for the year 1977 and January 1978 are given below: Quantum of compensation paid in respect of notifiable Month industrial disease cases Jan 77 $ 6,010.77 Feb 77 $ 246.40 Mar 77 $ 134.87 Apr 77 $16,704.91 May 77 $16,622.23 Jun 77 $14,135.09 Jul 77 $ 9,320.51 Aug 77 $ 3,664.49 Sep 77 $42,361.06 Oct 77 $38,674.24 Nov 77 $15,974.65 Dec 77 $26,298.88 Jan 78 $15,963.74

It should be pointed out that these are actual payments made. Thus the amount paid includes cases of industrial diseases confirmed prior to January 1977 and excludes some of the cases which were confirmed during the latter part of the period January 1977 - January 1978 but were awaiting assessment.