RETRENCHED CLERICAL EMPLOYEES OF CHINESE RURAL SCHOOLS (Alternative employment)

Mr Ho See Beng asked the Minister for Home Affairs and Education (a) how many clerical employees of some aided Chinese schools in the rural area have become unemployed following the closure of the schools recently; (b) why the Ministry of Education cannot employ them in some of the schools which have newly been opened; and (c) whether an assurance can be given to similar employees of schools which are still functioning that they will not suffer the same fate if their schools are closed, as they have been feeling insecure and demoralised since the retrenchments.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, in 1976, six clerks were rendered redundant. Three were given alternative postings to other Government-aided schools where vacancies existed. One refused redeployment and two had their services terminated because they could not be redeployed.

In 1977, although nine aided Chinese schools closed down, only two clerks were rendered redundant. The two clerks were redeployed to other Government-aided schools.

The Ministry helps to redeploy the clerks by posting them to other aided schools where vacancies exist. Where no such vacancies exist and the clerks meet the minimum educational qualifications for appointment to the Government General Clerical Service, their cases are referred to the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service Commission for absorption into the General Clerical Service to serve in the newly opened Government schools. In the event they cannot be absorbed into the General Clerical Service, their services have to be terminated. Every possible assistance has been and will continue to be given by my Ministry to redeploy the redundant aided school clerks.

Mr Ho See Beng (Khe Bong): Sir, the Minister has not answered the most important part of my question. Can the Minister give an assurance whether similar employees of schools which are still functioning will not suffer the same fate if their schools are closed down? I insist upon an assurance from the Minister because employees of Chinese-aided schools are between 45 and 50 years old and the employment market for this age-group is very thin.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, although the assurance has not been specifically spelt out, the fact that the Ministry is doing its best to redeploy some of these redundant school clerks is itself concrete evidence of what the Ministry is doing. That, Mr Speaker, Sir, is better than a specific assurance from the Ministry. What the Ministry has done for these redundant clerks, to my mind, is a better assurance than any statement by the Ministry.

Mr Ho See Beng: Mr Speaker, Sir, just now the Minister said that in 1976 two clerical employees had their services prematurely terminated because jobs could not be found for them.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, the Ministry can only give an assurance that it will do its best to redeploy these clerks. It cannot guarantee them a job. I do not think the Ministry can guarantee that these clerks who have been found redundant will be given jobs. The Ministry can only try to do its best and has done what it could for these clerks.

Mr Ho See Beng: Sir, is the Minister aware that if the Government had not taken over these aided Chinese schools, in the event of retrenchment these clerks would have been paid retrenchment benefits?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, these clerks who are affected are from Government aided schools. The Government has not taken over the schools. It is still aiding these schools. In fact, the clerks are employed by the aided schools. They are not employed by the Government. So the question as to whether the Government has taken over or has not taken over the aided schools does not arise. The Member for Khe Bong should know that, as far as clerks in Government schools are concerned, they are recruited by the Public Service Commission and they must satisfy the requirements of the Government General Clerical Service. But in this case these clerks are employees of the aided schools and they are still the responsibility of the aided schools. Whether they are given retrenchment benefits or not, it is not the responsibility of the Government. It is the responsibility of the aided schools.

Mr Ho See Beng: Mr Speaker, Sir, are you denying that they are on the payroll of the Government?

Mr Speaker: Mr Ho, are you addressing that question to me?

Mr Ho See Beng: I am sorry, Sir. The question is addressed to the Minister.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, I will answer that question. The fact that they are on the payroll of the Government does not mean that they are in the service of the Government as in the case of the employees in Government schools.

Mr Ho See Beng: Sir, I want to ask the Minister whether the Ministry of Education has the right to hire and fire these employees.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, the aided school board has the right to hire and fire these aided school employees.

Mr Ho See Beng: Is it not the same? The school board has the right to hire and fire. When it comes to the question of payment of retrenchment benefits, they say that this is not the responsibility of the Government.

Mr Speaker: Mr Ho, the Minister has already answered your question.