ENLISTMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read. 2.50 p.m.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence (Dr Goh Keng Swee): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

At present, people who are enlisted for national service are liable to render full-time service in the Singapore Armed Forces for two years. However, those who are selected for officer training or who have been promoted above the rank of Lance Corporal are liable to serve 2 1/2 years. For equity purposes, it is necessary to extend the same liability of 2 1/2 years to those full-time national servicemen in the Police Force, the Vigilante Corps, the Singapore Fire Brigade and the Aerodrome Fire Service who are trained to hold a rank equivalent to that of an officer in the Singapore Armed Forces or who are promoted to a rank equal to that of Corporal and above in the SAF.

We have noted that employers in the past were generally reluctant to give temporary employment to persons who are liable for national service call-up because, under the law now in force, these employers are obliged to reinstate the servicemen after they have completed their national service. So legislation which is intended to assist young men has in practice worked out to their detriment and this is a clear case of counter-productive legislation. To rectify this situation and to encourage employers to give temporary employment to young persons, awaiting national service call-up, the obligation of reinstatement is now removed. Employers are no longer prohibited from terminating the service of temporary employees in their employment by reason of their liability to be called up to perform national service. This will make it easier for school leavers to get paid employment while waiting for their NSF call-up.

Under the present law, employers are required to pay their employees who are performing reserve, voluntary or mobilised service the difference between the employees' civilian pay and service pay. Employers are then allowed to obtain reimbursement of this amount by deducting from their payroll tax or by claiming reimbursement from the designated authority. This cumbersome procedure is to be replaced by a simple one whereby the Ministry of Defence pays directly to the employees doing reservist or other forms of training the difference between their civilian pay and service pay. This new procedure will also apply to the Ministry of Home Affairs which looks after the Special Constabulary, Vigilante Corps, Singapore Fire Brigade and the Singapore Aerodrome Fire Service. Under the new procedure when the employees are called up for service or training, their employers will have to submit to the relevant units details in prescribed forms of the employees' civilian pay. The make-up pay will then be computed by the paymasters of units and be added to their service pay where civilian pay exceeds service pay.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill - [Dr Goh Keng Swee]

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.