DAILY-RATED EMPLOYEES IN PUBLIC SECTOR

Mr Yeo Toon Chia asked the Minister for Finance (a) what is the number of daily-rated workers in Government departments and statutory boards as at the latest convenient date; and (b) in view of Singapore's economic progress, whether his Ministry will consider converting the daily-rated workers to monthly paid staff.

The Minister for Finance (Mr Hon Sui Sen): Mr Speaker, Sir, the number of daily-rated employees in Government Ministries and statutory boards as at December, 1978, was 26,201 persons, comprising 12,048 employees in Government and 14,153 employees in statutory boards.

The hon. Member appears to believe that nations which have progressed economically no longer employ public servants on daily rates. I am afraid this is a misconception and economic progress has no bearing on the employment status of daily-rated employees. The determining factor is service requirements and the employment of daily-rated employees provides Government departments and statutory boards some degree of flexibility in the appointment and deployment of such employees in response to changing manpower requirements. The existing arrangement has functioned satisfactorily and there seems no compelling reason to change it.