1980 NATIONAL WAGES COUNCIL RECOMMENDATIONS (Implementation of second tier payment in Public Service)

Mr Yeo Choo Kok asked the Minister for Finance whether his Ministry has finalized the criteria for assessing the eligibility of employees in the public sector for the 1980 National Wages Council's recommendation of the 3% award for above-average employees, and, if so, when the recommendation will be implemented and how many will benefit from it.

Mr Sia Khoon Seong asked the Minister for Finance (a) when and how the Government intends to implement the 1980 NWC recommendation on the second tier payment of 3% for the above-average workers in the public sector; (b) whether he is able to indicate at this juncture the probable percentage of the public service that will get the 3% increase; (c) how his Ministry defines an above-average watchman, clerk, nurse, teacher, lawyer, doctor, administrative officer and permanent secretary, among others; and (d) whether all permanent secretaries and other superscale officers will automatically get the 3% increase, and, if so, what is the rationale.

The Minister for Finance (Mr Hon Sui Sen): Mr Speaker, Sir, as both the Members for Delta and Moulmein have raised questions on implementing the NWC recommendation for the payment of the additional wage increase to above-average performers in the public service, it would be convenient if I could answer their questions together.

Mr Speaker: Yes.

Mr Hon Sui Sen: Sir, my Ministry, in close consultation with other Ministries and their statutory boards, is still in the process of finalising a suitable scheme for implementing, in the public service, the NWC recommendation. From the way in which they pose their questions, the hon. Members appear to have appreciated the difficulties created by the size of the public service and the multiplicity of grades among the officers involved. It will take some time yet before appropriate instructions with the necessary uniformity and flexibility can be issued to Ministries and statutory boards.

It is not possible at this stage to indicate the probable percentage of officers who will be paid the additional wage increase. The number of officers so paid will ultimately depend on the assessment of the performance of officers by their supervisors in the various organisations of the public service. There should, however, be no automatic award to any categories of officers. It would indeed offend the principle of greater rewards for more meritorious workers if too high a proportion of officers were awarded this second tier payment.