PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read. 3.55 p.m.

The Minister for National Development (Mr Teh Cheang Wan): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

The existing provisions in the Professional Engineers Act, 1970, restrict registration of engineers to those who have passed the pro- fessional practice examination set by the Professional Engineers Board, after they have obtained two years' professional practical experience. This requirement of passing local examinations may have deterred good foreign engineers from seeking registration in Singapore.

The amendment Bill therefore seeks to provide for the registration of engineers without the need of passing a professional examination if the engineer has at least -

(1) five years' post-qualification professional experience, of which two years are in Singapore; or

(2) 10 or more years' post-qualification professional experience of such a standard as may be recognised by the Board.

Singapore can then better attract good foreign engineers to augment the local pool of engineering talents to meet the needs of our construction and other industries. In addition, the Bill also seeks to provide for the registration of a person holding a degree of Bachelor of Engineering from the National University of Singapore which was recently incorporated.

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. - [Mr Teh Cheang Wan].

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