ANNUAL WAGE SUPPLEMENT FOR RETIREES

Mr Lee Yock Suan asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider allowing those Government employees who reach retirement age and retire in any particular year to qualify for the annual wage supplement for that year on a pro-rata basis according to the number of days or months served in that year, as otherwise they will miss out on their share of the annual wage supplement through no fault on their part.

Mr Hon Sui Sen: Sir, the Member for Cheng San may not know that in past years I have answered in the negative many questions similar to his on paying the non-pensionable annual allowance on a pro-rata basis to Government officers who retire in the course of the year. I can only say once again that the answer is "no". With many more new Members, I hope the matter will not develop into a hardy annual.

In answering such questions, I have explained the rationale for the payment of this wage supplement, namely, that it is only for civil servants still in service on the last day of the year. It is not correct, therefore, for the hon. Member to speak of the retired civil servant's "share of the annual wage supplement". If he is not in service on the last day of the year, he does not qualify and has no share. There is no question of his being at fault or otherwise.