MINISTRY OF LABOUR (Measures to improve Productivity)

Dr Ang Kok Peng asked the Minister for Communications and Minister for Labour, in the light of the current pursuit to improve the productivity of workers in all economic sectors in Singapore, what measures will be taken or have been taken to improve the productivity of the staff in the Ministry of Labour.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Labour (Mr Eugene Yap Giau Cheng) (for the Minister for Communications and Minister for Labour): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Ministry of Labour has introduced several measures to enhance the productivity of its staff. Firstly, realizing the importance of good staff relationship to productivity, the Ministry has encouraged the formation of a Staff Association. This Staff Association has a room which the officers can use. They can gather together for a chit-chat over a cup of tea. They can play indoor games, including electronic games. They do so during lunch time or after office hours. The Staff Association also organizes outdoor games and excursions. We believe that the promotion of such activities will encourage esprit de corps among the staff which will also improve their productivity.

Secondly, the Ministry has a Staff Development Committee which looks after the welfare and career development of Labour Officers. Since its formation in 1978, the Committee has charted the career paths of the officers. Postings of officers are planned to give them on-the-job training in the various aspects of labour work. Systematic training in labour laws and practices, labour economics, productivity, supervision, communication and other areas of labour work, such as industrial relations, labour statistics and employment promotion are provided. Outstanding officers have been identified and groomed for more responsible appointments. These officers are sent for formal courses overseas when identified. Programmes for the training and career development of officers will promote productivity and loyalty.

Finally, the Ministry has set up what is called a Productivity Enhancement Team. The responsibility of this Team is to study and recommend ways of improving the productivity of the various divisions and departments. Amongst other things, work procedures, communication and staff motivation will be examined. The Team will also help departments to implement its recommendations for the improvement of productivity. It is expected that the Team will eventually cover every department and division within the Ministry.

Mr Tan Soo Khoon (Alexandra): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, has this Productivity Enhancement Team been able to discover any significant areas of improvement in the productivity of the staff?

Mr Eugene Yap Giau Cheng: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I must advise the hon, Member for Alexandra that the Team is only about two or three months old. Nevertheless, they have identified a couple of areas for improvement which is encouraging. The Team is now in the Work Permit Division.

As hon. Members know, the Work Permit Division has numerous applications of diverse kinds. This has caused a multiplicity of activities and has created problems in cataloguing, registration of applications and information retrieval. It has also created many kinds of forms that have to be used. I am glad to inform the hon. Member for Alexandra that, by the end of the year, the Division will be computerized, and that will take care of its information retrieval so that it can process applications much faster.

The Team has also reviewed the counter layout in the Division, because they have to work within a very small space. I believe that with a re-arrangement of the counters, it should also increase the productivity of the staff.

Mr Tan Soo Khoon: Sir, it seems to me that the problem is one of organization rather than productivity. Will this task of reorganizing the Work Permit Division not be better left to the Management Services Department of the Ministry of Finance, rather than to the Productivity Enhancement Team of the Ministry of Labour?

Mr Eugene Yap Giau Cheng: Sir, the Committee consists of staff from within the Ministry who are engineers, and they know the Ministry much better. It is much better to leave the identification of areas for improvement to this Committee. Of course, if we do require the services of the Management Services Department, we will not hesitate to call upon them.

Dr Ang Kok Peng (Buona Vista): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Labour whether his Ministry has any index against which civil servants measure their productivity.

Mr Eugene Yap Giau Cheng: Sir, as I have said, right now it is too early to give indexes, etc., but maybe an example will bring to light or it will at least explain the query of the Member for Buona Vista. I am thinking in terms of the Work Permit Division again. Lately, due to the exit controls imposed by the Immigration Department, many illegal workers have surfaced. They have to apply for work permits. With only a 20% increase in staff to cope with the increase, work output increased by about 300%.