12-HOUR SHIFT SYSTEM (Implementation)

Mr Goh Chee Wee asked the Minister for Communications and Minister for Labour (a) how many companies in Singapore have implemented the 12-hour shift system; and (b) if the Ministry of Labour has examined the merits and demerits of such a system and whether or not the health and safety of workers have been taken into consideration.

The Minister of State for Labour (Dr Wong Kwei Cheong) (for the Minister for Communications and Minister for Labour): Mr Speaker, Sir, according to information available to the Ministry of Labour, five companies have implemented the 12-hour shift system in certain sections of their companies. Another five organizations have indicated interest in this shift system.

The advantages of the 12-hour shift system are:

(i) It may help to overcome workers' reluctance to work on the late night shift and reduce our dependence on foreign workers.

(ii) The system saves transport costs for the workers and enable them to enjoy more rest days.

(iii) It optimizes the use of expensive plant and machinery.

The disadvantages are:

(i) It may affect the social activities of workers during the days they work.

(ii) Employees are more susceptible to fatigue if the work requires strenuous physical effort and high concentration. Hence the 12-hour shift may not be suitable for such industries.

According to the experience of the five companies which operated this system, they have not reported any significant increase in the number of industrial accidents. There is also no indication that their workers' health is affected in any significant way except for fatigue in the initial period.

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam (Anson): Mr Speaker, Sir, may I ask the Minister of State whether, in implementing this 12-hour shift system, the wishes of the workers have been taken into consideration?

Dr Wong Kwei Cheong: Mr Speaker, Sir, the answer is yes.

Mr Goh Chee Wee (Boon Lay): May I ask the Hon. Minister of State, first, under this 12-hour shift system, will the workers work the same total number of hours? Secondly, presuming that the workers are rostered to work, say, from 7 o'clock in the evening to the next morning at 7 o'clock, in other words they have to work through the night too, how will this really overcome the workers' reluctance to work on the late night shift when this new system requires them to work an even longer late night shift?

Dr Wong Kwei Cheong: Mr Speaker, Sir, in answer to the first part of the question, as long as the average number of hours worked over a period of three weeks for shift workers is not more than 44 hours per week, then employers and employees can have agreements whereby such work can be carried out.

As regards the second part of the question, Sir, workers working on a 12-hour shift will be having more off-days, and this will help them to save transport costs and the additional off-days will be an incentive for them to go and work the 12-hour shift even though they may have to work in the night shift.