TRANSPORT/TRANSPORT ALLOWANCE FOR PORT OF SINGAPORE AUTHORITY EMPLOYEES IN BLAIR PLAIN QUARTERS

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for the Environment and Minister for Communications if he will request the Port of Singapore Authority to consider providing transport alternatively paying a transport allowance to all employees of the PSA who have been moved out of the PSA Staff quarters in Blair Plain and as a result of which have been put to expense to travel to work when they did not have the expense whilst living in the PSA Staff quarters.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: All flats of the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) including those at Blair Plain are rented out to employees on monthly tenancies and are not provided as part of their terms and conditions of service. These flats are therefore not service quarters.

Under the terms and conditions of service, all PSA employees are not entitled to transport or transport allowance for travel between home and their work places. Employees who were previously staying at Blair Plain cannot therefore be treated any differently. Like other PSA employees, they must bear their own transport expenses and make their own arrangements for travel to and from work.