WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Mdm Claire Chiang See Ngoh asked the Minister for Trade and Industry if there are any data on the size and number of businesses owned and operated by women, and statistics on the number and positions of women managers in various industries and professions.

Mr Lee Yock Suan: The Ministry of Trade and Industry does not have any data on the size and number of businesses owned and operated by women. However, according to the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS), there were about 18,630 women who derived their principal source of income from business in 1996.

The latest data on women managers are captured in the 1995 General Household Survey. The survey showed that there were 33,583 women managers, senior officials and working proprietors, representing an increase of 37% over the 24,577 figure in 1990. Increases were recorded in all sectors of the economy as shown in the table below. Number of Women Managers/Senior Officials/ Working Proprietors by Industry Sector 1990 1995 Manufacturing 3,401 5,445 Construction 747 824 Commerce 12,311 13,361 Transport 1,374 2,512 Finance and Business 4,470 7,803 Services Community and Social 2,214 3,477 Services Others 60 161 Total 24,577 33,583 (Source: Department of Statistics)