LICENCE FOR MOTOR REPAIR AND SERVICE WORKSHOPS

Mr Gerard Ee asked the Minister for Communications whether motor repair and service workshops could be licensed to maintain a minimum standard of equipment and trained personnel so that work on vehicles could be properly attended and road safety enhanced.

Mr Mah Bow Tan: The roadworthiness of motor vehicles using Singapore roads is ensured through regular inspection of the motor vehicles by authorised inspection centres. This practice in the motor vehicle repair services has served us adequately.

Other countries operate differently. The UK Institute of Motor Industry practises self-regulation. It has a code of conduct to guide its members in their performance standards and in dealing with the public and the industry. The UK Retail Motor Industry Federation does likewise. The American Automobile Association (AAA) and Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) in the USA also adopt similar practices.

At home, a similar scheme has been adopted by the home renovation industry and is working well. The Renovation and Decoration Advisory Council (REDAC) was set up in 1986 by the Consumers' Association of Singapore (CASE), Renovation Contractors' Association of Singapore, Singapore Building Materials Suppliers' Association and Singapore Institute of Material Management to promote and regulate the highest standard of conduct and good practice by industry members. It gives advice and assistance to contractors and consumers in the observance and enforcement of the Singapore Renovation and Decoration Code of Practice.

This model of an industry regulated code of practice is worth considering for the motor vehicle industry. The Automobile Association of Singapore together with the relevant motor and motor repair industry associations could consider setting up an industry council to set the standards or code of practice to regulate the quality of service provided by motor repair workshops.