AGRI-FOOD AND VETERINARY AUTHORITY (Package offered to civil servants)

Mr Seng Han Thong asked the Minister for National Development whether the package to be offered to civil servants crossing over from the Primary Production Department to the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority has been finalised.

Dr John Chen Seow Phun (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, generally, ex-PPD officers were transferred to AVA under no less favourable terms. However, for a group of non-pensionable officers who joined the Service before 7th December 1984, they lost the opportunity to claim pension benefits under the CPF-Annual Allowance Gratuity Option as they will no longer be civil servants when they retire at the compulsory retirement age. This policy has been applied consistently in all past conversion exercises.

The CPF-AA Gratuity Option is not an entitlement. Nevertheless, the Government understands the officers' concerns. MND, in consultation with PSD and MOF, recently worked out a lump-sum ex-gratia payment for each of the affected officers. The payment will be made to the officers' CPF account.

The staff and the Union have been briefed on the matter.