INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION CONVENTION 100

Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong asked the Minister for Manpower in view of Singapore's ratification of the International Labour Organisation Convention 100 on Equal Pay for Equal Work, whether the Singapore Civil Service is in compliance with this convention.

Dr Lee Boon Yang: Singapore ratified ILO Convention 100 in June this year. This Convention seeks to promote and ensure the application of the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value.

Wages in Singapore are based on meritocracy and determined by market forces of demand and supply. In the case of the Civil Service, the principle of equal pay has been adopted since 1962. Male and female officers of the same rank are placed on the same salary scale. We are in compliance with the convention.

Nevertheless, the public sector is aware of the difference in medical benefits for male and female officers engaged prior to 1994. For this group of civil servants, medical benefits were extended only to the dependants of male officers, but not to the dependants of female officers. This policy was formulated on the principle that in an Asian society like Singapore, it is the husband's responsibility to look after the family's need. However, if a female employee becomes the breadwinner, as in a widow or divorcee, her dependants would be eligible for medical benefits. In 1994, serving civil servants were given the option of accepting the subsidised outpatient cum Medisave Scheme whereby male or female civil servants received the same outpatient subsidy and additional 1% Medisave contribution. The latter could be used by both male and female officers to meet the hospitalisation expenses of their dependants. Since then all civil servants were recruited on similar terms. Officers on the older medical benefits schemes can opt over to the MSO scheme at any time. The Civil Service will periodically review its medical benefits scheme.

Having ratified Convention 100, my Ministry will take steps to implement the necessary measures to comply with the requirements of this convention. The Ministry will, in consultation with the National Trades Union Congress, Singapore Business Federation and the Singapore National Employers' Federation, initiate the adoption of a Tripartite Resolution to re-affirm the commitment of the 3 social partners to promote and observe the principle of equal remuneration. This will pave the way for this principle to be incorporated in the collective agreements signed between employers and unions.