COMMISSION ON PARLIAMENT STAFF

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COMMISSION ON PARLIAMENT STAFF:

The Leader of the House (Mr Wong Kan Seng): Mdm Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

"That this Parliament, noting the Report of the Commission on Parliament Staff as contained in Paper Misc. 8 of 2003, accepts the recommendation of the Commission as contained in paragraph 8 thereof and resolves in accordance with such recommendation."

Madam, in accordance with Article 51(6) of the Constitution of Singapore, a Commission consisting of the Speaker, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, the Acting Minister for Education, the Chairman of the Public Service Commission and myself was set up to consider a proposal to adopt a new Language Executive Service (Parliament) for the Simultaneous Interpreters.

The Commission has presented its Report to Parliament on 28th November 2003. The salary of the Simultaneous Interpreters has remained unchanged since 1st January 1994 when it was revised as a result of a civil service-wide salary revision. Since then, the job scope of the Simultaneous Interpreters has expanded and the existing scheme of service provides no progression in their salaries. To reflect the expanded job scope and the interpretation and translation skills of the Simultaneous Interpreters, their job title has been redesignated as Language Services Officers.

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The Commission also noted that the scheme of service for the interpreters and translators in the other Ministries/departments and the Judiciary has been recently reviewed and revised. Consequent upon the revision, an enhanced scheme 2003 and a newly created scheme known as the Language Executive Schemes (LXS) for these interpreters and translators came into effect on 1st June 2003 and 1st July 2003 respectively.

The Commission has proposed a new scheme to be known as the Language Executive Scheme (Parliament) which will follow the LXS scheme structure for interpreters and translators in the other Ministries and the Judiciary. With the implementation of the new scheme, the Language Services Officers can enjoy performance-based pay, clear and timely progression, and self-directed career development. Unlike the existing scheme, the Language Services Officers must possess graduate degree entry qualifications, with the additional requirement of a relevant language major. On conversion to the LX Scheme (Parliament), officers will retain their current salaries.

The recommendation of the Commission is

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contained in paragraph 8 of the Report.

The House is asked to accept the recommendation of the Commission.

Madam, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this Parliament, noting the Report of the Commission on Parliament Staff as contained in Paper Misc. 8 of 2003, accepts the recommendation of the Commission as contained in paragraph 8 thereof and resolves in accordance with such recommendation.