Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1990, published 77th ILC session (1990)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Singapore (Ratification: 1965)

In earlier comments, the Committee noted that, under sections 3 and 13 of the Destitute Persons Act, 1965 (Chapter 78 of the 1985 revised edition of the Laws of Singapore), any destitute person may be required subject to penal sanctions to reside in a welfare home and under section 10 of the Act any person residing in a welfare home may be required to engage in any suitable work. Noting the assurances given by the Government that no destitute person who had a home to go to or could be provided with alternative accommodation was admitted to a welfare home against his will and that in actual practice no resident was ever forced or compelled to work within or outside the welfare home, the Committee expressed the hope that, on an appropriate occasion, section 10 of the Destitute Persons Act would be amended so as to bring it into conformity with actual practice and the Convention, and that the Government would indicate in its future reports any action taken on the matter.

The Committee notes from the Government's report for the period ending June 1989 that the Destitute Persons Act, 1989, repeals and re-enacts with amendments the Destitute Persons Act (Chapter 78), effective 1 May 1989. Under sections 3 and 16 of the new Act, any destitute person may be required subject to penal sanctions to reside in a welfare home and under section 13 of the Act any person residing in a welfare home may be required to engage in any suitable work.

Recalling that the question of work imposed on destitute persons has been the subject of comments since 1970, the Committee expresses its concern that on this matter there has been no substantial modification in law on the occasion of the replacement of the Destitute Persons Act, 1965 by the 1989 Act. As the Committee has indicated previously, compliance with the Convention may be achieved either by making the admission of destitute persons to a welfare home and their continued stay there subject to their consent, or by amending the Act so as to make all work voluntary in law as well as in fact.

The Committee hopes that the necessary measures will be taken to bring the law into conformity with the Convention, and, pending such action, the Government is requested to supply information on the practical application of the provisions relative to welfare homes, including the number of persons currently residing in the homes, the number currently working under section 13 of the Act, and the terms and conditions of their employment.