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RecordsGovernment Files
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Monthly Labour Department Reports to Colonial Office
- Period: 01/01/1955 - 17/01/1956
- Microfilm and File Reference No.: ML 1188 - 0151/ LM 13-55
Every month, Singapore's Labour Department prepared a report to update the Colonial Office in London with details of significant developments - particularly the labour disputes that the department had been involved in resolving . The views of Labour officials involved in the Hock Lee Bus Company disputes are captured including information on the number of employees involved in sympathy strikes .
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Labour Department: Departmental Annual Report for 1955
- Period: 30/12/1955 - 03/01/1958
- Microfilm and File Reference No.: ML 1197 - 0003/ LM 18-56 Pt 1
At the start of each year, the Labour Department prepared an Annual Report summarising the key developments affecting the Department for the year. 1955 was a record year of activities with the department trying to resolve over 275 strikes - including Singapore's most violent labour dispute - the Hock Lee bus riots .
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Court of Inquiry
- Period: 03/01/1956 - 02/02/1957
- Microfilm and File Reference No.: ML 1197 - 0006/ LM 20-56
In the 1950s, Courts of Inquiry were established to try to resolve indistrial disputes between employers and their unions of workers. This was a practice not just in Singapore but also in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
In commenting and capturing the details of various disputes, the workings and limitations of such courts were examined such as the possibility that the findings of the court could be rejected by both the employer or the union if they were viewed as unfavourable.
Charles Gamba, who later became President of Singapore's Industrial Arbitration Court, comments on how he saw the role of the such industrial tribunals as not just to resolve conflicts but to also try to pave the way for more harmonous relations between the employer and the workers who are going to have to carry on working together after the dispute is over .
