Safeguard Working Conditions of Postmen

10 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Communications and Information (a) whether IMDA places a limit on the number of mailboxes a postman has to cover each day; (b) whether there are regulations in place to safeguard the working conditions of postmen; and (c) how does IMDA plan to support SingPost in adopting technology or redesigning jobs to improve accuracy and efficiency of mail sorting and delivery to ease existing workloads.

The Minister for Communications and Information (Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim): Mr Speaker, the Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) does not limit the number of letter boxes each postman serves. As a licensee, SingPost is required to plan and optimise its operations to meet the IMDA's Postal Quality of Service (QoS) standards, namely, to deliver 100% of all basic letters within two working days of posting. IMDA will take regulatory actions, such as imposing financial penalties, if SingPost fails to meet these standards.

Sir, I understand that SingPost recently reviewed its postman delivery routes to ensure that the daily delivery workload is equitably distributed amongst its postmen. Currently, each postman delivers mail items to approximately 2,000 dwelling units, or roughly 20 HDB blocks daily. In designing a postman's delivery route, SingPost ensures that each postman is able to complete his delivery within a standard six-hour delivery window. During peak periods where there are higher mail volumes, SingPost may engage temporary postal workers for sorting duties, redeploy staff or request postmen to work overtime to ensure that mail is delivered in a timely manner. Postmen who work overtime are given overtime pay.

The Member asked about regulations to safeguard the working conditions of postmen. Mr Speaker, SingPost has to comply with prevailing labour legislation that protects the rights and welfare of its workers. I am told that over the past few years, SingPost has increased the postmen’s salary and that MOM has not received any valid salary-related complaints over the last five years.

The Member also asked about leveraging technology to improve mail operations. I understand that SingPost has been actively adopting technology and has invested $100 million over the last few years to improve its operational efficiency. For instance, SingPost invested in a $45-million mail sorting machine that has automated 95% of the mail sorting process. To make it easier for its postmen to deliver mail, SingPost has also introduced more delivery vehicles, such as three-wheel scooters and customised mail delivery trolleys. IMDA is fully supportive of SingPost's on-going efforts to adopt technology and redesign jobs.

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang (Nee Soon): I thank the Minister for the reply. IMDA has also stated that it would be conducting a full investigation into the incident where the postman was dismissed for throwing away mail. Can the Minister share what the scope of the investigation is and, based on this investigation, if SingPost will be further reviewing the workload of postmen and postwomen?

Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: IMDA is doing the investigations. I do not have the details as yet. But once we are finished with the investigations, we will communicate the outcome to SingPost. And if there are further remedial measures that SingPost will have to take, we will ask SingPost to comply with them.

At the end of the day, as I have mentioned earlier, we control the outcome through our Quality of Service standards and, if there are lapses in SingPost, we will have to deal with it accordingly.

11.30 am

Mr Speaker: Order. End of Question Time. Introduction of Government Bills.