Koh Poh Koon on Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment) Bill

The Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment) Bill is linked to the Platform Workers Bill, which was passed in Parliament last month to strengthen protections for platform workers providing platform services. It proposes prohibiting members of any platform work association or of any body or association affiliated with platform work associations from being a member of the Public Service Commission, Public Service (Personnel Boards), Judicial Service Commission and Legal Service Commission. Senior Minister of State for Manpower Koh Poh Koon, who highlighted the proposal in Parliament on Monday (Oct 14), pointed out that a member of any trade union or of any body or association affiliated to a trade union cannot be a member of the Public Service Commission, Public Service (Personnel Boards), Judicial Service Commission and Legal Service Commission to preserve the impartiality and high standards in the Civil Service, Judicial Service and Legal Service. As platform work associations function like trade unions, the same consideration should apply for parity, he said. The Bill was approved by the House.