XN000022-1982-10-03 — Page 5

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1982

LAUNDRY SERVICES ARE NOW THE LEADING ACTIVITY IN TERMS OF DOLLAR VALUE, WHICH EXCEEDED $18 MILLION LAST YEAR.

THE GARMENT-MAKING SECTION PRODUCES A LARGE VOLUME OF UNIFORMS FOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS OTHER THAN THE POLICE, WITH THE MARKET VALUE OF THE GOODS ESTIMATED AT MORE THAN $8 MILLION LAST YEAR.

ABOUT 35 PER CENT OF THE PRISONERS ARE ENGAGED IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES, 16.8 PER CENT IN DOMESTIC WORK

WITHIN THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, 9.1 PER CENT IN BUILDING WORK, 6.5 PER CENT IN VOCATIONAL TRAINING, 2.6 PER CENT IN FARMING AND GARDENING, 1.8 PER CENT IN SERVICES TO OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND SUBVENTED BODIES, AND ANOTHER 8.2 PER CENT IN DOMESTIC WORK OUTSIDE THE SERVICES.

EVERY PRISONER IS ENTITLED TO A BASIC PAY RATE WHETHER ABLE TO WORK OR NOT. TO THIS RATE IS ADDED GRADE PAY ACCORDING TO THE JOB DONE. GRADE PAY IS DIVIDED INTO THE APPRENTICE AND SKILLED CATEGORIES. AN APPRENTICE IS PAID AT HALF THE RATE OF A SKILLED WORKER, BUT CAN GRADUATE TO THE SKILLED RATE AFTER PASSING A TRADE TEST. WEEKLY PAYMENTS RANGE FROM A MINIMUM OF $2.36 TO A MAXIMUM OF $19.90, INCLUDING AN INCENTIVE PAYMENT OF ONE DOLLAR. PRISONERS ARE REQUIRED TO SAVE 25 PER CENT OF THEIR EARNINGS FOR THEIR EVENTUAL RELEASE AND MAY SPEND THE BALANCE ON APPROVED CANTEEN ITEMS SUCH AS CIGARETTES, CONFECTIONERY AND SOFT DRINKS.

HOWEVER, MR COLLINSON SAID, THE PAYMENTS TO YOUNG OFFENDERS IN TRAINING CENTRES AND TO DETAINEES IN THE DETENTION CENTRE ARE INTENDED TO REFLECT THEIR PROGRESS IN THE CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMME RATHER THAN THEIR SKILL OR PERFORMANCE.

+THE MAIN CONCERN IS NOT SO MUCH TO FIT A PRISONER TO A SPECIFIC TRADE AND EXPLOIT HIM ECONOMICALLY BUT TO INCULCATE IN HIM THE HABIT OF PURPOSEFUL WORK.

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+ IN ESSENCE, THIS MEANS THAT HE MUST WAKE UP AT A SET TIME EVERY MORNING, AFTER A WASH AND BREAKFAST, HE IS TAKEN TO A PLACE OF WORK TO ABSORB ITS DISCIPLINE AND DEMANDS AND REALISE HIS INTER-PERSONAL DEPENDENCE ON OTHER MEMBERS IN THE WORKING GROUP TO ACHIEVE RESULTS, MR COLLINSON EXPLAINED.

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UNDER PRISON RULES, WORK HOURS ARE NOT TO BE LESS THAN SIX NOR MORE THAN TEN DAILY, INCLUSIVE OF MEAL BREAKS. AND WORK IS NOT NORMALLY DONE ON STATUTORY HOLIDAYS, EXCEPT FOR PIK UK LAUNDRY WHICH WORKS THROUGHOUT PUBLIC HOLIDAYS, INCLUDING CHINESE NEW YEAR, TO MEET HOSPITAL NEEDS. FURTHERMORE, PRISONERS MAY NOT BE COMPELLED TO WORK ON CERTAIN DAYS MARKED FOR THE OBSERVANCE OF THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. FOR EXAMPLE, MOSLEM PRISONERS ARE ALLOWED TO OBSERVE THE FAST OF RAMADAN.

PRISONERS SERVING SHORT SENTENCES, AS A GENERAL RULE, ARE ASSIGNED DOMESTIC WORK SINCE THEY CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO LEARN SKILLED TRADES WITHIN THE LIMITED TIME, MR COLLINSON EXPLAINED.

MR COLLINSON SAID THAT WELL-MANAGED AND PRODUCTIVE PRISON WORKSHOPS USUALLY LEAD TO A MORE CONTENTED AND COOPERATIVE ATTITUDE ON THE PART OF THE PRISONERS+.

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