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The Committee has noted from the Government’s reply to its general observation of 1998 that, under the public sector participation scheme operated by the Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE), private companies may set up production bases in prison workshops using inmate labour. The Government indicates that prisoners are not compelled to work in workshops, that work is voluntary and the prisoners will not be punished if they do not wish to work. It states that all workshops in prisons operate like private enterprises and the working conditions approximate outside working conditions, prisoners are paid from public funds by the SCORE, which is a statutory body.

The Committee requests the Government to supply, with its next report, copies of the provisions governing the work of prisoners under the abovementioned scheme operated by the SCORE, including those concerning wages and other conditions of work.