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The Committee previously noted from the Government’s report of 2000 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. It also noted the Government’s indications 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, that working conditions approximate outside working conditions and prisoners are paid from public funds by the SCORE.

Noting the Government’s statement in its latest report that work is given to prisoners as part of rehabilitation and the objective of the prison system in Singapore is to help to rehabilitate and to reintegrate inmates into society, the Committee again 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. Please also supply copies of the latest updated texts of the Prisons’ Act and Prisons’ Rules.