Correctional Services Industries

All inmates, unless certified physically unfit by Medical Officers, are
required by law to work six days a week. They are assigned work
according to their fitness and security ratings, personal background,
balance of sentence, and so on. They receive earnings according to the
work done and can use their earnings account to buy approved personal
items twice a month. Employment keeps inmates purposefully and
gainfully occupied, thus reducing the risk of unrest due to boredom and
lack of constructive activities. It also helps inmates develop the habit of
doing meaningful work.

In 1997, about 7 400 inmates were engaged in industrial work. Penal
workshops provide a wide range of goods and services for government
departments and public organisations and, to a smaller extent, for the
private sector. Examples are government furniture, staff uniforms and
accoutrements, litter containers, mailboxes and brief cases. Under the
public construction projects, Correctional Services Industries supply
traffic signs, paving slabs and kerbs for highways, new town
development and the new airport-related works. Lighter trades include
printing, envelope-making, bookbinding and laundry services to public
hospitals.

Production and services provided by Correctional Services Industries in
1997 were equivalent to $433 million in commercial value.

[Back] [Forward]