Prisons (Amendment) Bill

The Minister may introduce a scheme for prisoners who are considered suitable to take up gainful employment whilst they are serving their sentences.(2) Any prisoner taking up employment under a scheme referred to in subsection (1) may, notwithstanding the provisions of any order made by any court, Judge, Magistrate or other public officer for the committal of such prisoner, be released daily to perform any work outside the limits of any prison and a prisoner who carries out work outside the limits of any prison pursuant to such a scheme shall be deemed to be in prison and in the lawful custody of the Superintendent of the prison and shall be subject to all the same incidents as if he were actually in prison.(3) The Minister may make regulations with regard to the scheme of gainful employment for prisoners and such regulations may prescribe for all or any of the following purposes or matters:

the terms and conditions upon which prisoners are to be released to take up employment outside the limits of any prison;

the terms and conditions of engagement of prisoners;

the manner in which wages shall be paid to the prisoners; and

the proportion of wages earned by prisoners under such scheme of employment which may be retained by the prisoners for the payment of food and travelling expenses.”.