The following article was published in The Straits Times on 10 June 2004.
Manpower Ministry gets new division
By SUE-ANN CHIA
The Straits Times
10/06/2004
HELP FOR FOREIGN WORKERS
THE Manpower Ministry (MOM) has a new division to attend specifically to the well-being of foreign workers, from looking into their safety to ensuring they are treated well by employers.
The Foreign Manpower Management division was established last August to focus on three areas: protecting the safety of foreign workers, upkeeping professionalism among employment agencies, and beefing up enforcement such as conducting spot checks on employers.
In his address at the 92nd International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, yesterday, Acting Manpower Minister Ng Eng Hen said the new division was set up in recognition of the 'importance of the well-being of foreign manpower in Singapore'.
'I am confident that we would be able to holistically enhance our framework and provide the best possible environment for foreign workers living and working in Singapore,' he said.
Dr Ng was giving an update on Singapore's labour concerns, such as wage reform and training efforts, at the annual conference where delegates from various countries, comprising Government, employer and worker representatives, gather to discuss labour issues.
Dr Ng's team includes MOM permanent secretary Yong Ying-I, National Trades Union Congress assistant secretary-general Halimah Yacob and Singapore National Employers Federation vice-chairman Bob Tan.
At this year's conference, delegates are set to discuss human resources development and training, migrant workers, and rights at work.
Yesterday, Dr Ng told delegates that Singapore, with a resident population of 3.4 million, needs foreign workers to meet the demands of its industries to achieve sustainable growth.
Hence, the need for this new division to look out for foreign workers, who contribute to the growth of Singapore's economy, an MOM spokesman told The Straits Times.
Such a move also comes amid concern over maid abuse and errant employers who do not pay employees on time. Employers are already required to go for compulsory orientation courses before hiring maids.
The new division, which has more than 100 employees, will investigate cases of errant employers, and also look into terms of employment, working conditions and workmen injury claims, said an MOM spokesman.
Its scope of work expands upon the services of the Foreign Manpower Employment Division, which now mainly deals with work pass policies and issuing work permits.
Where in the past the ministry was involved in giving out licenses to employment agencies, the new division will now develop and implement accreditation schemes as well.
