The following article was published in TODAY on 30 Sep 2010.
Director jailed for 4 weeks and fined $36,000
by Shaffiq Alkhatib
TODAY, Sep 30, 2010
SINGAPORE- A company director was jailed four weeks and fined $36,000 yesterday for various offences including failing to pay his employees on time. Lee Chiang Theng, 55, a director of three marine firms pleaded guilty to 33 charges on August 26. 67 other charges were taken into consideration.
Lee admitted he had failed to pay 24 of his foreign workers on time. The total amount involved was more than $62,000.
He committed the offences between July 8 2008 and January 8 last year.
Lee also admitted he had failed to provide acceptable accommodation for two of his foreign employees between October 2008 and January last year.
The Manpower Ministry had checked a factory unit at Tagore Industrial Avenue in the Upper Thomson area and found that it was used to illegally house 1,200 foreign workers from 19 companies.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Forest raids nab 78
The following article was published in the Straits Times on 29 September 2010.
Forest raids nab 78
By Amanda Lee
Straits Times, Sep 29, 2010
POLICE rounded up 78 people of various nationalities in raids on the forested areas along Canberra Road, Canberra Link and Sembawang Drive on Tuesday.
The suspects are believed to have used the cover of the forest for various illicit activities such as vice and gambling.
At 10.20pm on Tuesday, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division, Criminal Investigation Department, Gurkha Contingent and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, raided the forested areas.
They arrested 55 men and 23 women of Thai, PRC, Indian, Bangladeshi, Malaysian and Singaporean nationalities for wilful trespass on state land.
If found guilty, the suspects face a fine of up to $1,000 and work permit holders may also have their work permits cancelled.
Investigations are ongoing.
Forest raids nab 78
By Amanda Lee
Straits Times, Sep 29, 2010
POLICE rounded up 78 people of various nationalities in raids on the forested areas along Canberra Road, Canberra Link and Sembawang Drive on Tuesday.
The suspects are believed to have used the cover of the forest for various illicit activities such as vice and gambling.
At 10.20pm on Tuesday, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division, Criminal Investigation Department, Gurkha Contingent and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, raided the forested areas.
They arrested 55 men and 23 women of Thai, PRC, Indian, Bangladeshi, Malaysian and Singaporean nationalities for wilful trespass on state land.
If found guilty, the suspects face a fine of up to $1,000 and work permit holders may also have their work permits cancelled.
Investigations are ongoing.
100 pregnant maids sent home a year
The following article was published in the Straits Times on 29 September 2010.
100 pregnant maids sent home a year
But others abort their babies on the quiet in order to keep their jobs
By Liew Hanqing
Straits Times, Sep 29, 2010
ST photo illustration
EVERY year, about 100 foreign maids here are sent home because they are pregnant - and this number could be far higher, if not for an unknown number who abort their babies in order to keep their jobs.
Maid agencies and social workers say that because becoming pregnant breaches the rules of their stay here, the abortions are done on the quiet, or sometimes, with their employers' consent.
A Straits Times poll of 10 maid agency operators found that they encounter between one and three cases every year in which the maid is either sent home or continues working here following an abortion.
The 100 who are sent packing each year, a small fraction of the 196,000 foreign domestic workers here, are found out when they test positive during their six-monthly blood and urine tests.
Many who stop their pregnancies from coming to light take Cytotec, a prescription drug used to treat gastric ulcers. These pills can be bought from Lucky Plaza, as was reported in The Straits Times last week.
Some others ask friends or relatives back home to mail them abortion-inducing drugs ahead of their half-yearly checkups, said one maid agency.
Still others - 'isolated cases' - go for legal abortions in 'private arrangements' with their employers, who may perhaps have had these maids for a while and are unwilling to lose them, said Madam Monica Leong of Faith Employment Agency.
Going by the law, these employers must notify the Manpower Ministry (MOM) if their maids become pregnant. Their work permits must be cancelled, and the maids sent home. Employers who fail to do this risk losing the $5,000 security deposit they parked with the ministry.
Under MOM regulations, those on work permits cannot become pregnant or give birth here unless they are married to Singapore citizens or permanent residents, with the Government's permission.
Although those who get pregnant are deemed to have breached the terms of employment, doctors are not legally bound to alert the MOM each time they perform an abortion, although the Health Ministry has to be given the names of all those who have had pregnancy terminations, said a spokesman for the Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Singapore.
So who are the maids who get into this kind of trouble?
Maid agencies say they tend to be those who have been here for a while, who have days off or time on their hands; for the majority, the father of the baby is their boyfriend.
Maid agency operator Martin Silva, from Happy Maids Happy Homes, said: 'We deal with experienced maids who have more liberties, such as mobile phones and more days off, so the problem is always there.'
He noted that of the 200 maids he places every year, one would be repatriated for this reason.
Mr Andrew Sim of Bluesky Employment Agency also handles about one case a year out of the approximately 500 maids he places every year.
He added that those from his agency who become pregnant are rarely allowed to stay on as employers send them home to avoid trouble.
The fear of being found out and sent back is likely what drives maids to induce abortions using drugs, said Ms Bridget Lew, president of the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (Home).
'They are afraid because if they see a doctor, there will be an official record of the abortion and they could be sent home,' she said.
One Indonesian maid, speaking from experience, said: 'Getting pregnant is something we are always afraid of...We don't want to be sent home or blacklisted from working here.'
She is one of the minority whose employers allowed them to continue working here after they underwent abortions, and she is grateful for being given 'a second chance'.
Agencies like Maid-Power make it a point to educate their maids against getting pregnant.
Managing director Ivy Lee said: 'We remind them that an unwanted pregnancy will complicate their lives and bring unnecessary hardship to themselves and their families.'
100 pregnant maids sent home a year
But others abort their babies on the quiet in order to keep their jobs
By Liew Hanqing
Straits Times, Sep 29, 2010
ST photo illustrationEVERY year, about 100 foreign maids here are sent home because they are pregnant - and this number could be far higher, if not for an unknown number who abort their babies in order to keep their jobs.
Maid agencies and social workers say that because becoming pregnant breaches the rules of their stay here, the abortions are done on the quiet, or sometimes, with their employers' consent.
A Straits Times poll of 10 maid agency operators found that they encounter between one and three cases every year in which the maid is either sent home or continues working here following an abortion.
The 100 who are sent packing each year, a small fraction of the 196,000 foreign domestic workers here, are found out when they test positive during their six-monthly blood and urine tests.
Many who stop their pregnancies from coming to light take Cytotec, a prescription drug used to treat gastric ulcers. These pills can be bought from Lucky Plaza, as was reported in The Straits Times last week.
Some others ask friends or relatives back home to mail them abortion-inducing drugs ahead of their half-yearly checkups, said one maid agency.
Still others - 'isolated cases' - go for legal abortions in 'private arrangements' with their employers, who may perhaps have had these maids for a while and are unwilling to lose them, said Madam Monica Leong of Faith Employment Agency.
Going by the law, these employers must notify the Manpower Ministry (MOM) if their maids become pregnant. Their work permits must be cancelled, and the maids sent home. Employers who fail to do this risk losing the $5,000 security deposit they parked with the ministry.
Under MOM regulations, those on work permits cannot become pregnant or give birth here unless they are married to Singapore citizens or permanent residents, with the Government's permission.
Although those who get pregnant are deemed to have breached the terms of employment, doctors are not legally bound to alert the MOM each time they perform an abortion, although the Health Ministry has to be given the names of all those who have had pregnancy terminations, said a spokesman for the Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Singapore.
So who are the maids who get into this kind of trouble?
Maid agencies say they tend to be those who have been here for a while, who have days off or time on their hands; for the majority, the father of the baby is their boyfriend.
Maid agency operator Martin Silva, from Happy Maids Happy Homes, said: 'We deal with experienced maids who have more liberties, such as mobile phones and more days off, so the problem is always there.'
He noted that of the 200 maids he places every year, one would be repatriated for this reason.
Mr Andrew Sim of Bluesky Employment Agency also handles about one case a year out of the approximately 500 maids he places every year.
He added that those from his agency who become pregnant are rarely allowed to stay on as employers send them home to avoid trouble.
The fear of being found out and sent back is likely what drives maids to induce abortions using drugs, said Ms Bridget Lew, president of the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (Home).
'They are afraid because if they see a doctor, there will be an official record of the abortion and they could be sent home,' she said.
One Indonesian maid, speaking from experience, said: 'Getting pregnant is something we are always afraid of...We don't want to be sent home or blacklisted from working here.'
She is one of the minority whose employers allowed them to continue working here after they underwent abortions, and she is grateful for being given 'a second chance'.
Agencies like Maid-Power make it a point to educate their maids against getting pregnant.
Managing director Ivy Lee said: 'We remind them that an unwanted pregnancy will complicate their lives and bring unnecessary hardship to themselves and their families.'
OJT is cheap labor for Singapore
The following article was published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on 29 Sept 2010.
OJT is cheap labor for Singapore
Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
29 September 2010
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines—The Senate is moving to clamp down on recruiters deploying Filipino students to Singapore to undergo on-the-job training (OJT) in hotels and restaurants there, and where they are paid only half of what they should be getting and placed on six-month contracts.
Sen. Franklin Drilon said the government should look into the “exploitative practices” of some countries, particularly of the hotel industry in Singapore that use on-the-job training placements as a ruse to obtain labor on the cheap.
Drilon said the Filipinos hired under such conditions should not be categorized as trainees because they do “actual work.”
Half the pay
He said a hotel worker in Singapore should be earning $600 a month. However, a student doing the same work and employed for just six months is paid just $300, or half of what is required under Singaporean laws.
He said the students do not pass the official processes of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as they go to Singapore under student visas.
“But they do work, they have recruiters, there are agents. Now they are not given adequate protection. If something happens to them, who would provide them the protection? There are no agencies that would be called upon locally to respond to these needs. This is something we have to expose before it goes out of hand,” said Drilon.
Since the students leave as tourists, they will not be able to tap into overseas Filipino workers' benefits such as those provided by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration which has a fund currently pegged at P12.6 billion, he said.
The senator said the schools should share responsibility for the students who go abroad for on-the-job training and should be made liable if anything happens to them.
“We must come up with a regulation before this becomes a practice which will be taken advantage of by unscrupulous recruiters,” he said.
‘Job mapping'
At the budget hearing for the DOLE, meanwhile, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said there was a need to undertake “job mapping” to help high school graduates and their parents know what would be the “hot jobs” in the next five to 10 years.
Baldoz said call centers and business process outsourcing (BPO) providers will still be the biggest market for job hunters in the next three years with the quality of its workers being the country's main selling point to foreign investors.
Nursing, which was all the rage a few years ago, continues to decline in terms of overseas demand, she said.
“There is an oversupply in nursing. We've been sending signals that whether locally or overseas, demand has been on the decline,” Baldoz said.
However, the schools and universities continue to produce nursing graduates, 45 to 50 percent of whom pass the nursing licensure examination, she said.
“It will not be surprising to have our nurses land in other jobs, not doing the competencies for which they get their license. This is the job mismatch we have been warning about,” said Balodz.
In-demand jobs
Aside from BPO, the most in-demand jobs in the country as of the first half of 2010 were customer service assistants, technical support staff, forklift operators, accounting clerks, mechanical engineers, sales clerks, drivers, cashiers and production workers.
OJT is cheap labor for Singapore
Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
29 September 2010
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines—The Senate is moving to clamp down on recruiters deploying Filipino students to Singapore to undergo on-the-job training (OJT) in hotels and restaurants there, and where they are paid only half of what they should be getting and placed on six-month contracts.
Sen. Franklin Drilon said the government should look into the “exploitative practices” of some countries, particularly of the hotel industry in Singapore that use on-the-job training placements as a ruse to obtain labor on the cheap.
Drilon said the Filipinos hired under such conditions should not be categorized as trainees because they do “actual work.”
Half the pay
He said a hotel worker in Singapore should be earning $600 a month. However, a student doing the same work and employed for just six months is paid just $300, or half of what is required under Singaporean laws.
He said the students do not pass the official processes of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as they go to Singapore under student visas.
“But they do work, they have recruiters, there are agents. Now they are not given adequate protection. If something happens to them, who would provide them the protection? There are no agencies that would be called upon locally to respond to these needs. This is something we have to expose before it goes out of hand,” said Drilon.
Since the students leave as tourists, they will not be able to tap into overseas Filipino workers' benefits such as those provided by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration which has a fund currently pegged at P12.6 billion, he said.
The senator said the schools should share responsibility for the students who go abroad for on-the-job training and should be made liable if anything happens to them.
“We must come up with a regulation before this becomes a practice which will be taken advantage of by unscrupulous recruiters,” he said.
‘Job mapping'
At the budget hearing for the DOLE, meanwhile, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said there was a need to undertake “job mapping” to help high school graduates and their parents know what would be the “hot jobs” in the next five to 10 years.
Baldoz said call centers and business process outsourcing (BPO) providers will still be the biggest market for job hunters in the next three years with the quality of its workers being the country's main selling point to foreign investors.
Nursing, which was all the rage a few years ago, continues to decline in terms of overseas demand, she said.
“There is an oversupply in nursing. We've been sending signals that whether locally or overseas, demand has been on the decline,” Baldoz said.
However, the schools and universities continue to produce nursing graduates, 45 to 50 percent of whom pass the nursing licensure examination, she said.
“It will not be surprising to have our nurses land in other jobs, not doing the competencies for which they get their license. This is the job mismatch we have been warning about,” said Balodz.
In-demand jobs
Aside from BPO, the most in-demand jobs in the country as of the first half of 2010 were customer service assistants, technical support staff, forklift operators, accounting clerks, mechanical engineers, sales clerks, drivers, cashiers and production workers.
Allow maids to work part-time
The following letter was published in the Straits Times forum on 29 September 2010.
Allow maids to work part-time
Sep 29, 2010
THE article ('Maids make good living from illegal part-time work'; Sept 13) raises two points.
First, why should it be illegal for maids to work part-time on their days off, especially when there is significant demand for part-time maids?
Second, if it is true that part-time maids can earn up to $3,000 a month, why do cleaners at hawker centres, for instance, earn less than a meagre $1,000?
Given the pressing demand for part-time help, the law should be relaxed to allow the practice.
Wouldn't it also be better for maids to work part-time and earn extra income rather than loiter on the streets on weekends and cause potential social problems?
Ramchand Tikamdas Ramchandani
Allow maids to work part-time
Sep 29, 2010
THE article ('Maids make good living from illegal part-time work'; Sept 13) raises two points.
First, why should it be illegal for maids to work part-time on their days off, especially when there is significant demand for part-time maids?
Second, if it is true that part-time maids can earn up to $3,000 a month, why do cleaners at hawker centres, for instance, earn less than a meagre $1,000?
Given the pressing demand for part-time help, the law should be relaxed to allow the practice.
Wouldn't it also be better for maids to work part-time and earn extra income rather than loiter on the streets on weekends and cause potential social problems?
Ramchand Tikamdas Ramchandani
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Woman jailed for maid abuse
The following article was published in the Straits Times on 28 Sep 2010.
Woman jailed for maid abuse
Wife of convicted ex-cop gets 7 months behind bars
By Elena Chong, Courts Correspondent
Straits Times, Sep 28, 2010
Photo caption: Chua Hwee Hwa hit the maid in anger after the domestic worker made mistakes regarding the care of her young daughter.
AN ASSISTANT manager was yesterday jailed seven months for abusing her Indonesian maid over a number of days in May 2006.
In one incident - on May 2 that year - Chua Hwee Hwa, now 38, angry that the maid had misunderstood her instructions regarding the care of her young daughter, scolded the maid and then dragged her by the neck to a bedroom. There, she shoved and kicked her in the abdomen.
Two days later, the maid, then aged 23, got a shelling from Chua's husband Lawrence Lim Hwang Ngin, a former police officer, for not taking a ballpoint pen away from their then 20-month-old daughter as she toddled about at home.
Chua then pulled the maid by her hair into the bedroom, where she kicked the Indonesian in her stomach - twice this time, scratched her and slapped her.
Three other similar charges of assault were considered by Senior District Judge See Kee Oon in the sentencing.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Shahla Iqbal told the court that a neighbour, tipped off on the abuse that was taking place, went to Chua's home on May 6, where she saw the maid's eye injuries and bruises. The police were called.
Chua's lawyer Lee Teck Leng said his client and her husband had got along with the maid for a year, until the husband caught her shaking and hitting their daughter in December 2005.
From then on, Mr Lee said, Chua became less tolerant of the maid's mistakes. Pleading for leniency, Mr Lee said his client had hit the maid in anger, and that the injuries were not serious.
Lim, 38, was acquitted of sexually abusing the maid, but convicted of causing her hurt. He has been released on home detention after serving about 8-1/2 months of his two-year jail term.
Judge See noted that Chua had paid the maid $5,000 in compensation, and that what her husband did was more aggravating as he had abused his position as a police officer.
Chua could have been jailed up to 18 months and/or fined up to $1,500 on each charge.
Woman jailed for maid abuse
Wife of convicted ex-cop gets 7 months behind bars
By Elena Chong, Courts Correspondent
Straits Times, Sep 28, 2010
Photo caption: Chua Hwee Hwa hit the maid in anger after the domestic worker made mistakes regarding the care of her young daughter.AN ASSISTANT manager was yesterday jailed seven months for abusing her Indonesian maid over a number of days in May 2006.
In one incident - on May 2 that year - Chua Hwee Hwa, now 38, angry that the maid had misunderstood her instructions regarding the care of her young daughter, scolded the maid and then dragged her by the neck to a bedroom. There, she shoved and kicked her in the abdomen.
Two days later, the maid, then aged 23, got a shelling from Chua's husband Lawrence Lim Hwang Ngin, a former police officer, for not taking a ballpoint pen away from their then 20-month-old daughter as she toddled about at home.
Chua then pulled the maid by her hair into the bedroom, where she kicked the Indonesian in her stomach - twice this time, scratched her and slapped her.
Three other similar charges of assault were considered by Senior District Judge See Kee Oon in the sentencing.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Shahla Iqbal told the court that a neighbour, tipped off on the abuse that was taking place, went to Chua's home on May 6, where she saw the maid's eye injuries and bruises. The police were called.
Chua's lawyer Lee Teck Leng said his client and her husband had got along with the maid for a year, until the husband caught her shaking and hitting their daughter in December 2005.
From then on, Mr Lee said, Chua became less tolerant of the maid's mistakes. Pleading for leniency, Mr Lee said his client had hit the maid in anger, and that the injuries were not serious.
Lim, 38, was acquitted of sexually abusing the maid, but convicted of causing her hurt. He has been released on home detention after serving about 8-1/2 months of his two-year jail term.
Judge See noted that Chua had paid the maid $5,000 in compensation, and that what her husband did was more aggravating as he had abused his position as a police officer.
Chua could have been jailed up to 18 months and/or fined up to $1,500 on each charge.
Maid broke toddler's thigh bone
The following article was published in the Straits Times on 28 September 2010.
Maid broke toddler's thigh bone
Straits Times, Sep 28, 2010
A FILIPINO maid who was massaging her employer's three-year-old son pulled his leg so forcefully that his right thigh bone was broken.
Myla Cabradilla Cabuenas, 30, then told her employer that the toddler had fallen at home and injured his knee.
But the employer, who had wired her home with cameras, viewed the video footage and saw what the maid had done to the boy. He has a history of developmental delay and suffers from epilepsy.
She told her husband, a 36-year-old engineer, who then called the police.
Yesterday, the maid was jailed nine months for ill-treating the child under her care at her employer's home on July 1.
Assistant Public Prosecutor Asran Samad said the maid was alone with the boy when she placed him on a mattress and began massaging his legs.
She had been hired three months earlier to perform basic physiotherapy techniques, including massaging the boy, and caring for him.
The court heard that the victim is unable to communicate and also cannot eat, crawl, stand or walk on his own.
When he started to cry, she felt agitated and raised one of his legs and bent it towards his shoulders. She then lowered the leg and did the same to the other leg.
She then placed his legs on her thigh, raised one of them and leaned forward, exerting pressure with her body against his knee.
She did the same to his other leg. She then pulled the victim's right leg forcefully.
Throughout the whole incident, the victim was crying continuously in pain.
The maid, whose sentence was backdated to July 2, could have been fined up to $4,000 and/or jailed for up to four years.
Maid broke toddler's thigh bone
Straits Times, Sep 28, 2010
A FILIPINO maid who was massaging her employer's three-year-old son pulled his leg so forcefully that his right thigh bone was broken.
Myla Cabradilla Cabuenas, 30, then told her employer that the toddler had fallen at home and injured his knee.
But the employer, who had wired her home with cameras, viewed the video footage and saw what the maid had done to the boy. He has a history of developmental delay and suffers from epilepsy.
She told her husband, a 36-year-old engineer, who then called the police.
Yesterday, the maid was jailed nine months for ill-treating the child under her care at her employer's home on July 1.
Assistant Public Prosecutor Asran Samad said the maid was alone with the boy when she placed him on a mattress and began massaging his legs.
She had been hired three months earlier to perform basic physiotherapy techniques, including massaging the boy, and caring for him.
The court heard that the victim is unable to communicate and also cannot eat, crawl, stand or walk on his own.
When he started to cry, she felt agitated and raised one of his legs and bent it towards his shoulders. She then lowered the leg and did the same to the other leg.
She then placed his legs on her thigh, raised one of them and leaned forward, exerting pressure with her body against his knee.
She did the same to his other leg. She then pulled the victim's right leg forcefully.
Throughout the whole incident, the victim was crying continuously in pain.
The maid, whose sentence was backdated to July 2, could have been fined up to $4,000 and/or jailed for up to four years.
Home is where her heart is
The following article was published in the Straits Times on 27 September 2010.
Home is where her heart is
It is a dangerous and tough calling but Bridget Tan remains passionate about championing the rights of migrant workers
By john lui
Straits Times, Sep 27, 2010
Photo caption: Home, Ms Tan's (above) charity to help migrant workers, started out as a struggling outfit in September 2004. Six years on, it has 10 full-time staff, is in the black and has received funding from bodies such as the Singapore Totalisator Board and the International Labour Organisation. -- ST PHOTO: LIM SIN THAI
It was 3am. A woman was waiting alone in a car in the dark, along a deserted road in the rural Lim Chu Kang area.
Ms Bridget Tan had been sitting there since midnight and she would wait till close to daybreak.
A Thai woman forced to work as a prostitute in a makeshift jungle brothel had called her, begging to be saved.
Meet me there at midnight, she had pleaded, and Ms Tan said yes. She waited five hours. The Thai woman failed to appear.
Finally, Ms Tan called the police. They felt she was putting herself at risk. The men holding the woman captive would not take kindly to a rescue attempt.
'The police told me to get away,' she says, and she did. A week later, the police found and freed the Thai.
Young men in distress, too, call the 24-hour hotlines of the charity Home (Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics). Ms Tan, 62, is president of the organisation.
A man from China had rung up. His boss had grown tired of him because he refused to sign an unfair contract. The boss did what bosses sometimes do with foreign troublemakers: He hired a 'repatriation' company.
The innocuous-sounding title translates to businesses known to use force to send troublesome workers home. In this man's case, a bunch of heavies was sent in to escort the nuisance onto a plane.
The foreigners usually comply meekly, even if it means they lose the means to pay off the massive debt they owe agents, the same ones who promise easy lives and high pay in a foreign land.
'Going home is financial suicide for these workers,' Ms Tan says.
But in this case, the young man fought back. He called Home. Ms Tan and a Home staff member showed up at the office of the repatriation company.
'The young man was there and he looked very frightened,' she says. Glaring at the Home staff were burly, surly men of the repatriation firm, unhappy to have had their office gambling session interrupted by a bunch of do-gooders.
'You must never be intimidated,' says the petite Ms Tan. 'They are like dogs. They can sense your fear. If you show you are not afraid, the other party will step back.'
The tense stand-off between the men and charity workers ended when the latter produced a letter of undertaking that Home would be responsible for care of the young man. He would stay at one of its men's shelters until the authorities investigated his case.
Ms Tan, a Catholic who had devoted much time to volunteer church work in aid of the needy, has a long, depressing list of reasons why Home exists.
The Chinese man is one case of many. There was also an Indian man, brought here to be a cook until he was badly burnt by hot oil. He was rushed by his employer, not to the hospital, but to Changi Airport, with a one-way ticket out.
For doing her job, Ms Tan has received obscene telephone calls, perhaps from agents or employers upset that the group was helping workers fight back.
She does not tell her 66-year-old husband Lew Fooi Pen, a retired factory manager, or their twin children, aged 30, too many details of what she does.
'I try not to share these things. They will be worried each time I leave the house,' she says.
According to statistics provided by Home, there are 800,000 migrant workers in Singapore.
The group, registered as a society in 2004 and given charity status the following year, has provided direct assistance to more than 50,000 men and women.
Its mission, broadly speaking, is to help migrant workers through research, teaching and direct humanitarian assistance. It maintains close relations with embassies and the Government.
It runs two shelters for migrant workers in secret locations and three helpdesks in Lucky Plaza, Desker Road and Everitt Road. Its two helplines combined received more than 12,000 calls in the last financial year.
It also spends on providing vocational training, medical care and recreational activities for migrant workers. It gives legal assistance and speaks out on issues.
Some people would say that Ms Tan has a tough job. The welfare of migrant workers is not exactly an issue that occupies the mind of the average Singaporean.
Not that it stops her from trying. She sent a letter to The Straits Times' Forum page earlier this month, asking Singaporeans to have a heart.
'Some workers that... Home has encountered work from early morning through late at night... Weekly rest days ensure that the worker is well-rested and productive. No migrant domestic worker should be denied a worker's statutory right to a weekly rest day and the right to Sunday worship,' she says in the letter.
This reporter asked her why, then, do many Singaporeans give their domestic workers only one day off a month?
She sounds both pained and exasperated when she answers. The reasons are obvious to her but she clearly sees it as her job to convince Singaporeans to show more empathy.
When her own children were growing up and she held a job, her family employed maids from Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Philippines, she says.
All of them had a day off a week. She is still in touch with a few of them.
She never held on to their passports while they worked for her, she says. One of them lied to her and went home early, citing a family emergency but later it turned out that the domestic worker had left to hide a pregnancy.
Ms Tan just took it in her stride. The former human resources executive says it just does not make sense to violate the basic rights of all workers because of one bad apple. 'One person lies; so what? I continued to recruit domestic helpers to help me look after my children,' she says.
Her children are in the medical profession: Her son is hospital physician DrJohn-Paul Lew and daughter is clinical psychologist Dr Ann-Marie Lew.
Dr Ann-Marie Lew recalls her mother's devotion to the Catholic Church. The latter would teach catechism on Sundays and later mentored adults interested in converting to Catholicism.
Ms Tan would paste paper hearts on the altar to keep these adults in mind.
'She told me that she did this so that she would not forget to pray for each of them,' she says.
'I remember her as being highly intelligent and creative. She would write stories for my brother and me, and would take time to paint beautiful oil paintings.
'Like my dad, she was courageous, and walked and talked integrity.'
Dad was her inspiration
In Home's bare branch office on the ground floor of an old walk-up block in River Valley Road, Ms Tan, dressed in a polo T-shirt and slacks, talks about the journey from church volunteer to founder of a charity.
Her voice is calm and measured, as befits someone on whom others rely in times of crisis. She speaks steadily and clearly even when describing the most appalling crimes against foreign men and women who come to Singapore in search of a better life.
Her faith had tied her to the Church but she credits her father, DrJoseph Tan Kwang Meng, with inspiring her to make social change.
Following the surrender of the Japanese forces in Singapore, a number of pro-independence groups sprang up.
Dr Tan, who graduated from King Edward VII College of Medicine in 1947, had become part of the moderate anti- colonial movement, the Malayan Democratic Union, a group comprised mainly of English-speaking, leftist intellectuals.
His family were middle-class Teochews who owned land in Upper Serangoon.
He was arrested by the authorities for his anti-British activism and jailed for 10 months, she says.
The colonial authorities then forced him to move to Kuching, Sarawak, where he worked in a hospital. It was there that he found he had a brain tumour.
The family's finances were exhausted and her mother, Madam Lily Cheok, had to borrow $10,000 to send him for treatment in London. He did not live long after the surgery and died in 1954.
He left behind a widow and four children. Ms Tan, the third child, was then five.
Her mother, who had been a nurse, took up the job again to support the family and never remarried. She was the private nurse for one of the ageing wives of Tiger Balm tycoon Aw Boon Par.
It was only when Ms Tan was in secondary school that she grew interested in her father's legacy.
She read from his small collection of books containing the classics of English literature, Catholic thought and humanist political philosophy. She also found his diary, recording his thoughts on leaving Singapore for England for surgery and his desire for an independent Malaya.
Her iron-willed mother, who died in 2001, sold the land in Upper Serangoon, a place which held happy childhood memories for Ms Tan, to repay part of the debt still owed from her father's operation.
Ms Tan went to St Joseph's Convent at its former site in Hillside Drive, then to Marymount Convent and Katong Convent as the family moved around. She then went to pre-university at Montfort School followed by the University of Singapore, where she studied political science and history.
After graduating in 1970, she worked first as a secretary and then in human resources at a local manufacturing firm. 'That's how I got involved with workers' issues. I got to know about collective bargaining and dealing with unions and managers. We hired workers from Bangladesh, India and China,' she says.
She married in 1978, having met her husband when they were colleagues at the manufacturing company.
After working in the human resource departments in various companies, she set up her own executive recruitment company. But she gave it up after three years when she realised that she lacked the killer instinct to make money.
As her twins were then older and more independent, she decided to devote more time to church work.
She applied for and got the job of executive director, a salaried position, of the church's counselling and care organisation, the Family Life Society.
She would, through a Filipino priest named Andy Altamirano, become involved in helping the Filipino migrant community in Singapore.
This was followed by her being elected as chairman of a commission on migration in the late 1990s, overseen by then archbishop Gregory Yong. It was the local counterpart of a similar Vatican-level body that looked into migrants' welfare.
In 2002, she was given $100,000 by the Church to help migrant workers here. She set up a shelter, soup kitchen and skills centre.
When the money ran out in 2004, she decided to carry on by reaching out to friends and dipping into her CPF money.
She registered Home in September 2004. The first year was a struggle, she says. Thanks to stories about the work of the organisation in The New Paper, a cheque for $50,000 came in, she says.
There was more help from a retired Methodist bishop, Rev Dr Yap Kim Hao, who gave $100,000 from the Chen Su Lan Trust Fund, which he managed.
Home now has 10 full-time staff and has received funding from bodies such as the Kwan Im Tong Hood Cho Temple, the Singapore Totalisator Board, the International Labour Organization, Shell Petroleum and the Lee Foundation.
The group spent more than $700,000 in the last financial year and is in the black. It has about a year's funds in reserve, but a three-year buffer would be ideal, Ms Tan thinks.
She believes that the mistreatment of migrant workers is a universal problem, present in any country where such workers exist. From her experience with younger Singaporeans who volunteer at Home or who work with the organisation through their schools, she thinks things will improve over time.
For now, Home will continue to sound the drumbeat, reminding Singaporeans that migrant workers are people worthy of respect and dignity. 'Just remember the golden rule: Treat people right.'
my life so far
'I will have to reach out to Singaporeans to communicate something about what we can do, especially for migrants, to be a more gracious society. Most of our families were migrants once'
Ms Bridget Tan on her motivation
'I got an SMS from a domestic worker recently. She has worked for 11/2 years and gets one three-hour break every Sunday. She had only six months of her contract left, so I advised her to finish it, then return home. Employers say, 'If I give my helper a rest day once a week, she might get mixed up with bad companions.' A rest day is a fundamental right'
On one of the issues she fights for
'A Filipina bled from her ears because the family she worked for poked chopsticks into them. She was so exhausted, she fell asleep with the lights on. When the 'sir' saw that, he drenched her with water and made her stand in the living room to drip dry. He was convicted for abuse but she had nightmares for a long time after that'
On the horror stories she has come across
Photo caption: Ms Bridget Tan with her twins, daughter Ann-Marie and son John-Paul (right), in Australia in 1988. --PHOTO: COURTESY OF BRIDGET TAN
Photo caption: A 1942 picture of Ms Tan's parents, Dr Joseph - whom she credits for inspiring her passion for social causes - and Ms Lily Cheok (both above)--PHOTO: COURTESY OF BRIDGET TAN
Photo caption: Ms Tan (front row, third from left) with the people from Home, a charity which she set up in September 2004. --PHOTO: COURTESY OF BRIDGET TAN
Home is where her heart is
It is a dangerous and tough calling but Bridget Tan remains passionate about championing the rights of migrant workers
By john lui
Straits Times, Sep 27, 2010
Photo caption: Home, Ms Tan's (above) charity to help migrant workers, started out as a struggling outfit in September 2004. Six years on, it has 10 full-time staff, is in the black and has received funding from bodies such as the Singapore Totalisator Board and the International Labour Organisation. -- ST PHOTO: LIM SIN THAIIt was 3am. A woman was waiting alone in a car in the dark, along a deserted road in the rural Lim Chu Kang area.
Ms Bridget Tan had been sitting there since midnight and she would wait till close to daybreak.
A Thai woman forced to work as a prostitute in a makeshift jungle brothel had called her, begging to be saved.
Meet me there at midnight, she had pleaded, and Ms Tan said yes. She waited five hours. The Thai woman failed to appear.
Finally, Ms Tan called the police. They felt she was putting herself at risk. The men holding the woman captive would not take kindly to a rescue attempt.
'The police told me to get away,' she says, and she did. A week later, the police found and freed the Thai.
Young men in distress, too, call the 24-hour hotlines of the charity Home (Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics). Ms Tan, 62, is president of the organisation.
A man from China had rung up. His boss had grown tired of him because he refused to sign an unfair contract. The boss did what bosses sometimes do with foreign troublemakers: He hired a 'repatriation' company.
The innocuous-sounding title translates to businesses known to use force to send troublesome workers home. In this man's case, a bunch of heavies was sent in to escort the nuisance onto a plane.
The foreigners usually comply meekly, even if it means they lose the means to pay off the massive debt they owe agents, the same ones who promise easy lives and high pay in a foreign land.
'Going home is financial suicide for these workers,' Ms Tan says.
But in this case, the young man fought back. He called Home. Ms Tan and a Home staff member showed up at the office of the repatriation company.
'The young man was there and he looked very frightened,' she says. Glaring at the Home staff were burly, surly men of the repatriation firm, unhappy to have had their office gambling session interrupted by a bunch of do-gooders.
'You must never be intimidated,' says the petite Ms Tan. 'They are like dogs. They can sense your fear. If you show you are not afraid, the other party will step back.'
The tense stand-off between the men and charity workers ended when the latter produced a letter of undertaking that Home would be responsible for care of the young man. He would stay at one of its men's shelters until the authorities investigated his case.
Ms Tan, a Catholic who had devoted much time to volunteer church work in aid of the needy, has a long, depressing list of reasons why Home exists.
The Chinese man is one case of many. There was also an Indian man, brought here to be a cook until he was badly burnt by hot oil. He was rushed by his employer, not to the hospital, but to Changi Airport, with a one-way ticket out.
For doing her job, Ms Tan has received obscene telephone calls, perhaps from agents or employers upset that the group was helping workers fight back.
She does not tell her 66-year-old husband Lew Fooi Pen, a retired factory manager, or their twin children, aged 30, too many details of what she does.
'I try not to share these things. They will be worried each time I leave the house,' she says.
According to statistics provided by Home, there are 800,000 migrant workers in Singapore.
The group, registered as a society in 2004 and given charity status the following year, has provided direct assistance to more than 50,000 men and women.
Its mission, broadly speaking, is to help migrant workers through research, teaching and direct humanitarian assistance. It maintains close relations with embassies and the Government.
It runs two shelters for migrant workers in secret locations and three helpdesks in Lucky Plaza, Desker Road and Everitt Road. Its two helplines combined received more than 12,000 calls in the last financial year.
It also spends on providing vocational training, medical care and recreational activities for migrant workers. It gives legal assistance and speaks out on issues.
Some people would say that Ms Tan has a tough job. The welfare of migrant workers is not exactly an issue that occupies the mind of the average Singaporean.
Not that it stops her from trying. She sent a letter to The Straits Times' Forum page earlier this month, asking Singaporeans to have a heart.
'Some workers that... Home has encountered work from early morning through late at night... Weekly rest days ensure that the worker is well-rested and productive. No migrant domestic worker should be denied a worker's statutory right to a weekly rest day and the right to Sunday worship,' she says in the letter.
This reporter asked her why, then, do many Singaporeans give their domestic workers only one day off a month?
She sounds both pained and exasperated when she answers. The reasons are obvious to her but she clearly sees it as her job to convince Singaporeans to show more empathy.
When her own children were growing up and she held a job, her family employed maids from Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Philippines, she says.
All of them had a day off a week. She is still in touch with a few of them.
She never held on to their passports while they worked for her, she says. One of them lied to her and went home early, citing a family emergency but later it turned out that the domestic worker had left to hide a pregnancy.
Ms Tan just took it in her stride. The former human resources executive says it just does not make sense to violate the basic rights of all workers because of one bad apple. 'One person lies; so what? I continued to recruit domestic helpers to help me look after my children,' she says.
Her children are in the medical profession: Her son is hospital physician DrJohn-Paul Lew and daughter is clinical psychologist Dr Ann-Marie Lew.
Dr Ann-Marie Lew recalls her mother's devotion to the Catholic Church. The latter would teach catechism on Sundays and later mentored adults interested in converting to Catholicism.
Ms Tan would paste paper hearts on the altar to keep these adults in mind.
'She told me that she did this so that she would not forget to pray for each of them,' she says.
'I remember her as being highly intelligent and creative. She would write stories for my brother and me, and would take time to paint beautiful oil paintings.
'Like my dad, she was courageous, and walked and talked integrity.'
Dad was her inspiration
In Home's bare branch office on the ground floor of an old walk-up block in River Valley Road, Ms Tan, dressed in a polo T-shirt and slacks, talks about the journey from church volunteer to founder of a charity.
Her voice is calm and measured, as befits someone on whom others rely in times of crisis. She speaks steadily and clearly even when describing the most appalling crimes against foreign men and women who come to Singapore in search of a better life.
Her faith had tied her to the Church but she credits her father, DrJoseph Tan Kwang Meng, with inspiring her to make social change.
Following the surrender of the Japanese forces in Singapore, a number of pro-independence groups sprang up.
Dr Tan, who graduated from King Edward VII College of Medicine in 1947, had become part of the moderate anti- colonial movement, the Malayan Democratic Union, a group comprised mainly of English-speaking, leftist intellectuals.
His family were middle-class Teochews who owned land in Upper Serangoon.
He was arrested by the authorities for his anti-British activism and jailed for 10 months, she says.
The colonial authorities then forced him to move to Kuching, Sarawak, where he worked in a hospital. It was there that he found he had a brain tumour.
The family's finances were exhausted and her mother, Madam Lily Cheok, had to borrow $10,000 to send him for treatment in London. He did not live long after the surgery and died in 1954.
He left behind a widow and four children. Ms Tan, the third child, was then five.
Her mother, who had been a nurse, took up the job again to support the family and never remarried. She was the private nurse for one of the ageing wives of Tiger Balm tycoon Aw Boon Par.
It was only when Ms Tan was in secondary school that she grew interested in her father's legacy.
She read from his small collection of books containing the classics of English literature, Catholic thought and humanist political philosophy. She also found his diary, recording his thoughts on leaving Singapore for England for surgery and his desire for an independent Malaya.
Her iron-willed mother, who died in 2001, sold the land in Upper Serangoon, a place which held happy childhood memories for Ms Tan, to repay part of the debt still owed from her father's operation.
Ms Tan went to St Joseph's Convent at its former site in Hillside Drive, then to Marymount Convent and Katong Convent as the family moved around. She then went to pre-university at Montfort School followed by the University of Singapore, where she studied political science and history.
After graduating in 1970, she worked first as a secretary and then in human resources at a local manufacturing firm. 'That's how I got involved with workers' issues. I got to know about collective bargaining and dealing with unions and managers. We hired workers from Bangladesh, India and China,' she says.
She married in 1978, having met her husband when they were colleagues at the manufacturing company.
After working in the human resource departments in various companies, she set up her own executive recruitment company. But she gave it up after three years when she realised that she lacked the killer instinct to make money.
As her twins were then older and more independent, she decided to devote more time to church work.
She applied for and got the job of executive director, a salaried position, of the church's counselling and care organisation, the Family Life Society.
She would, through a Filipino priest named Andy Altamirano, become involved in helping the Filipino migrant community in Singapore.
This was followed by her being elected as chairman of a commission on migration in the late 1990s, overseen by then archbishop Gregory Yong. It was the local counterpart of a similar Vatican-level body that looked into migrants' welfare.
In 2002, she was given $100,000 by the Church to help migrant workers here. She set up a shelter, soup kitchen and skills centre.
When the money ran out in 2004, she decided to carry on by reaching out to friends and dipping into her CPF money.
She registered Home in September 2004. The first year was a struggle, she says. Thanks to stories about the work of the organisation in The New Paper, a cheque for $50,000 came in, she says.
There was more help from a retired Methodist bishop, Rev Dr Yap Kim Hao, who gave $100,000 from the Chen Su Lan Trust Fund, which he managed.
Home now has 10 full-time staff and has received funding from bodies such as the Kwan Im Tong Hood Cho Temple, the Singapore Totalisator Board, the International Labour Organization, Shell Petroleum and the Lee Foundation.
The group spent more than $700,000 in the last financial year and is in the black. It has about a year's funds in reserve, but a three-year buffer would be ideal, Ms Tan thinks.
She believes that the mistreatment of migrant workers is a universal problem, present in any country where such workers exist. From her experience with younger Singaporeans who volunteer at Home or who work with the organisation through their schools, she thinks things will improve over time.
For now, Home will continue to sound the drumbeat, reminding Singaporeans that migrant workers are people worthy of respect and dignity. 'Just remember the golden rule: Treat people right.'
my life so far
'I will have to reach out to Singaporeans to communicate something about what we can do, especially for migrants, to be a more gracious society. Most of our families were migrants once'
Ms Bridget Tan on her motivation
'I got an SMS from a domestic worker recently. She has worked for 11/2 years and gets one three-hour break every Sunday. She had only six months of her contract left, so I advised her to finish it, then return home. Employers say, 'If I give my helper a rest day once a week, she might get mixed up with bad companions.' A rest day is a fundamental right'
On one of the issues she fights for
'A Filipina bled from her ears because the family she worked for poked chopsticks into them. She was so exhausted, she fell asleep with the lights on. When the 'sir' saw that, he drenched her with water and made her stand in the living room to drip dry. He was convicted for abuse but she had nightmares for a long time after that'
On the horror stories she has come across
Photo caption: Ms Bridget Tan with her twins, daughter Ann-Marie and son John-Paul (right), in Australia in 1988. --PHOTO: COURTESY OF BRIDGET TANPhoto caption: A 1942 picture of Ms Tan's parents, Dr Joseph - whom she credits for inspiring her passion for social causes - and Ms Lily Cheok (both above)--PHOTO: COURTESY OF BRIDGET TANPhoto caption: Ms Tan (front row, third from left) with the people from Home, a charity which she set up in September 2004. --PHOTO: COURTESY OF BRIDGET TAN
Monday, September 27, 2010
用假文凭申请S准证案增加
The following article was published in the Lianhe Zaobao on 27 Sep 2010.
用假文凭申请S准证案增加
By 林慧慧
Monday, 27 September 2010
一些业内人士指出，由于人力部对S准证申请缺乏严谨的查证程序，所以雇主和劳务中介才有机会走漏洞。
林慧慧 报道
早报漫画⊙何汉聪
他们没有念过大学，但却持有大学毕业证书，本地有好些外籍劳工凭着劳务中介为他们仿冒的教育证书，成功申请到拥有中级技术水平者才能拿到的S准证。
人力部提供给本报的数据显示，去年共有108名S准证持有人因虚报学历被提控，单在今年首6个月，被提控的就有58人。不过，业内人士透露，市面上其实还有更多凭假证书获取S准证的外籍劳工，只不过还未被揭发。
一些专为外籍劳工提供工业安全培训的机构负责人向本报透露，雇主送来接受培训的S准证外劳中，有些根本识字不多，怎么可能是大学毕业生？
也有餐馆业者说，他曾聘用一名被劳务中介称为“国家一级厨师”的中国籍劳工，结果却发现这名“厨师”连宰一只鸡都不会，他担心被人力部查出工人虚报工作经验，所以赶紧取消这名工人的准证把他遣送回国。
像这名餐馆业者这样，透过劳务中介请来工人后才发现“货不对办”的例子并不少见，原因是大多雇主为省麻烦，直接把查证工人学历的工作交给中介去进行。
问题是，一些无良中介会为了赚取介绍费而伪造证件。两个星期前从中国吉林省来到新加坡工作的外籍劳工董小英就是其中一名受害者。
她给中介缴付了3万8000元人民币（约合新币7600元），以换取在本地一家烧烤店当助理的工作。她声称中介在她不知情的情况下，为她办了一张东南大学的毕业证书，不过没想到被雇主揭发，结果她还未开工就被雇主取消了S准证。
令她感到愤愤不平的是，中介只肯退回一半的介绍费，她非但落得没有工作，回国还得背负大笔债务。她已在上星期被遣送回国。
一些业内人士指出，由于人力部对S准证申请缺乏严谨的查证程序，所以雇主和劳务中介才有机会走漏洞。目前，大多雇主都是上网为外籍劳工申请工作准证，当局会根据雇主上载的证书副本来审批申请。申请准证的外籍劳工，也需签署宣誓书保证所有提交的文件内容属实。
一名在本地工作多年的周姓外籍劳工就指出：“在中国，要伪造证书太容易了，只要出钱没有什么是办不到的。”虽然人力部其中一个部门有专人负责进行查证工作，不过就如一些业者指出，当局每天接获的准证申请这么多，顶多也只能抽样检查，不可能为每份申请进行查证。
为落难客工提供援助的“情义之家”（Humanitarian Organization for Migrant Economics）执行理事长范国瀚受访时指出，单是今年上半年，就有至少8名被控虚报学历的外劳向他们求助。
范国瀚指出，一些外籍劳工是迟至抵达新加坡才发现中介是凭假证书为他们找到工作，由于已经缴付大笔介绍费，骑虎难下，他们就冒着被查出虚报学历的风险在本地工作。
他说，有一名跟雇主有工资纠纷的外籍劳工，甚至是等到上门向他求助时才发现，原来中介和雇主在他的S准证上填上管理执行员（management executive）的职位，但事实上他做的只是普通货仓管理员的工作。
根据雇佣外籍劳工法令（Employment of Foreign Manpower Act），被发现在申请工作准证过程中虚报任何资料的外籍劳工，可面对最高1万5000元罚款，或12个月监禁，或者两者兼施。
此外，雇主、外籍雇员或自雇外籍人士要是发现准证申请手续中有不属实的资料但没有及时通知人力部，可面对最高5000元罚款或6个月监禁，或者两者兼施。
范国瀚认为，很多时候这些假证书都是劳务中介代为办理，所以他们应该负起法律责任，不应逍遥法外。
餐馆业者文苑楼老板陈宏南受访时则认为雇主不应被牵连，“中介赚那几千块钱的介绍费，他们应该负起帮雇主查证工人学历的工作，免得引进那些滥竽充数的工人。”
政府是在2004年应劳动市场对中级技能员工的强劲需求而推出S准证。数据显示，过去几年来，当局签发给至少持有中级技能、月薪1800元或以上外籍员工的S准证持有者人数增加的速度最快。不少雇主在用尽一般工作准证的配额后，转而利用S准证引进他们所需的外劳。
根据人力部之前提供的数据，截至去年12月，本地共有8万2000名S准证持有者。S准证持有者人数在2008年的增幅最大，从2007年12月的4万4000人增加到2008年12月的7万4000人。
全国职工总会副秘书长哈莉玛受访时指出，不时有工友向她反映，跟他们共事的一些外籍员工的工作能力相当可疑，他们怀疑这些外籍同事可能是持假证书获取准证。
哈莉玛认为，人力部应该迫使劳务中介负起更大的责任，要求中介跟这些海外学府进行查证。比方说，当局可要求中介在那些买卖假证书活动尤其猖獗的国家进行查证，并加设条例惩处那些引进虚报学历外劳的劳务中介。
她指出：“重点是要提升整个劳务中介领域的专业水平，政府已加强了对房屋经纪的管制，是时候也开始加强对劳务中介的管制。”
用假文凭申请S准证案增加
By 林慧慧
Monday, 27 September 2010
一些业内人士指出，由于人力部对S准证申请缺乏严谨的查证程序，所以雇主和劳务中介才有机会走漏洞。
林慧慧 报道
早报漫画⊙何汉聪
他们没有念过大学，但却持有大学毕业证书，本地有好些外籍劳工凭着劳务中介为他们仿冒的教育证书，成功申请到拥有中级技术水平者才能拿到的S准证。
人力部提供给本报的数据显示，去年共有108名S准证持有人因虚报学历被提控，单在今年首6个月，被提控的就有58人。不过，业内人士透露，市面上其实还有更多凭假证书获取S准证的外籍劳工，只不过还未被揭发。
一些专为外籍劳工提供工业安全培训的机构负责人向本报透露，雇主送来接受培训的S准证外劳中，有些根本识字不多，怎么可能是大学毕业生？
也有餐馆业者说，他曾聘用一名被劳务中介称为“国家一级厨师”的中国籍劳工，结果却发现这名“厨师”连宰一只鸡都不会，他担心被人力部查出工人虚报工作经验，所以赶紧取消这名工人的准证把他遣送回国。
像这名餐馆业者这样，透过劳务中介请来工人后才发现“货不对办”的例子并不少见，原因是大多雇主为省麻烦，直接把查证工人学历的工作交给中介去进行。
问题是，一些无良中介会为了赚取介绍费而伪造证件。两个星期前从中国吉林省来到新加坡工作的外籍劳工董小英就是其中一名受害者。
她给中介缴付了3万8000元人民币（约合新币7600元），以换取在本地一家烧烤店当助理的工作。她声称中介在她不知情的情况下，为她办了一张东南大学的毕业证书，不过没想到被雇主揭发，结果她还未开工就被雇主取消了S准证。
令她感到愤愤不平的是，中介只肯退回一半的介绍费，她非但落得没有工作，回国还得背负大笔债务。她已在上星期被遣送回国。
一些业内人士指出，由于人力部对S准证申请缺乏严谨的查证程序，所以雇主和劳务中介才有机会走漏洞。目前，大多雇主都是上网为外籍劳工申请工作准证，当局会根据雇主上载的证书副本来审批申请。申请准证的外籍劳工，也需签署宣誓书保证所有提交的文件内容属实。
一名在本地工作多年的周姓外籍劳工就指出：“在中国，要伪造证书太容易了，只要出钱没有什么是办不到的。”虽然人力部其中一个部门有专人负责进行查证工作，不过就如一些业者指出，当局每天接获的准证申请这么多，顶多也只能抽样检查，不可能为每份申请进行查证。
为落难客工提供援助的“情义之家”（Humanitarian Organization for Migrant Economics）执行理事长范国瀚受访时指出，单是今年上半年，就有至少8名被控虚报学历的外劳向他们求助。
范国瀚指出，一些外籍劳工是迟至抵达新加坡才发现中介是凭假证书为他们找到工作，由于已经缴付大笔介绍费，骑虎难下，他们就冒着被查出虚报学历的风险在本地工作。
他说，有一名跟雇主有工资纠纷的外籍劳工，甚至是等到上门向他求助时才发现，原来中介和雇主在他的S准证上填上管理执行员（management executive）的职位，但事实上他做的只是普通货仓管理员的工作。
根据雇佣外籍劳工法令（Employment of Foreign Manpower Act），被发现在申请工作准证过程中虚报任何资料的外籍劳工，可面对最高1万5000元罚款，或12个月监禁，或者两者兼施。
此外，雇主、外籍雇员或自雇外籍人士要是发现准证申请手续中有不属实的资料但没有及时通知人力部，可面对最高5000元罚款或6个月监禁，或者两者兼施。
范国瀚认为，很多时候这些假证书都是劳务中介代为办理，所以他们应该负起法律责任，不应逍遥法外。
餐馆业者文苑楼老板陈宏南受访时则认为雇主不应被牵连，“中介赚那几千块钱的介绍费，他们应该负起帮雇主查证工人学历的工作，免得引进那些滥竽充数的工人。”
政府是在2004年应劳动市场对中级技能员工的强劲需求而推出S准证。数据显示，过去几年来，当局签发给至少持有中级技能、月薪1800元或以上外籍员工的S准证持有者人数增加的速度最快。不少雇主在用尽一般工作准证的配额后，转而利用S准证引进他们所需的外劳。
根据人力部之前提供的数据，截至去年12月，本地共有8万2000名S准证持有者。S准证持有者人数在2008年的增幅最大，从2007年12月的4万4000人增加到2008年12月的7万4000人。
全国职工总会副秘书长哈莉玛受访时指出，不时有工友向她反映，跟他们共事的一些外籍员工的工作能力相当可疑，他们怀疑这些外籍同事可能是持假证书获取准证。
哈莉玛认为，人力部应该迫使劳务中介负起更大的责任，要求中介跟这些海外学府进行查证。比方说，当局可要求中介在那些买卖假证书活动尤其猖獗的国家进行查证，并加设条例惩处那些引进虚报学历外劳的劳务中介。
她指出：“重点是要提升整个劳务中介领域的专业水平，政府已加强了对房屋经纪的管制，是时候也开始加强对劳务中介的管制。”
Friday, September 24, 2010
Integration programme for workers a good idea
The following letter was published in the Straits Times Forum on 24 September 2010.
Integration programme for workers a good idea
Straits Times, Sep 24, 2010
NTUC LearningHub and the Migrant Workers Centre (MWC) should be lauded for running a new integration programme to help foreign workers understand the lifestyle here better ('Learning to go local in Singapore'; Monday).
Big companies hold induction programmes for new employees to understand company culture and operations to enhance productivity. They also have a 'buddy' system that lets experienced staff guide new employees.
The authorities should organise similar programmes for foreign workers. Employment agencies should be required to send them for these programmes to help them understand Singapore better. The authorities should make it a requirement for all foreign workers to attend the integration programme organised by NTUC LearningHub and MWC.
As employers pay a monthly levy for their foreign workers, it would be good if the authorities could use a percentage of the levy to sponsor the programme fully.
Nelson Quah
Integration programme for workers a good idea
Straits Times, Sep 24, 2010
NTUC LearningHub and the Migrant Workers Centre (MWC) should be lauded for running a new integration programme to help foreign workers understand the lifestyle here better ('Learning to go local in Singapore'; Monday).
Big companies hold induction programmes for new employees to understand company culture and operations to enhance productivity. They also have a 'buddy' system that lets experienced staff guide new employees.
The authorities should organise similar programmes for foreign workers. Employment agencies should be required to send them for these programmes to help them understand Singapore better. The authorities should make it a requirement for all foreign workers to attend the integration programme organised by NTUC LearningHub and MWC.
As employers pay a monthly levy for their foreign workers, it would be good if the authorities could use a percentage of the levy to sponsor the programme fully.
Nelson Quah
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Ulcer drug used for illegal abortions
The following article was published in the Straits Times on 22 September 2010.
Ulcer drug used for illegal abortions
Pills appear to be quick fix for those here on work permits
By Liew Hanqing
Straits Times, Sep 22, 2010
ST PHOTO ILLUSTRATION
A DRUG used to treat stomach ulcers is being abused by foreign women in Singapore looking for quick, clandestine abortions.
While it is not banned here, Cytotec is available only with a doctor's prescription. It is, however, relatively easy to obtain on the black market.
The drug causes uterine contractions and thinning of the cervix, which can induce abortions.
The owner of a provision shop in Lucky Plaza told The Straits Times that women, mainly from the Philippines, regularly ask for the drug.
She claimed her shop did not sell it, but added: 'They know they can get it at Lucky Plaza, but they don't know exactly which shop they can get it at. It's an open secret that it's easy to get here.'
She said the drug was available at several provision shops and hair salons on the mall's third floor. However, The Straits Times found just one shop that sold it, at $75 for four pills.
A Filipino shop assistant, who looked to be in her 30s, said she would call a supplier who would then bring the pills to the shop. Customers place their order, and return to collect the pills later.
She added that the number of pills required for an abortion depended on how advanced the pregnancy was.
A spokesman for the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said a raid was conducted yesterday at three shops in Lucky Plaza. An assortment of medicinal products, including contraceptives, sexual enhancement medicine, antibiotics and cosmetic products containing poisons, was seized from two of the three shops raided.
The spokesman added that investigations are ongoing and the three shop operators are assisting in them.
The pills appear to be a quick fix for those who are here on work permits. They are sent home if found to be pregnant, as they would be breaching Manpower Ministry laws that allow them to work here. Only those married to Singaporeans or permanent residents are exempted with the Government's permission.
Improper use of Cytotec can be dangerous. An Indonesian maid from Batam, who took the drug to induce a miscarriage in her third month of pregnancy, told The Straits Times she suffered an incomplete abortion. She said: 'There was bleeding but the baby did not come out. My abdomen was very painful... In the end I had to see a doctor for an abortion.'
Professor Kuldip Singh, a senior consultant at the National University Hospital's department of obstetrics and gynaecology, said he has seen cases of botched abortions resulting from the use of Cytotec by both Singaporean and foreign women.
He added that they experienced symptoms like abdominal pain, bleeding and fever. 'If the abortion is incomplete, infection can set in.'
It is unclear how many women seek illegal abortions here. However, a pharmacist at a local pharmacy chain said he gets about one inquiry about Cytotec every month - mainly from Filipino women. 'We usually just turn them away and tell them they need to have a doctor's prescription to get the drug,' he said, adding that a pill costs $2.66.
Prof Singh said that though the use of Cytotec for illegal abortions did not appear to be widespread, it was 'difficult to tell' if the problem would grow.
A recent report by New York-based advocacy group Centre for Reproductive Rights on unsafe abortions in the Philippines highlighted the widespread use of the drug. Abortions are illegal there.
The group's spokesman, Ms Dionne Scott, said that in countries where abortion is restricted, women go on the black market and put themselves at risk of complications.
'In the Philippines, women use Cytotec without getting appropriate information on how and when to use it, and when they do experience complications, they don't have safe access to medical facilities,' she said.
Dr Susheela Singh, vice-president for research at the Guttmacher Institute, a United States-based non-profit organisation, said there were no official statistics on unsafe abortions in Singapore. She added that research on Cytotec use was limited, but showed its use for abortions was prevalent in Latin America and Asia, especially in countries where legal abortions are not available.
A HSA spokesman said that over the past three years, one offender was prosecuted under the Poisons Act and fined $4,000 for the illegal sale of controlled substances, including Cytotec.
Those prosecuted under the Act can be fined up to $10,000 and/or jailed for up to two years. According to the Penal Code, there is a maximum jail term of seven years, a fine, or both for a person who voluntarily causes a woman to miscarry.
Photo caption: Cytotec is a prescription drug.
CYTOTEC was licensed in Singapore in 1989 as a prescription drug to prevent and treat gastric and duodenal ulcers. It should not be used by pregnant women as it can cause contractions resulting in miscarriage and birth defects.
A spokesman for the Health Sciences Authority cautioned that Cytotec should be used only under strict medical supervision. Adverse effects following its use include abnormal contractions, bleeding from the womb and incomplete abortion, the spokesman added.
In 2001, an Indonesian maid who took Cytotec to abort her five-month-old foetus suffered an incomplete abortion. Complications developed and doctors had to remove her uterus.
The 24-year-old woman, whose Singaporean boyfriend had bought the pills from a Filipino maid at Lucky Plaza, was jailed for nine months for causing a miscarriage. He was also jailed for helping her buy the pills.
Ulcer drug used for illegal abortions
Pills appear to be quick fix for those here on work permits
By Liew Hanqing
Straits Times, Sep 22, 2010
ST PHOTO ILLUSTRATION A DRUG used to treat stomach ulcers is being abused by foreign women in Singapore looking for quick, clandestine abortions.
While it is not banned here, Cytotec is available only with a doctor's prescription. It is, however, relatively easy to obtain on the black market.
The drug causes uterine contractions and thinning of the cervix, which can induce abortions.
The owner of a provision shop in Lucky Plaza told The Straits Times that women, mainly from the Philippines, regularly ask for the drug.
She claimed her shop did not sell it, but added: 'They know they can get it at Lucky Plaza, but they don't know exactly which shop they can get it at. It's an open secret that it's easy to get here.'
She said the drug was available at several provision shops and hair salons on the mall's third floor. However, The Straits Times found just one shop that sold it, at $75 for four pills.
A Filipino shop assistant, who looked to be in her 30s, said she would call a supplier who would then bring the pills to the shop. Customers place their order, and return to collect the pills later.
She added that the number of pills required for an abortion depended on how advanced the pregnancy was.
A spokesman for the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said a raid was conducted yesterday at three shops in Lucky Plaza. An assortment of medicinal products, including contraceptives, sexual enhancement medicine, antibiotics and cosmetic products containing poisons, was seized from two of the three shops raided.
The spokesman added that investigations are ongoing and the three shop operators are assisting in them.
The pills appear to be a quick fix for those who are here on work permits. They are sent home if found to be pregnant, as they would be breaching Manpower Ministry laws that allow them to work here. Only those married to Singaporeans or permanent residents are exempted with the Government's permission.
Improper use of Cytotec can be dangerous. An Indonesian maid from Batam, who took the drug to induce a miscarriage in her third month of pregnancy, told The Straits Times she suffered an incomplete abortion. She said: 'There was bleeding but the baby did not come out. My abdomen was very painful... In the end I had to see a doctor for an abortion.'
Professor Kuldip Singh, a senior consultant at the National University Hospital's department of obstetrics and gynaecology, said he has seen cases of botched abortions resulting from the use of Cytotec by both Singaporean and foreign women.
He added that they experienced symptoms like abdominal pain, bleeding and fever. 'If the abortion is incomplete, infection can set in.'
It is unclear how many women seek illegal abortions here. However, a pharmacist at a local pharmacy chain said he gets about one inquiry about Cytotec every month - mainly from Filipino women. 'We usually just turn them away and tell them they need to have a doctor's prescription to get the drug,' he said, adding that a pill costs $2.66.
Prof Singh said that though the use of Cytotec for illegal abortions did not appear to be widespread, it was 'difficult to tell' if the problem would grow.
A recent report by New York-based advocacy group Centre for Reproductive Rights on unsafe abortions in the Philippines highlighted the widespread use of the drug. Abortions are illegal there.
The group's spokesman, Ms Dionne Scott, said that in countries where abortion is restricted, women go on the black market and put themselves at risk of complications.
'In the Philippines, women use Cytotec without getting appropriate information on how and when to use it, and when they do experience complications, they don't have safe access to medical facilities,' she said.
Dr Susheela Singh, vice-president for research at the Guttmacher Institute, a United States-based non-profit organisation, said there were no official statistics on unsafe abortions in Singapore. She added that research on Cytotec use was limited, but showed its use for abortions was prevalent in Latin America and Asia, especially in countries where legal abortions are not available.
A HSA spokesman said that over the past three years, one offender was prosecuted under the Poisons Act and fined $4,000 for the illegal sale of controlled substances, including Cytotec.
Those prosecuted under the Act can be fined up to $10,000 and/or jailed for up to two years. According to the Penal Code, there is a maximum jail term of seven years, a fine, or both for a person who voluntarily causes a woman to miscarry.
Photo caption: Cytotec is a prescription drug.CYTOTEC was licensed in Singapore in 1989 as a prescription drug to prevent and treat gastric and duodenal ulcers. It should not be used by pregnant women as it can cause contractions resulting in miscarriage and birth defects.
A spokesman for the Health Sciences Authority cautioned that Cytotec should be used only under strict medical supervision. Adverse effects following its use include abnormal contractions, bleeding from the womb and incomplete abortion, the spokesman added.
In 2001, an Indonesian maid who took Cytotec to abort her five-month-old foetus suffered an incomplete abortion. Complications developed and doctors had to remove her uterus.
The 24-year-old woman, whose Singaporean boyfriend had bought the pills from a Filipino maid at Lucky Plaza, was jailed for nine months for causing a miscarriage. He was also jailed for helping her buy the pills.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
MediaCorp exec cleared of maid abuse charges
The following article was published in the Straits Times on 21 September 2010.
MediaCorp exec cleared of maid abuse charges
By Elena Chong, Courts Correspondent
Straits Times, Sep 21, 2010
Photo caption: Ms Tan (left) was acquitted of abusing Ms Manuel, as the judge found the maid's evidence not credible, and her account not entirely consistent with the medical evidence. -- ST FILE PHOTOS
A MEDIACORP executive who was tried on four charges of abusing her former Filipino maid was acquitted yesterday after a trial.
Ms Annie Tan, 40, an assistant vice-president of sales at Media-Corp television, had claimed trial to the charge of grabbing Ms Vilma Lambino Manuel's head and banging it against the wall three times at her Bishan flat in September 2008.
She had also been accused of slapping the 37-year-old on the face and causing her nose to bleed, grabbing her arm, and kicking her on the left leg that same day.
The maid, who had worked for Ms Tan for just 17 days, has since returned to the Philippines.
She testified that Ms Tan had assaulted her after finding out that she had eaten some biscuits without her permission.
Among other things, she said that she was slapped, and that her employer stomped on her leg twice while she was washing the blood from her nose in the toilet.
She also said Ms Tan told her to change out of her bloodstained clothes, gave her $12 and asked her to buy a packet of cigarettes from a convenience store.
The maid then sought help from the store's cashier, who called the police.
Ms Tan was initially represented by Mr Gurdaib Singh. However, midway through the hearing, she switched lawyers and engaged Mr Shashi Nathan. She denied abusing the maid at any time.
In acquitting her, District Judge Wong Choon Ning found the maid's evidence not credible, and her account not entirely consistent with the medical evidence.
Ms Tan, who declined to be interviewed, would only say that she was relieved.
MediaCorp exec cleared of maid abuse charges
By Elena Chong, Courts Correspondent
Straits Times, Sep 21, 2010
Photo caption: Ms Tan (left) was acquitted of abusing Ms Manuel, as the judge found the maid's evidence not credible, and her account not entirely consistent with the medical evidence. -- ST FILE PHOTOSA MEDIACORP executive who was tried on four charges of abusing her former Filipino maid was acquitted yesterday after a trial.
Ms Annie Tan, 40, an assistant vice-president of sales at Media-Corp television, had claimed trial to the charge of grabbing Ms Vilma Lambino Manuel's head and banging it against the wall three times at her Bishan flat in September 2008.
She had also been accused of slapping the 37-year-old on the face and causing her nose to bleed, grabbing her arm, and kicking her on the left leg that same day.
The maid, who had worked for Ms Tan for just 17 days, has since returned to the Philippines.
She testified that Ms Tan had assaulted her after finding out that she had eaten some biscuits without her permission.
Among other things, she said that she was slapped, and that her employer stomped on her leg twice while she was washing the blood from her nose in the toilet.
She also said Ms Tan told her to change out of her bloodstained clothes, gave her $12 and asked her to buy a packet of cigarettes from a convenience store.
The maid then sought help from the store's cashier, who called the police.
Ms Tan was initially represented by Mr Gurdaib Singh. However, midway through the hearing, she switched lawyers and engaged Mr Shashi Nathan. She denied abusing the maid at any time.
In acquitting her, District Judge Wong Choon Ning found the maid's evidence not credible, and her account not entirely consistent with the medical evidence.
Ms Tan, who declined to be interviewed, would only say that she was relieved.
Acquitted of maid abuse charges
The following article was published in TODAY on 21 September 2010.
Acquitted of maid abuse charges
by Teo Xuanwei
TODAY, Sep 21, 2010
A senior MediaCorp executive was acquitted yesterday of four maid abuse charges after a district judge found the maid's testimony during the trial to be unreliable.
Ms Annie Tan, 40, was accused of causing hurt to Filipina Vilma Lambino Manuel, 38, on four occasions at her Bishan home on Sept 18, 2008. The latter had alleged that Ms Tan grabbed her head and banged it against the wall three times, causing her nose to bleed. She had also claimed that her employer grabbed her forearm and kicked her leg.
But District Judge Wong Choon Ning cleared Ms Tan of the charges, saying the maid's evidence was inconsistent with the medical evidence.
Acquitted of maid abuse charges
by Teo Xuanwei
TODAY, Sep 21, 2010
A senior MediaCorp executive was acquitted yesterday of four maid abuse charges after a district judge found the maid's testimony during the trial to be unreliable.
Ms Annie Tan, 40, was accused of causing hurt to Filipina Vilma Lambino Manuel, 38, on four occasions at her Bishan home on Sept 18, 2008. The latter had alleged that Ms Tan grabbed her head and banged it against the wall three times, causing her nose to bleed. She had also claimed that her employer grabbed her forearm and kicked her leg.
But District Judge Wong Choon Ning cleared Ms Tan of the charges, saying the maid's evidence was inconsistent with the medical evidence.
Govt has enhanced protection for maids, replies ministry
The following letter was published in the Straits Times form on 21 September 2010.
Govt has enhanced protection for maids, replies ministry
Straits Times, Sep 21, 2010
WE THANK Dr Vincent Wijeysingha, executive director of Transient Workers Count Too, for his feedback last Thursday ('Excluded workers').
Due to the nature of their job, foreign domestic workers are covered under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act rather than the Employment Act.
The Government has also enhanced protection for foreign domestic workers by raising the penalties for offences committed against them under the Penal Code.
Protection has gone beyond legislative measures. For instance, the Ministry of Manpower maintains a dedicated helpline for distressed foreign domestic workers and actively educates employers on good employment practices.
The Government will continue to review both legislative and non-legislative measures to ensure that foreign domestic workers are adequately protected.
Farah Abdul Rahim (Ms)
Director, Corporate Communications
Ministry of Manpower
Govt has enhanced protection for maids, replies ministry
Straits Times, Sep 21, 2010
WE THANK Dr Vincent Wijeysingha, executive director of Transient Workers Count Too, for his feedback last Thursday ('Excluded workers').
Due to the nature of their job, foreign domestic workers are covered under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act rather than the Employment Act.
The Government has also enhanced protection for foreign domestic workers by raising the penalties for offences committed against them under the Penal Code.
Protection has gone beyond legislative measures. For instance, the Ministry of Manpower maintains a dedicated helpline for distressed foreign domestic workers and actively educates employers on good employment practices.
The Government will continue to review both legislative and non-legislative measures to ensure that foreign domestic workers are adequately protected.
Farah Abdul Rahim (Ms)
Director, Corporate Communications
Ministry of Manpower
Monday, September 20, 2010
Helping foreign workers integrate
The following article was published by my paper on 20 September 2010 and reproduced by AsiaOne News.
Helping foreign workers integrate
By Gwendolyn Ng
my paper, Mon, Sep 20, 2010
IT WAS back to school for a lesson in Singapore culture and practices for some 120 foreign workers yesterday morning.
Sitting in classrooms at NTUC LearningHub's premises in Boon Lay, these students, comprising mainly workers from Bangladesh, China and India, took part in the pilot run of the Knowing Singapore Programme.
The one-day course was jointly conducted by the Migrant Workers Centre (MWC) and NTUC LearningHub, and involved mostly workers in the construction and hospitality industries.
It is hoped that the course will empower foreign workers with the knowledge to better integrate with Singaporeans through activities such as discussions, a field trip to places of interest - like Chinatown - and sampling of local culinary treats.
During the lessons, students were also given a rundown of common Singapore laws and societal dos and don'ts.
Mr Yeo Guat Kwang, co-chairman of MWC, said that many migrant workers find it hard to settle down smoothly and integrate with Singaporeans due to different social norms and cultures.
He added: "The programme will help these foreigners ease into local society quickly, making them feel welcomed and accepted."
MWC aims to have 500 migrant workers undergo the programme in the next one year.
Employers who sent their staff for the programme yesterday told my paper that they see it as a form of welfare for their workers, and also as a way to help them better assimilate with their Singaporean colleagues.
Chinese factory worker Yu Fu Yan feels that knowledge is only one integral part of assimilation.
The Mandarin-speaking 22-year-old, who has been in Singapore for three years, said: "When it comes to getting along with your colleagues, it's more about building relationships."
Mr Yeo also acknowledged that some employers were concerned about the costs involved.
He said that employers should not refrain from sending their workers for programmes such as this just because of cost, as it would benefit them.
While yesterday's launch session was free, the programme fee is $82.50 per student, after a 50 per cent subsidy from MWC.
The course is also open for individuals to sign up.
Mr Allan Kiang, a senior operations executive at a foreign workers' dormitory, said: "If costs are kept low, more workers will probably sign up for it themselves."
Coinciding with the Mid-Autumn Festival, participants also got to taste a variety of mooncakes. It was a first for some, like Romanian Alexandru Gherman, 30, who remarked that mooncakes "taste good".
The Pan Pacific Singapore hotel guest-service executive, who came to Singapore about 11/2 months ago, intends to put the knowledge he gained to good use.
He said: "I can tell tourists where to go and what to see in Singapore now."
Helping foreign workers integrate
By Gwendolyn Ng
my paper, Mon, Sep 20, 2010
IT WAS back to school for a lesson in Singapore culture and practices for some 120 foreign workers yesterday morning.
Sitting in classrooms at NTUC LearningHub's premises in Boon Lay, these students, comprising mainly workers from Bangladesh, China and India, took part in the pilot run of the Knowing Singapore Programme.
The one-day course was jointly conducted by the Migrant Workers Centre (MWC) and NTUC LearningHub, and involved mostly workers in the construction and hospitality industries.
It is hoped that the course will empower foreign workers with the knowledge to better integrate with Singaporeans through activities such as discussions, a field trip to places of interest - like Chinatown - and sampling of local culinary treats.
During the lessons, students were also given a rundown of common Singapore laws and societal dos and don'ts.
Mr Yeo Guat Kwang, co-chairman of MWC, said that many migrant workers find it hard to settle down smoothly and integrate with Singaporeans due to different social norms and cultures.
He added: "The programme will help these foreigners ease into local society quickly, making them feel welcomed and accepted."
MWC aims to have 500 migrant workers undergo the programme in the next one year.
Employers who sent their staff for the programme yesterday told my paper that they see it as a form of welfare for their workers, and also as a way to help them better assimilate with their Singaporean colleagues.
Chinese factory worker Yu Fu Yan feels that knowledge is only one integral part of assimilation.
The Mandarin-speaking 22-year-old, who has been in Singapore for three years, said: "When it comes to getting along with your colleagues, it's more about building relationships."
Mr Yeo also acknowledged that some employers were concerned about the costs involved.
He said that employers should not refrain from sending their workers for programmes such as this just because of cost, as it would benefit them.
While yesterday's launch session was free, the programme fee is $82.50 per student, after a 50 per cent subsidy from MWC.
The course is also open for individuals to sign up.
Mr Allan Kiang, a senior operations executive at a foreign workers' dormitory, said: "If costs are kept low, more workers will probably sign up for it themselves."
Coinciding with the Mid-Autumn Festival, participants also got to taste a variety of mooncakes. It was a first for some, like Romanian Alexandru Gherman, 30, who remarked that mooncakes "taste good".
The Pan Pacific Singapore hotel guest-service executive, who came to Singapore about 11/2 months ago, intends to put the knowledge he gained to good use.
He said: "I can tell tourists where to go and what to see in Singapore now."
Teaching maids about their legal rights
The following article was published in the Straits Times on 20 September 2010.
Teaching maids about their legal rights
By Melissa Kok
Straits Times, Sep 20, 2010
Photo caption: Maids attending the community outreach programme, shared their view and story on stage. TSMP Law corporation holds a free talk on legal rights for foreign domestic workers in collaboration with TWC2 and Home at Fort Canning. -- ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM
HELP was at hand for about 100 Filipino and Indonesian maids who turned up for a free talk on their legal rights yesterday.
A team from top law firm TSMP Law Corporation spent about three hours talking to the maids at The Gallery in Fort Canning. The topics included what their rights are and the protection given to them under the law, such as what employers can and cannot ask them to do under their employment contracts.
Some of the maids' key concerns revolved around the non-payment of salaries and poor working conditions.
Some said they found their salaries docked when employers felt they did not work 'hard enough', while others said they were made to sleep on the floor or in store rooms.
Yesterday's event was the result of a tie-up between the law firm and migrant workers advocacy groups Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) and the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (Home).
Since last year, TSMP has been providing pro bono legal services to foreign workers referred by Home, and recently extended the help to TWC2.
So far the firm has handled between 20 and 25 cases. Some involved cases that went to court while others involved providing legal advice and drafting letters for the foreign workers.
TSMP senior counsel Thio Shen Yi said the maids were often unable to afford a lawyer. They may not understand or trust the legal system and the police because of their experiences in their home countries, he added.
'We tell them that Singapore is transparent and fair, and give them the ability to assert their legal rights or defend themselves effectively.
'Ignorance should never be a reason for someone to abandon whatever genuine rights they have,' he said.
Teaching maids about their legal rights
By Melissa Kok
Straits Times, Sep 20, 2010
Photo caption: Maids attending the community outreach programme, shared their view and story on stage. TSMP Law corporation holds a free talk on legal rights for foreign domestic workers in collaboration with TWC2 and Home at Fort Canning. -- ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIMHELP was at hand for about 100 Filipino and Indonesian maids who turned up for a free talk on their legal rights yesterday.
A team from top law firm TSMP Law Corporation spent about three hours talking to the maids at The Gallery in Fort Canning. The topics included what their rights are and the protection given to them under the law, such as what employers can and cannot ask them to do under their employment contracts.
Some of the maids' key concerns revolved around the non-payment of salaries and poor working conditions.
Some said they found their salaries docked when employers felt they did not work 'hard enough', while others said they were made to sleep on the floor or in store rooms.
Yesterday's event was the result of a tie-up between the law firm and migrant workers advocacy groups Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) and the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (Home).
Since last year, TSMP has been providing pro bono legal services to foreign workers referred by Home, and recently extended the help to TWC2.
So far the firm has handled between 20 and 25 cases. Some involved cases that went to court while others involved providing legal advice and drafting letters for the foreign workers.
TSMP senior counsel Thio Shen Yi said the maids were often unable to afford a lawyer. They may not understand or trust the legal system and the police because of their experiences in their home countries, he added.
'We tell them that Singapore is transparent and fair, and give them the ability to assert their legal rights or defend themselves effectively.
'Ignorance should never be a reason for someone to abandon whatever genuine rights they have,' he said.
Singapore jobs costlier to come by
The following article was published in The Financial Express on 20 September 2010.
Singapore jobs costlier to come by
by Munima Sultana, back from Singapore
Migration costs to Singapore have increased by four times in a decade, touching to Tk 700,000 as fat commission by job intermediaries is pushing up expenses, officials and workers said.
The costs, which ranged from Tk 150,000 to 250,000 in the past, has ballooned to Tk 0.5 million in recent days, they said, with manpower agents exploiting the potential migrant workers. Some workers had to end up in paying as high as Tk 650,000.
"My sister's husband is coming here spending Tk 700,000," said Aminul Islam of Tangail district.
Mr Islam said his brother-in-law paid no heed to his advice as the prospect of better working conditions, job opportunities and regular paycheque lured him to spend the big amount.
Ali Islam Rana, a construction worker, said many recruiting agencies rip off would-be migrants government is very serious about ensuring safety and security of the workers and maintaining regularity in wages.
Mr Rana who came to Singapore in 1997, said the demand for skilled workers has picked up again in shipping and construction sectors in the city state in the wake of global recession.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has announced that his country could hire 100,000 foreign workers as maintaining the growth momentum has become critical.
"And the middlemen have taken it as an opportune moment to mint money," said Mr Rana who had also spent unsuccessfully more than a decade in Korea and Japan.
However, Singapore authorities deported more than 40,000 Bangladeshi workers last year when the recession dried up jobs in the Southeast Asian nation.
High Commission officials in Singapore admitted that the majority of fraudulent cases occur owing to Bangladesh side's lax monitoring and little control over local manpower brokers.
They said a few Singaporean employment agencies are also involved in the racket.
"Although some Singaporean agencies are blamed for the exploitation of workers, they are being allured by Bangladeshi agents," said an official preferring anonymity.
Singapore charges no money on the recruitment of foreign workers and Bangladeshi labour officials said its Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has taken the issue of employment agents "seriously" and plans to penalise "errant agencies."
It has proposed to increase the amount of penalty from Singapore dollar 5000 to at least S$ 40,000, according to the ministry website.
Rana said it is difficult to survive in Singapore with S$ 18 to 20 per day where cost of living is "horribly high."
"If recruiting cost of workers is not brought down, the fate of new workers will be worse," he said.
"It's impossible to recover the costs if one spends Tk 0.5 million for jobs. It can't be recovered even with overtime," said Aminul Islam.
Singapore jobs costlier to come by
by Munima Sultana, back from Singapore
Migration costs to Singapore have increased by four times in a decade, touching to Tk 700,000 as fat commission by job intermediaries is pushing up expenses, officials and workers said.
The costs, which ranged from Tk 150,000 to 250,000 in the past, has ballooned to Tk 0.5 million in recent days, they said, with manpower agents exploiting the potential migrant workers. Some workers had to end up in paying as high as Tk 650,000.
"My sister's husband is coming here spending Tk 700,000," said Aminul Islam of Tangail district.
Mr Islam said his brother-in-law paid no heed to his advice as the prospect of better working conditions, job opportunities and regular paycheque lured him to spend the big amount.
Ali Islam Rana, a construction worker, said many recruiting agencies rip off would-be migrants government is very serious about ensuring safety and security of the workers and maintaining regularity in wages.
Mr Rana who came to Singapore in 1997, said the demand for skilled workers has picked up again in shipping and construction sectors in the city state in the wake of global recession.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has announced that his country could hire 100,000 foreign workers as maintaining the growth momentum has become critical.
"And the middlemen have taken it as an opportune moment to mint money," said Mr Rana who had also spent unsuccessfully more than a decade in Korea and Japan.
However, Singapore authorities deported more than 40,000 Bangladeshi workers last year when the recession dried up jobs in the Southeast Asian nation.
High Commission officials in Singapore admitted that the majority of fraudulent cases occur owing to Bangladesh side's lax monitoring and little control over local manpower brokers.
They said a few Singaporean employment agencies are also involved in the racket.
"Although some Singaporean agencies are blamed for the exploitation of workers, they are being allured by Bangladeshi agents," said an official preferring anonymity.
Singapore charges no money on the recruitment of foreign workers and Bangladeshi labour officials said its Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has taken the issue of employment agents "seriously" and plans to penalise "errant agencies."
It has proposed to increase the amount of penalty from Singapore dollar 5000 to at least S$ 40,000, according to the ministry website.
Rana said it is difficult to survive in Singapore with S$ 18 to 20 per day where cost of living is "horribly high."
"If recruiting cost of workers is not brought down, the fate of new workers will be worse," he said.
"It's impossible to recover the costs if one spends Tk 0.5 million for jobs. It can't be recovered even with overtime," said Aminul Islam.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Fewer M’sians cheated in S’pore
The following article was published in The Star on 19 September 2010.
Fewer M’sians cheated in S’pore
By NELSON BENJAMIN (nelson@thestar.com.my)
Sunday September 19, 2010
SINGAPORE: Cases of Malaysians being cheated in Singapore have dropped following restrictions by the island republic on foreign workers, including imposing a higher levy and tightening entry rules.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said most of the grievances pertained to long working hours, deplorable working and living conditions, wage deductions purportedly for agency fees and withholding of travel documents by job agents.
He said that in 2008, a total of 1,543 complaints were filed with the labour attaché at the Malaysian High Commission here.
Of this number, 44% involved Malaysians from Sarawak, 35% from Sabah and the rest from the peninsula.
“In 2009, the number dipped to 975 cases while this year, up to August, we have received 454 cases,” he told The Star.
Sarawakians and Sabahans still topped the list.
Dr Subramaniam said his ministry was monitoring the situation closely and would advise Malaysians seeking employment abroad to seek the assistance of Labour Department officers to avoid being cheated by irresponsible recruiting agents.
Malaysians currently account for about 30% of the foreign workforce in Singapore and many of them are unskilled and employed in the manufacturing sector.
Singapore’s new levy rules require a company hiring an unskilled worker to fork out S$20 (RM46) extra each month as the new levy imposed beginning July 1 is S$260 (RM598).
The levy rates continue to increase every six months and by 2012, employers will have to pay up to S$300 (RM690) to hire an unskilled worker each month.
Malaysians in Singapore needing assistance can approach the Malaysian High Commission at 02-62350111.
Fewer M’sians cheated in S’pore
By NELSON BENJAMIN (nelson@thestar.com.my)
Sunday September 19, 2010
SINGAPORE: Cases of Malaysians being cheated in Singapore have dropped following restrictions by the island republic on foreign workers, including imposing a higher levy and tightening entry rules.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said most of the grievances pertained to long working hours, deplorable working and living conditions, wage deductions purportedly for agency fees and withholding of travel documents by job agents.
He said that in 2008, a total of 1,543 complaints were filed with the labour attaché at the Malaysian High Commission here.
Of this number, 44% involved Malaysians from Sarawak, 35% from Sabah and the rest from the peninsula.
“In 2009, the number dipped to 975 cases while this year, up to August, we have received 454 cases,” he told The Star.
Sarawakians and Sabahans still topped the list.
Dr Subramaniam said his ministry was monitoring the situation closely and would advise Malaysians seeking employment abroad to seek the assistance of Labour Department officers to avoid being cheated by irresponsible recruiting agents.
Malaysians currently account for about 30% of the foreign workforce in Singapore and many of them are unskilled and employed in the manufacturing sector.
Singapore’s new levy rules require a company hiring an unskilled worker to fork out S$20 (RM46) extra each month as the new levy imposed beginning July 1 is S$260 (RM598).
The levy rates continue to increase every six months and by 2012, employers will have to pay up to S$300 (RM690) to hire an unskilled worker each month.
Malaysians in Singapore needing assistance can approach the Malaysian High Commission at 02-62350111.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Too packed... for foreign workers
The following article was published in the New Paper on
Too packed... for foreign workers
27, 000 workers get better quarters
By Arul John
New Paper, 17 September 2010
Photo caption: Living in a container - Foreign workers' living conditions in a container in Jurong left a deep impression on TWC2's Shelley Thio. Picture in TNP courtesy of Shelley Thio.
For 18 months, Mr Mehede Hassan slept in an overcrowded illegal dormitory at Upper Thomson Road.
The Bangladeshi, 25, slept on a wooden plank on the upper bunk of a double-decker bed.
He shared the dormitory - about the size of a school hall - with 400 other migrant workers. They had only two toilets, no windows and one door to get in and out.
The workers were rescued last January last year after a Ministry of Manpower (MOM) raid.
When The New Paper spoke to him last month, he had been moved to a proper dormitory in Kranji.
Between 2007 and last year, about 24,700 foreign workers were similarly "rescued". They were relocated from unsuitable accommodation to better housing, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower and Health Hawazi Daipi told Parliament yesterday.
He said this in response to a question from MP Christopher de Souza on the number of workers who were found to be housed in inappropriate accommodation in the last three years.
MOM had revealed to The New Paper earlier that about 40 percent of the 1,460 workers quarters inspected between January last year and April this year were found to be "unacceptable" to live in.
Migrant workers advocacy groups Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) and Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (HOME) have been monitoring the problem.
Legal secretary Shelley Thio, 50, of TWC2, described a crowded six-metre container she came across in Jurong last year.
She said: "Although the place was air-conditioned, there was only one entrance/exit. The other door was blocked by double-decker beds.
"The workers bathed in an open area just outside which was infested with rats.
"Their bathing and cooking areas were next to a drain filled with stagnant water, and the workers were frequently bitten by mosquitoes."
She also recalled a dormitory in Benoi Road that housed about 400 foreign workers.
She said: "The workers slept on double-decker beds and even on the floor. All the workers had to share a common bathing area and toilet."
Paid $150 a month
The workers told Ms Thio that between $100 and $150 were deducted each month from their salaries to pay for their accommodation.
Another $110 is deducted for food. But all they get is plain rice with gravy or two plain roti prata per meal.
Mr Jolovan Wham, Home's executive director, said he often learns about unsuitable accommodation after the workers approach Home for help in getting their overdue salaries.
Mr Hawazi said that employers were aware of the requirements for the housing of foreign workers. The rules are clearly stated on the MOM website.
He said for each worker found in unacceptable housing, errant employers could be fined up to $5,000, jailed up to six months, or both.
He did not give figures about the largest fines, or the most severe penalties meted out, but added that based on the severity of their offences, the errant employers could be barred from new applications for foreign workers and renewing the work permits of their existing workers for a period of time.
Too packed... for foreign workers
27, 000 workers get better quarters
By Arul John
New Paper, 17 September 2010
Photo caption: Living in a container - Foreign workers' living conditions in a container in Jurong left a deep impression on TWC2's Shelley Thio. Picture in TNP courtesy of Shelley Thio.For 18 months, Mr Mehede Hassan slept in an overcrowded illegal dormitory at Upper Thomson Road.
The Bangladeshi, 25, slept on a wooden plank on the upper bunk of a double-decker bed.
He shared the dormitory - about the size of a school hall - with 400 other migrant workers. They had only two toilets, no windows and one door to get in and out.
The workers were rescued last January last year after a Ministry of Manpower (MOM) raid.
When The New Paper spoke to him last month, he had been moved to a proper dormitory in Kranji.
Between 2007 and last year, about 24,700 foreign workers were similarly "rescued". They were relocated from unsuitable accommodation to better housing, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower and Health Hawazi Daipi told Parliament yesterday.
He said this in response to a question from MP Christopher de Souza on the number of workers who were found to be housed in inappropriate accommodation in the last three years.
MOM had revealed to The New Paper earlier that about 40 percent of the 1,460 workers quarters inspected between January last year and April this year were found to be "unacceptable" to live in.
Migrant workers advocacy groups Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) and Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (HOME) have been monitoring the problem.
Legal secretary Shelley Thio, 50, of TWC2, described a crowded six-metre container she came across in Jurong last year.
She said: "Although the place was air-conditioned, there was only one entrance/exit. The other door was blocked by double-decker beds.
"The workers bathed in an open area just outside which was infested with rats.
"Their bathing and cooking areas were next to a drain filled with stagnant water, and the workers were frequently bitten by mosquitoes."
She also recalled a dormitory in Benoi Road that housed about 400 foreign workers.
She said: "The workers slept on double-decker beds and even on the floor. All the workers had to share a common bathing area and toilet."
Paid $150 a month
The workers told Ms Thio that between $100 and $150 were deducted each month from their salaries to pay for their accommodation.
Another $110 is deducted for food. But all they get is plain rice with gravy or two plain roti prata per meal.
Mr Jolovan Wham, Home's executive director, said he often learns about unsuitable accommodation after the workers approach Home for help in getting their overdue salaries.
Mr Hawazi said that employers were aware of the requirements for the housing of foreign workers. The rules are clearly stated on the MOM website.
He said for each worker found in unacceptable housing, errant employers could be fined up to $5,000, jailed up to six months, or both.
He did not give figures about the largest fines, or the most severe penalties meted out, but added that based on the severity of their offences, the errant employers could be barred from new applications for foreign workers and renewing the work permits of their existing workers for a period of time.
Man bashes through glass & falls 4 floors
The following article was published in the New Paper on 17 September 2010.
Man bashes through glass & falls 4 floors
Indian construction worker 'acted strangely' the day before his death
By Benson Ang
September 17, 2010
Photo caption: The body of the foreign worker being removed from the scene.
Photo caption: The car on which he fell.
Photo caption: Witness - Ravi points to the window from which he said the foreign worker feel. TNP Picture: Kelvin Chng
He heard a thud and thought it was a car accident.
So Ravi, 38, a construction worker from Bangladesh, crossed the road to see if someone needed help.
Instead, he saw the body of a man on top of a car parked near Serangoon Building. The body then rolled to the ground.
Said Ravi, who declined to give his real name: "He lay face down with blood flowing from his head. He was surrounded by broken glass."
"I looked up at the building and saw a broken windown on the fourth floor. I was so shocked, I ran away," he said.
Ravi said that he was waiting for a friend at the taxi stand in front of Serangoon Plaza, which is across the road from Serangoon Building.
It was about 1am on Wednesday when the incident happened.
The dead man was later identified as Indian national Natesan Saravanan, 25, a construction worker.
He is believed to have fallen from the living quarters on the fourth storey of Serangoon Building in Little India. The quarters belong to UTR Services, a repatriation company, which also has an office on the same floor of the building.
The police have classified the death as unnatural and are investigating.
A restaurant and lounge occupy the first three floors.
Attempts to reach UTR Services for a comment were unsuccessful.
Shin Min Daily News reported that Mr Natesan's employer had sent him to the company's premises the day before the incident at 3.25pm.
It is not known why the employer did so.
Mr Natesan was to have taken the 8.25am flight on Wednesday back to India.
An UTR staff member told Shin Min Daily News that Mr Natesan began acting strangely the evening before his death.
The staff member said Mr Natesan disturbed the other workers, looked around curiously and loitered in the corridors.
"I asked him if anything was wrong, but he said no."
Strange behaviour
Because of this strange behaviour, the staff member instructed Mr Natesan to sleep away from the other workers.
Lights-out was at 12.30am.
But about 15 minutes later, Mr Natesan opened the door of the room, glanced at the staff member and darted towards the window.
"He bashed through the glass and jumped down", the UTR staff told Shin Min Daily News.
The whole thing happened so quickly that he did not have time to react, he added.
The New Paper understands that Mr Natesan's next-of-kin has been informed of his death.
UTR Services was in the news last year when it was engaged by a marine services company to repatriate nine foreign workers for allegedly refusing to work.
But the workers said there had been no work for five months and refused to leave before collecting the salaries due to them.
Man bashes through glass & falls 4 floors
Indian construction worker 'acted strangely' the day before his death
By Benson Ang
September 17, 2010
Photo caption: The body of the foreign worker being removed from the scene.
Photo caption: The car on which he fell.
Photo caption: Witness - Ravi points to the window from which he said the foreign worker feel. TNP Picture: Kelvin ChngHe heard a thud and thought it was a car accident.
So Ravi, 38, a construction worker from Bangladesh, crossed the road to see if someone needed help.
Instead, he saw the body of a man on top of a car parked near Serangoon Building. The body then rolled to the ground.
Said Ravi, who declined to give his real name: "He lay face down with blood flowing from his head. He was surrounded by broken glass."
"I looked up at the building and saw a broken windown on the fourth floor. I was so shocked, I ran away," he said.
Ravi said that he was waiting for a friend at the taxi stand in front of Serangoon Plaza, which is across the road from Serangoon Building.
It was about 1am on Wednesday when the incident happened.
The dead man was later identified as Indian national Natesan Saravanan, 25, a construction worker.
He is believed to have fallen from the living quarters on the fourth storey of Serangoon Building in Little India. The quarters belong to UTR Services, a repatriation company, which also has an office on the same floor of the building.
The police have classified the death as unnatural and are investigating.
A restaurant and lounge occupy the first three floors.
Attempts to reach UTR Services for a comment were unsuccessful.
Shin Min Daily News reported that Mr Natesan's employer had sent him to the company's premises the day before the incident at 3.25pm.
It is not known why the employer did so.
Mr Natesan was to have taken the 8.25am flight on Wednesday back to India.
An UTR staff member told Shin Min Daily News that Mr Natesan began acting strangely the evening before his death.
The staff member said Mr Natesan disturbed the other workers, looked around curiously and loitered in the corridors.
"I asked him if anything was wrong, but he said no."
Strange behaviour
Because of this strange behaviour, the staff member instructed Mr Natesan to sleep away from the other workers.
Lights-out was at 12.30am.
But about 15 minutes later, Mr Natesan opened the door of the room, glanced at the staff member and darted towards the window.
"He bashed through the glass and jumped down", the UTR staff told Shin Min Daily News.
The whole thing happened so quickly that he did not have time to react, he added.
The New Paper understands that Mr Natesan's next-of-kin has been informed of his death.
UTR Services was in the news last year when it was engaged by a marine services company to repatriate nine foreign workers for allegedly refusing to work.
But the workers said there had been no work for five months and refused to leave before collecting the salaries due to them.
Why work injury payouts differ
The following article was published in the Straits Times on 17 Sep 2010.
Why work injury payouts differ
Straits Times, Sep 17, 2010
Photo caption: The Government regularly reviews the compensation caps under Wica. -- ST PHOTO: SAMUEL HE
WORKERS injured due to a lapse by their employer may have to go to the courts if they expect full compensation from their bosses.
That is because the expedited, out-of- court compensation process under the Work Injury Compensation Act (Wica) does not consider whether or not the employer was at fault.
And so, to be fair to employers, their liability is capped, said Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower Hawazi Daipi in Parliament yesterday.
He said the Government will regularly review the compensation caps 'to keep in step with changes in wages and medical expenses'.
After the last review in 2008, the amounts were increased by between 22 per cent and 26 per cent.
He was responding to a question by MP Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) on a Bangladeshi construction worker who was paralysed from the waist down after an accident in 2008. The worker rejected the $182,000 compensation recommended under Wica and went to court for more.
In June this year, the court ordered his employer to pay him $910,000.
Mr Hawazi said this sizeable disparity came about because the two systems - Wica and the common law - were 'based on different principles'.
While the courts award compensation under the common law by apportioning blame, Wica is meant to expedite the process, and orders a payout 'as long as the claimant can show his injury arose out of and in the course of employment'.
Mr Hawazi said 75 per cent of claims under Wica were settled within six months of the accident.
Why work injury payouts differ
Straits Times, Sep 17, 2010
Photo caption: The Government regularly reviews the compensation caps under Wica. -- ST PHOTO: SAMUEL HEWORKERS injured due to a lapse by their employer may have to go to the courts if they expect full compensation from their bosses.
That is because the expedited, out-of- court compensation process under the Work Injury Compensation Act (Wica) does not consider whether or not the employer was at fault.
And so, to be fair to employers, their liability is capped, said Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower Hawazi Daipi in Parliament yesterday.
He said the Government will regularly review the compensation caps 'to keep in step with changes in wages and medical expenses'.
After the last review in 2008, the amounts were increased by between 22 per cent and 26 per cent.
He was responding to a question by MP Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) on a Bangladeshi construction worker who was paralysed from the waist down after an accident in 2008. The worker rejected the $182,000 compensation recommended under Wica and went to court for more.
In June this year, the court ordered his employer to pay him $910,000.
Mr Hawazi said this sizeable disparity came about because the two systems - Wica and the common law - were 'based on different principles'.
While the courts award compensation under the common law by apportioning blame, Wica is meant to expedite the process, and orders a payout 'as long as the claimant can show his injury arose out of and in the course of employment'.
Mr Hawazi said 75 per cent of claims under Wica were settled within six months of the accident.
Housing foreign workers: rules are in black and white
The following article was published in TODAY on 17 September 2010.
Housing foreign workers: rules are in black and white
by Esther Ng
TODAY, 17 Sept 2010
SINGAPORE - Employers should know what they need to do to meet the requirements of various government agencies when housing foreign workers, says the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
But three Members of Parliament questioned whether knowing is enough to ensure foreign workers are provided appropriate housing.
MOM's Senior Parliamentary Secretary Hawazi Daipi told the House that employers would have to comply with the requirements of various agencies.
These are the MOM, the Urban Redevelopment Authority, JTC Corporation, the National Environment Agency, the Housing and Development Board, Singapore Civil Defence Force, PUB and the Building and Construction Authority.
However, MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC Christopher de Souza pointed out that employers would be "confused" if it were "incumbent" on them to find out the requirements from these different agencies.
"Are employers told in black and white terms, exactly what they have to do in terms of how much bedding space per worker, how many sinks per worker - that sort of ratio?"
Mr Hawazi replied: "Yes, Sir, we expect employers to know this because the requirements are in black and white."
Employers face up to $5,000 fine or a jail term of up to six months or both for each worker found to be housed in unacceptable accommodation.
Responding to MP for Aljunied GRC Yeo Guat Kwang, Mr Hawazi said: "Enforcement has been stepped up since 2009 and we have noticed that the number of complaints has declined."
Between 2007 and 2009, MOM relocated 27,400 foreign workers into acceptable accommodation.
Mr de Souza also raised the "disconnect" between the workmen's compensation scheme and the "just" compensation awarded by the courts.
For instance, a worker who was paralysed as a result of a workplace accident was awarded $182,000 by the Commissioner of Labour. The amount was raised to $1 million when he took the matter to the High Court.
In the light of this, Mr de Souza wanted to know whether MOM would consider raising the maximum compensation amounts in the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA).
Mr Hawazi said it was "too early" as the caps for compensation were raised as recently as 2008 - $225,000 for total permanent incapacity and $140,000 to be paid to dependants of a deceased worker.
Mr Hawazi said MOM would continue with its method - considering the loss of income, medical costs and other expenses that may be borne by the family of the deceased, or the person that has been injured - in determining compensation.
Housing foreign workers: rules are in black and white
by Esther Ng
TODAY, 17 Sept 2010
SINGAPORE - Employers should know what they need to do to meet the requirements of various government agencies when housing foreign workers, says the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
But three Members of Parliament questioned whether knowing is enough to ensure foreign workers are provided appropriate housing.
MOM's Senior Parliamentary Secretary Hawazi Daipi told the House that employers would have to comply with the requirements of various agencies.
These are the MOM, the Urban Redevelopment Authority, JTC Corporation, the National Environment Agency, the Housing and Development Board, Singapore Civil Defence Force, PUB and the Building and Construction Authority.
However, MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC Christopher de Souza pointed out that employers would be "confused" if it were "incumbent" on them to find out the requirements from these different agencies.
"Are employers told in black and white terms, exactly what they have to do in terms of how much bedding space per worker, how many sinks per worker - that sort of ratio?"
Mr Hawazi replied: "Yes, Sir, we expect employers to know this because the requirements are in black and white."
Employers face up to $5,000 fine or a jail term of up to six months or both for each worker found to be housed in unacceptable accommodation.
Responding to MP for Aljunied GRC Yeo Guat Kwang, Mr Hawazi said: "Enforcement has been stepped up since 2009 and we have noticed that the number of complaints has declined."
Between 2007 and 2009, MOM relocated 27,400 foreign workers into acceptable accommodation.
Mr de Souza also raised the "disconnect" between the workmen's compensation scheme and the "just" compensation awarded by the courts.
For instance, a worker who was paralysed as a result of a workplace accident was awarded $182,000 by the Commissioner of Labour. The amount was raised to $1 million when he took the matter to the High Court.
In the light of this, Mr de Souza wanted to know whether MOM would consider raising the maximum compensation amounts in the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA).
Mr Hawazi said it was "too early" as the caps for compensation were raised as recently as 2008 - $225,000 for total permanent incapacity and $140,000 to be paid to dependants of a deceased worker.
Mr Hawazi said MOM would continue with its method - considering the loss of income, medical costs and other expenses that may be borne by the family of the deceased, or the person that has been injured - in determining compensation.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Films Show Other Side Of Migrant Workers
The following article was published by IPS on 16 September 2010.
Films Show Other Side Of Migrant Workers
By Stanislaus Jude Chan
SINGAPORE, Sep 16, 2010 (IPS) - Migrant workers may be what one filmmaker calls a "socio- political hot potato" in Singapore, but that is precisely why a film festival opted to showcase the plight of workers who often remain faceless although they are vital to the city- state’s everyday life and economy.
Apart from challenges with assimilation, some 1.3 million migrant workers here are facing discrimination by Singaporeans who see the influx of foreigners as a threat to their own rice bowls.
More than one-third of Singapore’s 5 million population comprise non-citizens, making it the Asian country with the highest proportion of migrant workers in varied sectors such as construction and domestic work.
With rising discontent among both locals and foreigners here, events like the Migration Film Festival, organised by Singapore-based community arts group Migrant Voices on Sep. 11, are geared at "building a bridge between the two communities".
"We don’t want to speak for migrant workers," says Migrant Voices president Shaun Teo. "We want to provide the platform for migrant workers to speak for themselves and to encourage creative discourse."
Some 180 tickets were sold for the festival, featuring independent-made films by local filmmakers, which returned after a 3-year break. The inaugural event in 2007 saw less than 40 attendees.
In July 2010, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told reporters at the end of his six-day official visit to the United States that some 100,000 migrant workers would be added to Singapore’s workforce this year. "If we don't allow the foreign workers in, you are going to have overheating (of the economy)," Lee said.
But just one month later, at the National Day rally on Aug. 29, Lee adjusted that number to "perhaps 80,000 workers", following concern among Singaporeans that foreigners are contributing to overcrowding in the island- state, intense competition for jobs, and skyrocketing costs in public housing.
A 2009 poll by the Institute of Policy Studies found close to two-thirds of Singaporeans surveyed believed the government's immigration policy was weakening national unity. Approximately the same number of respondents, however, said they supported bringing in more foreigners if it helped the economy.
"The influx of migrant workers has always been a socio- political hot potato in Singapore," says independent filmmaker Jenny Chan, 29. "The resultant social, cultural and economic impact is fascinating."
Films such as ‘Durai & Saro’, the fictional story of a platonic relationship between an Indian construction worker and a domestic helper from the Philippines, "aims to humanise the faceless mass that many Singaporeans have come to see as the ‘others’," says director-producer Prema Menon. "I would like for the audience to change their perspective, and not sympathise, but empathise," says Menon. "Pity is no use, but respect and understanding can really start to turn things around."
Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower has in place stringent rules that forbid foreign workers on work permit from marrying Singaporeans and Singapore permanent residents. Employers also stand to forfeit a 5,000 dollar (3,700 U.S. dollars) security bond if female domestic workers get pregnant.
For this reason, among others, many pragmatic Singaporeans employers are wary of allowing their employees out of their sight. Foreign domestic workers in Singapore are not given mandatory days off. Domestic helpers receive an option of one day off a month, which can be signed away in return for between 15 and 22 U.S. dollars more.
These rules only applies to low-waged, "unskilled" labour. Other Manpower Ministry laws governing this group of workers cautions against involvement "in any illegal, immoral or undesirable activities, including breaking up families in Singapore".
"We tend to typecast, generalise them in news stories," says independent filmmaker Chan Kah Mei, 33. "They are portrayed as the faceless foreign worker, often times the victim, but really they are individuals, each with a different character – some resilient, some funny and others whiny… Each with their own thoughts and aspirations."
"Migrant workers are just people driven by basic human needs, and they are sometimes exploited precisely because of that drive," says Jenny Chan, whose film, ‘Confluence of Lands’, revolves around a mini-mart in Singapore’s Little India, where different faces come together in different spaces.
"Before I made the film I was oblivious to the workings of government policies and mercantile recruitment agents, and through the process I learnt so much more about the ‘invisible population’ in our country than before," she adds.
For some, like filmmaker Menon, the treatment of low-wage migrant workers here is unfathomable.
"During my time in South India, I had a handful of friends and colleagues who came from the same (social and educational) background as many of the men here," says Menon. "So getting to know them as peers, and then coming to Singapore and seeing many men who are exactly like them being treated as a different class (of low-wage manual labour) was quite a rude shock."
Jenny Chan recounts the story of one Bangladeshi worker, who told her: "Our families pawn land and jewellery to send us here. They have not seen the hard labour and suffering we undergo here, sometimes we work from 6 am till midnight."
The Migration Film Festival serves to "remind Singaporeans that we are not much different from these migrant workers," says Teo. "It is only 45 years of independence and education that makes us culturally different."
"At the end of the day, we are all the same. We aim to survive in this world, taking care of the people that we love," says Menon. (END)
Films Show Other Side Of Migrant Workers
By Stanislaus Jude Chan
SINGAPORE, Sep 16, 2010 (IPS) - Migrant workers may be what one filmmaker calls a "socio- political hot potato" in Singapore, but that is precisely why a film festival opted to showcase the plight of workers who often remain faceless although they are vital to the city- state’s everyday life and economy.
Apart from challenges with assimilation, some 1.3 million migrant workers here are facing discrimination by Singaporeans who see the influx of foreigners as a threat to their own rice bowls.
More than one-third of Singapore’s 5 million population comprise non-citizens, making it the Asian country with the highest proportion of migrant workers in varied sectors such as construction and domestic work.
With rising discontent among both locals and foreigners here, events like the Migration Film Festival, organised by Singapore-based community arts group Migrant Voices on Sep. 11, are geared at "building a bridge between the two communities".
"We don’t want to speak for migrant workers," says Migrant Voices president Shaun Teo. "We want to provide the platform for migrant workers to speak for themselves and to encourage creative discourse."
Some 180 tickets were sold for the festival, featuring independent-made films by local filmmakers, which returned after a 3-year break. The inaugural event in 2007 saw less than 40 attendees.
In July 2010, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told reporters at the end of his six-day official visit to the United States that some 100,000 migrant workers would be added to Singapore’s workforce this year. "If we don't allow the foreign workers in, you are going to have overheating (of the economy)," Lee said.
But just one month later, at the National Day rally on Aug. 29, Lee adjusted that number to "perhaps 80,000 workers", following concern among Singaporeans that foreigners are contributing to overcrowding in the island- state, intense competition for jobs, and skyrocketing costs in public housing.
A 2009 poll by the Institute of Policy Studies found close to two-thirds of Singaporeans surveyed believed the government's immigration policy was weakening national unity. Approximately the same number of respondents, however, said they supported bringing in more foreigners if it helped the economy.
"The influx of migrant workers has always been a socio- political hot potato in Singapore," says independent filmmaker Jenny Chan, 29. "The resultant social, cultural and economic impact is fascinating."
Films such as ‘Durai & Saro’, the fictional story of a platonic relationship between an Indian construction worker and a domestic helper from the Philippines, "aims to humanise the faceless mass that many Singaporeans have come to see as the ‘others’," says director-producer Prema Menon. "I would like for the audience to change their perspective, and not sympathise, but empathise," says Menon. "Pity is no use, but respect and understanding can really start to turn things around."
Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower has in place stringent rules that forbid foreign workers on work permit from marrying Singaporeans and Singapore permanent residents. Employers also stand to forfeit a 5,000 dollar (3,700 U.S. dollars) security bond if female domestic workers get pregnant.
For this reason, among others, many pragmatic Singaporeans employers are wary of allowing their employees out of their sight. Foreign domestic workers in Singapore are not given mandatory days off. Domestic helpers receive an option of one day off a month, which can be signed away in return for between 15 and 22 U.S. dollars more.
These rules only applies to low-waged, "unskilled" labour. Other Manpower Ministry laws governing this group of workers cautions against involvement "in any illegal, immoral or undesirable activities, including breaking up families in Singapore".
"We tend to typecast, generalise them in news stories," says independent filmmaker Chan Kah Mei, 33. "They are portrayed as the faceless foreign worker, often times the victim, but really they are individuals, each with a different character – some resilient, some funny and others whiny… Each with their own thoughts and aspirations."
"Migrant workers are just people driven by basic human needs, and they are sometimes exploited precisely because of that drive," says Jenny Chan, whose film, ‘Confluence of Lands’, revolves around a mini-mart in Singapore’s Little India, where different faces come together in different spaces.
"Before I made the film I was oblivious to the workings of government policies and mercantile recruitment agents, and through the process I learnt so much more about the ‘invisible population’ in our country than before," she adds.
For some, like filmmaker Menon, the treatment of low-wage migrant workers here is unfathomable.
"During my time in South India, I had a handful of friends and colleagues who came from the same (social and educational) background as many of the men here," says Menon. "So getting to know them as peers, and then coming to Singapore and seeing many men who are exactly like them being treated as a different class (of low-wage manual labour) was quite a rude shock."
Jenny Chan recounts the story of one Bangladeshi worker, who told her: "Our families pawn land and jewellery to send us here. They have not seen the hard labour and suffering we undergo here, sometimes we work from 6 am till midnight."
The Migration Film Festival serves to "remind Singaporeans that we are not much different from these migrant workers," says Teo. "It is only 45 years of independence and education that makes us culturally different."
"At the end of the day, we are all the same. We aim to survive in this world, taking care of the people that we love," says Menon. (END)
S'pore inks work safety declaration
The following article was published in the Straits Times on 16 September 2010.
S'pore inks work safety declaration
By Maria Almenoar
Straits Times, Sep 16, 2010
THE Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council yesterday joined more than 200 organisations from around the world in signing a declaration to create safe and healthy work environments.
The organisations, consisting mainly of national-level agencies and large companies like Hyundai and LG, also committed to the understanding that preventing workplace accidents is of utmost importance.
The document, the Seoul Declaration For Safety And Health At Work, was inked at the inaugural Singapore Workplace Safety and Health Conference.
The event, which was held at Suntec Convention Centre, attracted more than 700 delegates who are here to discuss best practices on workplace safety.
Every year, about two million people around the world die or are hurt in work-related incidents and diseases.
Singapore now clocks in at 2.9 deaths for every 100,000 workers, and aims to bring down the rate to under 1.8 fatalities per 100,000 workers by 2018.
WSH Council chairman Lee Tzu Yang said the declaration represents a commitment by the stakeholders here - businesses, unions, professionals and the Government - to bring down the fatality rate.
'It does this in a very public and very open way. It represents our willingness to come out and say what we are going to do in the future,' he said on the sidelines of the conference.
Senior Minister S. Jayakumar, the guest of honour at the event, cited bizSafe as an effective programme that encourages small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to look out for and deal with workplace risks.
More than 150 larger firms, as bizSafe partners, have pledged to appoint only SMEs with bizSafe ratings for sub-contracting jobs, he said.
Professor Jayakumar also noted that the WSH Council had changed tack and was now focusing on achieving outcomes, rather than on prescribing set measures.
For example, the former Factories Act used to dictate that factory windows be 10 per cent of the floor area. Now, companies are free to decide how they want to achieve good ventilation, such as by adopting suction fans.
S'pore inks work safety declaration
By Maria Almenoar
Straits Times, Sep 16, 2010
THE Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council yesterday joined more than 200 organisations from around the world in signing a declaration to create safe and healthy work environments.
The organisations, consisting mainly of national-level agencies and large companies like Hyundai and LG, also committed to the understanding that preventing workplace accidents is of utmost importance.
The document, the Seoul Declaration For Safety And Health At Work, was inked at the inaugural Singapore Workplace Safety and Health Conference.
The event, which was held at Suntec Convention Centre, attracted more than 700 delegates who are here to discuss best practices on workplace safety.
Every year, about two million people around the world die or are hurt in work-related incidents and diseases.
Singapore now clocks in at 2.9 deaths for every 100,000 workers, and aims to bring down the rate to under 1.8 fatalities per 100,000 workers by 2018.
WSH Council chairman Lee Tzu Yang said the declaration represents a commitment by the stakeholders here - businesses, unions, professionals and the Government - to bring down the fatality rate.
'It does this in a very public and very open way. It represents our willingness to come out and say what we are going to do in the future,' he said on the sidelines of the conference.
Senior Minister S. Jayakumar, the guest of honour at the event, cited bizSafe as an effective programme that encourages small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to look out for and deal with workplace risks.
More than 150 larger firms, as bizSafe partners, have pledged to appoint only SMEs with bizSafe ratings for sub-contracting jobs, he said.
Professor Jayakumar also noted that the WSH Council had changed tack and was now focusing on achieving outcomes, rather than on prescribing set measures.
For example, the former Factories Act used to dictate that factory windows be 10 per cent of the floor area. Now, companies are free to decide how they want to achieve good ventilation, such as by adopting suction fans.
Excluded workers - Time for Government to think again
The following letter was published in the Straits Times forum on 16 September 2010.
Excluded workers
Straits Times, Sep 16, 2010
'Time for the Government to think again.'
DR VINCENT WIJEYSINGHA, Executive Director, Transient Workers Count Too: 'It has been stated by the Government in the past that it was difficult to bring some categories of workers, among them domestic workers, under the protection of the Employment Act. This view has not been revisited since the Act was passed in 1968, when there would have been few foreigners in the domestic work industry. Today, with a foreign domestic worker population of almost 200,000, it is time for the Government to think again.'
Excluded workers
Straits Times, Sep 16, 2010
'Time for the Government to think again.'
DR VINCENT WIJEYSINGHA, Executive Director, Transient Workers Count Too: 'It has been stated by the Government in the past that it was difficult to bring some categories of workers, among them domestic workers, under the protection of the Employment Act. This view has not been revisited since the Act was passed in 1968, when there would have been few foreigners in the domestic work industry. Today, with a foreign domestic worker population of almost 200,000, it is time for the Government to think again.'
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Foreigners still an issue for S'poreans: Poll
The following article was published in the Straits Times on 14 September 2010.
Foreigners still an issue for S'poreans: Poll
By Nur Dianah Suhaimi
Straits Times, 14 September 2010
Other worries are jobs, housing, living costs, overcrowding: Reach feedback
MANY Singaporeans continue to worry about foreigners and the competition they pose for jobs, a sentiment that came through loud and clear to the Government's feedback unit Reach.
Although they agree the Government is committed to the principle of 'citizens come first', they hope it can look at more measures to differentiate between citizens and foreigners, said Reach chairman Amy Khor in a statement yesterday.
These findings, from a telephone survey it carried out on issues which Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong covered in his National Day Rally speech last month, were similar to those Reach had recorded from its other feedback channels, like its online forums.
Another area which Singaporeans are similarly concerned about is housing, according to the phone survey of 902 citizens aged 18 and older which was done over eight days after the rally.
About six in 10 agreed or strongly agreed that the Government is committed to keeping Housing Board flats within the reach of Singaporeans.
This level of support is below that for the measures taken in education and to ease crowding and congestion on trains, both of which received support from almost eight in 10 Singaporeans.
On the issue of immigration, only 56 per cent agreed that the jobs of Singaporeans have been protected through government measures like higher foreign worker levies, which restrict the inflow of foreigners. The rest either did not agree or were non-committal.
As for whether Singapore should supplement the local talent pool with talent from around the world, about 58 per cent agreed. About 18 per cent disagreed and 24 per cent were non-committal.
This shows that a sizeable number remain anxious about competition from foreigners or 'are not convinced that such a policy will expand the pie for all and benefit them, despite repeated assurances from the Government', said Reach in its statement.
Reach also received feedback on the National Day Rally on its other channels.
Overall, the numbers this year were higher than in previous years, said Dr Khor, who is also Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment and Water Resources as well as Mayor of South West District.
About 1,700 comments were left on the Reach online portal, Twitter, Facebook and by SMS. This surpassed the figure last year by more than 50 per cent.
Similarly, the level of engagement on its online discussion forum, including the Conversations With MPs webpage, was higher than last year's.
Overall, the three hottest topics were immigration, housing and education. Many were concerned about the impact foreigners may have on jobs, housing, overcrowding and the cost of living.
Commenting on the overall feedback, Dr Khor said: 'The Government will have to continue to reach out to Singaporeans and reassure them that Singaporeans' interests will always come first, and that policies on immigration are made in the interest of Singaporeans.'
Foreigners still an issue for S'poreans: Poll
By Nur Dianah Suhaimi
Straits Times, 14 September 2010
Other worries are jobs, housing, living costs, overcrowding: Reach feedback
MANY Singaporeans continue to worry about foreigners and the competition they pose for jobs, a sentiment that came through loud and clear to the Government's feedback unit Reach.
Although they agree the Government is committed to the principle of 'citizens come first', they hope it can look at more measures to differentiate between citizens and foreigners, said Reach chairman Amy Khor in a statement yesterday.
These findings, from a telephone survey it carried out on issues which Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong covered in his National Day Rally speech last month, were similar to those Reach had recorded from its other feedback channels, like its online forums.
Another area which Singaporeans are similarly concerned about is housing, according to the phone survey of 902 citizens aged 18 and older which was done over eight days after the rally.
About six in 10 agreed or strongly agreed that the Government is committed to keeping Housing Board flats within the reach of Singaporeans.
This level of support is below that for the measures taken in education and to ease crowding and congestion on trains, both of which received support from almost eight in 10 Singaporeans.
On the issue of immigration, only 56 per cent agreed that the jobs of Singaporeans have been protected through government measures like higher foreign worker levies, which restrict the inflow of foreigners. The rest either did not agree or were non-committal.
As for whether Singapore should supplement the local talent pool with talent from around the world, about 58 per cent agreed. About 18 per cent disagreed and 24 per cent were non-committal.
This shows that a sizeable number remain anxious about competition from foreigners or 'are not convinced that such a policy will expand the pie for all and benefit them, despite repeated assurances from the Government', said Reach in its statement.
Reach also received feedback on the National Day Rally on its other channels.
Overall, the numbers this year were higher than in previous years, said Dr Khor, who is also Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment and Water Resources as well as Mayor of South West District.
About 1,700 comments were left on the Reach online portal, Twitter, Facebook and by SMS. This surpassed the figure last year by more than 50 per cent.
Similarly, the level of engagement on its online discussion forum, including the Conversations With MPs webpage, was higher than last year's.
Overall, the three hottest topics were immigration, housing and education. Many were concerned about the impact foreigners may have on jobs, housing, overcrowding and the cost of living.
Commenting on the overall feedback, Dr Khor said: 'The Government will have to continue to reach out to Singaporeans and reassure them that Singaporeans' interests will always come first, and that policies on immigration are made in the interest of Singaporeans.'
Most S'poreans back govt policies: poll
The following article was published in the Business Times on 14 Sep 2010.
Most S'poreans back govt policies: poll
Business Times Singapore, 14 September 2010
A SURVEY by Reach - Reaching Everyone for Active Citizenry at Home - shows that most Singaporeans agree with the principles behind government policies on the economy, education and even immigration.
But there remains a considerable number who are anxious about competition from foreigners, especially the perceived impact it has on jobs, housing, overcrowding and cost of living.
Locals would like the government to have stricter criteria to ensure that immigrants can truly contribute before they are admitted, and not use Singapore as a stepping stone to other destinations.
The survey was conducted to measure Singaporeans' reaction to the Prime Minister's National Day Rally speech.
On the economy front, about 90 per cent of respondents agree that workers have to upgrade their knowledge and skills to raise productivity and build value for their companies and that continued growth depended on maintaining competitiveness and instilling flexibility in the wage system.
As for immigration policies, about 80 per cent agree that new immigrants must make the effort to integrate. However, only 58 per cent feel that Singapore should supplement its local pool of people by staying open and recruiting talent from the world.
Likewise, only 56 per cent feel that Singaporean jobs have been protected through measures to restrict the inflow of foreign workers and higher foreign worker levies.
The modification of the Jurong East station, more train trips along the North-East Line and North-South Line during peak hours, and the extended rail network (Downtown Line, Thomson Line and Eastern Region Line) to help ease congestions were welcomed by about 80 per cent of respondents.
On housing issues, respondents felt that the new measures announced by the Ministry of National Development would help to curb the problem of speculation in the property market, though it remains to be seen if the affordability issue can in fact be addressed fully. Thus, unexpectedly, only 60 per cent believe that the government is committed to keeping HDB flats within reach of locals.
On the education front, 80 per cent agree that the Integrated Programme should be extended to seven more schools.
Most S'poreans back govt policies: poll
Business Times Singapore, 14 September 2010
A SURVEY by Reach - Reaching Everyone for Active Citizenry at Home - shows that most Singaporeans agree with the principles behind government policies on the economy, education and even immigration.
But there remains a considerable number who are anxious about competition from foreigners, especially the perceived impact it has on jobs, housing, overcrowding and cost of living.
Locals would like the government to have stricter criteria to ensure that immigrants can truly contribute before they are admitted, and not use Singapore as a stepping stone to other destinations.
The survey was conducted to measure Singaporeans' reaction to the Prime Minister's National Day Rally speech.
On the economy front, about 90 per cent of respondents agree that workers have to upgrade their knowledge and skills to raise productivity and build value for their companies and that continued growth depended on maintaining competitiveness and instilling flexibility in the wage system.
As for immigration policies, about 80 per cent agree that new immigrants must make the effort to integrate. However, only 58 per cent feel that Singapore should supplement its local pool of people by staying open and recruiting talent from the world.
Likewise, only 56 per cent feel that Singaporean jobs have been protected through measures to restrict the inflow of foreign workers and higher foreign worker levies.
The modification of the Jurong East station, more train trips along the North-East Line and North-South Line during peak hours, and the extended rail network (Downtown Line, Thomson Line and Eastern Region Line) to help ease congestions were welcomed by about 80 per cent of respondents.
On housing issues, respondents felt that the new measures announced by the Ministry of National Development would help to curb the problem of speculation in the property market, though it remains to be seen if the affordability issue can in fact be addressed fully. Thus, unexpectedly, only 60 per cent believe that the government is committed to keeping HDB flats within reach of locals.
On the education front, 80 per cent agree that the Integrated Programme should be extended to seven more schools.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Migrant workers one of us too
The following article was posted by The Online Citizen on September 13, 2010.
Migrant workers one of us too
Deborah Choo for The Online Citizen
he inaugural Migrantion Film Festival greeted an audience of over 200 on Saturday at The Substation. Many of those present were students. The festival is organized by Migrant Voices, a Community Arts Charity founded in 2006 that celebrates the artistic talents of migrant workers in Singapore.
I walked away from the Migrant Films Festival today with this message: Migrant workers are one of us too.
Representing the message best was the film by Jenny Chan, 29, titled “Confluence of Lands”. The film featured a minimart in Little India’s Desker Road owned by a Bangladeshi man who came to Singapore 20 years ago. Now, he offers a taste of home to his Bangladeshi customers by selling his country’s produce, offering much comfort to the Bangladeshi community here.
The contrast in the interaction between the Bangladeshi customers and the two Chinese foreign workers employed bythe minimart was most striking. . The film portrayed how two worlds, two cultures, two languages come together to form what is uniquely Singapore – a cosmopolitan city.
It is perhaps time we recognize that foreign workers are not second class citizens. One participant pointed out that his grandmother often warned him to stay away from foreign workers lest they do something harmful to him. This is sadly a stigma still highly prevalent in society here, one that has to be eradicated.
The film makers, who spent much time with the workers, find the workers extremely polite and are highly educated in their country. Unfortunately, in the case of Bangladesh, only two out of their wide pool of universities are recognized by Singapore. Hence many seek to fulfill their dreams here, in a foreign land, only to be cheated by unscrupulous agencies and abused by errant employers.
Another excellent film is Migrant Dreams. Made by independent film makers, Lynn Lee and James Leong for news network Al Jazeera, it documents the stories of foreign workers who paid exorbitant amounts to agents and employers in order to work in Singapore. Foreign workers were promised jobs at the construction and shipping industries but more often than not, these jobs never materialized. Soon, these workers find themselves homeless and stranded. Settlements with their employers can get ugly too. Migrant Dreams highlighted an example of such abuse. The employer, featured in the film, even threatened James who was filming him.
Another must-watch would have to be Vicknesh Varan’s Special Pass which documented the lives of three individual foreign workers, following them up till the time they left Singapore. Produced by Rupture, this film was the Winner of the Singapore Short Film Awards, Singapore, Best Documentary Award.
Elgin Ho’s productions such as the Foreign Dreams and Promises in December were extremely touching as well.
Jolovan Wham, Executive Director of HOME, a non-governmental organization dedicated to the welfare of migrant workers, said that while some improvements have been made by the government after the plight of the workers came to light through the media, much can still be done. He added that the Singapore government has to establish and solidify bilateral ties with the Bangladeshi government in order to clamp down on dubious agencies involved in scams to exploit the workers.
Mr Shaun Teo, 22, President of Migrant Voices, said that he hopes to bring these films to schools as well so that students can be educated on the migrant scene in Singapore. He also indicated that Migrant Voices is looking for volunteers and urges people to contribute in any way they can.
Migrant workers one of us too
Deborah Choo for The Online Citizen
he inaugural Migrantion Film Festival greeted an audience of over 200 on Saturday at The Substation. Many of those present were students. The festival is organized by Migrant Voices, a Community Arts Charity founded in 2006 that celebrates the artistic talents of migrant workers in Singapore.
I walked away from the Migrant Films Festival today with this message: Migrant workers are one of us too.
Representing the message best was the film by Jenny Chan, 29, titled “Confluence of Lands”. The film featured a minimart in Little India’s Desker Road owned by a Bangladeshi man who came to Singapore 20 years ago. Now, he offers a taste of home to his Bangladeshi customers by selling his country’s produce, offering much comfort to the Bangladeshi community here.
The contrast in the interaction between the Bangladeshi customers and the two Chinese foreign workers employed bythe minimart was most striking. . The film portrayed how two worlds, two cultures, two languages come together to form what is uniquely Singapore – a cosmopolitan city.
It is perhaps time we recognize that foreign workers are not second class citizens. One participant pointed out that his grandmother often warned him to stay away from foreign workers lest they do something harmful to him. This is sadly a stigma still highly prevalent in society here, one that has to be eradicated.
The film makers, who spent much time with the workers, find the workers extremely polite and are highly educated in their country. Unfortunately, in the case of Bangladesh, only two out of their wide pool of universities are recognized by Singapore. Hence many seek to fulfill their dreams here, in a foreign land, only to be cheated by unscrupulous agencies and abused by errant employers.
Another excellent film is Migrant Dreams. Made by independent film makers, Lynn Lee and James Leong for news network Al Jazeera, it documents the stories of foreign workers who paid exorbitant amounts to agents and employers in order to work in Singapore. Foreign workers were promised jobs at the construction and shipping industries but more often than not, these jobs never materialized. Soon, these workers find themselves homeless and stranded. Settlements with their employers can get ugly too. Migrant Dreams highlighted an example of such abuse. The employer, featured in the film, even threatened James who was filming him.
Another must-watch would have to be Vicknesh Varan’s Special Pass which documented the lives of three individual foreign workers, following them up till the time they left Singapore. Produced by Rupture, this film was the Winner of the Singapore Short Film Awards, Singapore, Best Documentary Award.
Elgin Ho’s productions such as the Foreign Dreams and Promises in December were extremely touching as well.
Jolovan Wham, Executive Director of HOME, a non-governmental organization dedicated to the welfare of migrant workers, said that while some improvements have been made by the government after the plight of the workers came to light through the media, much can still be done. He added that the Singapore government has to establish and solidify bilateral ties with the Bangladeshi government in order to clamp down on dubious agencies involved in scams to exploit the workers.
Mr Shaun Teo, 22, President of Migrant Voices, said that he hopes to bring these films to schools as well so that students can be educated on the migrant scene in Singapore. He also indicated that Migrant Voices is looking for volunteers and urges people to contribute in any way they can.
Maids make good living from illegal part-time work
The following article was published in the Straits Times on 13 September 2010.
Maids make good living from illegal part-time work
By Liew Hanqing & Kimberly Spykerman
Straits Times, Sep 13, 2010
ST photo illustration
WHILE most of her compatriots make about $400 a month as maids, Mary, a Filipina in her 30s, boasts a pay packet of up to $3,000.
Instead of working full-time for just one employer, she makes a good living working illegally as a part-time maid in Singapore.
Mary, who has been working as a part-time maid here for the past eight years, has an ongoing arrangement with a friend, a Singapore permanent resident (PR).
Her friend is her registered 'employer' on paper, but allows her to work on a freelance basis for an unlimited number of households, for up to 10 hours a day at an hourly rate of $10.
'I have six siblings and they rely on me for financial help,' said Mary, whose husband and two-year-old son live in the Philippines.
'I know it's risky but it is the only way I can make enough to help them.'
Mary cleans her registered employer's house for free and pays her own maid levy of $265 a month, in return for being allowed to work part-time while staying in Singapore on a work permit.
She rents a room in her 'employer's' house for $250 a month.
She said: 'I'm lucky to have this arrangement - other maids usually have to pay their 'employers' a one-off fee of $3,000 in addition to their monthly levy, in return for the employers letting them work under their name.'
A spokesman for the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said employers who allow their maids to work for others are guilty of abetting their illegal employment and providing false information to the Controller of Work Passes under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.
Those who illegally employ or abet the illegal employment of foreigners can be fined up to $15,000 and/or jailed for up to 12 months.
On top of that, for providing false information to the Controller of Work Passes, one can be punished with a fine of up to $15,000 and/or a jail term of up to 12 months.
The MOM spokesman added that maids who moonlight can be fined up to $5,000 and/or jailed for up to 12 months.
Last year, the MOM fined 95 employers between $1,500 and $18,000 for illegally employing or deploying their maids. This was a drop from the figure in 2008, when 149 were taken to task and two were jailed.
The MOM also came down hard on maids last year, taking three of them to court, slapping one with a composition fine, and issuing warning letters to 12 for moonlighting. Maids also face the possibility of being barred from working in Singapore, but this is determined on a case-by-case basis.
In 2008, 10 maids were issued warning letters for moonlighting.
Despite the stiff penalties, it is still relatively easy to find maids willing to work illegally on a freelance basis.
The Straits Times visited 42 maid agencies, and found that even though none officially offered part-time maids, employees at seven agencies were able to provide referrals to either Filipino or Indonesian maids working part-time illegally.
Some provided the mobile phone numbers of the maids, while others said they would get the maids to call the prospective employer.
The Straits Times contacted four such maids, all of whom quoted an hourly rate of between $10 and $12 for housekeeping services.
One maid, who called back following an inquiry at one agency, said she was available for freelance work on weekdays. Asked if she was a Singapore citizen or PR, the maid said she was neither but that she had been working as a part-time maid here for 16 years. She declined to say more.
Another, also a recommendation from an agency, said she was planning to make the transition to being a full-time freelancer from next month as the pay was more attractive. She was also bored with working for the same employer for 17 years, she added.
She told The Straits Times that she already had clients lined up, most of whom were recommendations from her current employer, as well as other friends.
'I'm going to try it out for one year. As long as I make sure I have a lot of jobs, I should be able to survive.'
A third said she often sought part-time work whenever her Caucasian employer was overseas.
Ms Shirley Ng, president of the Association of Employment Agencies (Singapore), said she believed maid agencies were generally not involved or aware of the illegal arrangements between maids and employers.
She said: 'Most maid agency licensees would dread to be a partner in crime to such illegal activities, as this is a serious offence and will lead to revocation of their employment agency licences.'
She added that most employers who hire a part-time maid list privacy as their main reason for not wanting a full-time maid in the house.
Some may also need temporary help when their maids go on home leave, when their elderly parents fall ill or when they need to travel for overseas work for short periods, Ms Ng said.
'Local part-time helpers may not be so readily available at short notice,' she said.
She suggested a possible middle ground: that the MOM consider allowing employment agencies to sponsor a few foreign domestic workers (FDWs) in their employ to meet the demand for part-time help.
'This may reduce the incidence of FDWs performing such tasks illegally,' she said.
Moonlighting maids, errant employers
~ In March, an Indonesian maid was fined $3,000 for moonlighting.
Instead of working for her official employer, she provided domestic help at five other residences between December 2008 and August last year as a part-time maid.
As she did not have the means to pay the fine, she was jailed for three weeks.
~ Last October, two Singaporean women were both fined a total of $16,850 for their involvement in the illegal employment of a foreign domestic worker.
Investigations revealed that one of the women had wanted to hire a second domestic worker at her residence, but found she was not eligible to apply for one.
She then approached the second woman to use her name to apply for a work permit for the domestic worker. Thus, instead of working for her official employer, the maid worked for the other woman.
Maids make good living from illegal part-time work
By Liew Hanqing & Kimberly Spykerman
Straits Times, Sep 13, 2010
ST photo illustrationWHILE most of her compatriots make about $400 a month as maids, Mary, a Filipina in her 30s, boasts a pay packet of up to $3,000.
Instead of working full-time for just one employer, she makes a good living working illegally as a part-time maid in Singapore.
Mary, who has been working as a part-time maid here for the past eight years, has an ongoing arrangement with a friend, a Singapore permanent resident (PR).
Her friend is her registered 'employer' on paper, but allows her to work on a freelance basis for an unlimited number of households, for up to 10 hours a day at an hourly rate of $10.
'I have six siblings and they rely on me for financial help,' said Mary, whose husband and two-year-old son live in the Philippines.
'I know it's risky but it is the only way I can make enough to help them.'
Mary cleans her registered employer's house for free and pays her own maid levy of $265 a month, in return for being allowed to work part-time while staying in Singapore on a work permit.
She rents a room in her 'employer's' house for $250 a month.
She said: 'I'm lucky to have this arrangement - other maids usually have to pay their 'employers' a one-off fee of $3,000 in addition to their monthly levy, in return for the employers letting them work under their name.'
A spokesman for the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said employers who allow their maids to work for others are guilty of abetting their illegal employment and providing false information to the Controller of Work Passes under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.
Those who illegally employ or abet the illegal employment of foreigners can be fined up to $15,000 and/or jailed for up to 12 months.
On top of that, for providing false information to the Controller of Work Passes, one can be punished with a fine of up to $15,000 and/or a jail term of up to 12 months.
The MOM spokesman added that maids who moonlight can be fined up to $5,000 and/or jailed for up to 12 months.
Last year, the MOM fined 95 employers between $1,500 and $18,000 for illegally employing or deploying their maids. This was a drop from the figure in 2008, when 149 were taken to task and two were jailed.
The MOM also came down hard on maids last year, taking three of them to court, slapping one with a composition fine, and issuing warning letters to 12 for moonlighting. Maids also face the possibility of being barred from working in Singapore, but this is determined on a case-by-case basis.
In 2008, 10 maids were issued warning letters for moonlighting.
Despite the stiff penalties, it is still relatively easy to find maids willing to work illegally on a freelance basis.
The Straits Times visited 42 maid agencies, and found that even though none officially offered part-time maids, employees at seven agencies were able to provide referrals to either Filipino or Indonesian maids working part-time illegally.
Some provided the mobile phone numbers of the maids, while others said they would get the maids to call the prospective employer.
The Straits Times contacted four such maids, all of whom quoted an hourly rate of between $10 and $12 for housekeeping services.
One maid, who called back following an inquiry at one agency, said she was available for freelance work on weekdays. Asked if she was a Singapore citizen or PR, the maid said she was neither but that she had been working as a part-time maid here for 16 years. She declined to say more.
Another, also a recommendation from an agency, said she was planning to make the transition to being a full-time freelancer from next month as the pay was more attractive. She was also bored with working for the same employer for 17 years, she added.
She told The Straits Times that she already had clients lined up, most of whom were recommendations from her current employer, as well as other friends.
'I'm going to try it out for one year. As long as I make sure I have a lot of jobs, I should be able to survive.'
A third said she often sought part-time work whenever her Caucasian employer was overseas.
Ms Shirley Ng, president of the Association of Employment Agencies (Singapore), said she believed maid agencies were generally not involved or aware of the illegal arrangements between maids and employers.
She said: 'Most maid agency licensees would dread to be a partner in crime to such illegal activities, as this is a serious offence and will lead to revocation of their employment agency licences.'
She added that most employers who hire a part-time maid list privacy as their main reason for not wanting a full-time maid in the house.
Some may also need temporary help when their maids go on home leave, when their elderly parents fall ill or when they need to travel for overseas work for short periods, Ms Ng said.
'Local part-time helpers may not be so readily available at short notice,' she said.
She suggested a possible middle ground: that the MOM consider allowing employment agencies to sponsor a few foreign domestic workers (FDWs) in their employ to meet the demand for part-time help.
'This may reduce the incidence of FDWs performing such tasks illegally,' she said.
Moonlighting maids, errant employers
~ In March, an Indonesian maid was fined $3,000 for moonlighting.
Instead of working for her official employer, she provided domestic help at five other residences between December 2008 and August last year as a part-time maid.
As she did not have the means to pay the fine, she was jailed for three weeks.
~ Last October, two Singaporean women were both fined a total of $16,850 for their involvement in the illegal employment of a foreign domestic worker.
Investigations revealed that one of the women had wanted to hire a second domestic worker at her residence, but found she was not eligible to apply for one.
She then approached the second woman to use her name to apply for a work permit for the domestic worker. Thus, instead of working for her official employer, the maid worked for the other woman.
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