I still believed that the problem lies between the MOM and the local agents. MOM should have been able to anticipate the reduction in foreign workers months before the slump. There should be more communication between MOM and the agents. It is irresponsible to 21days extended pass and leave it to the workers to find new jobs.

I truly hope that the relevant authorities can help more.

Disgusted.

This is an old law. When it was passed and that was a long time ago there were few or no crocodiles to eat up the foreign workers.

And I wonder if there had been any amendments to this act.

From then till now none of the people in MOM, the Perm Sacks and pap felt sorry and compasionate to the foreign workers. Just bo chap.

Just collect the levy. Bo chap about the country’s reputation. Bo chap the CIA’s report. Just obsessed with money collection – money and money.

One way to solve this problem is to have laws that severely punish (incl caning) the rotten middlemen and employers.

Caning might do the trick. After all the pap is so fond of this. Now is the time for you pap to show that you mean what you say and that you do not just all talk and no do and that you are a paper tiger. You are already a paper tiger.

Why no introduction of amendments to solve this problem? You just want to collect more money?

When the people of Singapore including the POLICE are over controlled, they don’t know how to act without proper instructions. When the PAP said, ‘Don’t trust the Opposition parties’ 66% of the population acted accordingly. That is why they could win 98% of the seats while the opposition parties got only 2 seats with 33% of the votes.

Shipyards must be mad to take in these workers. Why should they? The going rate for a Bangladeshi worker from home country to work in a shipyard here is from $6000 to 8000. That is to say the worker has to pay this amount up front to “middlemen with connections to top people in the shipyards” to land the job. Sometimes larger part of the money is collected at home country with the balance to be deducted from the worker’s salary here. Taking the mean figure of $7,000 per worker, the amount collected from 468 workers will be a staggering loot of $3,276,000 to share among these crocodiles. This is the ground reality.

It could be that the CEO’s of these shipyards may not know what is being done by their human resource people behind their back. MOM should write to them direct to provide the workers the necessary training with funding from the Ministry. If need be the training cost can be deducted from the worker’s salary subsequently. The worker will only be too glad to accept this term, I am sure.

MOM should also look into doing some sting operations to wipe out these disgraceful rackets which pauperises the helpless workers and bring very bad name to Singapore

As far as I know, recall the orchard road area camera shops which got blacklisted for cheating tourists, i heard some of them register new companies.

in pro business country, would this be possible?

For those who had been in this workers dorm business, they will get to hear this. Man dressed with thick gold bangers and gold rolex watch will tell you – i can get MOM permit easily to run a dormitory – i have connection inside MOM. Dont care about URA or other department – all we need is MOM to agree.

Is there a link for Gates or Venture to have seek that sort of avenue to illegally run the 468 TIA as dormitory in the first place. The man who run Gates or Venture must be brought in by the Police force for questioning. Why is there a disquiet on what action taken by the POLICE to kill such illegal activities? Why are the POLICE weak in this area. WHY are there still such gold rolex man purveying such illegal activities. My theory to TOC is becos the POLICE had not taken a strong-arm action… Everybody is into making monies… it such a good time.. My personal opinion is TOC can do better to nick the bud of the problems .. rally for strong POLICE action against such opportunitist.. hunt down inside link with MOM which gives these Rolex man such boldness in carrying out such illegal business ; hunt down Owners like the one in 468 TIA who willing allow prostiution of his or her premises for such illegal purposes.

TOC – i had seen enough of such premises, some are run by creditable construction firms. While living condition needs to be improved.. dont be misled the hunt should be against the illegal operators who are opportunist out to make quick buck at the expense of these guys who need a premises.

WHERE is the POLICE stand on this case????

Guess it is easier for MOM and all Perm Sacks to plan for long holidays than clearing up this shit. MOM makes more money by bringing in more workers and sendig these current workers off.

Churning – like all snake oil salesmen, MOM Worse than Gangsters, Take foreign worker levy (protection money) and fail to protect them.

second, the origin of the country, the agent got problem.

Third, the employer got problem.

Fourth, the local agent got problem.

If they are forced to one corner, cirme rate will definitely increase.

Thanks to Andrew for exposing what the main stream media and the civil servants and politicians try very hard to hide from us.

Pressure must be applied for changes to take place – no more unnecessary human suffering in the name of cost cutting!

Bonded labour today = slaves of yester-years.