Comments on: MOM advises Employers and Workers on Better Management of Foreign Worker Disputes

By: gemami

gemami — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 04:39:16 +0000

Hi #7) Femacca,

It is $5000 for each worker.
You are right that the penalty is still grossly inadequate to meet the crime.
MOM must ensure that every cent of the $9000 is returned to them on top of all these penalties, plus interests, plus loss of earning for not keeping to the contractual agreement of assured employment.

The $5000 penalty is not going to go to the foreign worker for sure. In this regard, we must not be seen to make money out of their plight, while not solving their situation.

This is making the matter even worse than it already is.

By: Femacca

Femacca — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 04:05:46 +0000

{{ Pt. 12 Errant employers can be charged and fined up to a maximum of $5,000 with respect to inadequate upkeep and maintenance of each foreign worker. }}

What’s a mere $5000 maximum fine compared to the wages and work they have sponged off the hundreds of workers? This deterrent is grossly inadequate. More appropriate will be a percentage of whatever the company has failed to give to workers as promised. It would also force them to be stricter with their selection of sub-cons.

By: Hahaha

Hahaha — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:37:15 +0000

Thanks to TOC, Yawning Bread, TWC2 and all other good Samaritans of Singapore for making the issue visible and thus forcing the MOM civil servants out from their “its not my responsibility” mentality. I hope TOC will continue to monitor this matter. Call me cynical but sometimes officials write beautiful press release to diffuse the heat but the follow-through is wanting. E.g. For those workers already deported, how are the authorities ensuring that they get their payment?

I hope this is the beginning of a potential ombudsman in Singapore.

By: lobo76

lobo76 — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:29:09 +0000

what about the agency? Despite being paid thousands by the workers, they no need to do anything?

By: Gilbert Goh

Gilbert Goh — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 04:49:57 +0000

High time that the govt has decided to take action after at least two years of such adverse news on the labour situation.

Good job by TOC to report on such news on the FWs.

Must be hard work by all in TOC.

Keep up the good work!

By: pigscanfly

pigscanfly — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 02:31:28 +0000

see what unity can do for you – unity among the workers and press.

any wonder why unions are banned in spore. btw NTUC doesn’t count, it’s a business conglomerate.

By: gemami

gemami — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 02:17:49 +0000

Ref: Pt. 14 …..

This is the clearest stand yet by MOM that reflects the protection of employers over employees. I cannot imagine the worker not having cash flow problem when not paid for months. The least, MOM could have done was to initiate a percentage payment of total sum owed first, so that it can help to tide the worker over until a full resolution is effected. I cannot imagine what these workers would have lived on if not for the behind-the-scene work of kind hearted Singaporeans.

Pt. 12 Errant employers can be charged and fined up to a maximum of $5,000 with respect to inadequate upkeep and maintenance of each foreign worker.

Hope MOM’s prosecution of the employers takes into account that Tipper was reported to be a recalcitrant offender in this regard and mete out the heaviest punishment possible, downtime notwithstanding. It really warrants such a a punishment and it is fully deserved.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 23:35:58 +0000

yes. looks like they have been forced by the negative international publicity caused by the foreign workers’ many mass protests at the MOM to climb down from their roof-tops to take some action – instead of insisting it is between the workers and employers and nothing to do with them.