Comments on: Worker assaulted by employer outside MOM building, and possibly to be repatriated

By: Journalist assaulted for work on foreign workers | The Online Citizen

Journalist assaulted for work on foreign workers | The Online Citizen — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:45:55 +0000

[...] a worker had had his skull cracked open. In another, a worker lost his hearing in one ear. (Read it here and here.) No one was prosecuted in both [...]

By: Global Voices Online » Bangladesh: Justice Denied

Global Voices Online » Bangladesh: Justice Denied — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 05:30:58 +0000

[...] Online Citizen, a citizen media outlet of Singapore reports on a Bangladeshi labor, who was physically abused repeatedly by his Singaporean employer and denied 5 months salary. He hold on to Singapore’s justice system, [...]

By: Goodbye, Abu Sama | The Online Citizen

Goodbye, Abu Sama | The Online Citizen — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 15:13:05 +0000

[...] worker, Abu Sama, in May this year. We gave him the name of “Asmad Kadir” in that report. See here for the story. Abu Sama left for his home in Bangladesh last Friday. The following is an update on [...]

By: Jackson Tan

Jackson Tan — Mon, 18 May 2009 07:33:16 +0000

Thanks TOC for the report of the incident, which would’ve otherwise gone unnoticed by many Singaporeans.

I hope further updates will be posted (and that they will be more positive for Asmad).

By: loop

loop — Mon, 18 May 2009 07:19:45 +0000

MOM cannot even defend local workers, u expect them to help foreign workers?!

By: Angela

Angela — Mon, 18 May 2009 02:47:48 +0000

Hi BD,

Thanks for the clarification. The thing is, doesn’t it cost money to bring a case to the subordinate courts? $50 or so? Why should one have to put up money if you’re the aggrieved party?!

By: patriot

patriot — Sun, 17 May 2009 16:40:01 +0000

Singapore is World renown for safety and security as it has a First Class System that include the Rule of Law and Order.

No local nor foreigner needs to worry as justice will be serve to all in this country, this claim is not only made by locals, i have seen and heard tourists saying the same thing on televisions, in newspapers and in persons from friends, relatives and neighbours.

Everyone in this country must have faith and trust; no injustice will be left unchecked.

patriot

By: Dr Huang

Dr Huang — Sun, 17 May 2009 16:22:24 +0000

Hi TOC,
Thanks for highlighting injustice suffered by the most vulnerable in our city-state.
These hooligans who are mascarading as employers must be exposed and brought to justice.
Continue to support these victims no matter if they be locals or foreigners.
We should appreciate those foreigners who are mainly doing the work that Singaporeans are not wiling to do.
Best wishes

By: BD

BD — Sun, 17 May 2009 10:36:37 +0000

A non-seizable offence is still a criminal offence. Althought the accused does not have to be arrested, it is still up to the judgement of the police force whether to arrest the accused. An arrest can be made if their is reason to believe a seizable offence had occured (in this case attempted kidnapping) or if the accused is a potential flight risk.

In the case of a non-seizable offence, the complainant has to make a magistrate’s complaint in the subordinate courts after which the accused will be summoned to court.

Even if the accused was arrested for a seizable offence, he would be released on bail/bond so the difference is just a few days in jail at most.

By: Angela

Angela — Sun, 17 May 2009 08:16:33 +0000

mad93 : To “sue” means to raise a civil suit against the employer. There is no way that Asmad Kadir has the money to do that. Assault should carry a criminal charge – right? Shouldn’t it??! Or else, what this means is that I can assault you and there is NOTHING you can do about it unless you pay a lawyer to file a suit against the guy.

That’s $100 for a letter of demand (for compensation? to inform the other party?) and a $3,000 deposit to the law firm for them to file a writ. Average prices.

By: Angela

Angela — Sun, 17 May 2009 08:08:04 +0000

This is really disturbing. Not so much that his employer assaulted him – that is horrible but there are always sick people out there – but that MOM seems to be shirking its duty.

Workers who earn less than a certain amount per month – I think it’s $2000 – can go to the MOM for salary disputes. It appears that the MOM arranged a mediation session, but what is the use if it doesn’t follow up? Or worse…don’t tell me that they don’t have the ability to follow up, to punish the employer for not abiding by the mediation agreement?

It also seem WEIRD that the police force can’t arrest someone for assault. Assault is a “non-seizable” offence? What does that mean? That the police can do nothing if someone assaults you? That doesn’t make sense.

The whole thing doesn’t make sense.

By: mad93

mad93 — Sun, 17 May 2009 03:21:31 +0000

for god sake, just sue the damn inhuman boss. It was sad that Asmad Kadir need that money urgently for his survival for the family. And his boss show no mercy to him, this kind of people should be jailed. So reckless and pathetic.

By: Thinktok

Thinktok — Sat, 16 May 2009 11:13:43 +0000

Thank you TOC for the speed of the change. I think the tile is more accurate now.

Foreign workers once in Singapore should be protected. The employer in this case, if what transpired is true, is definitely unfair and bringing a bad name to Singapore. We are a civilised nation. we do not like others to treat our guest workers badly.

To me part of the problem is caused by the Govt. We are hiring too many foreign workers esp in the parks and recreation department. Foreign workers are tending our gardens, watering our plants and pruning them to perfection. I see them wasting precious ever so often that I told myself that I have to get used to it. Is there really a need to go for such high standard??

In a park, surely leaves from the trees will fall. We the public need to lower our expectations too. If every small thing we complain, then the easiest way is to get foreign workers to clean it up.

Foreign workers are here for the money. It is only fair, but they must be fair to us too. I see one worker using the same mob for the toilet bowls and then the floor then the wall. He is spreading germs all over the place. He may not know or he simply doesn’t care.

Every monday morning along the beach there are tons of rubbish. I wonder who threw them. I have a notion it is the foreign workers so that their job is secured. If I am wrong and it is the locals who did it then we have a bigger problem.

Or maybe both!

Regards

By: BD

BD — Sat, 16 May 2009 10:23:15 +0000

Wow, the employers are a bunch of thugs. The police should investigate the company records and the personal connections of the employers. I will not be shocked if there is significant accounting fraud, corruption or malpractice on the company’s part. Additionally I would not be surprised if the employers have some underworld connections. Who else would even consider threatening, assaulting and attempting to kidnap an employee in the vicinity of a government building?

By: Spirit-centred

Spirit-centred — Sat, 16 May 2009 05:12:00 +0000

This should be treated as a case of occupational terrorism, the ISA law should be activated to put the suspected employer terrorist into Whitley Camp.

By: RW

RW — Sat, 16 May 2009 05:10:12 +0000

i see that TOC has taken the feedback and changed the title to better reflect the situation. A gd example of how the bloggersphere can be mature and correct itself! :)

By: thinktok

thinktok — Sat, 16 May 2009 02:56:43 +0000

Yes indeed I do find the caption can mislead. If a worker is lured to MOM it must be by MOM or else what is the use of using MOM. Also only MOM can repatriate so again it is a MOM design. Similarly the assault can be arranged by MOM.

This is all very dangerous innuendo. Not saying but say a lot.

Do be careful.

By: TrueBlood Singapore

TrueBlood Singapore — Sat, 16 May 2009 00:30:52 +0000

Their are few type of Foreign Talents

Work Permit $500 – Balag Use and Depose (Construction Marine)
S – Pass $1800 – Semi Professional to be used and dispose later
E – Pass >$2500 – Full pledge Professional who are more cunning.
If they reach Manager level,
Indian will used Indians. (Major Bank like DBS)
Malaysia will used Malaysian, (lot of Manufacturing Comps)
Philphin0 will used Philiphino (Stats ChipPac etc)
Chinese will used Chinese ( Taiwanese UMC etc)

Singaporean bettrer go PAP comp else you are competiting will these type of ppl

By: theonlinehero

theonlinehero — Fri, 15 May 2009 18:33:13 +0000

We should have a law that requires all employers to inform MOM that they are withholding employees’ salaries within a grace period of 5 weeks. Failure to adhere to this law will result in a penalty fine of twice as much as the salary held or $2000 if the former is less than $2000.

By: theonlinecitizen

theonlinecitizen — Fri, 15 May 2009 17:30:30 +0000

RW,

There’s no intention to mislead with the title.

Asmad’s employer has not kept to the agreement of paying him his salary.