Comments on: Violation of foreign workers’ rights – in Singapore and Japan http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/01/violation-of-foreign-workers-rights-%e2%80%93-in-singapore-and-japan/ a community of Singaporeans Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:51:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: samuel welsh http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/01/violation-of-foreign-workers-rights-%e2%80%93-in-singapore-and-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-162812 samuel welsh Wed, 22 Sep 2010 09:15:31 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=19008#comment-162812 sick and inhuman sick and inhuman

]]> By: Daniel http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/01/violation-of-foreign-workers-rights-%e2%80%93-in-singapore-and-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-133938 Daniel Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:58:42 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=19008#comment-133938 I cannot say anything to the situation in Singapore, but the part about Japanese immigration policies in this article is very good and concise. Especially the issue of strong workers rights on the one hand and the exclusion of foreign workers from the status of work in case of trainees of Japan's so-called "Industrial Training and technical Internship Program". However, even though workers rights are strong in Japan, Japanese nationals rarely know their rights or don't know how to use them, so they too are often exploited and bullied by their companies. This is a problem of general education I think. By the way, the  foreign trainee issue has also been portrait in the documentary "Sour Strawberries - Japan's hidden »guest workers«" or 「サワー・ストロベリーズ：知られざる日本の外国人労働者」, which also features parts and background information to the repatriation scene above. A trailer can be viewed here: http://www.cinemabstruso.de/strawberries/main.html I cannot say anything to the situation in Singapore, but the part about Japanese immigration policies in this article is very good and concise. Especially the issue of strong workers rights on the one hand and the exclusion of foreign workers from the status of work in case of trainees of Japan’s so-called “Industrial Training and technical Internship Program”. However, even though workers rights are strong in Japan, Japanese nationals rarely know their rights or don’t know how to use them, so they too are often exploited and bullied by their companies. This is a problem of general education I think. By the way, the  foreign trainee issue has also been portrait in the documentary “Sour Strawberries – Japan’s hidden »guest workers«” or 「サワー・ストロベリーズ：知られざる日本の外国人労働者」, which also features parts and background information to the repatriation scene above. A trailer can be viewed here: http://www.cinemabstruso.de/strawberries/main.html

]]> By: Wakka http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/01/violation-of-foreign-workers-rights-%e2%80%93-in-singapore-and-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-130953 Wakka Sun, 21 Feb 2010 17:10:52 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=19008#comment-130953 @A&E we have laws but..... read the article in this link. http://yawningbread.org/arch_2008/yax-962.htm @A&E
we have laws but….. read the article in this link.
http://yawningbread.org/arch_2008/yax-962.htm

]]> By: Shelley Thio http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/01/violation-of-foreign-workers-rights-%e2%80%93-in-singapore-and-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-128099 Shelley Thio Wed, 03 Feb 2010 02:46:17 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=19008#comment-128099 @ Catherine Tan - "In many (possibly majority) of the cases, migrant workers are not exploited – it is a matter of willing buyer/willing seller. The worker wants to get money for his work, and the salary paid here could be high in terms of purchasing power in their own country, and they could be willing to work 7 days or without OT for this salary. " The repayment of their huge placement fees that migrant workers have to pay to give them the opportunity to work in Singapore and MOM's work pass policies continue to bind migrant workers to their employers and their "willingness" to work 7 days a week and those long hours without OT. Furthermore, migrant workers come to Singapore with promises of better pay and conditions which do not materialise. Migrant workers are exploited. @ Catherine Tan – “In many (possibly majority) of the cases, migrant workers are not exploited – it is a matter of willing buyer/willing seller. The worker wants to get money for his work, and the salary paid here could be high in terms of purchasing power in their own country, and they could be willing to work 7 days or without OT for this salary. ”

The repayment of their huge placement fees that migrant workers have to pay to give them the opportunity to work in Singapore and MOM’s work pass policies continue to bind migrant workers to their employers and their “willingness” to work 7 days a week and those long hours without OT. Furthermore, migrant workers come to Singapore with promises of better pay and conditions which do not materialise. Migrant workers are exploited.

]]> By: The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Weekly Roundup: Week 04 http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/01/violation-of-foreign-workers-rights-%e2%80%93-in-singapore-and-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-127433 The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Weekly Roundup: Week 04 Sat, 23 Jan 2010 03:58:40 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=19008#comment-127433 [...] in a Strange Land - TOC: Violation of foreign workers’ rights – in Singapore and Japan - Diary of A Singaporean Mind: PAP’s little economic trick unravels.. [Recommended] - Tan Kin [...] [...] in a Strange Land – TOC: Violation of foreign workers’ rights – in Singapore and Japan – Diary of A Singaporean Mind: PAP’s little economic trick unravels.. [Recommended] – Tan Kin [...]

]]> By: The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Daily SG: 18 Jan 2010 http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/01/violation-of-foreign-workers-rights-%e2%80%93-in-singapore-and-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-127296 The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Daily SG: 18 Jan 2010 Mon, 18 Jan 2010 03:08:18 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=19008#comment-127296 [...] in a Strange Land - TOC: Violation of foreign workers’ rights – in Singapore and Japan - Diary of A Singaporean Mind: PAP’s little economic trick unravels.. - Tan Kin Lian’s [...] [...] in a Strange Land – TOC: Violation of foreign workers’ rights – in Singapore and Japan – Diary of A Singaporean Mind: PAP’s little economic trick unravels.. – Tan Kin Lian’s [...]

]]> By: Hong Gao Liang http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/01/violation-of-foreign-workers-rights-%e2%80%93-in-singapore-and-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-127093 Hong Gao Liang Sat, 16 Jan 2010 12:57:50 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=19008#comment-127093 Of course singaporeans can do these kinds of non-rocket science jobs. I think the difference is the cost. The preference is clear - foreigners. Hip hip hooray! Lets retire soon. tomolo going mc donalds u know? Of course singaporeans can do these kinds of non-rocket science jobs.
I think the difference is the cost.
The preference is clear – foreigners.

Hip hip hooray!

Lets retire soon.

tomolo going mc donalds u know?

]]> By: Soo Kam Chia aka Looonged Bai Bai http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/01/violation-of-foreign-workers-rights-%e2%80%93-in-singapore-and-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-127018 Soo Kam Chia aka Looonged Bai Bai Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:36:11 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=19008#comment-127018 check out TR's latest article on Singapore Courts mass recruiting in JB. I suspect they will excuse with "cannot find talents able to do retail". one of the jobs they hiring people to fill vacancies: Cashier. Eg. customer queue up pay and pay the bills. cashier talent must know how to collect money and use the barcode reader. Singaporeans, dont we feel so siah suay like that lim kopi anyhow say many zeroes that we cannot do a cashier job? ok we continue to accept. as always. check out TR’s latest article on Singapore Courts mass recruiting in JB.
I suspect they will excuse with “cannot find talents able to do retail”.

one of the jobs they hiring people to fill vacancies:

Cashier.

Eg. customer queue up pay and pay the bills.
cashier talent must know how to collect money and use the barcode reader.

Singaporeans, dont we feel so siah suay like that lim kopi anyhow say many zeroes that we cannot do a cashier job?

ok we continue to accept. as always.

]]> By: Catherine Tan http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/01/violation-of-foreign-workers-rights-%e2%80%93-in-singapore-and-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-127002 Catherine Tan Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:44:51 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=19008#comment-127002 The claim that "Singapore’s labour policy on the other hand, emphasises equal treatment for both local and foreign workers" is not very accurate. Very basic things like CPF, Gov't-paid Maternity leave, Workfare, all distinguish between locals and foreigners. Saying that " we are sympathetic to the concerns of businesses here which depend on the exploitation of migrant labour for the prosperity of the nation as a whole" is a bit of a stretch. In many (possibly majority) of the cases, migrant workers are not exploited - it is a matter of willing buyer/willing seller. The worker wants to get money for his work, and the salary paid here could be high in terms of purchasing power in their own country, and they could be willing to work 7 days or without OT for this salary. While there may be cases of exploitation and there are errant employers, saying that all businesses are exploiting is an unfair generalisation. The claim that “Singapore’s labour policy on the other hand, emphasises equal treatment for both local and foreign workers” is not very accurate. Very basic things like CPF, Gov’t-paid Maternity leave, Workfare, all distinguish between locals and foreigners.

Saying that ” we are sympathetic to the concerns of businesses here which depend on the exploitation of migrant labour for the prosperity of the nation as a whole” is a bit of a stretch. In many (possibly majority) of the cases, migrant workers are not exploited – it is a matter of willing buyer/willing seller. The worker wants to get money for his work, and the salary paid here could be high in terms of purchasing power in their own country, and they could be willing to work 7 days or without OT for this salary. While there may be cases of exploitation and there are errant employers, saying that all businesses are exploiting is an unfair generalisation.

]]> By: A&E http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/01/violation-of-foreign-workers-rights-%e2%80%93-in-singapore-and-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-126992 A&E Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:48:37 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=19008#comment-126992 And the thrust of this article is? Japan's undocumented / deceptively documented workers led to lots of problems? Singapore's unabashed policy is therefore different from Japan's, but also has led to the same problems? Japan has no legal protection for these workers and therefore they are exploited, Singapore does, but exploitation still exists? Exploitation happens in Japan because it is not outlawed, but in Singapore exploitation in the form of low pay, poor living conditions and long hours are legal? Just as we pay lots of money to people to prevent corruption, we should define employment laws in such a way that most forms of harsh employment practices are not exploitative? What exactly is this article trying to say? And the thrust of this article is?

Japan’s undocumented / deceptively documented workers led to lots of problems? Singapore’s unabashed policy is therefore different from Japan’s, but also has led to the same problems?

Japan has no legal protection for these workers and therefore they are exploited, Singapore does, but exploitation still exists?

Exploitation happens in Japan because it is not outlawed, but in Singapore exploitation in the form of low pay, poor living conditions and long hours are legal?

Just as we pay lots of money to people to prevent corruption, we should define employment laws in such a way that most forms of harsh employment practices are not exploitative?

What exactly is this article trying to say?

]]> By: tiredman http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/01/violation-of-foreign-workers-rights-%e2%80%93-in-singapore-and-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-126975 tiredman Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:41:25 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=19008#comment-126975 I do not believe a single word said by him. I do not believe a single word said by him.

]]> By: andrew leung http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/01/violation-of-foreign-workers-rights-%e2%80%93-in-singapore-and-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-126972 andrew leung Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:16:29 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=19008#comment-126972 NTUC should learn from Zentoitsu Workers Union. NTUC should learn from Zentoitsu Workers Union.

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