Wong Chun Han
Hundreds of jobless migrant workers may go hungry as the food aid programme they depend upon could fold due to a lack of funds.
Some 450 men, forced out of work by injuries or non-payment of wages, are receiving free meals everyday from The Cuff Road Project to help them get by while they recover or seek legal redress.
But the progamme, which runs in Little India, could run out of money in a month’s time, forcing its closure.
Run by migrant worker welfare group Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) in collaboration with nonprofit group ONE (SINGAPORE), the project is funded entirely by public donation and all the money are spent on food.
The project has recently been overwhelmed by a sharp increase in jobless workers seeking help, which “may be due to higher visibility of the programme among the migrant worker community,” TWC2 said in a statement.
“Alternatively, it could be because there are more men who are out-of-work and qualify for the programme,” it said, adding that a detailed study is not presently possible as the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) does not release the relevant data.
The increase has lead to record spending by the project, draining its limited funds. In June, it spent an all-time high of $17,914 – nearly 80 per cent more than the average monthly expenditure in the first quarter of this year.
Most of the project’s beneficiaries are awaiting resolution of their complaints regarding the non-payment of their salaries, according to TWC2.
“Many are the victims of scams,” TWC2 president John Gee said in a statement. “Most of the men went deep into debt to come to Singapore, often selling their family homes to do so.”
While their complaints are processed by the MOM, Special Pass holders are not allowed to work unless they are detained by MOM as prosecution witnesses against employers, according to TWC2.
If they are called as witnesses, workers can seek employment under the Temporary Work Scheme, it said. For others, however, the processing could take a few months or even years. They thus depend on the goodwill of others for shelter and meals.
The project distributes at no charge to these workers breakfast and dinner on weekdays and lunch on Sundays, using meals provided by two Little India restaurants at $2.00 apiece.
“We aim to provide the men with meals in a safe clean environment, where they can eat with dignity,” ONE (SINGAPORE) president Vernetta Lopez said in a statement.
Volunteer project coordinator Debbie Fordyce said: “The Cuff Road Project provides men with food, but they’d rather be working…as long as their employers pay the wages that are due.”
The project, which came about in March 2008 after a fact-finding mission one midnight at Cuff Road by volunteers, has served over 100,000 meals to needy migrant workers to date.
It also allows the workers to socialise and provide them with help and advice on issues like healthcare and keeping up with their cases at the MOM.
There are currently 21 volunteers on the project, including some migrant workers who help with translation, advocacy and the provision of other support for their countrymen.
TWC2 is making an urgent appeal for funds to individuals and corporate bodies.
If you would like to make a contribution to this food aid programme, please make cheques payable to “Transient Workers Count Too” and write “for the Cuff Road Project” on the back.
Cheques can be mailed to TWC2’s postal address:
Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2)
5001 Beach Road
Golden Mile Complex #06-27
Singapore 199588.
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Pictures from TWC2’s website.
450 meals x 2 @ $2/day will defitenitely run out of funds..nowadays EVERY1s is facin financial difficulties including towgays who hav to pay heavy rentals @ overheads…
MOM on the other hands is sittin down on their iron ricebowls buttocks collectin a monthLEE king ramsomes in the form of LEVIE$..if not MOM than who?
~sigh~
LizardLee says we need 100K more? 100K more of Foreigners worker here without a JOB?
BLIND, DUMB AND DEAF – the PAP.
Those Singaporeans who need to feel that they are uniquely kind should continue to help these foreign workers.
Cheques can be mailed to TWC2’s postal address:
Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2)
5001 Beach Road
Golden Mile Complex #06-27
Singapore 199588.
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Aren’t the foreign workers and FTs here should be the ones donating?
The government got the Malays to help the Malays, the Chinese to help Chinese and the Indians to help the Indians.
Instead of helping the local, some people just go and foreigners.
There are still locals that are jobless.
They should just take care of the local and not the foreigners.
I think you will find that the victims here are the labourers not the FTs; jobs which the average Sinkies are too lazy and spolit to do.
It is sad that we cannot differentiate between victims of circumstances from the bureaucracy that brought these victims to our shores.
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Yes, Singaporeans are fed-up with so many foreigners setting foot in our land. However, we are not more fed-up with these foreigners than we are with the policies that allowed them in so easily.
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When we can see the difference between the two we will realize that these poor helpless foreign victims need as much help as we ourselves need in our fight against the foreign talent policy. We therefore must see the victims for who they are – humans like everyone else – who need food and basic necessities to get by even as they await the resolution of their situation.
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Let us not be blind to their needs just because of some policies which are not favourable to us, because the same policies are the reason why these foreign workers are left on the sides, and why our very own countrymen and women are left behind. While our own country-folks generally have roofs over their heads and support from friends and relatives to get by, these foreigners do not.
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Coming back to the article above, I wonder why the money is spent on buying food that cost $2 a packet? Aren’t there any volunteers who could cook up the meals instead? The dollar can be stretched by purchasing raw food to cook for mass consumption such as this. Spending $1800 to feed 450 jobless workers each day is not money well-spent. This amount could feed the same number of people for one week at least.
Nice to see altruistic initiatives promoted here. A welcome change from the “all the foreigners are evil” populist rhetoric.
Safe to work on migrants becos Singapore will look good in eyes of international community. Must look good somewhere. What about feeding the families whose breadwinners are detained under ISA-No trial, Like Dr Lim. ISA too hot mah. Now after ban of Jolly Hangman– Singaporeans also scared to ask MDA–how come ban a book which is based on ‘facts’? Not these not safe issues lah.
What is Vivian doing to help? I’m sure the $387 million can spare some change for these workers who were allowed to come in by the MIW in the first place. Now that the employers have gotten away, the problem lands in the public’s hands. Uniquely Singapore….
How is it this FTs cannot find jobs when 100,000 FTs are needed according to the million dollars man.
Thot so the employers should send this FT back home when their projects are completed. Can it be MOM is not doing their causing this problem to arise.
Hopefully this is not another opportunity under the guise of helping the FT to solicit for fund.
we should help them..they are the one doing the jobs no nne wants …therefore we should ask the two clowns in charge of the YOG to transfer some of the funds over.
I think before anyone will even consider donating one cent. They want to find out what is happening. This means they will ask questions of this write up along with trying to find out more about this outfit. But if all they do is get censored here without even so much as a single explanation as to why some comments can be kept in moderation mode for over 48 hours. Then you can jolly well go elsewhere and ask someone else for money.
you know, there is this buddhist temple that provide free meal. perhaps they can go there for the food since those PRC workers who are working also went there for free lunch
Please. You think locals want construction jobs? You’re out of touch with reality if you think ANY JOB will do.
If you want to be angry about foreign talent be angry about the useless angmohs who can’t make it in their country and coming here and earning 4-5k+. Not those who have practically given up everything to come here for maybe 800+ a month.
Some of the commentators here are just so full of fail.
We pamper out Govt too much. Looking after the migrants welfare should be the job for MOM, why the private sector has to take charge. You just don’t bring in the FWs, and then push the responsibility of looking after them to us. It is irresponsible to push evewrything to the public.
TWC2 should approach MOM for funding, instead of asking for public help. It is the job of MOM. As the name says, it is the Ministry of Manpower, and they can’t just wash their hands off so easily.
It is sad that there are people who are so simplistic, naïve and easily manipulated. Hopefully, our opposition parties do not consist of people with such simplistic views. The foreign talents, foreign workers, PRs and foreign embassies are not even helping their own people. Our government, the one who forced through this policy on its people, is also not doing anything; instead it is hoping Singaporeans will clean up the mess caused by its policy.
If members of opposition parties do not know how to exploit the situation, then the least they should do is to keep their mouths shut! By asking people to donate, what signal are you sending out to the foreign workers, foreign talents, voters and the government? No doubt you lose some of your supporters, but worse, you are ‘helping’ your opponent to gain understanding or forgiveness from their supporters.
Politics is not about being fair and kind. Politics is about winning the maximum possible votes.
James 16 July 2010
I think you will find that the victims here are the labourers not the FTs; jobs which the average Sinkies are too lazy and spolit to do.
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They did not come here to work for free. They have a choice to work in their own countries. Instead, like so many others, they paid their way through to come here.
Please feel free to donate if you so desired. I am not stopping you. Why not donate your next month’s salary, for a start?
Everything also govt meh? Then why not all the charities just ask for money from govt?
MOM also doesn’t really wanna help. Foreign workers only right? That’s why they’ve been dragging their feet so long about the lorry transport issue.
These migrant workers are cheated by their agents, paying 1000s to come to Singapore to get a good job and high pay. Most of the agents are from their own countries but holding PRs and owning condos in Singapore.
The charities in Singapore, if you mean the government endorsed charities, those charities are paying $600k of peanuts to executives and building posh buildings and keep most of the charity money in the bank instead of distributing it to needies or using them to help other needy organisations.
The cuff road project is a private charity, not endorsed by government, surely they dont have enough fund to do this.
I think all the problematic migrant workers should go stand outside MoM and asked for help, go there in 1000s or hundreds. If they get into problem, they get free food & lodging…. Dr VB said if you have no food, we will deliver to you, Singapore is best place for the poor. And morever he is Indian, surely he would help. Ask these guys to go ask him.
a voter
PRs and foreign embassies are not even helping their own people.
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donkeys years ago.. i seek the same answer from the respective embassies regarding their foreign talented citizens for workin here…
i used to be a pimp supplyin airtickets for the deported/overstayers…
the embassies replied:
did we brin our citizens over here to work? if the answer is NO…why should we care? imagined this scenerio..everymonth how much fund$ would be used to ship back their workers back..lets assumed $300/head…
if anybody with a simple aritmathematic would know it would accumulates into 10 of thousands..which embassies in the whole wide world hav that kind of repartiat funds?
if a foreign worker in europe is different..the foreign government would INSIST the embassy do somethin about it or else the government would enforced legal actions through their acts of parliament..they would BANNED all foreign workers from that country who refused to comply…the europeans government always hav the last resorts..they would repatriat the foreign workers back FIRST!!! than tried to claim the fares through the familly from their owned foreign embassies…
in singapoor? our government knows how to be a legalised gangster by DEMANDIN a monthLEE levy ransome from the employers before the employers even earned their 1st dollar$…
this is SINGAPOOR…
Government is the main cause of problem in Singapore. They are slave trafficker.
Voter,
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I agree with your view to a certain extent. It is the same view one of my cyber friends used to make from time to time. I do not get to hear from Patriot these days but I do know he would have written the same comments you did.
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I agree that we should hold the government responsible for such a situation. I agree that the Indian Embassy should step in to do something or to get our government to do something for these abandoned workers. I agree that we may send the wrong signal to the government that there will always be help at hand when they turn the other way.
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Those who have been following my comments here in TOC would have known my position and perhaps that’s why I did not make the effort to elaborate my comments above. My bad.
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I do not think I am naïve or simplistic, nor do I think I am easily manipulated.
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I wrote in response to views that these foreign workers deserve the predicament they find themselves in. This perception is wrong.
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Even as we contemplate who is right and who is wrong, should we help or should we not, who is at fault and who is accountable; we must not forget that these poor folks are going hungry and roofless each day that their predicament drags on. We cannot stand by to watch them die a slow and undignified death. We represent the human race before our representation as Singaporeans.
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It is on the side of being human that we must find it in ourselves to lend a hand. We will have to deal with the government and the worker’s embassy etc at a different level and separately.
Think should get them to line up in front of MOM everyday. MOM officers sleeping on their job resulting in these men being stuck here in S’pore after being cheated.
They should be looking after these folks where processing their case.
If so, it will be still public fund being used. PAP is creating all these problem and we the citizens are paying for their mistakes.
MIW collected billions of dollars in levies – they should clean up this mess!
These workers can well afford to eat our hawkers’ food. Just that they want to send their money home.
Things back home must be pretty bad that they come over here to remit money for their FAMILIES back home.
Use brans lah . . .
Bingo
Things back home must be pretty bad that they come over here to remit money for their FAMILIES back home.
Use brans lah . . .
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hello fellow peeps.. please travel the world..go to places where no tourists gone before..mingled/sleep in their village for a few days…
than you will know why did the foreign workers comes to singapoor to gamble with their futures and remit every pennis they can saved…
trust me on this…you feel sad for them & THEIR families…
ialsoseekFREElunches 17 July 2010
Precisely. I know the real world brother. That’s why I’m not complaining.
Out there is WORST.
When I visted HK some 10 years ago, the tourist guide in passing praised Singapore like hell. He even said I ought to kowtow to God “for the good government in your little island”.
We’re indeed blessed. Especially, we’re only a BARE rock.
My understanding is that the relevant authorities are drafting more stringent laws to ensure employers do not mistreat their foreign employees; measures include sufficient amounts are paid to a foreign employee before any deduction of loans or amount due is permitted, educating foreign employees about their rights and courses of legal action they could take to protect themselves against their employers, stiff penalties for employers who mistreated their foreign employees.
The new measures will ensure foreign employees working here could have a basic living standard and will not be forced to commit crimes.
Other possible ideas which may be sent to the drawing board include setting up a “life-boat” fund where a compulsory monthly co-contribution, say 50 cents, by all employees (earning above certain salary level) and employers could be administered by a government body for the purpose of providing care to foreign employees who genuinely need helps.
My Views 18 July 2010
My understanding is that the relevant authorities are drafting more stringent laws to ensure employers do not mistreat their foreign employees
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so in the meantime you are not takin any meals till the draftin measurements been drafted?
next…
why are we the employers payin the MOM a monthLEE levie$? for what purpo$e$ may 1 seek$?
gemami 17 July 2010
Even as we contemplate who is right and who is wrong, should we help or should we not, who is at fault and who is accountable; we must not forget that these poor folks are going hungry and roofless each day that their predicament drags on. We cannot stand by to watch them die a slow and undignified death. We represent the human race before our representation as Singaporeans.
It is on the side of being human that we must find it in ourselves to lend a hand. We will have to deal with the government and the worker’s embassy etc at a different level and separately.
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You may (or may not) score 5 marks for being human in supporting for public donation to help these foreign workers. But you lose 20 marks from voters who are against the huge presence of foreign workers and professionals here. You lost a net total of 15 marks. Why put yourselves in that position?
As a general rule of thumb, it is assumed that 20% of the voters are hardcore PAP supporters and 20% are hardcore opposition supporters. Whatever you said or write, this 20% hardcore opposition supporters will support you.
But then 20% of the votes cannot make you an MP.
There is a 60% of votes floating in the air; in Singapore’s context, they are not really neutral because they are floating more towards the PAP than the Opposition, for reasons such as media control and advantage of an incumbent.
Your objective is to grab or win as much of these 60% votes as possible. Only when you are elected and become a member of parliament would your voice becomes louder and you can do some (but not all) of the things you have in mind. Your next goal is to retain your votes and hopefully increase it.
Now, you are not even there. If you keep scoring a net total of negative 15 marks, how are you going to be a MP?
Wouldn’t it be more sensible to remain silent on this issue of homeless foreign workers? You don’t lose marks. If you are game enough, hit the ball into the PAP’s court. You may even score 10 marks from the PAP’s own supporters.
For the sake of your supporters and those who want a strong opposition force in parliament, please put your personal principles (however good or kind) a side for the time being and focus on strategies of capturing more votes.
Singaporean organisations are hiring Foreign (Indian) professionals.They are selected after due interview and the stringent MOM Employment Pass rules..considering qualification, special skills etc.But after joining they are tremendously harassed,their knowledge and capability questioned and then the racists in the organisation team up and vow not to hire anymore Indians. Then employee is then terminated with false reasons when there are many commendation notes/ letters and emails praising his/her performance.
The so called NGOs also resort to such means of racist terminations.Their service to the society/people they are supposed to serve with the help of these professionals and public money may suffer. But then they are in reality not set up to serve them. They are there to run a business ,practise racism at the cost of making their own people suffer. Fact of the matter is the immigrant foreign or Indian professionals are more hard working, efficient, knowledgeable and intelligent than his/her boss and gets more commendations and praises.
IS THERE ANY FREE LEGAL CELL run by any NGO in Little India or else where which caters to such illegal ways and harassment by employer and also implicating them in false cases at times. IF YOU KNOW OF ANY LEGAL CELL, PLZ RUSH THE ADDRESS AND PH. NO. or H.P. No. immediately.
Why hire Foreign (Indian) Professionals in the first place when so much hatred breeds in their hearts.Let them formulate a policy and approach the Govt. and learn to work hard, sincerely,honestly and be true to their profession and country men whom the NGOs are supposed to serve selflessly and with humanism.
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD FORTHWITH WITHDRAW LICENCES TO SUCH ORGANISATIONS TO KEEP RUNNING IN THE NAME OF SERVICE TO SOCIETY..when in reality they are just spreading hatred and forming racist groups violating the basic principles of humanism.
The policy is wrong. Paying to survive is wrong.Taking what is not yours is wrong.Enforcing payments prior to employment is wrong. Not haaving the basics in place is wrong.An author is caught and charged without delay and that for one man show. Here a chain gang in motion and the policy makers, authorities in charge don’t know where to start.Thousands, jobless Singaporeans included. I hope the authorities are reading the signs and look down at these common folks (TOC) and find some positive alternatives from the comments here on TOC. Some do make real sense. Use and share.Goverment’s Think Tank has got a Mental Block Syndrome and has bombed in so many ways and always recently and the fingers are pointed at p true blue Singaporeans wanting everthing perfect.. Sticking on with Peace N Love no matter what. Speak the Mind.