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“You are hereby permitted to remain in Singapore…”

For 4 years, the MOM seems to have totally forgotten about Mr Asad Madber. Andrew Loh.

Published

15 years ago

on

Andrew Loh

Bangladeshi worker asked by Manpower Ministry to remain in S’pore to help with investigations ends up waiting for four years.

The number of foreign workers who faced salary disputes with their employers rose to more than 3,000 in 2008. This is doubled that of 2007. In 2009, the number of such disputes has continued. The press has reported instances of workers, sometimes in their hundreds, protesting outside the Manpower Ministry building, such as this one reported April 2009.

In such cases and where necessary, the Ministry of Manpower would issue a Special Pass to the workers, until the disputes are resolved.

In Parliament earlier this year, Manpower Minister Mr Gan Kim Yong dolled out statistics to prove that his ministry was on top of things.  “On average, 85 per cent of cases in the last six months were successfully conciliated within three weeks,” he was reported to have said by the Today newspaper. Mr Gan also assured the House that the “foreign workers involved are allowed to stay in Singapore under a special pass for a short period to enforce their claims.”

For one Bangladeshi worker, however, that “short period” turned out to be four years.

Mr Asad Madber Yeaz Uddin Madber, 38, first came to Singapore in December 2001. His employer, Skilled Engineering, had outsourced him to various other companies. In such cases, which are illegal, the receiving company would pay his salary to his employer, instead of paying it to Mr Asad. All was well until 2005. Mr Asad tells The Online Citizen that he wanted to return to Bangladesh then but his employer refused to let him go. His employer, according to Mr Asad, then started to deduct his salary “for food, shelter and other stuff” and finally stopped paying him altogether. Mr Asad was owed one and a half month’s worth of salary. He then took his salary claims to the Manpower Ministry, and also complained that his employer had illegally outsourced him to other employers.

This is where things become unclear.

Mr Asad says that the MOM arranged three mediation sessions in 2005 between him and his employer but his employer failed to turn up for all three meetings. Later, he was asked to remain in Singapore to help in investigations. Since his work permit had expired, he was given a Special Pass. The waiting game then began – and lasted the next four years.

There were no further mediation sessions by the MOM in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. All this while, Mr Asad did not know what was going on, neither was he updated by the MOM on any progress of his salary claims.

In the Special Pass issued to him, the MOM reminded him: “Please note that you are not permitted to work unless you are holding a valid work pass.” Mr Asad did not have a work pass. The MOM, while retaining him and advising him he is not allowed to seek work, did not provide him with lodging or food or money in the four years from 2005 to 2009.

MOM did, however, put him on the Temporary Job Scheme (TJS). The TJS is a scheme for workers awaiting settlement of disputes. It allows them to work for other employers on short term contracts in the meantime. Mr Asad says that the problem he faced was that the employers did not want to employ him because of his heavy-set physique.

And so, in desperation, Mr Asad had to work odd jobs, risking arrest and deportation, or even jail and caning. All the while wondering what MOM wanted to retain him in Singapore for. He was asked to remain in Singapore for so long that even his passport had expired. When he applied to have it renewed, he was asked to pay $235 – money which he did not have. Now he had a new problem. Fortunately for him, with the help of an aid worker, his passport was renewed without Mr Asad having to pay the full $235. He however was still charged $35 for it.

Each week for the last four years, Mr Asad has had to visit the Manpower Ministry to have his Special Pass renewed. He showed The Online Citizen a copy of the Pass with the “chops”. (See picture, below). Each time, his Special Pass was extended for seven days.

On 15 September, again he went to the MOM. And again, MOM extended his Special Pass by another week.

Mr Asad, who is married with two children, misses his family and wants to go back to Bangladesh to see them. Here in Singapore, he is living on the edge, with little money and risking arrest and jail time by working illegally to support himself.

The Online Citizen enquired with the MOM to seek clarity on Mr Asad’s case. But after a week, and two emails, the MOM has yet to reply to our queries.

His employer, Skilled Engineering, no longer exists.

In the meantime, Mr Asad is a man in limbo – not knowing what he is here for and not getting any answers from the Ministry of Manpower.

One issue raised in Mr Asad’s example is perhaps the MOM should realize that detaining workers such as Mr Asad here, without any help given to them, forces them to resort to illegal means to support themselves. Isn’t the MOM then complicit if these workers should resort to crime? If MOM should find it necessary to detain workers in order for them to help in investigations, it is only right that the MOM also provides them with lodging and support. For, as Mr Asad’s case has shown, such investigations can take years!

Another question in Mr Asad’s case is: Why does it take four years to resolve a salary dispute?

It is likely that the MOM has totally forgotten about Mr Asad, and Mr Asad has had to pay the price for the MOM’s incompetence.

With the number of salary dispute cases rising each year, as reported by the press, it is incumbent upon the MOM that it gets its act together – so that such disputes are promptly settled and workers like Mr Asad are not made to wait needlessly for years.

Come Tuesday, 22 September, Mr Asad will again have to visit the MOM to have his Special Pass renewed.

—-

Mr Asad’s Special Pass with MOM’s “chops” of approval:

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Indonesia

Miss Universe cuts ties with Indonesia chapter after harassment allegations

The Miss Universe Organization severs ties with Indonesia franchise due to harassment claims. Malaysia edition canceled.

Women allege body checks before pageant. Investigation launched. Safety prioritized.

Indonesia winner to compete in November finale. Height requirement controversy.

Published

1 year ago

on

14 August 2023

By

WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES — The Miss Universe Organization has cut ties with its Indonesia franchise, it announced days after allegations of sexual harassment, and will cancel an upcoming Malaysia edition.

In the complaint, more than a half dozen women said all 30 finalists for Miss Universe Indonesia were unexpectedly asked to strip for a supposed body check for scars and cellulite two days before the pageant’s crowning ceremony in Jakarta.

Their lawyer said Tuesday that five of the women had their pictures taken.

“In light of what we have learned took place at Miss Universe Indonesia, it has become clear that this franchise has not lived up to our brand standards, ethics, or expectations,” the US-based Miss Universe Organization posted Saturday night on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter.

It said that it had “decided to terminate the relationship with its current franchise in Indonesia, PT Capella Swastika Karya, and its National Director, Poppy Capella.”

It thanked the contestants for their bravery in coming forward and added that “providing a safe place for women” was the organization’s priority.

Jakarta police spokesman Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko said Tuesday that an investigation into the women’s complaint has been launched.

The Indonesia franchise also holds the license for Miss Universe Malaysia, where there will no longer be a competition this year, according to the New York-based parent organizer.

In a lengthy statement posted to Instagram, Indonesia franchise director Capella denied involvement in any body checks.

“I, as the National Director and as the owner of the Miss Universe Indonesia license, was not involved at all and have never known, ordered, requested or allowed anyone who played a role and participated in the process of organizing Miss Universe Indonesia 2023 to commit violence or sexual harassment through body checking,” she wrote.

She added that she is against “any form of violence or sexual harassment.”

The Jakarta competition was held from 29 July to 3 August to choose Indonesia’s representative to the 2023 Miss Universe contest, and was won by Fabienne Nicole Groeneveld.

Miss Universe said it would make arrangements for her to compete in the finale, scheduled for November in El Salvador.

This year’s Indonesia pageant also came under fire for announcing a “significant change in this (year’s) competition guidelines” with the elimination of its minimum height requirement after it had crowned a winner.

In its statement, the Miss Universe Organization said it wanted to “make it extremely clear that there are no measurements such as height, weight, or body dimensions required to join a Miss Universe pageant worldwide.”

— AFP

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Malaysia

A Perodua service centre in Kuantan, Malaysia went viral for its strict dress code, Perodua responds

A dress code for vehicle servicing? A Malaysian car brand’s service centre dress code signage has puzzled netizens, raising queries about the need for attire rules during a routine service.

The manufacturer responded with an official statement after a flurry of comments, seeking to clarify and apologize.

Published

1 year ago

on

10 August 2023

By

MALAYSIA: A dress code signage positioned at a service centre belonging to a prominent Malaysian car brand has sparked bewilderment among Malaysian netizens, who question the necessity of adhering to attire guidelines for a simple vehicle servicing.

The signage explicitly delineates clothing items that are deemed unsuitable, including sleeveless tops, short skirts, abbreviated pants, and distressed jeans.

The car manufacturer swiftly found itself flooded with comments from both inquisitive and irked Malaysian netizens. This surge in online activity prompted the company to issue an official statement aimed at clarifying the situation and extending an apology.

In a post that gained significant traction on the social media platform, politician Quek Tai Seong of Pahang State, Malaysia, shared an image to Facebook on Monday (7 Aug).

The image showcased a dress code sign prominently displayed at a Perodua Service Centre in Kuantan. Within the post, Quek posed the question: “Is this dress code applicable nationwide, or is it specific to this branch?”

The signage reads, “All customers dealing with Perodua Service Kuantan 1, Semambu, are requested to dress modestly and appropriately.”

Adding visual clarity to these guidelines, the sign features illustrative graphics that explicitly outline clothing items deemed unacceptable, including sleeveless tops, short skirts, short pants, and ripped jeans.

Delineating the specifics of the dress code, the signage stipulates that male visitors are expected to don shirts accompanied by neckties, opt for long pants, and wear closed shoes.

Conversely, female visitors are advised to don long-sleeved shirts, full-length skirts, and closed-toe footwear.

Perodua’s dress code sparks online uproar

Following the rapid spread of the post, Perodua’s official Facebook page found itself inundated with comments from both intrigued and frustrated Malaysian netizens, all seeking clarifications about the newly surfaced dress code policy.

Amidst the flurry of comments, numerous incensed netizens posed pointed questions such as, “What is the rationale behind the introduction of such regulations by the management? We demand an explanation.”

Another netizen expressed their dissatisfaction, arguing against the necessity of the rule and urging Perodua to take inspiration from the practices of other 4S (Sales, Service, Spare Parts, and Survey) automotive dealerships.

A concerned Facebook user chimed in, advocating for a more lenient stance, asserting that attempting to dictate customers’ clothing choices might not be in the company’s best interest.

Someone also commented in an angry tone, “Oi what is this? Going there for car service, not interview or working, right.”

As the discourse unfolded, it became evident that while some inquiries carried genuine weight, others chose to inject humor into the situation, playfully remarking, “If I wanted to buy a Myvi, I should buy or rent a formal attire first.”

“I sell economy rice at a hawker centre, I have never worn a long sleeve shirt and a tie… I guess I will not buy a Perodua car then.”

“I guess they will not serve those who wear short pants.”

Perodua addresses dress code controversy

As reported by Chinese media outlet Sin Chew Daily News, the manager of Kuantan’s Perodua Service Centre had acknowledged that the images on the dress code signage were misleading.

In response, the manager divulged that discussions had transpired with the head office, leading to the prompt removal of the signage to prevent any further misconceptions.

The manager clarifies, “We do encourage visitors to adhere to the dress etiquette, but we won’t go to the extent of restricting their choice of attire.”

He also revealed that currently, no complaints have been directly received from the public.

However, feedback from certain customers was relayed through Perodua’s agents.

Perodua also released an official statement by chief operating officer JK Rozman Jaffar on Wednesday (9 Aug) regarding the dress code on their official Facebook page.

The statement stated the dress code etiquette is not aligned with their official guidelines and they are currently conducting an official investigation on the matter followed by corrective measures to avoid the same incident from happening.

Perodua also extends its apologies for any inconvenience caused.

 

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