I am sharing my concern based upon my interactions with some foreign workers.
I am not sure how many of you are aware of the low wages paid to the Migrant workers.
As my apartment is near a canal I sometimes see foreign workers there so I usually stop and ask then how they are doing and if the employer is treating them well. One of the worker who I met some months back said that he is a construction worker and he was not paid for a few months. I refered him to TWC2 the foreign workers org and they referred him to MOM and then he was paid the salary so it was settled. From what I have been given to understand that Employers cannot hold salary for more than a month.
I gave him my mobile number and and asked him to contact me if he needed help. He did last week and said that his Employer has cancelled his work permit as well as of three fellow workers. MOM has issued them with a temporary pass.If he is unable to find another job he will have to go back.He has been here since only nine months and as we all know how much money they have to pay the agent to come here .it seems these foreign workers have no job security.I am shocked about it that they can be sent back anytime the Employer wishes to discontinue their services. Not only that he said he is paid a mere nineteen dollars for a full days work from 8 to 5pm and two hours overtime until 7pm for 3$ an hour that is an extra six dollars.
This is shocking and amounts to slavery as part time helpers get 15 dollars for one hour of house work and minimum is four hours and cash upfront.
Again I told him to see TWC2 foreign workers org and they referred him to MOM.
The MOM issued a letter to them and told then to go and look for jobs but when they approach any company they are told that they cannot take them as the temporary pass issued starts with the letter AE .I am not able to understand what that means.
> They also said that they have given a total of seven thousand dollars each in Bangla Desh to an agent .
> I asked them to contact their agent here in Singapore. The are not aware of any agent here. think that the MOM should have proper laws to make sure these workers are attached to an agent in Singapore who they can approach in case of any problem.
> Not only that the Bangla Desh embassy should register them on arrival and they should be told that they can also approach them if any problems arises.I am surprised that they did not even know that an embassy exists. I got the address of the Bangla desh Mission and asked them to go and see then as I was sure they would try their best to help their country men.
I rec another shock that the Embassy told them that they are unable to do anything.
Since last week I have been running around contacting people,organizations etc etc and sending emails until late at night. With all this stress I had a headache for two days as this whole episode affected me very badly and I decided that I must go all out and try my best to help these poor workers.
It saddened me that we live in nice homes and a beautiful city built by these migrant workers sweat and blood.
I am not sure how many of you are aware of the low wages paid to the Migrant workers.
As my apartment is near a canal I sometimes see foreign workers there so I usually stop and ask then how they are doing and if the employer is treating them well. One of the worker who I met some months back said that he is a construction worker and he was not paid for a few months. I refered him to TWC2 the foreign workers org and they referred him to MOM and then he was paid the salary so it was settled. From what I have been given to understand that Employers cannot hold salary for more than a month.
I gave him my mobile number and and asked him to contact me if he needed help. He did last week and said that his Employer has cancelled his work permit as well as of three fellow workers. MOM has issued them with a temporary pass.If he is unable to find another job he will have to go back.He has been here since only nine months and as we all know how much money they have to pay the agent to come here .it seems these foreign workers have no job security.I am shocked about it that they can be sent back anytime the Employer wishes to discontinue their services. Not only that he said he is paid a mere nineteen dollars for a full days work from 8 to 5pm and two hours overtime until 7pm for 3$ an hour that is an extra six dollars.
This is shocking and amounts to slavery as part time helpers get 15 dollars for one hour of house work and minimum is four hours and cash upfront.
Again I told him to see TWC2 foreign workers org and they referred him to MOM.
The MOM issued a letter to them and told then to go and look for jobs but when they approach any company they are told that they cannot take them as the temporary pass issued starts with the letter AE .I am not able to understand what that means.
> They also said that they have given a total of seven thousand dollars each in Bangla Desh to an agent .
> I asked them to contact their agent here in Singapore. The are not aware of any agent here. think that the MOM should have proper laws to make sure these workers are attached to an agent in Singapore who they can approach in case of any problem.
> Not only that the Bangla Desh embassy should register them on arrival and they should be told that they can also approach them if any problems arises.I am surprised that they did not even know that an embassy exists. I got the address of the Bangla desh Mission and asked them to go and see then as I was sure they would try their best to help their country men.
I rec another shock that the Embassy told them that they are unable to do anything.
Since last week I have been running around contacting people,organizations etc etc and sending emails until late at night. With all this stress I had a headache for two days as this whole episode affected me very badly and I decided that I must go all out and try my best to help these poor workers.
It saddened me that we live in nice homes and a beautiful city built by these migrant workers sweat and blood.
It is absolutely shocking that these Employers are allowed to pay them pittance. No wonder our locals are not hired for these jobs as they will not except this kind of ridiculous and disgusting salary . Employers can hire cheap foreign labour while they make millions. And the pathetic $3 per hour for overtime ?? The part time Helpers for house work get $ 15 per hour and minimum 4 hours and cash upfront.
I think the policy is not at all fair at all and something should be done about it.if the foreign worker has not broken any law he should not be sent back unless two year contract is completed/ or the Employer should transfer him to another Employer as Employer should be responsible and not leave these poor workers in a lurch. Where ever they turn to they are simply told to keep looking for jobs.How can he go back to their Country when they owe money back home and came here for a better future for then and their families.if the employer is unable to get him another job then he should pay a compensation to the worker.These points are important for job security. Right now they have no job security.
The full time helpers are better off as they get food and decent accommodation although some are treated very badly and even deprived of food.
These foreign workers though they do such hard work get a meagre salary and no food. They are provided with accomodation but usually it is in pathetic conditions
19$ a day for a whole days hard work is totally unfair . can anyone even imagine what kind of diet they must be eating as they need to send money to their families and also pay off the debts that they have incurred to come here.These four workers share a room with three others
I think the policy is not at all fair at all and something should be done about it.if the foreign worker has not broken any law he should not be sent back unless two year contract is completed/ or the Employer should transfer him to another Employer as Employer should be responsible and not leave these poor workers in a lurch. Where ever they turn to they are simply told to keep looking for jobs.How can he go back to their Country when they owe money back home and came here for a better future for then and their families.if the employer is unable to get him another job then he should pay a compensation to the worker.These points are important for job security. Right now they have no job security.
The full time helpers are better off as they get food and decent accommodation although some are treated very badly and even deprived of food.
These foreign workers though they do such hard work get a meagre salary and no food. They are provided with accomodation but usually it is in pathetic conditions
19$ a day for a whole days hard work is totally unfair . can anyone even imagine what kind of diet they must be eating as they need to send money to their families and also pay off the debts that they have incurred to come here.These four workers share a room with three others
in the basement of a construction site.The room itself is under construction.
Some time ago I wanted to see the living quarters so I went with the worker but then I realised it was in the basement and it was late evening and I was alone so I decided not to go down to see it. The worker who met up with me yesterday said that he rec a call from MOM to go down to see them today and I will be meeting then later this evening.I hope the outcome is positive.
I was also given to understand that the Employer is holding some of their money and they were told that because the Employer is bankrupt some part of their money will be cut for insurance I did not really understand what he actually meant but he did say some thing like 47 % will be cut. I am not an expert with
the law nor the foreign workers but I try to use my common sense and my heart.
I hope that these workers find jobs and will not have to return home.
Some time ago I wanted to see the living quarters so I went with the worker but then I realised it was in the basement and it was late evening and I was alone so I decided not to go down to see it. The worker who met up with me yesterday said that he rec a call from MOM to go down to see them today and I will be meeting then later this evening.I hope the outcome is positive.
I was also given to understand that the Employer is holding some of their money and they were told that because the Employer is bankrupt some part of their money will be cut for insurance I did not really understand what he actually meant but he did say some thing like 47 % will be cut. I am not an expert with
the law nor the foreign workers but I try to use my common sense and my heart.
I hope that these workers find jobs and will not have to return home.
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