by MP Png Eng Huat
Mr Speaker Sir,
In the pursuit of economic growth, the business of bringing in migrant foreign workers has spawned into a business that has a life of its own. The very process of bringing in these workers is so lucrative that it does not matter if there are matching jobs for them. For some unscrupulous agents, it does not even matter if there are any jobs for these workers for there is money to be made just by landing them here on our shores.
And this lucrative business of bringing in migrant workers alone unwittingly benefits the Government as well because every worker comes with a levy to be paid on the dot on the 17th of each month by GIRO regardless of whether there are matching jobs or any jobs for these workers or not.
For some of these low-wage workers, the dream of providing a better life for their families back home became a nightmare of unpaid wages, unimaginable living conditions, and unending disputes with their employers over wages upon repatriation orders. We have heard and read horror stories about how some of these migrant workers are being treated and sometimes abandoned the moment injuries befall them.
It is very sad to know that some of these workers, already living in poverty back home and going into debt in order to make the trip here, will end up worse than ever before because of some unscrupulous agents and errant employers.
Although MOM has no shortage of legislation to act against errant employers to begin with, I believe many Singaporeans and VWOs will welcome the amendments in the Employment of Foreign Manpower Bill to strengthen enforcement capabilities and address the abuses and problems faced by low-wage migrant workers.
MOM has been criticized by some NGOs and VWOs for not doing enough to help these low-wage workers in the past. I once volunteered for a VWO who specializes in helping migrant workers and I was given such a feedback as well i.e. MOM has enough legislation to deal with errant employers and foreign worker abuses but for some reasons it was slow or reluctant to bite. With this amendment, I urge the MOM to step up its enforcement.
Going forward, MOM should also look into promoting responsible employment especially for employers of low-wage migrant workers. While enforcement has a role to play, a mindset change will have a bigger impact on our society as a whole. Singapore is a first world country and we should reflect that in the way we treat migrant foreign workers.
With that, I rise in support of the bill.