ILLEGAL EMPLOYMENT OF FOREIGN WORKERS

ILLEGAL EMPLOYMENT OF FOREIGN WORKERS: 6.

Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Minister for Manpower (a) how widespread is the problem of illegal deployment of foreign workers; (b) what measures are in place to address this issue; and (c) for foreign workers who refuse to be illegally deployed or complain against their employers, whether the Ministry can provide better protection from reprisals by such employers.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Manpower (Mr Hawazi Daipi) (for the Minister for Manpower): Sir, over the past three years, about 0.1% of the foreign workforce has been involved in illegal deployment cases each year.

Under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, employers who are convicted for illegally deploying their foreign workers will be fined up to $5,000 or imprisoned for up to six months, or both. In addition, errant employers will be debarred from employing foreign workers in future. An average of 190 employers was convicted for illegal deployment over the past three years.

MOM has intensified enforcement efforts against errant employers in recent years. We have also increased our efforts to educate foreign workers on their employment rights and about the relevant MOM regulations and the channels of help that are available to them. Useful information relevant to foreign workers is first disseminated via the In-Principle Approval letters sent to them in their home countries prior to their departure for Singapore. Guidebooks published in the workers’ native languages are also given to all new foreign workers upon arrival. Such information is also provided during safety orientation courses. In addition, MOM also organises road shows in dormitories to raise awareness of foreign workers on these issues. These measures

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help to ensure that foreign workers are aware that it is an offence for them to work in an occupation or a company that is different from that stated in their Work Pass, and that they should report to MOM if they have been illegally deployed by their employer.

For foreign workers who do not collude with the employers and instead come forward to provide information of such illegal practices to MOM, my Ministry will ensure that their well-being is safeguarded and will also work with partners like the Migrant Workers Centre to provide them with humanitarian assistance if necessary. Where appropriate, we will also allow them to find new employers to continue working in Singapore.

Mdm Halimah Yacob (Jurong): I would like to ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary: firstly, he said that foreign workers can make a report if they are illegally deployed. But their concern is that if they make a report, they fear reprisals from employers that they can be terminated and sent back. Secondly, they are concerned that they may be repatriated if they are considered to be running foul of the law.

The second point is the In-Principle Approval Letter given to the foreign workers, citing to them the fact that they need to have a job before they come to Singapore. Often it is the employment agencies or the employers that promised them a job. When they come here, there are actually no jobs available for them. In many cases, that is how they end up, becoming illegally deployed and set in their condition. Otherwise, they risk being repatriated without having paid for the heavy debts which they incurred. Although the system may be in place, for the foreign workers to make use of it is actually very painful for them. What other measures can the Ministry put in place to

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safeguard their interests, in the event that they refuse to be illegally deployed or they come here to find that there are no jobs available for them?

Mr Hawazi Daipi: Sir, we do understand that there are some foreign workers, who want to assist MOM with the investigations or to report their wrongful deployment by their employers, worry about the potential reprisal by the employers. We assure the foreign workers in Singapore that we can help them on such things. We will help them find alternative employment while they are assisting us with the investigation. On repatriation, it is one of the best ways to manage the number of foreign workers, who may not have a job in Singapore, having had problem with the employers.

It is very difficult for us to manage the debt for them because much of this is owed in their home country. But for those who are assisting us with investigations – because we understand that some of them may still need to repay their debts – we allow them to work with another employer and we provide the accommodation, if necessary and if they so desire.

We have put in place measures to ensure that the problem of non-availability of jobs for workers brought in to Singapore is much minimised. For example, construction and marine companies need to show documentary proof that they have ongoing projects before work permits are issued to them. For sub-contractors, they also need to show us an endorsement letter from the main contractor before they are allowed to bring in foreign workers. These are measures that have helped reduce the problem of foreign workers brought in without proper jobs.