The Wan Soon pay dispute is but one of a myriad of largely unreported incidents where low skilled foreign workers found themselves at the wrong end of unfair or inhumane treatments by Singapore employers.
The article "Going Hungry In A Land Of Plenty" by Constance Singam on the 6 July edition of Today aroused my thoughts on the subject.
The Wan Soon pay dispute is but one of a myriad of largely unreported incidents where low skilled foreign workers found themselves at the wrong end of unfair or inhumane treatments by Singapore employers.
Their predicaments are not helped by the "aloof" disposition of the Singapore government. As was seen in the Wan Soon case, far from wanting to help them to solve their problems, MOM was more concerned with arriving at a settlement and closing the dossier, an act which would have done no justice to the labourers, and they showed their displeasure towards the belittlement.
This faux pas from the government further reinforces within the minds of the public the perception that these foreign labourers are dispensable and can be tolerably mistreated. Without a firm commitment from the government towards the preservation of their rights and dignities, the public soon come to see these labourers as belonging to a de facto inferior level of existence by virtue of their status within out society.
This social discrimination is not confined to the labourers in the construction industry. Foreign cleaners, dumpsters, and maids, etc are snorted upon by many Singaporeans, explicitly or otherwise. Many will bear testimony to the degrading remarks uttered about them from a broad spectrum of lives, not less young children who are increasing getting into the act of physical abuse and contempt of their foreign maids in emulation of their parents.
As Singaporeans progress in material wealth and intellectual stature, we must not discard the fundamental human value of humility and tolerance. And here is where everyone has a responsibility to arrest this declining emphasis.
The leaders of the nation have to altruistically demonstrate their willingness to alleviate the difficulties confronting foreign labourers working in Singapore. This must necessarily transcend the shallow exigency of merely salvaging our "international reputation".
Hence, the government must exercise a degree of transparency by openly publishing comprehensice figures indicating the number of cases, reported and otherwise in the national media, involving the various mistreatments encountered by the labourers, such as non-payment, poor lodging, overworking, foul working conditions, physical abuses of all sorts, and even death to name a few.
The government should then affirm their sincere willingness to ameliorate the situation through concrete measures which are then earnestly implemented with direct benefits to the labourers. The public will then be well placed to judge the effectiveness of the measures and, if necessary, furnish supplementary suggestions to enhance the mechanisms.
Debates on respect of human rights must extend to these poor foreign workers. Issues such as fair wage and even minimum wage have to be seriously debated and considered. Stricter measures, such as a heavier deposit and obligatory timely payment, must be brought to bear on contractors and super-contractors, the latter who in turn must impose a mechanism which maintains a just, acceptable, and accountable level of treatment towards the foreign workers.
The younger generations must be suitably educated to understand that the humble foreign labourers and workers are a reality of an evolving society. Most pertinently, the young must be taught not to stigmatise these low skilled jobs and the workers perfoming them as menial and demeaning. In addition, such education must illuminate the conditions and circumstances which compelled these workers to leave their homelands in search of "hope". This latter will no doubt be of immense significance to the multitude that are in one way or another, descendants of "hope-seeking" immigrants.
Finally, the general public must recognise their contributions to our society, without which the industries such as construction, cleaning, transport, and even health and domestic would have stalled.
In conclusion, the government and the public must mount a sincere effort to mould the correct mindset, before Sinagpore can truly restore its international credential as a truly graceful society who can co-exist, tolerate and respect all human beings as equals.
Sources and Relevant Links:
Singapore Reveiw: Treat Foreign Low Skilled Workers With Respect 8 July 2004
Singapore Reveiw: A Tapestry Of Lies From The Ministry Of Manpower 30 June 2004
Think Centre: Indian Migrant Workers: Going hungry in a land of plenty 6 July 2004
Young PAP website: 400++ foreign workers illegal gather 29 June 2004
Think Centre: Singapore: 200 Indian Workers protest at Indian Embassy 29 June 2004
Jakarta Post Indonesian maids in S'pore prone to human rights violations 28 June 2004
