The 300 workers living in 'cage-like" conditions and some among them were not paid their salary - stage a sit-in strike. Last June, 200 Indian Workers from Woon Soon Constuction company were on strike against non payment of salaries. What is going on?
The 300 workers were living in 'cage-like" conditions on triple-deck beds with smelly open rubbish containers and filthy toilets. Some were complaining of non-payment of salaries. Last June, 200 Indian Workers from Woon Soon Constuction company were on strike against non payment of salaries. The Woon Soon workers received a faction of the salary owned to them and send home to India.Is that going to happen to this venerable migrant workers?
29-30 March 2005, 300 Indian and Bangladeshi migrant workers, employed by Ta-Ching Marine Technology, were on sit-in strike at the GoldStrong Dormitory, refusing to go for work. The workers refused to travel on the company provided lorries to their worksites in Sembawang and Keppel shipyards.
The workers had easlier complained to the management of Ta Ching Marine Technology on their housing problems.
The GoldStrong Dormitory was their living quarters in the past month. The workers were living on the 3rd storey of the dormitory.The Workers call dormitory - zoo, prison, hell! In the dormintory, each cubicle houses 6 to 12 workers on triple-decker beds that were hardly big enough for the workers to sit up.
The workers reported the dormitory's common areas, such as the corridors, kitchen and toilets are filthy, unsafe with just one staircase to exit the five storey building.
The uncovered rubbish bins were filled with food waste. Rubbish were pushed to the corners along the corridors. On the floor below the windows there was water. The toilets were filthy and dirty.
Many workers were unable to sleep with light and noise coming through the mesh wired windows.
Ta Ching is promising better dormitory within a month for the workers. The workers are paying $85 a month for the lodging and utilities.
Some of the workers claimed their salaries not been paid. The company is holding discussions with MOM on this problems. MOM is assisting the workers and has warned Ta Ching that holding workers' salaries as 'a guarantee for their good behaviour' is an offence.
The GoldStrong Dormitory
The administration manager of GoldStrong Dormitory, Ms Sally Ang, told the New Paper [2 Apr 2005] the workers are talking "rubbish." The dormitory houses another 500 workers from various companies on the fourth and fifth stories. But the third storey, housing the Ta-Ching workers, is not approved by the authorities.
The authorities
Following a complaint, the authorities had inspected the dormitory on 22 Mar 2005 resulting with warning to management to 'rectify' problems and ensure that the dormitory is well-maintained.
The Ministry of Manpower, National Environment Agency and the Singapore Civil Defence Force noted the following: 'Irregularities observed include the use of improper rubbish bins, choked sinks and slippery floor surfaces. There were also fire safety and hygiene-related 'irregularities'
Work permit conditions require employers to provide 'proper accommodation' for their migrant workers.
Since June 2004, its compulsory for construction sector migrant workers housed off-site to be in 'acceptable housing' - either purpose-built dormitories or quarters approved by the relevant government agencies.
The National Environment Agency requires that each worker has 3 sq m of living space (not including a separate space for a cupboard) and that the dormitory provides 'sufficient refuse bins with covers'.
Lesson learned
March 2005, Wan Soon Cconsruction company was wind-up or closed down. The company employees will not receive any money from the sales of Wan Soon's properties. The 200 employees were own $1.8 million in unpaid wages for 3 to 6 months. The MOM negotiated a deal of $400 to $600 with a promise to return the remaining amount of $2000 to 3000 own to the workers later. 340 workers accepted their words and return home to India. Unfortunately, their hard earned money will not be return to them.
Sources and Relevant Links:
The News Paper, 2 Apr 2005: "300 foreign workers go on strike", Tuas quarters filthy they say. Police Called in", and " our dorm feels like a cage".
Think Centre Singapore: 200 Indian Workers protest at Indian Embassy
Think Centre Indian Migrant Workers Protest Again
Think Centre 3 MPs question the MOM on non-payment of salaries to foreign workers
Think Centre Thai Women Workers abused by MMI Precision Ltd
MOM Number of Accidents reported under the Workmen Compensation Act (2000 to 2004) 08 Mar 2005
