Treat Foreign Workers With Dignity

Dr Lam Pin Min, MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, posted this entry on the P65 blog @ p65.sg on 7 January 2009:

I am totally abhorred by the recent reports of foreign workers gathering at MOM to seek redress. Not because of their mass gathering but rather at the plight they are in - the unfair treatment by their employers. Many of these foreign workers’ salaries were not paid to them on time or withheld by these unscrupulous employers. There were also reports of these workers being denied the basic healthcare when they fall ill, told only to sleep it off (for the more “fortunate” ones) and cajoled to continue working (for the less “fortunate” ones).

It is really unfortunate that such practices are happening in modern Singapore. Foreign workers, like any human beings, deserve to be treated with respect, dignity and fairness. Many of them have come to Singapore to work, incurring huge debts for the agent and travel expenses, only to be in a sorry state. They are simple people here to make a honest living, just like our forefathers. They are just like any one of us, somebody’s sons and fathers, with families to support back home.

Errant employers must be severely punished for their malpractices. Not only are the misdeeds inhumane, it will also tarnish the good reputation of our country. Foreign workers should be treated with dignity.