Foreign worker---blog 3

There are many foreign workers leaving their country and family to make money in Singapore. Some are lucky to land in reasonable jobs while others aren’t so lucky. There are even cases like a small pool of these foreign workers duped into coming and realise no jobs in Singapore.
Strong syndicates of manpower businesses in some countries have used sophisticated ways to swindle the workers for quite some time resulting in such plight of the workers. This continued process of hiring workers from many of these poorer developing countries generates a huge amount of money and is in demand. This is because there are a lot of cases where the permits are not approved by the Singapore immigration side and hence some came into the country on social visit for a short few months before returning back to their countries. The harsh reality is to know that these foreign workers take loan money from lenders to pay a brokerage fee to work in Singapore. Some don’t earn enough to even recoup his brokerage fee，and they live in a dormitory in a shabby condition and wait for odd jobs.
However, as we know, the global economic downturn had hit United States hard, and this ripple effect had hit many developed countries like Japan, UK and Singapore too. Majority of these foreign workers come from Bangladesh, Vietnam, China etc. Because of this economic crisis, it had made things even harder for them. Many are retrenched due to companies going bankrupt, others having pay cuts or pay freeze, some having their working days reduced and this in turn affected the workers. Due to no money; food, shelter and health became an issue. That is where this desperate group of foreigners could have done or succumbed to in order to survive their ordeal is to turn to crimes. I cannot even bring myself to imagine the neighbourhood shop being robbed, innocent aunties being pick-pocketed and all sorts of other petty crimes. This is some liberal policies that the government will have to fine tune in the importing of foreign labours and enforcing existing regulations more effectively.
Looking into the scope of Singapore's rapid construction, import and export trades, shipyard and manufacturing sectors, increased labour is required. However, due to higher education enforced in Singaporeans, many Singaporeans would not take up tough, manual labour jobs. They too have a mentality that others would look down upon them. Hence most of these jobs are undertaken by many of these foreign workers。These foreign workers are indeed a crucial source of manpower for the manufacturing and construction. These industries are among the first to play a key role in globalization of the economy, however are also the first victims when the financial crisis hit the global markets. Among the 11 countries in Southeast Asia, the Singapore government has taken the development of the first export-oriented policy of the labour-intensive manufacturing.
Jobs as maids are another case of shortage of labour in Singapore whereby the majority of them are from India, Thailand, Philippines, Bangladesh and other countries. Some maids are forced to wake up early in the morning to do housework and till late in the night. Some even have to clean more than one house. Luckily the Singapore government came up a ruling that only registered homes be cleaned and not more than one. Their salary has also been revised and they are entitled a day off per month.
Due to labour shortage and low-cost labour, these workers with their own wisdom and hard work, contribute to the success of Singapore economy, but also weaving their dreams of a better life ahead. However there is always a gap between reality and dreams. Not all of them are able to taste the fruits of their labour. The impact of financial crisis badly hurt the construction industry in Singapore. According to the description of foreign workers, non-payment of wages is an increasingly serious problem. Some employers delayed their wages for several months to a year. Others did not even earn a penny for their hard work. These foreign workers need a work permit to work and stay in Singapore. If no such permit is tantamount to illegal will be thrown into prison or sent back. Usually the employer of these foreign workers will use their work permits to threaten them, and some employers even illegally captivate them. Some employers will charge high mortgage payments of $5000 from the workers and said they need pay the deposit to the government. In fact, the $5000 is to ensure that the foreign workers in Singapore leave within the work permit stipulated time and also in not breaking the law. In fact this amount is required to be paid by employers, and not，the workers.
In general, when the workers paid the deposit to the employers, it would be difficult to take back. The Singapore Government has stipulated that an employer can contract works in accordance with the volume of applications to the Ministry of Manpower. Some employers take advantage of this to earn high agent fees; will submit more entries than the actual target needed. After the admission of the foreign workers to Singapore, they will leave them aside. From what I know, there are many such cases locally.
There is a rising issue that many of these foreign workers don’t want to go back home. Reasons could be because of empty-handed with a huge debt awaiting back home. Others like the more fortunate ones picking up skills and have a job. However if more and more migrant workers come to Singapore, I think the government will have to start shutting their doors to migrant workers in Singapore. I can’t believe a job with a minimum fixed monthly wage of 1,500 Singapore dollars for local people, and then the migrant workers only have 500—800 Singapore dollars per month, that is low-paid for migrant workers and insufficient money to sustain life. By again this is my opinion, and surprisingly some could even survive by only 5 dollars a day.

These are the challenges and confrontations faced by these foreigner workers but by shear hard work and determination, they do churn out a life of their own. The favourite pastime of these workers are gathering to chit-chat and relaxing on the grass fields in parks.