Adjournment motion on a fairer and more inclusive Singapore for low-wage migrant workers

Low-wage migrant workers in Singapore face three major problems - paying kickbacks to errant employers, prolonged confinement in their dormitories due to COVID-19 and exhaustion from overwork. Moving a motion on this in Parliament on Tuesday (Feb 15), MP Louis Ng proposed solutions to each problem. First, to treat kickbacks as seriously as corruption by sharply increasing penalties, and to create a permanent scheme allowing migrant workers to change employers if they are unfairly dealt with. Second, to allow all vaccinated and boosted migrant workers into the community as long as they comply with safe management measures and frequent testing. Third, to ensure that all migrant workers get one rest day a month which they cannot sell back to their employers. In response, Senior Minister of State for Manpower Koh Poh Koon outlined measures already in place to tackle the issues raised by Mr Ng. For instance, bosses accused of taking kickbacks can be charged on a per worker basis, resulting in the total penalty being significant. Maximum working hours are also mandated, with workers having to be compensated if they are made to work on a rest day.