Why workers spend weekends in Singapore’s Little India – Sense676

It is a sad incident and the riot following the accident was certainly undesirable and condemnable. While a number of steps (some knee jerk) are being planned including permanent/partial alcohol sales in Little India, some really moot points are being missed from this incident.

To a very slight extent at least, I see some parallels between this and the China drivers agitating with SMRT Bus Co some months back. The riot following the accident seems to be some venting of frustration too. Frustrations have found a way out in the worst manner perhaps.

While most readers and residents in the country may not know, the real reason for the workers to descend to Little India every weekend is not for entertainment/entertainment alone. Most get paid there for the week of work done in arrears! They collect their monies from agents who pay them in cash.

While they have a pass, Singapore employers most times deal with the agent companies only! The S Pass or WP workers are on paper paid, perhaps S$2500 to S$3000, but actually get only a fraction from the agents. The rest is shared between agent and employer. A fact every foreign worker knows but is helpless about. They feel cheated and the government seeks proof! It would be crazy for our government to expect legally damning proof from hapless less educated workers when a sophisticated legalised money laundering system is being propagated!

Does it make sense for anyone to come from Jurong Dormitory to Race Course Road by train and spend S$7-$8 on transportation, when they actually earn only S$600-$800 on average from what agents pay them? They do so to collect the money and share their grievances with each other about being cheated.

Many weeks the agents will not turn up and they go back without money for the week and borrow from each other and other high interest sources. It is a vicious cycle. Break this if you can – I ask of our government. All will fall in place. The middleman and blood suckers that damage the fabric of our society. No better than pimps.

There is not more than 25% of foreign labour below S$2500 salary who gets paid in full amount in Singapore dollar. This can be verified by any survey. The entire retail and F&B industry hires through agents and this scheme of actual payment being just 30%, and the rest being pocketed by employer overseas, is well known. Address the root cause.

Today, the law minister is seen in the newspaper going to the dormitory and addressing the foreign workers that they can feel safe so long as they are on the side of the law. Is it legal for employers to use agents to funnel kickbacks from foreign workers pay?

Most employers in retail and F&B and construction resort to this method. We give a legal colour to an unethical practice in Singapore. The law is to uphold moral and ethical behaviour and not to justify and give legality to unethical ways of doing things. You can be completely immoral and unethical and yet be legal in Singapore parlance. How terrible! - The Real Singapore