- Joined
- Jul 24, 2008
- Messages
- 33,627
- Points
- 0
[h=2]Panasonic replies: We pay PRC workers $760 and not $500[/h]
August 29th, 2012 |
Author: Editorial
Earlier, TRE has reported that a group of over 100 PRC workers at Panasonic Refrigeration Devices Singapore Pte Ltd had started a petition to draw attention to their grievances working at the Panasonic plant (‘Over 100 PRC workers at Panasonic’s Singapore start a petition‘).
The PRC workers complained that their basic pay of $500 is too little. They claimed that they have to work illegally, exceeding the legal limit of 72 hours of overtime a month before they can earn a decent salary to make a living. Also, insufficient overtime notice was given to workers resulting in them unable to plan their own activities properly.
They said that each of them had paid $6000 fee to an employment agency, purportedly designated by the company, in order to get the job.
Jolovan Wham from the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (HOME), an organization dedicated to providing assistance to migrant workers and victims of human trafficking and forced labour, confirmed the petition on his Facebook page:
The spokesman said, “They have the right to accept or reject the overtime arrangement.”
It is believed that this is the first time foreign workers are turning to online petitions to vent their grievances.
Meanwhile, the Manpower Ministry (MOM) said it is aware of the case and is looking into it. It has urged the workers to come forward.
One of the PRC workers, Liu Xili, told the media that he had quit and would be going home to Liaoning, China next month.
Liu said in Mandarin, “Nobody forced me to work here, but the low pay is not worth it.”
Employers in Singapore have been ‘pressurizing’ the MOM to give them more foreign quota so that they can employ more foreigners to work in their companies. It is not difficult to understand why.
What we are seeing is nothing more than our local employers indulging in a modern-day form of ‘human slavery’, supported by our Govt’s liberal policy in the last few years.
.
Join our TRE facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/TREmeritus
.
The PRC workers complained that their basic pay of $500 is too little. They claimed that they have to work illegally, exceeding the legal limit of 72 hours of overtime a month before they can earn a decent salary to make a living. Also, insufficient overtime notice was given to workers resulting in them unable to plan their own activities properly.
They said that each of them had paid $6000 fee to an employment agency, purportedly designated by the company, in order to get the job.
Jolovan Wham from the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (HOME), an organization dedicated to providing assistance to migrant workers and victims of human trafficking and forced labour, confirmed the petition on his Facebook page:
“In the last few months, I have been approached by over one hundred migrant Chinese women and men who are factory workers in Panasonic’s plant in Singapore. My colleague and I spoke with the management but we were unable to achieve anything out of the discussions. The workers also failed in their negotiation for better working conditions. Finally, they have decided to send in a petition.”
Panasonic has refuted the charges, according to local media report. A Panasonic spokesman said all entry-level workers get a minimum of $760, including allowances, and not $500 the PRC workers have claimed. He said that Panasonic complies with the Singapore law on overtime work, and workers are given one week’s notice.
The spokesman said, “They have the right to accept or reject the overtime arrangement.”
It is believed that this is the first time foreign workers are turning to online petitions to vent their grievances.
Meanwhile, the Manpower Ministry (MOM) said it is aware of the case and is looking into it. It has urged the workers to come forward.
One of the PRC workers, Liu Xili, told the media that he had quit and would be going home to Liaoning, China next month.
Liu said in Mandarin, “Nobody forced me to work here, but the low pay is not worth it.”
Employers in Singapore have been ‘pressurizing’ the MOM to give them more foreign quota so that they can employ more foreigners to work in their companies. It is not difficult to understand why.
What we are seeing is nothing more than our local employers indulging in a modern-day form of ‘human slavery’, supported by our Govt’s liberal policy in the last few years.
.
Join our TRE facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/TREmeritus
.
