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Dec 18, 2008
Left in the lurch <!--10 min-->
<!-- headline one : start --> <!-- headline one : end --> <!-- Author --> <!-- show image if available --> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr></tr> <tr> </tr> <tr> </tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold">By Melissa Sim
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A group of the workers in Tagore Lane telling Straits Times journalist Melissa Sim about their plight. Tipper Corp, their employer, said it is looking into their problems. -- ST PHOTO: SAMUEL HE
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ONE hundred and eighty foreign workers living in Tagore Lane have been left jobless, unpaid and now hungry as well, as meal deliveries stopped abruptly yesterday. For the time being, foreign worker advocacy group Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) has stepped in to provide two meals, but it is unclear whether the workers' other problems will be resolved. The Bangladeshi workers' employer, marine company Tipper Corporation, claims that two sub-contractors were responsible for the workers and that they had abandoned them. Tipper says the sub-contractors did this because it had taken them to court last month for $3.5 million owed in project fees.
But the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said Tipper remains responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the workers. This is not the first group of abandoned workers linked to Tipper to be discovered. Twice over the last 10 days, Tipper's director, Mr Loke Siew Fai, arrived home to busloads of workers waiting outside his Tanah Merah house. The company said it had managed to find new accommodation for those workers. As for this latest group, it has been a harrowing six days in Tagore Lane, the workers told The Straits Times. First, the sub-contractors told them there would be no more work and they would not receive their salaries. That was last Friday. Then on Monday, one of the two sub-contractors, who was based in Tagore Lane, cleared out his office there, leaving bunk beds and 180 workers. The workers are put up in a large hall about the size of three badminton courts. They share 14 toilets, some of which are sometimes locked.
The workers said the sub-contractor told them he would no longer be responsible for them, and left the premises. Yesterday, meal deliveries stopped, while water and electricity supply was cut off by the landlord. The two sub-contractors could not be reached by The Straits Times. Tipper admits it is ultimately responsible for its workers and said it has extended the lease in Tagore Lane for a few days. Over the next 10 days, the company hopes to find alternative accommodation, get accounts settled and find new projects for the workers. One employee, Mr Md Monir Hossain Abdul Jabbar, 34, said he hopes to continue working in Singapore and see out his two-year work permit. He also wants to collect the 1-1/2 months' pay that is owed to him. Some of his colleagues are owed up to 2-1/2 months' salary. The workers usually receive between $400 and $500 each month.
An MOM spokesman told The Straits Times it is investigating Tipper for the illegal deployment of foreign workers, as well as the failure to pay the workers their salaries. Employment pass applications by Tipper will no longer be accepted by the ministry. The spokesman added that should Tipper fail to ensure the upkeep and maintenance of the workers, it would be committing further breaches of the law.
TWC2 said it has seen similar cases recently where workers were not paid or did not have work, and expects to see more as the economy slows. The group's president, Mr John Gee, said some employers might 'try to save more money by not paying (workers) the money that they are due'. Labour MP Halimah Yacob said that the economic slowdown has 'affected everyone - both local and foreign'. She added: 'But employers terminating the work permits of foreign workers should also be fair to them. They should be given proper notice and be paid their salaries and other benefits due to them.'They should not be exploited just because they are foreigners.' Said a worried Mr Monir: 'Today there is food, but I don't know what will happen tomorrow.'
[email protected]
<hr size="1" width="50%"> EMPLOYER
Tipper Corporation says two sub-contractors are responsible for the workers, and they had abandoned them. Tipper says they did this because it had taken them to court last month for $3.5 million owed in fees.
MANPOWER MINISTRY
Tipper Corporation remains responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the workers.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dec 18, 2008
Left in the lurch <!--10 min-->
<!-- headline one : start --> <!-- headline one : end --> <!-- Author --> <!-- show image if available --> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr></tr> <tr> </tr> <tr> </tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold">By Melissa Sim
</td></tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td width="330">
</td> <td width="10">
A group of the workers in Tagore Lane telling Straits Times journalist Melissa Sim about their plight. Tipper Corp, their employer, said it is looking into their problems. -- ST PHOTO: SAMUEL HE
</td></tr> </tbody></table> <!-- START OF : div id="storytext"-->
ONE hundred and eighty foreign workers living in Tagore Lane have been left jobless, unpaid and now hungry as well, as meal deliveries stopped abruptly yesterday. For the time being, foreign worker advocacy group Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) has stepped in to provide two meals, but it is unclear whether the workers' other problems will be resolved. The Bangladeshi workers' employer, marine company Tipper Corporation, claims that two sub-contractors were responsible for the workers and that they had abandoned them. Tipper says the sub-contractors did this because it had taken them to court last month for $3.5 million owed in project fees.
But the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said Tipper remains responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the workers. This is not the first group of abandoned workers linked to Tipper to be discovered. Twice over the last 10 days, Tipper's director, Mr Loke Siew Fai, arrived home to busloads of workers waiting outside his Tanah Merah house. The company said it had managed to find new accommodation for those workers. As for this latest group, it has been a harrowing six days in Tagore Lane, the workers told The Straits Times. First, the sub-contractors told them there would be no more work and they would not receive their salaries. That was last Friday. Then on Monday, one of the two sub-contractors, who was based in Tagore Lane, cleared out his office there, leaving bunk beds and 180 workers. The workers are put up in a large hall about the size of three badminton courts. They share 14 toilets, some of which are sometimes locked.
The workers said the sub-contractor told them he would no longer be responsible for them, and left the premises. Yesterday, meal deliveries stopped, while water and electricity supply was cut off by the landlord. The two sub-contractors could not be reached by The Straits Times. Tipper admits it is ultimately responsible for its workers and said it has extended the lease in Tagore Lane for a few days. Over the next 10 days, the company hopes to find alternative accommodation, get accounts settled and find new projects for the workers. One employee, Mr Md Monir Hossain Abdul Jabbar, 34, said he hopes to continue working in Singapore and see out his two-year work permit. He also wants to collect the 1-1/2 months' pay that is owed to him. Some of his colleagues are owed up to 2-1/2 months' salary. The workers usually receive between $400 and $500 each month.
An MOM spokesman told The Straits Times it is investigating Tipper for the illegal deployment of foreign workers, as well as the failure to pay the workers their salaries. Employment pass applications by Tipper will no longer be accepted by the ministry. The spokesman added that should Tipper fail to ensure the upkeep and maintenance of the workers, it would be committing further breaches of the law.
TWC2 said it has seen similar cases recently where workers were not paid or did not have work, and expects to see more as the economy slows. The group's president, Mr John Gee, said some employers might 'try to save more money by not paying (workers) the money that they are due'. Labour MP Halimah Yacob said that the economic slowdown has 'affected everyone - both local and foreign'. She added: 'But employers terminating the work permits of foreign workers should also be fair to them. They should be given proper notice and be paid their salaries and other benefits due to them.'They should not be exploited just because they are foreigners.' Said a worried Mr Monir: 'Today there is food, but I don't know what will happen tomorrow.'
[email protected]
<hr size="1" width="50%"> EMPLOYER
Tipper Corporation says two sub-contractors are responsible for the workers, and they had abandoned them. Tipper says they did this because it had taken them to court last month for $3.5 million owed in fees.
MANPOWER MINISTRY
Tipper Corporation remains responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the workers.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
