<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>MOM building seeing more protests
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><TR>Distressed foreign workers have gathered at ministry's premises at least 5 times in recent months </TR><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Mavis Toh
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Chinese national Fu Fengjin (raising his hand) was one of 200 workers from China who gathered outside the MOM building on April 27 to air their grievances about their employers. -- PHOTO: THE NEW PAPER
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->When construction worker Feng Jinfu's work permit was cancelled, his first thought was to go to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) for help.
Calls were made and discussions were held among his colleagues - all from China - who were in a similar situation. He learnt that his bosses had failed to pay the workers' levy.
The next day - April 27 - 200 of them converged at the ministry's premises in Havelock Road.
'Without our permits, we fear being sent home,' said Mr Feng. 'So we went to MOM for help, not trouble.'
He stayed for two hours but some of his colleagues stayed even longer.
Mr Feng and his colleagues are not the only foreign workers turning up at MOM.
In recent months, its building in Havelock Road, near the Subordinate Courts, has on at least five occasions been filled with large groups of foreign workers.
They usually face issues such as non-payment of salaries, sudden termination of employment contracts or problems with accommodation.
When they get to MOM, not only do they want answers but they also want them fast.
Early last month, a worker from China even climbed onto the roof of MOM's seven-storey building. He sat on the rooftop edge for 90 minutes before the police managed to calm him down and take him away.
He had earlier approached the ministry five times in one day regarding various employment issues.
In the most recent case last month, 200 workers showed up when their work permits were revoked and some of their bosses went missing.
But even after MOM officers assured them that investigations were under way and that they should return at a later date to settle the issue, more than half refused to leave.
The mood turned rowdy and it was only after the police were called in and threats of arrest were made that they dispersed. The stand-off lasted six hours.
Responding to The Sunday Times' queries, MOM said workers should not break the law in the misguided belief that it will aid their cases.
Its spokesman said: 'Foreign workers who are uncooperative may instead impede the process and cause unnecessary delays in the resolution of their cases.'
Those who refuse to leave the premises when asked to do so may also be referred to the police.
The police and MOM would not say if any arrests have been made so far.
Migrant worker advocacy groups said more of such 'demonstrations' are happening, possibly because of the recession.
Between last June and April this year, the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (Home) was approached by more than 500 'retrenched' foreign workers.
Before the recession, it saw only about 10 such cases in a year.
Apart from having their contracts terminated early, many have also not been paid for months.
Mr John Gee, president of Transient Workers Count Too, said: 'This is a situation not seen previously. Now, large groups of workers are affected at the same time because they are let go at the same time.'
Though workers do turn to advocacy groups and embassies, the ministry is often their best bet.
One worker, who wanted to be known only as Mr Chu, 42, said whenever he approached his embassy for help, it would refer him to MOM.
The Chinese Embassy said it sees about 1,000 workers monthly and works closely with the ministry to resolve employment issues.
Though the embassy can take action against China-based agents, its hands are tied when it comes to Singapore companies and agents.
A spokesman added: 'The embassy has no right and power to force the local agents to take action.'
Workers interviewed said they stake out MOM's building because they need quick official action or risk being sent home prematurely and ridden with debt.
The founder of Home, Ms Bridget Lew, said such protests are staged out of 'desperation'.
'They possibly believe that protesting in numbers and attracting media attention would pressure the authorities to act.'
She is right. In every such 'protest', workers were eager to speak to the media.
MOM said workers should report instances of salary arrears early before the problem escalates, as small-sum cases are easier to resolve.
The spokesman added that investigations may take time for complex cases and workers should be patient.
MOM last week helped more than 420 workers settle salary claims and fee payment issues with their employers at its Kim Seng Road office.
New advocacy group Migrant Workers Centre, set up last month, hopes it will be an additional avenue foreign workers in trouble can turn to.
It is working closely with the ministry and is ready to help handle workers and assist in shelter issues should large groups turn up again.
For now, MOM urges workers to be patient and follow the instructions of its officers so that their cases are processed quickly.
'I tell my friends that we can't behave the way we do in China,' said Mr Feng.
'As much as we need help, we have to be civil and not disrupt order.' [email protected]
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><TR>Distressed foreign workers have gathered at ministry's premises at least 5 times in recent months </TR><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Mavis Toh
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
Chinese national Fu Fengjin (raising his hand) was one of 200 workers from China who gathered outside the MOM building on April 27 to air their grievances about their employers. -- PHOTO: THE NEW PAPER
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->When construction worker Feng Jinfu's work permit was cancelled, his first thought was to go to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) for help.
Calls were made and discussions were held among his colleagues - all from China - who were in a similar situation. He learnt that his bosses had failed to pay the workers' levy.
The next day - April 27 - 200 of them converged at the ministry's premises in Havelock Road.
'Without our permits, we fear being sent home,' said Mr Feng. 'So we went to MOM for help, not trouble.'
He stayed for two hours but some of his colleagues stayed even longer.
Mr Feng and his colleagues are not the only foreign workers turning up at MOM.
In recent months, its building in Havelock Road, near the Subordinate Courts, has on at least five occasions been filled with large groups of foreign workers.
They usually face issues such as non-payment of salaries, sudden termination of employment contracts or problems with accommodation.
When they get to MOM, not only do they want answers but they also want them fast.
Early last month, a worker from China even climbed onto the roof of MOM's seven-storey building. He sat on the rooftop edge for 90 minutes before the police managed to calm him down and take him away.
He had earlier approached the ministry five times in one day regarding various employment issues.
In the most recent case last month, 200 workers showed up when their work permits were revoked and some of their bosses went missing.
But even after MOM officers assured them that investigations were under way and that they should return at a later date to settle the issue, more than half refused to leave.
The mood turned rowdy and it was only after the police were called in and threats of arrest were made that they dispersed. The stand-off lasted six hours.
Responding to The Sunday Times' queries, MOM said workers should not break the law in the misguided belief that it will aid their cases.
Its spokesman said: 'Foreign workers who are uncooperative may instead impede the process and cause unnecessary delays in the resolution of their cases.'
Those who refuse to leave the premises when asked to do so may also be referred to the police.
The police and MOM would not say if any arrests have been made so far.
Migrant worker advocacy groups said more of such 'demonstrations' are happening, possibly because of the recession.
Between last June and April this year, the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (Home) was approached by more than 500 'retrenched' foreign workers.
Before the recession, it saw only about 10 such cases in a year.
Apart from having their contracts terminated early, many have also not been paid for months.
Mr John Gee, president of Transient Workers Count Too, said: 'This is a situation not seen previously. Now, large groups of workers are affected at the same time because they are let go at the same time.'
Though workers do turn to advocacy groups and embassies, the ministry is often their best bet.
One worker, who wanted to be known only as Mr Chu, 42, said whenever he approached his embassy for help, it would refer him to MOM.
The Chinese Embassy said it sees about 1,000 workers monthly and works closely with the ministry to resolve employment issues.
Though the embassy can take action against China-based agents, its hands are tied when it comes to Singapore companies and agents.
A spokesman added: 'The embassy has no right and power to force the local agents to take action.'
Workers interviewed said they stake out MOM's building because they need quick official action or risk being sent home prematurely and ridden with debt.
The founder of Home, Ms Bridget Lew, said such protests are staged out of 'desperation'.
'They possibly believe that protesting in numbers and attracting media attention would pressure the authorities to act.'
She is right. In every such 'protest', workers were eager to speak to the media.
MOM said workers should report instances of salary arrears early before the problem escalates, as small-sum cases are easier to resolve.
The spokesman added that investigations may take time for complex cases and workers should be patient.
MOM last week helped more than 420 workers settle salary claims and fee payment issues with their employers at its Kim Seng Road office.
New advocacy group Migrant Workers Centre, set up last month, hopes it will be an additional avenue foreign workers in trouble can turn to.
It is working closely with the ministry and is ready to help handle workers and assist in shelter issues should large groups turn up again.
For now, MOM urges workers to be patient and follow the instructions of its officers so that their cases are processed quickly.
'I tell my friends that we can't behave the way we do in China,' said Mr Feng.
'As much as we need help, we have to be civil and not disrupt order.' [email protected]
