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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>And it takes a whole panel of ministers to decide on it! And they are so proud of it! My goodness!
New Govt panel overseeing foreign worker issues
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Sue-Ann Chia
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->ON THE weekend before Chinese New Year - and for two months after that - auxiliary police officers were deployed daily to patrol the streets of Little India.
It was an unusual sight - the first time that these officers had been sent to keep an eye on the large number of foreign workers who congregate there.
The deployment was a suggestion by a new Ministerial Steering Committee - one of its first acts since being set up in January to deal with issues arising from the presence of foreign workers in Singapore.
It is chaired by newly appointed Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong.
'Foreign workers are part of our employment landscape, part of our social landscape. It is important for us to manage their presence in Singapore so that they can be part of the society,' he told The Straits Times in a recent interview.
Hence, his committee intends to look into and provide for the needs of foreign workers in areas ranging from housing requirements to recreational activities.
=> Why no ministerial committee to look into the welfare or aged Sporns who need to pick rubbish to survive?
It also aims to ensure the harmonious co-existence between locals and these workers.
The committee's composition reflects the range of issues that it will oversee. Involved are three Senior Ministers of State from different ministries to coordinate the Government's strategy on foreign worker management.
They are Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee (Law and Home Affairs), Mr S. Iswaran (Trade and Industry, and Education), and Ms Grace Fu (National Development and Education).
Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui Tuck Yew, the newly appointed Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, is involved as an adviser. He is MP for the Moulmein ward of Tanjong Pagar GRC, which includes part of Little India.
The committee worked with grassroots leaders in the area to learn about residents' concerns. Hence the decision to deploy auxiliary police officers to 'advise' foreign workers about Singapore's social norms, Mr Gan explained.
This idea of deploying auxiliary police officers and security officers will be rolled out in other areas with a high concentration of foreign workers from this month.
Mr Gan did not reveal the locations.
The committee's efforts have been applauded by residents in Little India, said Tekka grassroots leader Martin Pereira.
'There's less congregation of foreign workers below residential blocks and this allows residents to enjoy the facilities like the playground,' he said.
'The area is also a bit cleaner.'
He said the presence of foreign workers was a 'longstanding issue' for residents. Some were uncomfortable seeing so many of them blocking footpaths, or drinking and even urinating at void decks.
The presence of auxiliary officers helps ensure that workers do not loiter or litter at void decks. They also provide residents with a sense of security, he said.
Mr Gan said, however, that national statistics show foreign workers committed less crime than locals.
=> PRs = Locals? And cos the poodles refuse to accept reports?
For now, the committee will press on with moves to educate workers on Singapore's laws and social norms.
They receive booklets and are shown videos in different languages about Singapore when they arrive to work.
'Many of these foreign workers come from different cultures, different backgrounds (with) different practices. They need a bit of time to adjust and so we help them,' said Mr Gan.
The committee also oversaw the dormitory and recreational centre for foreign workers at Soon Lee Road which was completed last month.
It serves as a venue for workers to gather and hold social activities and reduces the inconvenience to residents, as workers in the vicinity no longer need to congregate at void decks or other public spaces. 'We will just continue to monitor the situation and manage their presence here but it's important for Singaporeans to understand that these foreigners will have to be here,' Mr Gan said.
New Govt panel overseeing foreign worker issues
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Sue-Ann Chia
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->ON THE weekend before Chinese New Year - and for two months after that - auxiliary police officers were deployed daily to patrol the streets of Little India.
It was an unusual sight - the first time that these officers had been sent to keep an eye on the large number of foreign workers who congregate there.
The deployment was a suggestion by a new Ministerial Steering Committee - one of its first acts since being set up in January to deal with issues arising from the presence of foreign workers in Singapore.
It is chaired by newly appointed Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong.
'Foreign workers are part of our employment landscape, part of our social landscape. It is important for us to manage their presence in Singapore so that they can be part of the society,' he told The Straits Times in a recent interview.
Hence, his committee intends to look into and provide for the needs of foreign workers in areas ranging from housing requirements to recreational activities.
=> Why no ministerial committee to look into the welfare or aged Sporns who need to pick rubbish to survive?
It also aims to ensure the harmonious co-existence between locals and these workers.
The committee's composition reflects the range of issues that it will oversee. Involved are three Senior Ministers of State from different ministries to coordinate the Government's strategy on foreign worker management.
They are Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee (Law and Home Affairs), Mr S. Iswaran (Trade and Industry, and Education), and Ms Grace Fu (National Development and Education).
Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui Tuck Yew, the newly appointed Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, is involved as an adviser. He is MP for the Moulmein ward of Tanjong Pagar GRC, which includes part of Little India.
The committee worked with grassroots leaders in the area to learn about residents' concerns. Hence the decision to deploy auxiliary police officers to 'advise' foreign workers about Singapore's social norms, Mr Gan explained.
This idea of deploying auxiliary police officers and security officers will be rolled out in other areas with a high concentration of foreign workers from this month.
Mr Gan did not reveal the locations.
The committee's efforts have been applauded by residents in Little India, said Tekka grassroots leader Martin Pereira.
'There's less congregation of foreign workers below residential blocks and this allows residents to enjoy the facilities like the playground,' he said.
'The area is also a bit cleaner.'
He said the presence of foreign workers was a 'longstanding issue' for residents. Some were uncomfortable seeing so many of them blocking footpaths, or drinking and even urinating at void decks.
The presence of auxiliary officers helps ensure that workers do not loiter or litter at void decks. They also provide residents with a sense of security, he said.
Mr Gan said, however, that national statistics show foreign workers committed less crime than locals.
=> PRs = Locals? And cos the poodles refuse to accept reports?
For now, the committee will press on with moves to educate workers on Singapore's laws and social norms.
They receive booklets and are shown videos in different languages about Singapore when they arrive to work.
'Many of these foreign workers come from different cultures, different backgrounds (with) different practices. They need a bit of time to adjust and so we help them,' said Mr Gan.
The committee also oversaw the dormitory and recreational centre for foreign workers at Soon Lee Road which was completed last month.
It serves as a venue for workers to gather and hold social activities and reduces the inconvenience to residents, as workers in the vicinity no longer need to congregate at void decks or other public spaces. 'We will just continue to monitor the situation and manage their presence here but it's important for Singaporeans to understand that these foreigners will have to be here,' Mr Gan said.
