Mr President, the Singapore National Trades Union Congress delegation joins other delegates to congratulate you on being elected to preside over the 92nd Session of the International Labour Conference.
Migrant Workers
1. Mr President, the discussion of migrant workers is timely. Some 175 million people are residing outside their country of birth or nationality. Each year millions of men and women leave their homes and cross national borders in search of decent work and better opportunities for themselves and their families. Migration has emerged as an important issue of our times with far-reaching implications on our workers and societies.
2. While international migration can be a positive experience, far too many migrant workers suffer from poor working and living conditions. Migrant workers face the grim reality of being among the world’s most vulnerable and exploited people. Their rights as workers are often undermined, especially when they are in irregular situations. Some suffer severe abuse and violence in forced labour and trafficking situations.
3. The challenge confronting the global community is to make migration work for all and direct it in a way that serves the economic well-being and social justice of workers. Trade unions around the world share the same mission in protecting all workers, both migrants and locals, from workplace discrimination, exploitation, abuses and violence.
4. Singapore National Trades Union Congress (SNTUC) is concerned about the welfare of all workers. The labour movement has always recognized and accepted the need for migrant workers to supplement and complement our limited human resources, and appreciates their contribution to Singapore's development and growth.
5. At the SNTUC Ordinary Delegates Conference in October 1998, the labour movement called on the government to strengthen efforts to stamp out the problem of unscrupulous employers who use non-documented workers. Over the years, the tripartite social partners have strengthened efforts in protecting the interests of migrant workers in Singapore.
6. There are strict regulations/policies and statutory protections in Singapore to ensure the health, safety, accommodation, and remuneration for migrant workers and there are stiff penalties to punish errant employers.
7. Migrant workers can join trade unions in Singapore. They form about 17.5% of union membership with majority in the shipbuilding, construction, manufacturing and hotel sectors. In certain house unions, the migrant workers membership can be as high as 70%. Migrant workers enjoy the same union protections, services and benefits as local members. In some cases, unions have negotiated for lower subscription fees subsidised by management.
8. Migrant workers in Singapore also enjoy the opportunity to upgrade their skills and improve their career prospects. Many acquire new skills and formal certification of competency in a trade.
9. In May 2002, a scheme to accredit Foreign Domestic Workers agencies by the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE), a non-profit organization founded by the SNTUC in 1971, was launched. Under the scheme, it is compulsory that all employment agencies managing foreign domestic workers be accredited from June 2004 before their licences can be renewed. These agencies would have to show that they have acceptable fair-trading practices, counselling/mediation system and other good practices provided under the accreditation scheme to safeguard the interests of foreign domestic workers.
10. SNTUC Migrant Workers Forum is actively pursuing various means and initiatives, to further improve policies and programmes aimed at protecting the interests and well-being of migrant workers in Singapore. We are calling on government and employers to ensure the welfare and rights of migrant workers in Singapore, and will continue to work together with them towards this end.
Conclusion
Mr President, the issues on the agenda of the ILC this year address the challenges we are facing today. We look forward to the second round of discussions on human resources training and development, with our workers’ delegate, Mdm Halimah Yacob, re-elected as Chairperson for the Workers Group (tbc). Our economies today are driven by knowledge and new technologies. There is an urgent need to help every individual have at least the basic knowledge and skills to adapt to change and benefit from globalization. As the presence of delegations representing workers, governments, and employers attending ILC each year attests, we recognize and accept our shared responsibility to work together to achieve sustainable development and decent work for all. The challenge is to make real and measurable progress. Our workers and their families will realize a better life, not from what we say about what needs to be done, but from what we are able to do together.
Thank you.
