The Migrant Workers’ Centre’s (MWC) team of specialists responded swiftly to a salary dispute issue yesterday by sending a team to the worksite at Yishun within an hour.
The dispute arose between a group of foreign workers and their employer Sime Chong Construction.
In a statement issued today, MWC said it worked with Ministry of Manpower (MOM) officials, the employers and the workers at the scene to reach a satisfactory resolution, and the recovery of salary arrears for most of the affected workers last evening.
In addition, MWC provided emergency housing for four of the workers who were not able to have their claims resolved last evening.
It updated that a favorable resolution had been achieved from today's meeting held at the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) at 4pm where the four foreign workers met with their employer and the MOM case officer.
In addition to outstanding salaries being paid in full to the workers, the employer also paid for their return air tickets, after indication from them about wanting to return home. The workers will leave for China just after 4pm tomorrow.
“Until their departure, MWC will continue to house them at MWC-arranged dormitory accommodation. With the settlement of the outstanding issues for these four workers, there no longer remain any outstanding worker claims from this case.
“We would like to remind all employers of their responsibilities to their foreign workers under our manpower regulations, which include the prompt payment of due salaries, and the obligation to provide acceptable housing and adequate care for their workers during their stay in Singapore,” said Mr Yeo Guat Kwang, Chairman of Migrant Workers’ Centre.
He added that MWC would like to take this opportunity to remind foreign workers in distress not to take matters into their own hands and instead approach MOM, MWC or any other migrant help groups for assistance.
