The Migrant Workers’ Centre’s (MWC) mobile unit, FREIDA is gearing up to widen its tentacles.
Come second quarter of 2017, MWC is launching its second mobile unit says its Chairman and NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Yeo Guat Kwang.
He spoke to the media on the sidelines of a talent contest held for International Migrants Day on 18 December 2016.
FREIDA stands for Forward Response, Engagement & Intel Deployment Asset.
Good Progress Made
Giving an update on the work of MWC since its set up in 2009, ASG Yeo says it has been making good progress, handling about four thousand cases of migrant workers’ issues.
In all, close to twenty thousand cases have been dealt with so far.
“We have seen more and more foreign workers come to us for help and this speaks quite clearly that we are doing a good job. It is time for us to consider how we can expand our scope by strengthening our outreach. So next year we are going to roll out another mobile MWC to help us to reach out to the workers more regularly and frequently. At the moment, workers still have to come to our physical centre to file their complaints or seek advice in addition to the hotline that we have,” says ASG Yeo.
Since the launch of the first unit in February 2015, MWC says it has touch based with nearly 50,000 migrant workers all over Singapore.
The common complaints
Mr Yeo says three key issues continue to dominate the nature of complaints dealt with by MWC.
They are salary disputes, the need to expedite compensation claims from workplace injuries and concerns about workers’ accommodation.
From 1 April 2017, all employers will have to provide itemised pay slips.
While the Manpower Ministry had introduced this provision from 1 April 2016, it gave companies which needed more time a one-year grace period.
“We will urge the authorities to step up enforcement so that all get their pay slips. With this, we will be help ensure that our workers’ salaries are promptly paid”, says Mr Yeo.
Turning to proper accommodation, he says with more supply of living spaces for these workers, employers have no excuse not to place their workers in properly built dormitories.
Source: NTUC This Week
