In the September 2024 sitting of Parliament, there were a number of questions put to the Minister for Manpower pertaining to migrant workers. Here we discuss three of them.
On programmes and the briefings conducted for foreign workers on racial and religious harmony
10 September 2024
MP: Neil Parekh Nimil Rajnikant
To ask the Minister for Manpower whether an update can be provided on the integration programmes and the briefings conducted for foreign workers of all nationalities to ensure that they are apprised of the importance of racial and religious harmony in Singapore before their employment; and (b) whether more steps will be taken to educate foreign workers living in dormitories on racial harmony and in the language that they understand best after the incident of a Bangladeshi preacher who illegally preached at a dormitory on 9 August 2024.
Answer:
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) requires migrant workers in key sectors to attend the Settling-In Programme (SIP)* upon arrival in Singapore. Conducted in their native languages, the programme introduces migrant workers to Singapore’s laws and social norms, including the importance of living and working harmoniously with people of different races and religions.
2. Beyond the SIP, a whole-of-society effort is essential to facilitate the successful assimilation of migrant workers to live and work in Singapore. MOM works closely with various stakeholders such as non-governmental organisations, employers, dormitory operators, community partners and migrant worker volunteers to share the importance of racial and religious harmony in Singapore with migrant workers. These initiatives include social media outreach, dormitory orientation programme for new workers and festive celebrations in dormitories and recreation centres. For example, in July, MOM co-organised a Racial Harmony Day celebration for over 1,200 migrant workers with the Alliance of Guest Workers Outreach, a movement under Hope Initiative Alliance, to promote understanding of different cultures, races and religions.
3. The annual International Migrant Day celebration is also a key engagement platform to showcase the diversity of nationalities and cultures of the migrant workers in Singapore, which will also engender greater understanding and acceptance by the community.
4. Employers and dormitory operators also play important roles in ensuring religious and racial harmony at both the workplaces and dormitories. MOM will continue to work with them and other partners to promote social cohesion and religious harmony amongst our migrant workers.
*Note by TWC2: The Settling-in Programme is also referred to as “onboarding”, a term more commonly used by migrant workers themselves.
Comment by TWC2
It is false comfort to think that any amount of lecturing during the very short Settling-in-Programme or any number of “Racial Harmony Days” is going to make much difference to people’s attitudes on matters of race, culture and religion. In any case, similar extremist sermons can be accessed through social media round the year.
This is not to say that nothing should or can be done to combat the harm that can be caused, but they will probably have to take the form of surveillance and other security measures, which the government is already doing.
Another powerful antidote to exclusionist ideologies is that of interaction with other communities. In this respect, the policy of segregation of migrant workers into far-away dormitories, leaving them with few opportunities to interact with Singaporeans in daily life, should also be reconsidered.
On the number of dormitories that have started retrofitting to meet Interim Standards and New Dormitory Standards
9 September 2024
MP: Louis Ng Kok Kwang
To ask the Minister for Manpower how many dormitories have informed the Ministry of their plans to start work earlier to meet the (i) interim standards and (ii) New Dormitory Standards, respectively, under the Dormitory Transition Scheme to improve living conditions for dormitory residents.
Answer:
Dormitories will need to meet the new dormitory standards by 2040 and interim standards by 2030. Currently, about 200 new dormitories with a combined capacity of about 70,000 beds already meet the new dormitory standards. A further 14 existing dormitories, or another 100,000 beds, have either commenced works or informed the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) of their transition plans.
Comment by TWC2
The minister’s answer sounds like progress, but a closer look at the Standards is edifying as to how low a bar can be set. See the news report from October 2023 which in turn refers to another news report from September 2021.
By way of example, the Interim Standards to be attained by 2030 call for 3.6 square metres of living space per occupant (up by 0.1 m2 from the present average of 3.5 square metres per person); there should be a maximum of 12 persons per room (compared to the present unlimited number, but which in practice is often 12 – 16 persons); and there is no requirement for dormitory operators to provide wifi.
The 2040 New Dormitory Standards call for 4.2 m2 per occupant, maximum 12 persons per room, and wifi.
On the age limit for migrant domestic workers (MDWs)
9 September 2024
MP: Liang Eng Hwa
To ask the Minister for Manpower (a) whether the Ministry will review the age limit of 60 years old for foreign domestic workers (FDWs) to work in Singapore; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider employers’ appeals for yearly extensions of their FDWs’ work permit to work in Singapore beyond this age limit.
Answer:
As employers are responsible for the medical costs of their migrant domestic workers (MDWs) which generally increase with age, the age limit of 60 years old is to mitigate the cost impact on households. However, on appeal, the Ministry of Manpower may approve the renewal of work permits beyond the age limit, taking into account the MDWs’ health, experience, and the employer’s household needs.
Comment by TWC2
The Minister’s reply sounds reasonable to us. The question from the Member of Parliament, however, raises a number of other questions as to where this issue is coming from.
Is it from employers who want to keep foreign domestic workers in their households despite workers crossing sixty years of age? Domestic work is, to a large extent, physical labour and one has to wonder how willing those domestic workers, albeit highly valued by their employers, are to continue. Or is it more because the workers still have not saved enough for their own senior years and thus need to continue working? In which case, what does that say about wages?