Interesting updates related to migrant worker issues
The ILO is running a Global Media Competition for work related to labour migration. Open to professional and student journalists. Closing date 31 October 2019.
427 doctors responded to this survey describing what they've seen of how foreign workers' medical treatment have been compromised.
A smallish fire broke out at Golden Mile Complex, where TWC2's main office is located, on 5 September 2019. We didn't suffer any damage.
Abu Samad died of a heart attack while at work. He had a history of ischaemic heart disease. MOM's Assistant Commissioner for Labour ruled that his next-of-kin were not entitled to work injury compensation. The High Court overruled it.
A new Work Injury Compensation Act was passed in Parliament on 3 September 2019. TWC2 comments on some key statements reported in the media. To make the new law work, administrative and process weaknesses must also be addressed.
At a Parliamentary sitting on 15 January 2019, Nominated Members of Parliament Anthea Ong and Mohamed Irshad asked the Minister for Social and Family Development questions regarding foreign spouses of citizens and permanent residents. The Minister of State for Social and Family Development, Sam Tan, answered for the minister. In the latter part of the
The news site TodayOnline reported that the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) "plans to clamp down on employers who abuse salary vouchers — such as by having employees indicate receipt of their wages before they are paid." The news story was dated 26 November 2018 (Link). On the face of it, this sounds like progress. It's
Following a story in the Straits Times (see earlier article) about a circular jointly issued by the Ministries of Health (MOH) and Manpower (MOM) reminding doctors about their ethical responsibility to issue appropriate medical leave, a hand surgeon affiliated with Gleneagles Hospital wrote to the newspaper's forum with his point of view. Dr Andrew Yam
On 17 September 2018, the Ministries of Health and Manpower jointly issued a circular to doctors reminding them to abide by guidelines laid out by the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) with reference to medical leave. The relevant guidelines cited were the 2016 Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines (ECEG): Guideline B4(4) - Medical Certificates. The full circular
In a parliamentary reply to a question by MP Melvin Yong, Manpower minister Josephine Teo said in July 2018 that only 11% of work permit holders lodging salary claims were paid electronically. (Scroll down for full reply). This factoid supports TWC2's urging that electronic payment of salaries should be made mandatory. In our Policy Brief