It first began with the employer cutting out the agent (to the worker's advantage), but it actually was a sign that the employer couldn't be trusted to honour the contract.
Many questions from MPs: about primary healthcare, kickbacks, working without work passes and the Household Services Scheme.
Two lifeguards hired from Kerala, India were tasked to work 14-hour days, seven days a week. And paid only half of what had been documented as the agreed salary. Wouldn't fatigue affect their alertness?
A story about kickbacks, a bad faith S-Pass application and a host of other breaches, all crying out for investigation, but was there any?
A boss demands more than half a worker's salary back, for a reason that shifts from time to time, including levy.
A manager goes to prison for taking kickbacks from migrant workers. The impact on workers who had to pay was terrible. As positive a step this is, a far bigger issue contines to need attention.
Border closures during Covid-19 disrupted the supply-demand equation for migrant workers. A year after borders re-opened, we speak with three re-migrating workers: how much did you pay to get your jobs?
When the construction industry faced a severe manpower shortage due to Covid-19 border closures, a funny thing happened to recruitment costs. Knowing the phenomenon would be ephemeral, a snapshot study was conducted.
The public sector is a huge buyer of construction. That weight can be applied for good. Government projects should come with ethical labour requirements.
It is good to see MOM put out warnings to employers on Faceboook against taking kickbacks, but if previous cases are any guide, few complaints by workers get anywhere.
