Over a hundred men working for three inter-connected companies filed salary complaints. All were owed thousands of dollars; but all had also paid around $10,000 to get their jobs. Do the math: 100 men x $10,000 each.
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.
