Discussion: laws and regulations
5
08, 2020
Five questions from reporters
Recently, journalists doing follow-up stories about Covid-19 have been reaching us with similar questions. For convenience, we will put our responses here.
3
08, 2020
Migrant bodies sacrificed on the altar of self-praise
The general community is "saved" from Covid-19 only because migrant workers are made to pay the price for us: severe confinement, never mind mental wellbeing and medical complications.
27
07, 2020
Recruitment reform — what needs to be done
A short explainer about how corrupted the recruitment system has become for migrant workers and the two key measures needed to reform the eco-system.
25
07, 2020
Four and a half years to get compensation for Md Sharif’s family
Employer and insurer objected to the compensation award. The case went to a 'labour court' hearing, and then to the High Court, the issues becoming technical along the way.
18
07, 2020
“Have you got the $2,000 ready for me?”
$2,000 is cheap as far as recruiters' fees go, but just as easily lost. Razzak's story is unfortunately as common as dirty money in the migrant labour market.
29
06, 2020
Post-Covid law makes migrant workers prisoners of employers
The new law says "The employer must not allow, or cause to be allowed, the foreign employee ... to leave the dormitory ... and may grant or refuse consent..."
26
06, 2020
Post-Covid roadblocks to salary justice
With what looks like a policy change, worker's access to the Employment Claims Tribunal now appears to be seriously impeded by costs and uncertainty of process.
25
06, 2020
Tribunal makes two errors in Liakat’s salary claim
We felt that the Employment Claims Tribunal erred in two major areas in its ruling over Ali Liakat's salary claim. Leave to appeal was sought, but denied.
4
05, 2020
Manpower Ministry’s advisory on circuit breaker still unclear
In a media statement dated 13 April 2020 (links to short version and long version) we pointed out that an entire section of the Ministry of Manpower's Advisory on salary and leave arrangements during Circuit Breaker was not only unclear, but seemed to bless salary reductions for foreign workers. "Circuit Breaker" is the
28
04, 2020
A self-cultivated Achilles heel
As Covid-19 infections among migrant workers hit new highs, John Gee takes stock of the bigger picture: What is it about Singapore's migrant labour policy that makes this crisis a self-inflicted one, and where do we go from here?