Media Soundbite by MOS Dinesh Vasu Dash at Kranji Recreation Centre on Migrant Workers facing Salary Arrears and Housing Issues

I would like to highlight a couple of updates on the recent unfortunate case involving some of our migrant workers. About 20 of them have already landed jobs in equivalent sectors, and we expect the remainder - at least the vast majority of them - if not all, to be placed in jobs over the next two to three weeks. We hope for that to take place, and we want to put on record our thanks to the Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC) and the Singapore Contractors Association Limited (SCAL). They have leaned forward, provided jobs, and together with MWC and NTUC, we have made tremendous efforts to ensure that our migrant workers, especially those displaced in the current unfortunate instance, are given alternative jobs.

Some of them will have to move out of their Tuas View dormitories - about 230 of them – and MOM has arrangements for them to be moved to the MOM Onboard Centre. This is an alternative location where lodging and food will be provided to them, so they don't need to worry.

I want to put on record also my thanks to some of the temples who have stepped forward, together with the Hindu Endowments Board and Hindu Advisory Board, for providing goodie bags to some of them. It is important for our workers to move back to some degree of normalcy, and for them to be supported during this difficult time.

I want to provide a further update on the employer who was overseas. As at Friday, the 26th of June, he has returned to Singapore and is currently assisting us with investigations. His passport has been impounded.

MOM takes a very serious view of breaches to the Employment Act and Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, and due action will be taken if found guilty. I wanted to also highlight that for our migrant workers out there who may have difficulties, especially those who are owed salaries, it is important for them to reach out to the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM), who will be in the position to support our migrant workers to recover their salaries. This may happen from time to time, as far as businesses are concerned, especially those with cashflow issues. More importantly, I hope to send out a message to our employers to be responsible and to follow what is written in the Employment Act and the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.

Any breaches will incur penalties of between $3,000 to $15,000 per charge, or six months of jail, or both. These are very serious offences, and I hope our employers will be able to  step forward and support our workers as best they can.