Fresh labour dispute, now at HDB worksite

Fresh labour dispute, now at HDB worksite
PHOTO: Fresh labour dispute, now at HDB worksite

TWENTY Indian construction workers did not turn up for work at a Housing Board project site in Yishun yesterday due to unpaid salaries, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

MOM said in a statement yesterday that preliminary investigations showed that the workers had not received their salaries for last month, which would have been due by Dec 7. The statement said: "These workers did not previously approach MOM on their salary issues."

Their employer, Sime Chong Construction - assisted by the main sub-contractor, Asiabuild - is currently working to pay the outstanding salaries within the next 24 hours, added MOM.

Four Chinese construction workers from the same firm are said to have stopped work at the Yishun Avenue 6 site since Nov 26. Speaking to reporters yesterday, the workers' supervisor - who gave his name only as Mr Tan - said these workers were owed between $1,000 and $2,000 each.

MOM said yesterday that the four workers had lodged salary claims and that its labour-relations officers have been working to resolve the issue of the workers' salary arrears. MOM added: "At the same time, we have been investigating the company for Employment Act infringements."

Mr Tan explained that he was unable to pay the workers as his car - where he had placed the workers' salary vouchers - was stolen on Monday. He then issued "IOUs" to them and promised to settle the payments within the next few days.

Sime Chong Construction was set up in October last year and employs about 80 workers from India, Bangladesh and China, said Mr Tan.

At about 6pm yesterday, MOM officers were seen entering the site office. It is believed that they held mediation talks with representatives from the Migrant Workers' Centre.

Mr Liu, 32, a Chinese worker from the construction firm, told My Paper he heard that the company has been experiencing financial difficulties. He has been employed by the company for only a month, but heard from his colleagues that it is common for wages to be paid three to four days late.

This incident - at least the fourth labour dispute reported recently - comes in the wake of an illegal strike carried out by SMRT bus drivers from China on Nov 26 and 27.

In a blog post on International Migrants Day yesterday, Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin said that, with foreigners making up one in three workers here, "there will inevitably be employment disagreements or disputes between foreign workers and their employers".

He added that, following changes to the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act this year to stem abuse against foreign workers, MOM is looking at another set of legislative changes next year.

This is "to ensure the well-being of workers, as well as an equitable balance of rights and responsibilities between employers and workers", he said.

Mr Tan added that MOM is working with the Migrant Workers' Centre to produce a video for migrant workers before they come here, to educate them on their employment rights and how to settle any employment disputes amicably.

tsjwoo@sph.com.sg

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