Foreign workers find illegal jobs through informal network
Hundreds of foreign workers, many who were injured, take on such jobs
Published on Nov 25, 2013
Bangladeshi worker Kazal on a job painting a shop in the town area. He hopes he will be allowed to transfer to another employer so he can work legally. -- ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG
By Amelia Tan
At 8pm, Bangladeshi worker Kazal receives a text message on his mobile phone: meet at 9am the next day at a Jurong West coffee shop. He knows the sender. But the assignment, as always, is a mystery.
On arrival, the brief is delivered: He has to paint an HDB flat and will be paid $60. Payment is to be made at the end of the day, in cash, of course.
Kazal, who declined to give his full name, is one of hundreds of moonlighting foreign workers who source for illegal jobs here through an informal network.
Most of them are injured as a result of their legal work. They ran away from their official employers because they were not paid and are afraid they may be sent home.
BACKGROUND STORY
THE PENALTIES
FOR WORKERS
FOREIGN workers who take on illegal jobs can be fined up to $20,000 and/or jailed for up to two years for working while holding a Special Pass.
FOR EMPLOYERS
ANYONE who is convicted of hiring a foreigner without a valid work pass can be punished with a fine of at least $5,000 and up to $30,000 and/or jailed for up to 12 months.
The punishment is heavier for subsequent convictions.
Get the full story from The Straits Times.
