I came across this article in TOC. It is such a poor article that I felt that the editors should have at least spoken to this chap. And this is part 2 of the 3 part series. I am talking about watching paint dry.
Prejudice and Discrimination – The Prices Others Pay
Posted by theonlinecitizen on March 3, 2012 14 Comments
3~By: Ng Yi Shu~
As mentioned in my previous article (Prejudice and Discrimination – Xenophobia), discrimination is a manifestation of our prejudices; our beliefs about things, people and events. We have to be aware, however, of the prices foreigners pay as a result of our discrimination.
In my research into the topic of discrimination and the most common form it manifests in Singaporean society (i.e. xenophobia), I had found several startling things – one of which is how prevalent xenophobia was in our community.
There are many reasons why we choose to become xenophobic – we feel vulnerable towards the incoming surge of foreigners who make us feel alien in our homeland; we fear that they take away our sources of economic income; we fear that they take away our opportunities of education… the list goes on. I am not here to deny these fears – but the costs that these foreigners pay as a result of discrimination are indeed (in my opinion) too much.
The Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics is an organisation that protects migrant worker rights. In their annual report for the fiscal year 2010, the organisation listed instances of migrant abuse, which I would like to quote below:
“Unfair and Exploitative Contracts
We were approached by many construction workers from China who signed contracts that violated local and international labour standards such as denial of medical leave, rest days and overtime pay.
Employment Agencies
Workers seeking redress for complaints against employment agencies often involved agencies which failed to deliver on promises for jobs or which overcharged workers.
Work Injuries
Injured workers seeking compensation continued to face problems from their employers who refused to house and feed them, or pay for their medical bills. Many of them were also not paid their medical leave wages on time.
Forced Labour
We identified a number of workers who approached us for assistance who may be classified as victims of forced labour. The workers who called us found themselves in situations where they were asked to work long hours (12 – 13 hours on average) and were not allowed days off. They found it difficult to leave their employer because they had already paid several thousand dollars to agents in their countries of origin. They also told us they felt compelled to work long hours for fear of being dismissed.”
Why has this unwelcome climate towards these migrant workers manifested this way – making migrant workers not paid well, fed well, housed well?
What prejudice do we have so that these migrant workers are discriminated?
We believe that they are uneducated, uncouth and uncultured because they come from a poorer country; that they are easily manipulated because they are uneducated; that they are more violent because they are uncouth; that they are a bad influence to our children because they are uncultured. These same ideas link very well to the widespread belief that money, merit and status equates to dignity, equality and choice – the very ideas that are at the root of our highly competitive and stressful society.
Truth is, migrant workers are humans too, like you and me. Our xenophobic tendencies towards them will not be fair, for they did nothing to deserve our judgement.
There is a need to change immigration policy to help Singaporeans. True, the principle of Singaporeans first should not be forgotten, for national identity must be put first. But while we push for a policy of dignity, equality and justice for our own Singaporeans, we must also never forget that our fellow foreign migrant workers are also human beings that deserve the same rights of dignity, equality and justice.
We should never judge them as a group just because one of them insulted us; or just because some of them committed a crime.
In fact, we should never judge them at all.
This is the second part of a 3-part series.
Prejudice and Discrimination – The Prices Others Pay
Posted by theonlinecitizen on March 3, 2012 14 Comments
3~By: Ng Yi Shu~
As mentioned in my previous article (Prejudice and Discrimination – Xenophobia), discrimination is a manifestation of our prejudices; our beliefs about things, people and events. We have to be aware, however, of the prices foreigners pay as a result of our discrimination.
In my research into the topic of discrimination and the most common form it manifests in Singaporean society (i.e. xenophobia), I had found several startling things – one of which is how prevalent xenophobia was in our community.
There are many reasons why we choose to become xenophobic – we feel vulnerable towards the incoming surge of foreigners who make us feel alien in our homeland; we fear that they take away our sources of economic income; we fear that they take away our opportunities of education… the list goes on. I am not here to deny these fears – but the costs that these foreigners pay as a result of discrimination are indeed (in my opinion) too much.
The Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics is an organisation that protects migrant worker rights. In their annual report for the fiscal year 2010, the organisation listed instances of migrant abuse, which I would like to quote below:
“Unfair and Exploitative Contracts
We were approached by many construction workers from China who signed contracts that violated local and international labour standards such as denial of medical leave, rest days and overtime pay.
Employment Agencies
Workers seeking redress for complaints against employment agencies often involved agencies which failed to deliver on promises for jobs or which overcharged workers.
Work Injuries
Injured workers seeking compensation continued to face problems from their employers who refused to house and feed them, or pay for their medical bills. Many of them were also not paid their medical leave wages on time.
Forced Labour
We identified a number of workers who approached us for assistance who may be classified as victims of forced labour. The workers who called us found themselves in situations where they were asked to work long hours (12 – 13 hours on average) and were not allowed days off. They found it difficult to leave their employer because they had already paid several thousand dollars to agents in their countries of origin. They also told us they felt compelled to work long hours for fear of being dismissed.”
Why has this unwelcome climate towards these migrant workers manifested this way – making migrant workers not paid well, fed well, housed well?
What prejudice do we have so that these migrant workers are discriminated?
We believe that they are uneducated, uncouth and uncultured because they come from a poorer country; that they are easily manipulated because they are uneducated; that they are more violent because they are uncouth; that they are a bad influence to our children because they are uncultured. These same ideas link very well to the widespread belief that money, merit and status equates to dignity, equality and choice – the very ideas that are at the root of our highly competitive and stressful society.
Truth is, migrant workers are humans too, like you and me. Our xenophobic tendencies towards them will not be fair, for they did nothing to deserve our judgement.
There is a need to change immigration policy to help Singaporeans. True, the principle of Singaporeans first should not be forgotten, for national identity must be put first. But while we push for a policy of dignity, equality and justice for our own Singaporeans, we must also never forget that our fellow foreign migrant workers are also human beings that deserve the same rights of dignity, equality and justice.
We should never judge them as a group just because one of them insulted us; or just because some of them committed a crime.
In fact, we should never judge them at all.
This is the second part of a 3-part series.
