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SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Manpower is looking at setting up an intermediary body to address complaints of unfair workplace practices — such as contractual disputes — that do not run afoul of the law, as part of its review of the Employment Act.
Such complaints can be dealt with, without having to go to the civil courts or the Industrial Arbitration Court — as is the existing practice, Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin told Parliament yesterday.
“This is something we will go through consultation and gather suggestions and ideas,” Mr Tan said. He also reiterated the need for cooperation between the Government, employers and the unions, in the aftermath of November’s illegal strike by some SMRT bus drivers from China. Nevertheless, he stressed that tripartism — the Republic’s much-vaunted approach to industrial relations — alone cannot ensure workers are given fair contracts.
Explaining that it is “difficult” to “legislate for employers to learn to be fair”, Mr Tan said: “What we want to make sure is that we do not want to be intrusive ... we need to be careful not to overdo it ... but where it’s statutory and where it’s required for the Government to step in to implement laws and regulations, that’s something we should do.”
A total of 171 SMRT bus drivers had failed to report for duty on Nov 26 last year in a protest over pay and living conditions.
Several Members of Parliament (MPs) had tabled questions on the episode — the first strike in 26 years — including Tampines GRC MP Irene Ng, who asked, among other things, whether the illegal strike “is a wake-up call for tripartism” and what lessons can be drawn to ensure that low-wage workers will be treated fairly by employers.
Mr Tan noted that unfair workplace practices concern not only Singaporean and foreign low-wage workers but also junior professionals, managers and executives.
However, the Government can only step in when employers breach regulations, such as not ensuring that their foreign employees have “acceptable accommodation”.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) conducted about 3,000 inspections last year to detect “potential breaches” of the Employment Act and Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, and more than 850 inspections of premises used as foreign worker dormitories. More than 350 employers were prosecuted last year.
Responding to some MPs’ concerns about foreign workers being exploited under contracts that were signed overseas, Mr Tan said that these contracts was “something of a concern”.
He added that the Singapore authorities “don’t have the remit to actually go upstream and govern” such contracts, as the different jurisdictions remain a “challenge”.
To address this, the MOM issues an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter to foreign workers who are successful in their applications for an Employment Pass. The letter states all the details — such as job requirements and contractual terms — that were submitted during the time of application.
If the details differ from what were promised by their agents, foreign workers can “raise alarm bells” and seek some recourse at that stage, Mr Tan said.
Non-profit organisations also play a “useful bridging role”, he said. Between 2011 and the end of last year, the MOM received more than 900 case referrals from Transient Workers Count Too and the Humanitarian Organisation for Migrant Economics.
The Migrant Workers’ Centre also assisted about 3,000 foreign workers by solving their employment grievances and providing interim humanitarian assistance such as accommodation and food.
Such complaints can be dealt with, without having to go to the civil courts or the Industrial Arbitration Court — as is the existing practice, Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin told Parliament yesterday.
“This is something we will go through consultation and gather suggestions and ideas,” Mr Tan said. He also reiterated the need for cooperation between the Government, employers and the unions, in the aftermath of November’s illegal strike by some SMRT bus drivers from China. Nevertheless, he stressed that tripartism — the Republic’s much-vaunted approach to industrial relations — alone cannot ensure workers are given fair contracts.
Explaining that it is “difficult” to “legislate for employers to learn to be fair”, Mr Tan said: “What we want to make sure is that we do not want to be intrusive ... we need to be careful not to overdo it ... but where it’s statutory and where it’s required for the Government to step in to implement laws and regulations, that’s something we should do.”
A total of 171 SMRT bus drivers had failed to report for duty on Nov 26 last year in a protest over pay and living conditions.
Several Members of Parliament (MPs) had tabled questions on the episode — the first strike in 26 years — including Tampines GRC MP Irene Ng, who asked, among other things, whether the illegal strike “is a wake-up call for tripartism” and what lessons can be drawn to ensure that low-wage workers will be treated fairly by employers.
Mr Tan noted that unfair workplace practices concern not only Singaporean and foreign low-wage workers but also junior professionals, managers and executives.
However, the Government can only step in when employers breach regulations, such as not ensuring that their foreign employees have “acceptable accommodation”.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) conducted about 3,000 inspections last year to detect “potential breaches” of the Employment Act and Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, and more than 850 inspections of premises used as foreign worker dormitories. More than 350 employers were prosecuted last year.
Responding to some MPs’ concerns about foreign workers being exploited under contracts that were signed overseas, Mr Tan said that these contracts was “something of a concern”.
He added that the Singapore authorities “don’t have the remit to actually go upstream and govern” such contracts, as the different jurisdictions remain a “challenge”.
To address this, the MOM issues an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter to foreign workers who are successful in their applications for an Employment Pass. The letter states all the details — such as job requirements and contractual terms — that were submitted during the time of application.
If the details differ from what were promised by their agents, foreign workers can “raise alarm bells” and seek some recourse at that stage, Mr Tan said.
Non-profit organisations also play a “useful bridging role”, he said. Between 2011 and the end of last year, the MOM received more than 900 case referrals from Transient Workers Count Too and the Humanitarian Organisation for Migrant Economics.
The Migrant Workers’ Centre also assisted about 3,000 foreign workers by solving their employment grievances and providing interim humanitarian assistance such as accommodation and food.
