[What do you think] Human Rights Watch say buses not "essential" in Singapore

[mojito]

Original article by BBC News here.

Singapore urged to drop charges against strike drivers
6 December 2012 Last updated at 10:42 GMT

A human rights group wants Singapore to drop the charges against four Chinese bus drivers accused of instigating a strike at transport firm SMRT.

They were charged after 171 drivers, all of whom were recruited from China, abstained from work last week over pay.

Singapore has already jailed one bus driver for six weeks and deported 29 others for staging the strike.

Strikes are illegal in Singapore for workers in essential services, unless the employer is given 14 days' notice.

However, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said that none of the conditions for a sector to be deemed essential "can reasonably apply to the situation of the Chinese bus drivers in Singapore".

It argued that, according to the International Labour Organization, restrictions on the right to strike "can only be justified in sectors that are 'essential' in the strictest sense of the term, where the interruption of that service could endanger the life, safety or health of all or part of the population, or in situations of acute national crisis".

It said the strike had not led to a mass disruption of service, with only 5% of Singapore's bus services being affected.

'Wrong conclusion'
If convicted, the four drivers face a maximum fine of 2,000 Singapore dollars ($1,600; £1,000) as well as the possibility of up to a year in jail.

The Chinese drivers who took part in the strike say they are being paid significantly less than drivers of other nationalities and that their company-provided accommodation - which HRW says the drivers paid for - is poor and unhygienic.

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at HRW, said that Singaporean authorities needed to address these issues.

"Sadly, the government is drawing the wrong conclusion from the bus drivers' strike," he said.

"Rather than prosecuting migrant workers who speak up, the government should ensure that all workers have equal rights."

The drivers appeared in court on Thursday and were granted bail.

Bail was set at SG$10,000 for three of them, and at SG$20,000 for one driver who faces an extra charge for posting a comment on a Chinese social networking site urging other to join the strike.

However, reports in various media suggested they may struggle to raise the funds.

 

[rusty]

PAP's definition all these are essentials,

1.Bus services
2.Taxis
3.Hospitals and clinics
4.Aviation/airport workers
5.Shipping/port workers
6.Shipyards
7.All factories
8.Food courts and restaurants
9.Postal services
10.Communication
11.Utilities services
12.Schools and universities
13.Prostitutes and entertainers
14.Funeral services and under-takers
15.Retailers and shopkeepers
16.Car repairs and other workshops

The list goes on.....except one in my sincere and honest opinion ....the eat wasted rice.....President!

 

[Agoraphobic]

Parliament is not essential, or necessary, in Singapore.

Cheers!

 

[scroobal]

The fact that Hock Lee Bus Riots took place is not because the communists loved the sight of buses. Buses transport people to place of work - factories, offices etc. If it is not essential than I don't know what is. People who operate power stations, water works etc do not sleep at their place of work.

 

[rover2sg]

Who cares what these so-called human rights think. Whose rights are they protecting? Uncle is only interested in rights for Singaporeans.

 

[singveld]

bus is essential, people who cannot get to work, will get fired.
Those loser lawyers, nothing better to do.
those bus driver compare their salary with malaysian, why not compare their salary with MIW, since MIW get millions for doing virtually nothing, the chinaman who work hard on bus should get half a million, they should strike for such noble reason, rather than compare themselves with terrorist busdrivers.