Singapore to tighten laws for Indians

Singapore to tighten laws for Indians
SHOBHA MATHUR PANDIAN

CHENNAI, DECEMBER 25: The employment opportunities of over 10,000 Indian workers bound for Singapore are likely to be at stake in the future, with changes likely in the policies of the Singapore Government. From April 2000 onwards, it is learnt the Singapore Government will recruit only 100 per cent skilled and basic skilled workers from India for its construction industry, a departure from the present 50 per cent quota for both categories of workers.

Moreover, the term of employment of the construction workers is to be renewed up to ten years after completion of two years service in Singapore. Presently, only one renewal of two years is allowed.

Every year, 40,000 to 50,000 Indian workers travel overseas in search of better job opportunities, to work in the `emigration check required' (ECR) countries - such as Singapore, Malaysia and the Middle-East. Of this Tamil Nadu contributes one-fourth. Eighty per cent of them are construction workers.

Following complaints of exploitation of overseas workers by their employers, the Singapore Government has tightened rules, it is learnt.

The foreign workers' quota of small companies, noted for their exploitative tactics, has been abolished, said P Balasubramanian, Protector of Emigrants (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Pondicherry). Only big timers, G1 to G8 companies have been granted the permit to recruit overseas labourers.

The Building Construction Authority of Singapore has been empowered to evaluate the skills of Indian workers. All requests for foreign workers are routed through this statutory board. Once the `prior approval' is sanctioned by the Ministry of Manpower, Singapore, the Indian recruiting agent will initiate emigration clearance for the worker.

Since the Singapore Government rules require the employer to deposit a bank guarantee of 5000 Singapore dollars for each worker, the preference is for skilled workers. Consequently, the G-8 companies with a turnover of 100 million Singapore dollars per annum have set up training centres in Sholinganallur near Chennai and are providing a training course of 45-60 days in various disciplines of construction activity, said Balasubramanian.

Each company has a registered Indian recruiting agent though other registered agents are also permitted. However, irregularities on the part of Indian agents continue to exist despite stringent provisions in the Indian Emigration Act, 1983.

A large number of non-registered agents and sub-agents continue to dupe the illiterate workers. The service charges collected by the agent from the worker for the overseas trip is far in excess of that prescribed in the Act.

The amount varies from country to country ranging from Rs 1,60,000 for Singapore, Rs 50,000 for Malaysia, Rs 50,000 for Saudi Arabia and Rs 40,000 for Maldives several times higher than that stipulated, according to Paul Baskar, chairman of Peace Trust, a social service organisation.

Ironically, even such a large deposit is not able to guarantee a job to the workers for the full term of the contract. Once the workers step ashore, they are bogged down by low or no wages, no overtime and reversal of the terms of the contract. Finally they end up as illegal emigrants without a job and passport which is withheld by the employer.