Let All Migrant Workers Switch Bosses Freely

A version of this letter was published in TODAY on 14 March 2014.

HOME welcomes the Minister of Manpower's remarks that the Ministry will consider broadening the circumstances under which migrant workers may switch employers, including the suggestion for mandatory payment of salaries of work permit holders via GIRO.

Without payslips or time cards, migrant workers find it difficult to substantiate their salary claims. We have seen several cases in which workers are forced by employers to sign blank vouchers and pay slips as 'proof'of payment. Some employers also resort to forging their employees' signature on pay slips to avoid payment after complaints are filed with the Ministry. Mandating GIRO payments will discourage employers from cheating workers of their hard earned money.  

As the article rightly pointed out, domestic and construction workers require permission from their existing employers to switch employers. In our experience, workers are often reluctant to file complaints and report abuse for fear of being dismissed and sent back home.  As a result, employers have disproportionate power over their migrant employees and this becomes an incentive to exploit and cheat workers further.  

Even though positive steps have been taken to enhance protections for migrant workers, the government needs to go further by reforming existing policies which encourage trafficking in persons and forced labour. Creating a framework that allows all migrant workers to switch employers freely, facilitate job matching, while also ensuring a fair distribution of the costs of hiring between the old and new employer is one such example. We urge the government to consider this as part of its efforts to tackle trafficking in persons effectively.