9 in 10 foreign workers satisfied with working in Singapore

SINGAPORE: Nine in 10 foreign workers are generally satisfied with working in Singapore, according to a survey. The survey was jointly commissioned by the Manpower Ministry and the Migrant Workers' Centre to get a better understanding of the employment conditions and well-being of foreign workers in Singapore. Its findings were highlighted by Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin at the Migrant Worker's Centre's sixth International Migrants Day celebrations on Sunday (Dec 7). The poll, conducted by an independent survey company between March and July this year, involved face-to-face interviews with about 3,500 work permit holders and 500 S Pass holders. The majority of respondents – 85.7 per cent of work permit holders and 93.4 per cent of S Pass holders – would also recommend Singapore as a place to work. Good pay, good working and living conditions, and sense of security were some of the commonly cited reasons. More than seven in 10 foreign workers – 76.9 per cent of WP holders and 71.4 per cent of S Pass holders – planned to continue working with their current employers after their contracts have expired, according to the survey. ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT However, Mr Tan said there are areas of improvement, like sending the in-principle approval (IPA) letter to these workers before they come to Singapore. The letter contains information like basic salary components and occupation. His ministry will issue reminders to employers that it is mandatory to send the letters, including the native language copy. He added that failure to do so is a breach of the Employment of Foreign Manpower Regulations, and carries a maximum financial penalty of S$10,000. "It is important that workers receive these letters prior to their departure, so that they can make informed choices about whether to take up employment in Singapore,” said Mr Tan. “However, the survey revealed that a sizeable proportion of non-Malaysian foreign workers did not receive their IPA letters, or that the letters were not in their native language. This failure to receive IPA letters before coming here could in turn give rise to employment issues downstream." http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/9-in-10-foreign-workers/1514868.html