MOM tapping migrant worker network for alerts on issues like salary claims: Dinesh
The unpaid wages were resolved swiftly, 361 workers were rehoused and new jobs were secured for 392 affected workers with multiple companies.
The Manpower Ministry (MOM) in Singapore is leveraging an app and a volunteer programme known as Friends of ACE to address gaps in information about migrant worker concerns, according to Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash. This initiative aims to facilitate easier communication between migrant workers and the authorities to raise issues such as salary claims.
The ACE group works alongside employers, dormitory operators, and NGOs to support the well-being of migrant workers. Despite the availability of formal channels, workers may choose not to report concerns due to fear of losing their jobs or facing retaliation. MOM manages around 1,000 active Friends of ACE volunteers across various types of housing, with over 1,500 dormitories housing more than 300,000 migrant workers.
The Friends of ACE volunteers can reach more than three-quarters of workers living in dormitories. The Ministry of Manpower is also exploring recreational centres as safe spaces for workers to voice concerns. In a recent incident, over 400 workers raised issues, including unpaid wages, against KPA Engineering, SK Industries, and VVR Plant Engineering.
The Ministry of Manpower resolved these cases within a week, ensuring the workers received their payments. Salary claims have been increasing since 2021, particularly among foreign employees. MOM’s efforts to resolve these claims include rehousing affected workers and securing new employment for some. However, experts caution that migrant workers may still be hesitant to report salary issues due to fears of losing their jobs and repatriation.
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