Monday September 10, 2012

Affected workers unhappy with Singapore's blanket punishment

JOHOR BARU: Sabahans and Sarawakians are upset with Singapore for tightening employment regulations which bar those below 35 years of age from working in the republic.

They feel that Singapore should not impose a blanket punishment for the “rowdy behaviour” of a handful of the natives.

An affected worker, Linggi, 28, from Kapit in Sarawak, said he had been with a marine engineering company in Tuas, Singapore, since 2004 but lost his job last month when he could not renew his work permit.

“My employer and I tried to appeal several times but was rejected by the manpower ministry,” he said, adding that he was earning S$12 (RM28.80) an hour.

The Iban said he had heard of many other natives below the age of 35 from Sabah and Sarawak facing similar difficulties.

“It is not fair to punish everyone else when only a handful were creating problems in Singapore,” said Linggi.

Linggi has since found work in an engineering company in Pasir Gudang, which pays him only about RM4,000 a month.

Another affected worker is Sabahan Adrian, 26, who worked as a chef in a hotel earning about S$1,500 (RM3,600) monthly.

“I have been working in Singapore for six years, but all of sudden and without any reason, my work permit has not been approved.”

More News