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Activists concerned that proposed law not comprehensive enough

SINGAPORE — Several civil society activists who took part in the consultation exercise on the proposed Bill against human trafficking have issued a joint letter, citing concerns that it would not adequately address issues of deceptive recruitment, loss of liberty and debt bondage.

SINGAPORE — Several civil society activists who took part in the consultation exercise on the proposed Bill against human trafficking have issued a joint letter, citing concerns that it would not adequately address issues of deceptive recruitment, loss of liberty and debt bondage.

Based on the handouts and discussions during various consultation sessions, the group — which includes Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics Executive Director Jolovan Wham, Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) Executive Director Corinna Lim and Workfair Singapore’s Vincent Wijeysingha — was concerned that the Bill would not be comprehensive enough in its protection.

In November last year, Member of Parliament Christopher de Souza mooted a Private Member’s Bill to enact a Prevention of Human Trafficking Act. Since then, together with the Singapore Inter-Agency Taskforce on Trafficking in Persons, four public and private consultation sessions were conducted to gather views from the public.

In the joint letter — which was posted on AWARE’s website — the activists said it was encouraging to see that the proposed Bill would adopt the broad and comprehensive United Nations Trafficking-in-Persons Protocol. However, they highlighted that with regard to labour trafficking, they had been told that the Bill would not address current exploitative practices, such as poor working and living conditions, wages and restriction of movement, as these issues are already covered under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA).

“Many of us who have worked extensively on migrant worker issues have come across several cases whereby the EFMA has been unable to deliver justice to workers,” they said. “Unless these issues are considered, the proposed Bill will not be comprehensive in its protection, as it is now contingent on an inadequate EFMA to cover gaps.”

They were also concerned about the identification of victims under the proposed Bill, noting that the absence of criteria to determine victims of trafficking — and leaving this decision to the judgment of individual officers — would leave victims vulnerable.

To better support victims, the activists called for more measures such as finding alternative employment and arranging a temporary stay visa.

Asked about the joint letter yesterday, Mr de Souza noted that the proposed law would lay the foundation for enforcement and that there should not be too many elements. Gaps could be reviewed after the gestational period, he said.

A spokesperson from the task force said it would take the feedback and views by the civil society groups into consideration as the Bill is being prepared. NG JING YNG

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