Accompanied by representatives from the companies they work for, about 200 foreign workers were issued formal police advisories at the Police Cantonment Complex yesterday.

Responding to media queries after some of the workers claimed they were not present during the Dec 8 Little India riot, the police said “investigations revealed that these 200-odd individuals were present at the location of the riot”.

“We are satisfied that their involvement had been passive and incidental,” said the police in a statement. “As such, they will be issued with formal police advisories.”

The process was largely completed yesterday, the police said, reiterating that “no further action will be taken against them”. The workers are allowed to stay on in Singapore and continue with their jobs, but must not come to “adverse notice” again.

Earlier yesterday, workers and their representatives appeared not to know why they had to be at the police complex.

Owner of Siak Hoe Outdoor Spray Painting Heng Siak Hoe, who accompanied his employee, an S Pass holder from India, said: “(The worker) is very obedient. I don’t know why the police asked me to come here. I’m not alarmed (over being called to the complex) because we didn’t do anything wrong.”

Mr Suresh Babu, Administrative Manager at Bluesky Infratech, said he had checked with his worker, who claimed “he wasn’t involved in anything”. They emerged from the complex after about an hour with a copy of the police advisory. According to it, the workers are reminded to abide by Singapore’s laws. Should they commit any criminal offence, they will face stern action, including the revocation of their work privileges.

Mr Manikgam Arumugam, a worker at Hock Tat Building Construction, said: “They asked me to obey the rules and I said okay.” He added that he would still go to Little India “if I want to send money or buy any groceries”. “I don’t mind going there. I am not afraid,” he said. Chitra Kumar