NGO urges public, workers to report lapses in dorms without fear of reprisals

SINGAPORE — Members of the public and migrant workers should come forward to report lapses in migrant worker dormitories and rest assured that they will remain anonymous when they do so, the Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC) said on Monday (July 22). 

MWC chairman Yeo Guat Kwang said in a statement that complainants need not fear any reprisals from either employers or housing operators if they do decide to lodge a report, as identities are rarely revealed during the prosecution for such cases.

MWC’s call to action comes a few weeks after dormitory operator Labourtel Management Corporation and its director Parvis Ahamed Mohamed Ghouse were charged for housing migrant workers in "filthy and unacceptable" conditions.

The dormitories the firm operated were found to be “poorly maintained” and in “unsatisfactory living conditions”, the Manpower Ministry had said.

During the inspections, cockroaches were found in the dormitories which also had missing or damaged light fixtures, faulty shower taps and corroded railings and staircases

DON’T FEAR REPRISALS

Mr Yeo said that unlike many other types of employment-related claims or complaints, it is possible for housing complainants to have their identities protected throughout investigations and even during prosecutions.

“In fact, they can choose to remain anonymous to our staff manning the helpline,” said Mr Yeo.

He said that anonymous complaints are treated “no differently from others”, as long as complaints are backed up with physical evidence like photographs or video captures of the alleged infringements.

Once these requirements are met, he said the MWC will “respond and assist with the same steadfastness and urgency” as with all complaints they receive.

A complainant who is seeking recourse under the Employment Act for a work injury, salary and other claims does have to reveal his identity.

But this is not the case with housing complaints, which involve verification by the authorities through follow-up physical inspections of the accommodations in question.

The findings from these inspections are then used as evidence during prosecution, often without any allusion to the identity of the original complainant, he said.

“The process very often does not require complainants to ever divulge their identity,” said Mr Yeo.

MIGRANT WORKERS AWARE OF FEEDBACK CHANNELS

Anyone who witnesses any lapses in housing standards for migrant workers is encouraged by the MWC to come forward to report these incidents via its 24-hour helpline at 6536-2692.  

Through its migrant worker helpline, Mr Yeo said the centre has managed to respond to many tip-offs and complaints from both migrant workers and Singaporeans on lapses in housing standards for migrant workers.

The 24-hour helpline, which is run in the major native languages of the migrant worker community, is the only such service in Singapore, said Mr Yeo.

“In many emergency situations, (it) has become a critical avenue of help to migrant workers because of its availability around the clock,” he said.

Mr Yeo said that since October last year, the MWC has been conducting Foreign Workers’ Settling-In Programme (FWSIP) and educating new non-Malaysian Work Permit (WP) holders from the construction sector on their rights and the various assistance channels that are available to them.

By December this year, Mr Yeo said the FWSIP will be expanded to include WP holders from three new sectors – marine, process and manufacturing.

“Important information such as access to self-help mobile applications like DormWatch is included in the FWSIP so that migrant workers are aware of the alternative feedback channels,” he said.

Aside from the FWSIP, Mr Yeo said migrants have also been made aware that they can approach MWC’s Grassroot Network Ambassadors, which comprises of more than 4,000 migrant workers volunteers, for help.

For migrant workers who prefer to contact MWC directly, Mr Yeo said they are able to do so through online channels as well.

“They can contact us via our Facebook or WeChat, where we also put out information and updates on policies, regulations and employment-related assistance relevant to our migrant workers.”