I refer to the report “Govt to study possibility of having work permit holders’ salaries paid electronically” (March 7, online).

HOME welcomes the Acting Manpower Minister’s remarks that his ministry will consider broadening the circumstances under which migrant workers may switch employers, and the suggestion of mandatory salary payment via GIRO for work permit holders.

Without payslips or time cards, migrant workers have difficulty substantiating their salary claims. We have seen cases of workers who were forced by employers to sign blank vouchers and payslips as “proof” of payment.

Some employers also resort to forging their employees’ signature on payslips, to avoid payment after complaints are filed with the ministry. Mandating GIRO payments would discourage employers from cheating workers of their hard-earned money.

In our experience, workers are often reluctant to file complaints and report abuse for fear of being dismissed and sent home. Employers thus have disproportionate power over their migrant employees. This becomes an incentive to exploit workers further.

Therefore, the Government should go further by reforming policies that might encourage trafficking in persons and forced labour.

Creating a framework that allows all migrant workers to switch employers freely and facilitates job matching, while ensuring a fair distribution of the hiring costs between the old and new employer, is one such example.

This could become part of the Government’s efforts to tackle trafficking in persons effectively.