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Singapore migrant workers anxious over unpaid wages, seek new jobs or return home
🇸🇬 Singapore /Economy & Trade

Singapore migrant workers anxious over unpaid wages, seek new jobs or return home

From CNA · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Migrant workers in Singapore, employed by KPA Engineering, have not been paid for up to four months, with some owed thousands of dollars.
  • Facing financial hardship and uncertainty, some workers are considering returning to India, while others are actively seeking new employment opportunities.
  • Unions and authorities are intervening, offering job vacancies and financial assistance to the affected workers while facilitating salary claims.

Dozens of Indian migrant workers in Singapore are facing severe financial distress after not receiving wages for up to four months from their employer, KPA Engineering. Some workers, like Mr. Prakash, who has worked in Singapore for over two decades, are owed approximately S$7,100 (US$5,500) and are running out of money sent from home.

After that ends, I'm not sure what to do. I'll see how. I might have to take on loans.

— Mr. PrakashDescribing his financial uncertainty due to unpaid wages.

For workers like Mr. Prakash, the situation has led to serious consideration of returning to India permanently. He is currently seeking medical advice for a leg injury that hinders his job prospects in construction and is unsure about the process of recovering his unpaid wages if he leaves Singapore. He plans to consult the Ministry of Manpower for guidance.

I've been here for 21 years. Now I just want to see how life would go back home.

— Mr. PrakashExpressing his intention to return to India after years of working in Singapore.

However, a different path is being pursued by many of his colleagues. Out of eight KPA Engineering workers interviewed, more than half have already started looking for new jobs, with some beginning their search weeks ago when their employer became unreachable. Several have reportedly found new companies willing to hire them, pending official documentation.

We have received interest from over 80 companies with close to 400 vacancies, and our unions are sending in more referrals.

— Ng Chee Meng, Labour chiefHighlighting the job opportunities available for the affected workers.

Support is being mobilized by labor organizations and authorities. The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and the Migrant Workers' Centre (MWC) have identified 150 job vacancies for the affected workers and are receiving interest from over 80 companies offering nearly 400 positions. Job placements are set to begin next week. Additionally, around 400 workers are eligible for S$200 in cash and vouchers upon joining the MWC. Authorities are relocating workers to a central lodging facility for better support coordination, and the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management is assisting with salary claims.

We will make sure no one is left behind in this process.

— OfficialReassuring workers that support will be provided throughout the process of claiming wages and finding new employment.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNA in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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