Tan Chuan Jins anxiety to correct perceptions that migrant workers are not systemically exploited is not corroborated by NGO activists and those workers who have been failed by his Ministrys policies. He is quick to defend his officers from criticism and has publicly stated that his officers work very hard. I do not deny that there are officers who are dedicated and conscientious in carrying out their duties. But this does not mean that we should overlook policies which encourage abuse and exploitation. Instead of citing Ministry commissioned surveys about how happy migrant workers are, the riot should be an opportunity for his government to seriously review how our immigration, social welfare and labour policies have failed to provide protection to workers who have fallen through the cracks.
Posted on: Thu, 23 Jan 2014 00:29:14 +0000