NuaMan
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A migrant worker asked me to share this message.
Subject: Urgent Complaint Regarding Excessive Overseas Agency Fees, Unfair Repatriation on Medical Grounds, and Lack of Protection for Migrant Workers*
Respected Officers,
Ministry of Manpower, Singapore
I am writing to bring to your attention a serious case of injustice faced by a worker, which reflects the situation of thousands of other migrant workers in the marine sector.
Case Details:
One of my neighbours from Bangladesh went to Singapore in 2022 for a marine sector job. He paid a total of *SGD $7,000* as agency fees to come to Singapore.
His family is extremely poor. His father had only two cows. To pay the fee, his father sold both cows for $3,000 and borrowed another $4,000 from a local lender with a monthly interest of $200.
The young worker was declared medically fit in Bangladesh and obtained his work permit and flew to Singapore. However, after staying 3 days in a government COVID camp, he was declared medically unfit by a clinic due to slightly high urine albumin. The company then immediately sent him back to Bangladesh without providing any treatment or a second medical check-up. Neither the overseas agency nor the Singapore company refunded his money.
After returning to Bangladesh, he checked his medical again and his urine albumin was completely normal - there was no problem.
But the trouble started. His family had no food and a huge loan with high interest. They started working as day labourers on farms but could not manage to repay. Under extreme pressure, I heard he was caught by police for attempting to rob to pay his loan. Finally, his father had to sell their house land to clear the debt.
Sir, this is not just one person. There are more than 20,000 workers affected by the same causes.
My humble requests to MOM:
1. On Excessive Agency Fees: According to Singapore law, workers should not pay high fees, but in reality workers are paying $6,000 - $9,000. Many agencies have an agreement with workers: even if they take $7,000, they instruct workers to tell MOM that they only paid $2,100. MOM should directly call newly returned or repatriated workers and ask in private how much they actually paid, without the presence of the employer or agency.
2. On Medical Repatriation: Why is a worker sent back for a minor and treatable condition like slightly high urine albumin? Especially after 3 days in a crowded COVID camp, dehydration can cause this. The company should provide simple treatment and a re-test, not immediate repatriation. The worker spends his family's entire property to come.
3. On Refund and Insurance: When a worker is sent back within a few days without working, the agency and company should be forced to refund the money. Otherwise the worker's family is destroyed.
4. On Health, Safety and Workplace Deaths: Excessive debt makes workers accept any unsafe work and work sick because they are afraid to lose the job. This is directly affecting health, safety and workplace deaths in Singapore.
Please, MOM, think about the workers' health and future. Singapore needs healthy and safe workers. Please strengthen enforcement against overcharging agencies both in Singapore and in source countries.
I hope you will investigate this matter and take strong action to protect future workers.
Thank you for your service.
Sincerely,
A Concerned Migrant Worker / Community Member
