27/08/2020
MOM will take up issue with employers if workers are not paid: Lawrence Wong, Singapore News & Top Stories - The Straits Times
"The Government has been providing considerable support to employers, and we do expect employers to
do their part to continue to pay the workers," Mr Wong said during a multi-ministry task force virtual press
conference.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong added that for pay issues, whether as a Singaporean or foreign worker, one
should alert the Manpower Ministry (MOM) so it can take up the issue with the employer appropriately.
"It is important to ensure that our workers get paid," said Mr Gan, regardless of whether one is a local or
migrant worker.
On workers being unable to return to work, Mr Wong, who co-chairs the task force with Mr Gan, said
feedback from many employers was that they were very eager to have their workers resume work as soon
as possible.
However, he noted that there could be several reasons why this was not yet possible.
One is that the work could be tied to other parts of the ecosystem of contractors, some of whom still have
issues to sort out, so the projects are still suspended.
Another reason that work is unable to resume could be the employer is unable to meet certain safe
distancing requirements.
Mr Gan added that with the general slowing of the economy, some employers may not have work for their
workers.
"MOM has exercised flexibility to allow some of these (migrant workers) to switch employers so that they
can find jobs while in Singapore," he said.
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