THE Bangladesh High Commission and migrant workers' groups have reported a rise in the number of foreign workers who have valid work permits, but end up with little work or pay.

They allege that some labour agents and small firms here are bringing in far more workers than they need in order to profit from the fees the men are charged to secure jobs here. These amounts range from $8,000 to $10,000 per worker.

The High Commission said it has received more than 1,000 complaints since January, nearly half that number in the last three to four months.

Read Radha Basu's full story in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.