MORE than eight out of ten of the Chinese foreign workers left stranded by their errant employers have accepted a settlement offered by their employer's representatives.
Over the past two days, former employees of Hokh Contract Services, and Raffles Contractors with salary claims and fee payment issues turned up at MOM offices in Kim Seng Road where they were informed of the terms of settlement and made their decision on whether to take it up.
MOM said that 83 per cent, or about 420 workers, agreed to accept the settlement and be repatriated to China, while 66 others chose to stay in Singapore to find another job.
The Straits Times understands that most individuals have accepted a lump sum of more than $1,000, as well as an air ticket back home to China within the next week or so.
Workers who opt to stay on to find new jobs would be interviewed by companies liaising with MOM, and be paid a smaller sum in compensation. Those not eventually hired would still be paid the smaller sum, and be provided an air ticket back home too.
The workers, whose work permits were abruptly cancelled last month, have been trying to claim unpaid salaries and fees owed to them by their employers. These are understood to amount to at least $5,700 each.
Last Monday, a large group of them even gathered outside the MOM building in Havelock Road seeking help and some answers from the Ministry on the issue, and only dispersed after the police were called in.
Their case is in fact just one of several that has surfaced in recent months (since January this year).
As the economic downturn persists, many foreign workers have been seeking help from the MOM and the authorities with regard to issues such as non-payment of salaries and fees, or problems with accommodation.
Read the full report in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.
