More punitive action should be taken against non-Singaporean bosses for absconding without paying their workers (Left in the lurch when foreign bosses disappear; Feb 12).

The Migrant Workers' Centre's initiative to assist new foreign workers in setting up bank accounts for electronic payment of salaries is laudable as it will reduce cases of non-payment.

With this mode of payment, workers will find it easy to keep track of their salary payments and, more importantly, seek prompt advice when any discrepancy in payment arises.

The law should come down hard on bosses who fail to comply with workers' requests to be paid electronically as there is no reason for them not to do so.

Absconding employers should be subjected to travel restrictions and barred from re-entering Singapore.

Singapore should be a place for migrant workers to not only earn a living but also upgrade their skills and learn new things.

This will benefit the organisations they are working for here, and also help them secure alternative employment once they return to their homelands, instead of going back to work as farmers and fishermen, as some might.

Jeffrey Law Lee Beng