In Parliament last week, the Acting Minister for Manpower said employers should terminate the contracts of their foreign workers and send them home if there is no work.

But for these workers, going home means having to face hefty debts. Many have paid agents huge fees, up to $10,000, for their passage to Singapore.

The men interviewed said they had sold land, property and borrowed money from friends, relatives and money lenders just to get here.

And according to agents, it is not the practice to give these workers their money back.

Mrs Bridget Lew, president of migrant workers advocacy group Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics, said: 'There are no receipts, no contracts, so they can't get anything back.'

Some will try though.

A Bangladeshi worker for marine company Gates Offshore who wished to be known only as Mr Kaiyum said he came to Singapore three months ago and was not given work.

The company is being investigated for failing to pay workers' salaries.

Earlier this month, the company paid the arrears, and workers were given the choice of returning home or staying and looking for alternative employment.

For the full story, read Monday's edition of The Straits Times.