Foreign workers highly satisfied in Singapore: Survey

Most foreign workers in Singapore are highly satisfied and plan to continue working here after their current stint, according to the interim result of a survey.

The interim finding, based on about 930 work permit holders surveyed so far, was cited in parliament yesterday by Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin in relation with issues of the December 8 riot last year in which about 400 South Asian migrant workers were involved.

The survey supported the finding by the state-appointed Committee of Inquiry (COI) into the riot that there was no "systematic dissatisfaction" among foreign workers.

The COI report thus puts to rest "more speculative causes for the riot" as purveyed by some critics, which were then "echoed blindly" in some foreign media, media reports here said today.

The full survey will cover 4,000 foreign workers when completed next month. The survey began in March this year.

More than 90% said they are highly satisfied with working in Singapore, with only 2% expressing dissatisfaction.

About 81% said they would recommend Singapore to friends and relatives as a place for work, citing good wages and good working and living conditions as the main factors.

But the 19% who indicated otherwise lamented costly fees charged by labour importing and managing agency, low pay and poor working conditions.

Tan noted that more than 70% of the foreign workers are already renewing their contracts after working for the first two years. This suggests they consider Singapore as an attractive place to work.

The Minister said the government would continue to further improve the working and living condition of the workers.

Responding to a question in the House on the goal of keeping foreign workforce transient, Tan said "I think it's the right thing for us to do as a society."

Tan also pledged to take to task employers who mistreat workers and to look into dormitories that fail to meet minimum standards.

The COI report and the survey follow the December 8 night riot in Singapore's Little India which left 54 police and defence officers injured and 23 emergency vehicles damaged.

It was Singapore's worst street violence in 40 years.

The riot was sparked by the death of an Indian national in an accident.