'China Workers Seek MOM'S Help for the Third Time'

The following article appeared in TODAY, Friday January 2, 2009, p.8

CHINA WORKERS SEEK MOM'S HELP FOR THE THIRD TIME

It may have been a public holiday, but with not much else to do on New Year's Day, a group of about 100 construction workers from China turned up at the Ministry of Manpower for the third consecutive day to express their unhappiness about their situation.

The workers from Zhonghe Huaxing Development and China Nuclear Industry Huaxing Construction first turned up on Tuesday to complain about unauthorised salary "deductions" and wages owed to them. Although the Ministry intervened, and their employer agreed to bank in September's wages, the workers are apparently not willing to wait until the Chinese New Year for the rest of their salary arrears to be paid.

Meanwhile, with more migrant workers coming forward to say they have lost their jobs and months of salaries, the non-profit Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics has set up a special fund to help those who could end up going home penniless, or worse, in debt after coming to Singapore.

With its Institute of Public Character status restored, all donations to its Peace and Justice Fund 2009 will be tax deductible.

For more information, visit www.home.org.sg or email vip@home.org.sg