It is surprising that Mr Tan Lai Yong seems to suggest that the authorities were at fault for arresting the foreign workers (“Help moonlighting ‘barbers’”; Forum Online, last Wednesday).
They were clearly in breach of the employment law.
I have come across a sizeable number of foreigners, whether on employment pass, work permit or social visit pass, taking on jobs such as massaging, painting and decorating, electrical wiring and plumbing, computer trouble-shooting, window and house cleaning, and so on.
One of the tell-tale signs of foreigners who are moonlighting is that they enter Singapore on social visit passes for three months, leave, then return shortly for another three months.
While moonlighting, they also explore regular employment opportunities.
They stay with their friends or relatives, who are on valid employment passes.
There are Singaporeans who need these jobs. The authorities should not compromise, nor show sympathy to foreigners caught moonlighting because of the following:
- It is an infringement of Singapore’s employment law.
- It defeats the purpose of social enterprises and job-matching services, and deprives Singaporeans of ad-hoc jobs.
- Moonlighting workers pose safety hazards as they have no proper training or licences.
- Foreigners who moonlight and their employers are evading taxes.
- There is no legal recourse for moonlighting foreigners if they are denied payment for work done.
In the past few years, cheap hair salons, whose charges rarely go beyond $10, have sprouted up and are often conveniently located.
There is no need for foreign workers to moonlight as barbers.
Priscilla Poh Beng Hoon (Ms)
* Letter first appeared in ST Forum (3 Mar).