HAS the Ministry of Manpower really helped the 13 Singaporeans who were retrenched unfairly by marine company Prime Gold International ("MOM bars marine firm from hiring foreigners"; Tuesday)?
It appears that all the ministry did was bar the company from hiring foreign workers for two years. In the meantime, the company can continue to renew the work passes of its existing foreign workers.
The ministry could have done more, for example, by getting the company to reinstate all or some of the retrenched workers, or helping those unable to find jobs paying comparable wages to seek compensation from the company.
There is also a need to review the permanent residency of the company owner, who has shown little or no consideration for citizens of the country that granted him this status.
When there is clear evidence of discrimination against Singaporean workers, the ministry can and should do more.
Anthony Lim Thiam Poh
*Article first appeared on ST Forums (1 Jan 2015)