"Help, jobless foreign workers cry"

Imagine coughing up S$8000 or more for the opportunity to eke out a living in a foreign land. Imagine the sum of money is in exchange for everything we have; the bottoming out of all our earthly possessions or livelihood. Imagine the promise of a job that commands S$900 per month to feed the 12 mouths at home. Imagine the risk taken; the faith in making it in a stable and law-abiding country. A land that is economically viable with good governance and menial jobs aplenty.

But why did dozens of out-of-work foreign workers turn up at MOM on Wednesday to seek help (ST 9 Oct 08)? How could they enter Singapore with valid work permits but end up with no work? Duped by "agents", some have been here since February or April with no more than 2 weeks' work. Others are less fortunate; they have not worked a single day since setting foot on our shores.

As a result, they roam the streets in Serangoon Road or simply hang around in deluded optimism, waiting for a chance to start work. They have been exploited and abused by unscrupulous agents without any avenue for recourse. An MOM officer had asked these workers to go to their 'boss, rather than MOM to ask for work. "If you have worked but have not been paid, that is something you can come to us for," she said'

And we are afraid that they will get into mischief and disturb our way of life. Whose life has been uprooted and left hanging now? Who is in deep debts, even depraved poverty if there are no jobs soon? When push comes to shove, these foreign workers might really dabble in shenanigans and crimes out of pure despair and desperation.