Migrant Bus Drivers Bailed After Singapore Strike

[News_Editor]

A police van reverses out of the premises of a dormitory as negotiations with striking bus drivers continue within the building in Singapore. (Photo: Reuters)

SINGAPORE—Four Chinese immigrant bus drivers accused of inciting the city-state’s first labor strike in 26 years have been granted bail in a case that highlighted growing social friction caused by an influx of foreign labor.

A fifth Chinese driver has already been sentenced to six weeks in prison even though prosecutors said he was not an instigator of the strike, which was called to demand equitable pay.

Walking off the job in protest is almost unheard of in Singapore, and the swift prosecution following the Nov. 26-27 strike was a clear sign that the government of this strictly-enforced country will not brook any disobedience from its work force.

Three of the men who appeared in court on Thursday were allowed a bail of 10,000 Singapore dollars (US $8,200). A fourth driver, He Jun Liang, who faces an additional charge of making an online post in Mandarin, was given a bail of S$20,000 ($16,400).

It is not clear if they will be able to raise the money to get out of detention before their case resumes on Dec. 12.

A Chinese embassy official who was present at the hearing declined to comment on the cases. If found guilty, all four men face up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $2,000.

The four drivers and the fifth already in jail were among 171 Chinese bus drivers of a state transport company who went on strike in protest at being paid nearly a quarter less than their Malaysian colleagues. The labor action disrupted about 5 percent of the city-state’s bus services.

Singapore requires essential service workers to give 14 days’ notice of a strike. The last strike in the country was in 1986 by shipyard workers.

The government revoked the work permits of 29 other drivers and deported them to China. The remaining drivers in the group were issued warnings, and will be allowed to remain and work in Singapore.

Authorities say a police investigation found that the strike was premeditated and that the drivers were absent from work without reason. The bus company’s chief Desmond Kuek has said that the Chinese drivers’ salary was fair. He said the Chinese were paid less than the Malaysians because the company bore their expenses for transport, accommodation and utilities.

Singapore relies on hundreds of thousands of immigrants from countries such as Indonesia, Bangladesh, China, Malaysia and Burma to work as maids, construction workers, waiters, garbage collectors and at other jobs deemed unappealing to many locals.

But the massive influx of foreigners has created much resentment among locals who see them as undisciplined and noisy. They also blame the foreigners for the overcrowding that has put pressure on infrastructure, and for raising housing prices because of bigger demand on limited supply.

The case has not caused any diplomatic rift between Singapore and China, a major trading partner. But activists in Hong Kong staged a protest outside the Singapore consulate on Wednesday.

Source: Irrawaddy.org

[LawrenceChee]

I agree to these measures...workers have rights but they need to follow the law. Anyone who thinks a strike can get the management to notice probably failed as much as the management who should have better ears on the ground...

[khunken]

I agree to these measures...workers have rights but they need to follow the law. Anyone who thinks a strike can get the management to notice probably failed as much as the management who should have better ears on the ground...

From this article it seems that workers in Singapore have NO rights. Not surprising in this country where keeping the populace in 'order' surpasses any rights. A fair management would negotiate with dissatisfied workers. This is a country that has yet to discover what democracy really is.

[chuang]

They are Malaysian and Chinese bus drivers doing the same job...why are the Malaysians being paid more...just look at the Chinese living quarters..

[Lakegeneve]

I agree to these measures...workers have rights but they need to follow the law. Anyone who thinks a strike can get the management to notice probably failed as much as the management who should have better ears on the ground...

From this article it seems that workers in Singapore have NO rights. Not surprising in this country where keeping the populace in 'order' surpasses any rights. A fair management would negotiate with dissatisfied workers. This is a country that has yet to discover what democracy really is.

Very true. Singapore is not considered a real democracy is most civil society quarters.

[babykyo]

They are Malaysian and Chinese bus drivers doing the same job...why are the Malaysians being paid more...just look at the Chinese living quarters..

The chinese bus driver are paid less becos, the company provide them free accommodation, utility, transport to work place. whereby the malaysian bus driver get nothing. They have to travel to work by their own's motorbike from Johor in Malaysia. Look at the chinese living quarters, they live in it, but they don't maintain and clean it. Who is to blame? Imagine you live in a condo, you don't tidy your place, or wash your toilet. Do you blame the condo's management.

[babykyo]

Look carefully at the living quarters, it is a condo in a third world country. If the chinese bus driver will to get the same salary as the malaysian, ($200 more) without accommodation, I expect them to work free in Singapore. A cheapest hdb rooms for rent in Singapore Is @$500.

[LawrenceChee]

I suppose that is why people in western democracies enjoy having strikes in their bus, train systems and airlines....I have worked in companies in Singapore and they have as much rights as anyone.

The "weird" thing is no one there enjoys striking to get the mgt to the table to talk...so from that angle it must be amusing people can actually sit down and chat about concerns rather than strike out a pubic service.

I have negotiated with unions before there and they are as forceful as ever in demanding their rights...they just understand better striking gives a bad perception to their cause...however having seen the more civic societies, the brawls seem accepted and part of civic rights and the correct behavior....must be something I dont know ...that get them the results, the bankrupt companies, public debt etc....

talking to the western expat groups there from the more civic corners of the world...they seem to enjoy how everything works and hums in Singapore compared to their countries.

[LawrenceChee]

If anyone thinks the Malysians get paid more, you need to wake up at 3am and see the Malaysians ciome to Singapore to work in their motobikes and understand maybe just maybe they wish they didnt get the $200 and had free accomodation in Singapore in the dorms.

Talking abt the dorms, what happens in your countries with more civic rights, anyone has pictures what the worker dorms of bus drivers look there in the fair spirit of comparison ?

Would be nice to see it. Those there looks like well managed dorms and built correct as for cleanliness it's subjective and I agree if the workers dont want to clean up, any house would attract dirt, smells and pests

[osiboy]

If anyone thinks the Malysians get paid more, you need to wake up at 3am and see the Malaysians ciome to Singapore to work in their motobikes and understand maybe just maybe they wish they didnt get the $200 and had free accomodation in Singapore in the dorms.

Talking abt the dorms, what happens in your countries with more civic rights, anyone has pictures what the worker dorms of bus drivers look there in the fair spirit of comparison ?

Would be nice to see it. Those there looks like well managed dorms and built correct as for cleanliness it's subjective and I agree if the workers dont want to clean up, any house would attract dirt, smells and pests

dorms for bus drivers ??,....never heard of it before, sorry cant help with a photo from the free world .

[canman]

I agree to these measures...workers have rights but they need to follow the law. Anyone who thinks a strike can get the management to notice probably failed as much as the management who should have better ears on the ground...

From this article it seems that workers in Singapore have NO rights. Not surprising in this country where keeping the populace in 'order' surpasses any rights. A fair management would negotiate with dissatisfied workers. This is a country that has yet to discover what democracy really is.

Singapore is a business. It may not be what you think a democracy is but it works and it works extremely well. Is there a safer place in asia to live??

[LawrenceChee]

exactly ....from the free world no such thing exist as there is no importance tagged on efficiency....and you have to pay for a place to stay in you choose to work overseas....

the dorm is provided so that a bus can be sent to pick you up at work every day so that the public transport can start without a hitch at 5.30am and have been going on for years in that island. If these migrant workers are upset, then they should pay rent and still have to clean up after themselves in their rented place and be at the bus depot by 5am on their own transport like the Malaysians do every day riding out in their bikes in the wee hours of the morning to cross the causeway / immigration point every day.

I am sorry to hear you dont have that reliable service in your country...

that is why I enjoy staying in Thailand...you pay you get ...you dont pay you walk :-)