Originally posted by Dino888:
March 20, 2006
Is there no law to protect workers with no voice?
THE story of Bangladeshi worker Nazrul Islam ('Clearing the garbage 12 hours a day'; ST, March 13), clearing garbage more than 12 hours a day, seven days a week, week after week, is deplorable.
Is there no law to protect workers with no voice?
Make day off a must, exempt in special cases
Maid abuse a sign of intolerant society
Agency treats maids like objects for sale
No day off, so given light housework
Sergeant not repeatedly denied access to lawyer
Provide more info on JC admission exercise
Time in jail - make the punishment fit the crime
His work is no high-tech cleaning job where everything is done mechanically. It is as manual as they come.
Daily, he has to smell and touch filthy objects cast out unthinkingly by inconsiderate consumers. He is exposed to the stench of rubbish which residents do not enclose in plastic bags. The rubbish includes leftover gravy, soiled sanitary pads and babies' diapers.
It is enough to turn any civilised stomach. Cuts from broken glass included in the rubbish are common.
This is bad enough, but his work is made more onerous because it lasts 12 or 13 hours a day, seven days a week.
This must be one of the worst jobs one can have, with the most onerous working hours and the lowest pay. But Mr Nazrul and many other foreign workers like him have no choice.
It is that or he loses his job and the 'investment' he has borrowed to pay an agent to secure this revolting job which he has to do under the most unreasonable conditions.
I wonder if there are any labour laws to protect these hapless workers.
They are willing to bear all these so their families in a distant land can hope to lead a better life one day. I salute their bravery and single-mindedness.
Is there no law to protect them or must the poor suffer because they need the pittance that is thrown their way and have no voice?
Murali Sharma
Clearing garbage more than 12 hours a day, seven days a week, week after week ?
Guess he never see cleaner clear garbage before.
Just like the misconception that the maids worked 12 hours a day, seven days a week, week after week. Those ppl who say that don't have a maid at their house.