SUNDAY'S report ('CWO for expat litterbugs too') said employment
pass and SPass holders would be issued a corrective work order
(CWO) notice for first-time littering offences, but work permit
holders would be excluded from that.
Work permit holders often earn less than $800 a month, yet they
must pay a $300 fine for a first-time littering offence.
Why are offenders with a far higher monthly salary spared the
fine, while work permit holders must pay what amounts to half or a
third of their monthly salaries. I am certain these workers prefer
being penalised with a three-hour CWO stint rather than a hefty
portion of their monthly wages.
Foreign workers are often caught littering because they spend
much of their free time outdoors in public spaces as they have only
their dormitories to go back to. The fine places a heavy burden on
them.
Deborah Desloge Fordyce (Ms)
-- ST Forum