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