<p>Tan Chuan-Jin, Singapore's acting manpower minister, told Parliament Monday that there is no basis for saying that there is widespread abuse of foreign workers in the country and that this was a reason for the riot in Little India Dec 8.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Tan, in a ministerial statement, said foreign workers here were, by and large, treated well by their employers, the Straits Times reported.<br /><br />He said that a only a small fraction of 700,000 work permit holders here have complained of abuse by employers.<br /><br />The minister was responding to questions asked by several members of parliament about how foreign workers were treated here following the riot Dec 8 night in Little India, which is home to a huge Tamil population here.<br /><br />The riots broke out after a private bus knocked down and killed a 33-year-old Indian construction worker, Sakthivel Kumaravelu.<br /><br />Following the riot, many non-government organisations pointed to the abuse of foreign workers as a cause of the violence.<br /><br />"We do not think there is basis for these assertions but look forward to the COI's (Committee of Inquiry) perspective on the matter," Tan said rejecting the allegations.<br /><br />He, however, said that the government would continue to go after errant employers.<br /><br />"When we come across cases of errant employers who flout our laws, my ministry takes a strong enforcement stance, and will continue to do so," he said.<br /><br />Tan also announced that more recreational centres would be built for foreign workers and these centres would provide amenities such as remittance services, supermarkets and sports facilities.<br /><br />There are now four such centres. Tan, however, did not elaborate as to how many more new centres would be built or where they would be located.<br /><br />"Foreign workers need a place to come together to catch up on news from the village, have a taste of food from home, and meet friends and relatives from across the island for a few precious hours... Recreation centres cannot always meet these psychological needs," Tan said.<br /><br />"I believe Singaporeans understand and appreciate the need for these shared spaces."</p>
<p>Tan Chuan-Jin, Singapore's acting manpower minister, told Parliament Monday that there is no basis for saying that there is widespread abuse of foreign workers in the country and that this was a reason for the riot in Little India Dec 8.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Tan, in a ministerial statement, said foreign workers here were, by and large, treated well by their employers, the Straits Times reported.<br /><br />He said that a only a small fraction of 700,000 work permit holders here have complained of abuse by employers.<br /><br />The minister was responding to questions asked by several members of parliament about how foreign workers were treated here following the riot Dec 8 night in Little India, which is home to a huge Tamil population here.<br /><br />The riots broke out after a private bus knocked down and killed a 33-year-old Indian construction worker, Sakthivel Kumaravelu.<br /><br />Following the riot, many non-government organisations pointed to the abuse of foreign workers as a cause of the violence.<br /><br />"We do not think there is basis for these assertions but look forward to the COI's (Committee of Inquiry) perspective on the matter," Tan said rejecting the allegations.<br /><br />He, however, said that the government would continue to go after errant employers.<br /><br />"When we come across cases of errant employers who flout our laws, my ministry takes a strong enforcement stance, and will continue to do so," he said.<br /><br />Tan also announced that more recreational centres would be built for foreign workers and these centres would provide amenities such as remittance services, supermarkets and sports facilities.<br /><br />There are now four such centres. Tan, however, did not elaborate as to how many more new centres would be built or where they would be located.<br /><br />"Foreign workers need a place to come together to catch up on news from the village, have a taste of food from home, and meet friends and relatives from across the island for a few precious hours... Recreation centres cannot always meet these psychological needs," Tan said.<br /><br />"I believe Singaporeans understand and appreciate the need for these shared spaces."</p>