Malaysia’s Minister: Be careful of Singapore job offers, youths told
KOTA KINABALU, MALAYSIA – Sabah has called for an investigation into reports that youths hired by employment agents to work in Singapore were forced to do menial work and the girls turned into sex slaves.
State Youth and Sports Minister Peter Pang En Yin said he would write to the Malaysian High Commision in Singapore to seek cooperation from relevant authorities in the island republic on the matter.
The Daily Express, a daily newspaper in Sabah, had on July 14 reported the ordeal of a 21-year-old Sabahan who was promised a job in the hotel sector, but ended up being forced to do hard labour and given only one meal a day.
Read the full article at AsiaOne Business News
- Obviously this kind of scams happens in any country, I do remember once that a Singaporean guy quit his SGD$3000 a month job to be a senior engineer at overseas with a promise of a even higher salary only to be told that the job had been taken even after a hefty “application” or “processing” or “employment recommendation” fees are paid upfront.
However, there are legitimate employment agencies in Singapore that does provide decent jobs for people but often with unachievable conditions that includes people with relevant experiences and “recognized” certification. People who are not prepared to go back to their hometown embarrassed will be swindled by conman into “easy money” jobs that makes them serve customers like prostitutes.
In fact, years ago I had chance to know a few lower education girls that had no qualification at all to find a decent paying jobs eventually goes through being a bar hostess or worst. They still complains about competition with other foreign talents in this “sector” and don’t earn that much.
In a competitive world, we can only upgrade ourselves or face suffering in the future. Innovation and fighting for a place in the market place takes courage and risk taking with “all out” attitude. Many successful bosses goes through the same path as most of us as employees had also suffered before becoming successful.
Well, some key tips for people coming to Singapore to work…
- Learn proper English or Chinese.
- Get yourself a proper certification if possible
- Come to look for work independently instead of going through the “easy” path.
- If it’s too good to be true, it’s a fake.
- Reject up front payment for “referral” fees. (it’s usually the recruitment agencies will sought payment from the company that hire you instead and not get $ from you)
- Watch for signs of “greed” baiting, the recruitment agencies usually will not give you details of your salary until “almost confirmation of employment”. Luring you to join a Singapore company by offering you “huge $$$” usually is just a bait to hook you.
- Never ever give your passport to someone you don’t know for safe keeping.
- Go to your respective embassy for help if possible
- Call 999 in Singapore to get emergency help if someone force you to do thing you “don’t want”.
- Employment Cheating or scams is worst then embarrassment of going back hometown without a job…
- It’s better to work happy then to slave for money.
