SINGAPORE - A recent strike involving Chinese workers in Singapore highlights the often unreported plight of migrant labor, including a growing number of people from mainland China, in this wealthy city state. Although foreign workers make up more than one-third of the country’s workforce, activists say that more needs to be done to protect their rights against often unscrupulous employers.
The strike by migrants, unusual for the island state's tightly controlled society, has caused diplomatic ripples between China and Singapore. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei called on the Singaporean side to take Chinese workers' specific conditions and legitimate appeals into full consideration, to discreetly and properly handle the case, and to protect the lawful rights of the arrested Chinese workers, Xinhua reported. Full story
