Kind and compassionate Yeo Guat Kwang

More retrenchment and unemployment are appearing on the horizon. The economy is looking bleaker. And many poor foreign workers are going to be retrenched. And these poor souls are steep in debt after paying their agents big sums of money to be here to get a job. Yeo Guat Kwang and the Migrant Workers Centre(MWC) are appealing to the employers to hire those retrenched foreign workers first to help them service their debt. He is so kind.

May I also appeal to him to make a similar appeal to the employers who are hiring PMETs to also consider Singaporean PMETs that are retrenched. These PMETs may not have to pay the employment agents or owe them money for their last jobs. But I bet you their financial burdens are just as heavy if not worst. Many would have big housing mortgages to service, children in schools or universities and need their support, need to be fed, need pocket money, need to pay school fees, tuition fees, transport fees etc.

Please take care of these Singaporean PMETs also. I have yet to hear an MP or minister coming forward to appeal to the employers to hire retrenched or jobless PMETs first. They only want to send them to work in third world countries or as security guards, waiters or taxi drivers. The jobless PMETs need help just as much as the foreign workers. The foreign workers are at the lower level of job hunters so the appeal would not be in conflict with their interest. Just appeal to the employers not to hire foreigners during this period and think of the retrenched Singaporean PMETs first.

That would be the kindness thing to do. Thank you.