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PRE DEPARTURE TRAINING MANUAL

For Intending Emigrants

SINGAPORE

PREFACE

GENERAL INFORMATION FOROVERSEAS MIGRANTS

.Definition

Emigration, in this context, means the departure of any person fromIndia with a view to taking up any employment (whether or not underan agreement, with or without the assistance of a registered RecruitingAgent or employer ) in any country or place outside India.

The Present Situation

Every year hundreds of thousands of Indians emigrate in search of jobs.The effect of economic liberalization in India is visible on labourmigration too. One of the striking features of labour migration fromIndia is that more than 90 percent of the total outflow is to the MiddleEast.

The Emigration Act

The Emigration Act, 1983, seeks to safeguard the interests and ensurethe welfare of emigrants. Only the recruiting agents registered with theMinistry of Overseas Indian Affairs are eligible as per the Act to conductthe business of recruitment for overseas employment and they are requiredto obtain proper Registration Certificates (RC) from the ProtectorGeneral of Emigrants.

Research Unit on International Migration

Pre Departure Training Manual

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The registered recruiting agents are authorized to collect from eachcategory of worker a maximum service charge in 4 slabs as shown below.

Maximum service charge Category of workersRs 2000 Unskilled WorkersRs 3000 Semiskilled workersRs 5000 Skilled workersRs 10000 Others than the above

The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (Formerly Ministry of Labourand Employment) administers the Emigration Act through the eightoffices of Protector of Emigrants (POEs). The offices are located at Delhi,Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Chandigarh, Kochi, Hyderabad, andThiruvananthapuram.

Special Provision for Women

With a view to preventing exploitation of Indian nationals and followingthe recommendations of the National Commission for Women, womenof less than 30 years of age seeking employment under ECR category inany foreign country shall not be granted emigration clearance.

Emigration Check Required (ECR) Category

This is the category of persons whose passports have been endorsed as“Emigration Check Required” (ECR).

List of Countries for which Emigration Clearance is Required(ECR)1. Afghanistan2. Bahrain3. Brunei4. Kuwait5. Indonesia

Centre for Development Studies 5

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6. Jordan7. Lebanon8. Libya9. Malaysia10. Oman11. Qatar12. Sudan13. Syria14. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia15. Thailand16. United Arab Emirates17. Yemen18. Iraq (Emigration banned)

Guidelines for Emigration Clearance

The procedure for emigration clearance has been simplified. Emigrationclearance to individuals is granted on the same day on which theapplication is made at any of the offices of the Protector of Emigrants(POE). Even where the clearance is required for groups, it is given onthe same day at all POE offices.

Procedure for Emigration Clearance

1) Emigration clearance will be made on the passport only if theindividual approaches through a registered Recruiting Agent.

2) In cases in which the profession indicated in the visa does nottally with the profession indicated in the passport, affidavit maybe obtained from the Recruiting Agent.

3) No clearance may be given for Iraq unless specifically authorizedby the Indian Embassy in Iraq.

4) No emigration clearance shall be granted for recruiting Indiannationals for any Foreign Employer placed in ‘Prior ApprovalCategory’ (PAC).



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Emigration Check Not Required (ECNR) Category

Section 22 of the Emigration Act, 1983 provides that no citizen of Indiashall migrate unless he obtains emigration clearance from the concernedProtector of Emigrants (POE). However, with a view to facilitating themovement of the workers, 13 categories of persons have been exemptedfrom this requirement and have been placed under “Emigration CheckNot Required’ (ECNR) category. Such persons are not required to obtainany emigration clearance from the offices of POEs before seekingemployment abroad.

Countries for Which Emigration Clearance is Not Required

The number of countries for which emigration check is not required is174.

Guidelines for those who emigrate through the RecruitingAgents

v Ensure the credibility of your Recruiting Agent (RA). Ask for theRegistration Certificate issued by the Protector General ofEmigrants (PGE), Govt. of India. Do not deal with the agent ifhe/she is not registered or if his/her registration is not valid. Ifyou have any doubt, seek the help of the Protector of Emigrants(POEs) or the PGE.

v Do not deal with the sub agents because they are not permittedunder the Emigration Act. 1983 and Rules.

v Ask the RA to show the Demand Letter and Power of Attorneyfrom the foreign employer.

v Carefully go through the Employment Contract detailing all theconditions of employment including salary/wage.

v Do not pay any amount other than the approved service chargeof Rs. 2000(Unskilled workers), Rs. 3000 (Semi-skilled workers),Rs. 5000 (Skilled workers) and Rs. 10,000 (other than the above).


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v Pay preferably by Demand Draft or Cheque and obtain a receipt.Complaints of overcharging or cheating can be lodged with theconcerned POE or with the Protector General of Emigrants(PGE).

Precautions

• You must always keep a photocopy of all the pages of your passport.

• If you lose your passport, inform the immediate Indian Missionimmediately giving them details, i.e. passport number, date andplace of issue, your name and date of entry in the country ofemployment. You can give these details only if you keep aphotocopy of your passport.

• Do not lose your copy of Employment Contract. Always keep acopy of the same.

• You must have the full name, address and telephone/fax numberof your foreign employer, before you leave India.

• If you cannot locate your foreign employer, contact the nearestIndian mission immediately.

• Do not accept employment, either permanent or temporary, fromany person/ establishment other than the sponsoring one. It willattract punishment.

• Get your visa/ employment contract renewed before it expires. Ifyou are returning to India on leave, ensure that the validity periodof your visa does not expire before you go back to the country ofemployment.

• Always ensure that your passport is valid. Get it renewed at leasttwo months before it expires either from the concerned IndianMission abroad or from the Regional Passport Office (RPO) inIndia.



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Guidelines for Emigrants

The Protector General of Emigrants (PGE) has issued guidelines, whichthe emigrants must keep in mind before leaving India and on reachingthe foreign country. These are:

Before You Leave, Ensure the Following

v You have a valid passport and visa.

v You have a copy of the agreement signed by you and your foreignemployer or his agent.

v You have an insurance policy from any insurance companyregistered with IRDA.

v You have opened a Saving Bank Account to enable you to sendyour remittances.

After Emigration you should be careful

v Not to lose your passport;

v not to sign any other agreement or sign on any blank piece ofpaper;

v not to strike work or resort to agitations. It is illegal and you maybe sent back to India;

v to always keep the address and telephone number of the IndianEmbassy with you; and

v to report all complaints to the Indian Embassy.

Verification of the genuineness of visa / employment contract

The Protectors of emigrants’ offices may be contacted with full details ifthere is any doubt on the genuineness of the visa. The matter may alsobe referred to the Embassy of India in the destination country, if necessary,with full particulars of the sponsor company (Name, Address, Telephoneand Fax No.), which issued the visa, along with Passport particulars.


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Free Visa

There is no visa called ‘Free visa’. In fact, free visa is either an employmentor domestic category visa under which the employee works ‘freely’ withanother sponsor. This practice is illegal and should not be resorted to.

Fate of Indian Nationals with ‘Visit visa’

Some companies issue ‘visit visa’ (commercial ‘visit visa’) to meet theirurgent manpower requirement for short-term work. After the work isfinished, workers are allowed to come back (after leaving the country)on normal employment visa in case the employer needs them for furtherperiods, or repatriated to India.

Visit visa is different from employment visa and it is not covered by thelabour laws of the destination countries. Therefore visit visa workers donot have legal rights.

Employment Contract

Indian workers are advised to obtain a written contract duly signed bythe sponsor/employer company before arrival in the destination country.

Essential terms for a contract

The contract should contain all terms of employment as per 15(2) ofEmigration Rules 1983.

(i) period of employment/place of employment ;

(ii) wages and other conditions of service ;

(iii) free food or food allowance provision ;

(iv) free accommodation ;

(v) provision in regard to disposal, or transportation to India, of deadbody of the emigrant ;



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(vi) working hours, overtime allowance, other working conditions,leave and social security benefits as per local labour laws ;

(vii) to-and-fro air-passage at the employers’ cost ; and

(viii) mode of settlement of disputes;

Obtaining copy of the contract while in India

As per the instructions of the Government of India, recruitment agentsare expected to provide a copy of the employment contract to each workerbefore his departure. To safeguard his own interest, an individual workerhas to demand from the recruitment agent a copy of the duly signedcontract before commencement of overseas journey. Complaints maybe lodged against defaulting agencies with the nearest Protector ofEmigrants.

Important Documents

In addition to all the originals, copies of the following documents maybe retained with the employee.

1. employment contract,

2. passport,

3. visa and

4. certificates educational qualifications

Check Before Departure:

v Ensure you have a valid Passport at least for 06 months. A validVisa must be either stamped on or accompany your Passport.Always keep a photocopy of your Passport and Visa.

v You must possess a copy of the Employment Contract singed byyou and your foreign employer duly attested by the registeredrecruiting agent.


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v Insist on a copy of Employment Contract in English dulyauthenticated by the recruiting agent.

v Open a Saving Bank N.R.E. Account in one of the Banks in Indiato enable you to send your remittances from abroad.

v Get familiar with local labour laws, working and living conditionsof the country of employment. Keep complete address of theIndian Embassy there with you.

In the Country of Your Employment

v Obtain a Resident Permit or Identity Card or Labour Card.

v DO NOT part with your Passport and copy of EmploymentContract signed by you in India.

v DO NOT sign any other Employment Contract or any blankpaper.

v DO NOT strike work or resort to agitations. These are illegalunder local labour laws. You could be arrested, imprisoned andalso deported.

v AVOID all contacts that may result in AIDS – a dreaded disease.

v Keep in touch with the nearest Indian Mission and reportany complaints about non-payment or delayed payment ofwages or compensations or any other problem to the IndianMission.

Customs Formalities

Ø Personal baggage – Customs checking is VERY STRICT. Kindlyco-operate with the Customs staff at the InternationalAirport.

Ø Ensure that you do not carry any narcotics or alcoholic drinks.Alcohol is strictly prohibited. Its consumption is a serious offenceattracting severe punishment.



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Ø DO NOT accept any unchecked parcel from any one. If youhave to take a parcel for someone, check thoroughly that it doesnot contain alcohol or narcotics. Otherwise, it may land you inserious difficulties on arrival in the country of employment.

List of Offices of Protector of Emigrants in India

1. Protector of Emigrants, New Delhi,Jaisalmer House,Canteen Block,Mansigh Road.ND 110001Ph. 3382472

2. Protector of Emigrants BombayBuilding “E”Khira NagarS V Road,Santa Cruz (West)Mumbai, 400054Ph. 022-6147393, 022 6123579

3. Protector of Emigrants TrivandrumSugandh, 24/846 (1)Thycaud,Trivandrum 695014Ph. 0471 64835

4. Protector of Emigrants KochiMercy EstateRavipuramM G RoadKochi 682015Ph 0484 360187


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5. Protector of EmigrantsChennaiTNHB Shopping ComplexAshok Nagar, Chennai 600083Ph. 044 24821337

6. Protector of Emigrants ChandigarhKendriya Sadan, Fifth Block,Ground Floor, Sector 9AChandigargh- 160017Ph. 0172- 741790

7. Protector of Emigrants KokataRoom No: 116, A- Wing,3rd Floor, M S O Building, D F Block, Salt Lake,Kolkata 700064Ph. 033 343407

8. Protector of Emigrants Hyderabad8th Floor,Chandra Vihar, APHB,MG Road, Hyderabad- 500001Ph: 040 4732867

Important Contacts

Ministry of Overseas Indian AffairsGovernment of IndiaAkbar BhavanChanakya PuriNew Delhi-110021Telephone No 91-11-2419700Fax No: 91-11-24197919Email: [email protected]



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Shri. Vayalar Ravi Minister forOverseas IndianAffairs

Phone (O) 91-11-24676836/37Fax (O) 91-11-24197985Email ID: [email protected] (R) 91-11-23792148/49Fax (R) 91-11-23792142

Shri. K. Mohandas Secretary, MOIA Phone 91-11-24674144 -24674143-24197902-24197991

Email: [email protected]

Shri. J Panda Protector General Phone 91-11-24197972of Emigrants -26874250

Email ID: [email protected]

Consultation With Public

PGE conduct the Public Hearings in the office of the Protector ofEmigrants, Jaisalmer House, Canteen Block, Mansingh Road, NewDelhi between 3.00 PM to 4.00 PM. on all Tuesday where membersof public could come with their grievances/suggestions without anyappointment.

Information Under RTI Act

For information (under the RTI Act, 2005) citizens may approach thePublic Information Officer (RTI) of Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairsavailable from 10:00 hrs to 13:00 hrs on each day (except Monday andFriday). The information pertaining to MOIA is also available on theMOIA Website (http://www.moia.gov.in) in detail. Further, the citizens


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may also approach the PIO (RTI) using email addresses [email protected]& [email protected]

Information Available on the Website of MOIA

Revised emigration require1ments

Recruiting agents having suspended RC

Online emigration clearance system

List of Registered recruiting agents with valid RC as on 15-05-2007

Internal watchlist of recruiting agents

Recruiting agents having cancelled RC

Foreign employers on PAC

Project Exporters

Emigration Act, 1983

Emigration Rules

Pravsi Bharatiya Bhima Yojana 2003

Redressal of Public Grievances Information on Recruiting Agents andBlack Listed Foreign Employers

Guidelnes for recruiting agents/guidelines for prospective Emigrantworkers.

Public can address their queries and grievances at:[email protected]



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SINGAPORE

Introduction

Singapore is south-east Asia’s hi-tech, wealthy city-state. The countrycomprises the main island - linked by a causeway and a bridge to thesouthern tip of Malaysia - and about 50 smaller islands. Once a colonialoutpost of Britain, Singapore has become one of the world’s mostprosperous spots, with glittering skyscrapers and a thriving port. Mostof its people live in public-housing tower blocks. They enjoy one of theworld’s highest standards of living, but are also subject to severepunishments for acts deemed to be anti-social.

Government-led initiatives have encouraged Singaporeans to have largenumber of babies and large families. Citizens are urged to “Speak GoodEnglish” instead of the local slang derisively called “Singlish”.

Chinese make up more than 75% of the community; Malays and Indiansmake up much of the remainder. There are many foreign workers too.

Although Singapore is a multi-party nation, the People’s Action Party(PAP) has been the dominant one since independence.

Singapore is often referred to as one of Asia’s economic “tigers” alongwith Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan. Its economy is driven byelectronics manufacturing and financial services and has weatheredregional crises, including the 1997 Asian markets slump and the 2003Sars virus outbreak. In the face of strong competition from regional


Singapore

players, Singapore is seeking to strengthen its services sector and tourismindustry.

Singapore still follows a system of capital punishment which is mostlyapplied to drugs trafficking offences.

Singapore at a glance

Full name: Republic of Singapore.

Population (2006 est.): 4,492,150 (growth rate: 1.4%); birth rate: 9.3/1000; infant mortality rate: 2.3/1000; density per sq mi: 18,645 persons.

Capital ( and largest city ): Singapore; 3,438,600 persons.

Languages: Mandarin 35%, English 23%, Malay 14.1%, Hokkien11.4%, Cantonese 5.7%, Teochew 4.9%, Tamil 3.2%, other Chinesedialects 1.8%, other 0.9% (2000).

Land area: 264 sq mi (683 sq km); total area: 268 sq mi (693 sq km).

Major religions: Taoism (9%), Buddhism(43%), Islam(15%),Christianity (15%), Hinduism (4%)

Life expectancy: 77 years (men), 80 years (women)

Monetary unit: Singapore dollar.

Main exports: Computer equipment, machinery, rubber products,petroleum products.

Ethnicity/Race: Chinese 76.8%, Malay 13.9%, Indian 7.9%, other 1.4%(2000)

Literacy rate: 93% (2003 est.)

History

British and Dutch interests in the region developed with the trade inspices. The trading post of Singapore was founded in 1819 by SirStamford Raffles. It was made a separate Crown colony of Britain in1946, when the former colony of the Straits Settlements was dissolved.



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The other two settlements on the peninsula—Penang and Malacca—became part of the Union of Malaya, and the small island of Labuanwas transferred to North Borneo. The Cocos (or Keeling) Islands andChristmas Island were transferred to Australia in 1955 and in 1958,respectively.

The Constitution of the Republic of Singapore established the city-state’s political system as a representative democracy while the countryhas been officially recognised by the United Nations as a parliamentaryrepublic. Since its independence, the country is being governed by thePeople’s Action Party, which has won every election to date.

Singapore became a British crown colony- answerable directly to theCrown-in 1867. During World war II, Singapore was under Japaneseoccupation for a short period.

Singapore attained full self-government in 1959, and Lee Kwan Yew, aneconomic visionary with an authoritarian streak, became the PrimeMinister. On September 16, 1963, Singapore joined Malaya, Sabah(North Borneo), and Sarawak to form the Federation of Malaysia.However, it withdrew from the federation on August 9, 1965, and amonth later proclaimed itself a republic.

Under Lee, Singapore developed into one of the cleanest, safest, andmost prosperous cities in Asia. However, Singapore’s strict rules of publicconduct drew criticism from those who said the nation’s prosperity wasachieved at the expense of individual freedoms.

During Lee Kuan Yew’s term as Prime Minister from 1959 to 1990,his administration curbed unemployment, raised the standard of livingand implemented a large-scale public housing programme. Thecountry’s economic infrastructure was fully developed, the threat ofracial tension was drastically curbed and an independent nationaldefence system, centered around compulsory male military service,was put in place.


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Geography

Singapore consists of more than 50 islands, including the main island.There are two connections to Johor — the man-made Johor-SingaporeCauseway in the north and Tuas Second Link in the west. Jurong Island,Pulau Tekong, Pulau Ubin and Sentosa are the largest of Singapore’smany small islands. The highest point of Singapore is Bukit Timah Hill166 metres, 538 ft).

The urban area used to be concentrated on the southern part of Singaporearound the mouth of the Singapore River and what is now the DowntownCore, while the rest of the land was Tropical rainforest or used foragriculture.

About 23% of Singapore’s land area consists of forest and nature reserves.Many of the smaller islands have been expanded and joined togetherthrough land reclamation in order to form larger, more functional islands,such as in the case of Jurong Island.

Urbanisation has eliminated many areas of primary rainforest that onceexisted, with the only remaining area of primary rainforest being BukitTimah Nature Reserve. A variety of parks, however, are maintained withhuman intervention, such as the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Withoutnatural freshwater rivers and lakes, the primary domestic source of watersupply in Singapore is rainfall.

Climate

Singapore’s climate is characterised by uniform temperature and pressure,high humidity and abundant rainfall. Temperatures range from 22°C to34 °C (72°–93°F).

It is tropical, hot, humid and rainy. There are two distinct monsoonseasons - Northeastern monsoon (December to March) and Southwesternmonsoon (June to September). During the inter-monsoon period thereoccur frequent afternoon and early evening thunderstorms.



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The Economy

One of the economic “tigers” of Asia, highly export-oriented Singaporeaneconomy has diversified into extensive local manufacturing, capital-intensive light industry and financial services.

Singapore enjoys a remarkably open and corruption-free environment,stable prices, and a per capita GDP equal to those of major WestEuropean countries. The economy depends heavily on exports,particularly consumer electronics and information technologyproducts. It was hard hit in 2001-03 by the global recession, the slumpin the technology sector, and the outbreak of Severe Acute RespiratorySyndrome (SARS) in 2003, which drastically curbed tourism andconsumer spending.

Singapore is the world’s fourth largest foreign exchange market afterLondon, New York and Tokyo. Also it has been rated as the most business-friendly economy in the world. It employs thousands of foreign workersfrom around the world. It recruits talents from outside to fill the variousjobs the economy is generating, most of which are in the IT and financialsectors. The workers hired mainly consist of local Singaporeans, Indians,Malaysians and Filipinos.

On 5 October 2006, the government announced that Singapore recordedits highest level of employment rate in 15 years with improvements,particularly, in the hiring of older workers.

Singapore is a popular travel destination, making tourism one of itsmost thriving industries. 9.7 million tourists visited Singapore in 2006compared to 8.9 million in 2005. The Orchard Road district, which isdominated by multi-storey shopping centres and hotels, is the centre oftourism in Singapore. Other popular tourist attractions include theSingapore Zoo and its Night Safari along with the tourist island ofSentosa.


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Main Agricultural products

Rubber, copra, fruit, orchids, vegetables, poultry, eggs, fish andornamental fish.

Major Industries

Electronics, chemicals, financial services, oil drilling equipment,petroleum- refining, rubber-processing and rubber products, processedfood and beverages, ship repair, offshore platform construction, lifesciences, entrepot trade.

Exchange rate

Singapore dollars per US dollar - 1.595 (2006).

Governance

Singapore is a republic with a parliamentary form of government. Thebulk of the executive powers rests in the Cabinet headed by the PrimeMinister. The office of the President of Singapore, historically aceremonial one, has been granted some veto powers in a few key decisionssuch as the use of the national reserves and appointment of judges. Thelegislative branch of government is the Parliament. Parliamentaryelections in Singapore are plurality-based. Singaporean politics have beendominated by the People’s Action Party (PAP) since 1959.

Culture

Singapore is a small and relatively modern country having a mixture ofan indigenous Malay population with a third generation Chinesemajority, as well as Indian and Arab immigrants. Singapore has alsoachieved a significant degree of cultural diffusion with its uniquecombination of these ethnic groups, and this has given Singapore a richheritage of diversity. One of the prime examples is the Singaporeancuisine, often a cultural attraction for tourists.



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English is the first language medium in the education system. The localcolloquial dialect of English is Singlish, which has incorporatedvocabulary and grammar from various Chinese dialects, Malay, andIndian languages. Singlish is spoken commonly on the streets, but thegovernment frowns upon its use in official business.

Since the 1990s, the government has been striving to promote Singaporeas a centre for arts and culture, including theatre and music, and totransform the country into a cosmopolitan and diverse community atthe ‘gateway between the East and West’.

Living & Working Conditions in Singapore

New Labour Laws applicable to Professionals have been recentlyintroduced in Singapore. “S-pass” work permits are issued to foreignskilled workers with effect from 01 July 2004. To qualify for an S-Pass,workers have to satisfy the following conditions.

a. Minimum monthly basic salary of S$ 1,800

b. Diploma or technical qualification

c. Work experience, skills and job type will also be consideredespecially for occupations like those of nurses, physiotherapists,computer programmers, laboratory and aerospace technicians.

Transportation System

The backbone of domestic transport infrastructure is the road transportsystem which includes a network of expressways that form the arteriesbetween towns and regional centres as laid out in Singapore’s urbanplanning. The Land Transport Authority began a series of measures todevelop the use of the public transport system such as improving thenation’s bus service and liberalising the hired vehicle market to allow formore taxi operators. Since 1987, the heavy rail passenger Mass RapidTransit (MRT) metro system has been in operation. More than 2.8million people use the bus network daily, while more than 1.3 million


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people use either the LRT or MRT as part of their daily routine.Approximately 900,000 persons use the taxi services daily.

The Singaporean Mode of Dressing: Western Clothing

International Transport

Singapore is a major Asian transportation hub, strategically lying on seaand air trade routes. Its history has been closely tied to the growth of itstransportation industry since the establishment of its port. The Port ofSingapore, was the world’s busiest port in 2005 in terms of shippingtonnage, and in terms of containerised traffic. It was also the world’ssecond busiest port, after Shanghai, in terms of cargo tonnage. Inaddition, Singapore is the world’s busiest hub for transhipment trafficand the world’s biggest ship refuelling hub.

Singapore is also an aviation hub, acting as a stopover point for the‘Kangaroo route ‘ between Australasia and Europe. Changi Air Port hasbeen consistently rated as one of the best international airports.

Role of the Media

Singapore’s media environment is highly regulated. Censorship iscommon, internet access is regulated and private ownership of satellitedishes is not allowed.

Two players dominate the media scene. Singapore Press Holdings (SPH),which has close links to the ruling party, has a virtual monopoly of thenewspaper industry. It publishes 15 newspapers and six periodicals.MediaCorp, owned by a state investment agency, operates TV and radiostations.

New Labour Legislation for Household Workers (HHW)

New HHWs are required to attend a safety awareness course conductedby the National Safety Council as a prerequisite for the issuance of work



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permit. Employer pays S$ 20 for the course. Besides, the employer isrequired to attend an orientation course on maid welfare and penaltiesfor abuse

Terms and Conditions of Employment

Singapore follows a 48-hour workweek. Sick leave benefit not exceeding30 days in a year is permissible. Total period of employment should notexceed 6 years. A guaranteed minimum wage of US$ 200 is paid.

Problems Faced by Emigrant Workers

The following are some of the common problems faced by emigrantworkers.

1. Maltreatment and abuses

2. Delayed / Non-payment of Salary

3. Excessive Placement Fees

4. Contract Violations

5. Language Barrier

Important Points to be remembered with regard toemployment

(a) It is illegal for an employer to keep the worker’s passport andcash.

(b) The migrant worker should keep an original copy of his/hermarriage certificate and birth certificates of children for taxexemption.

(c) A Worker cannot change employer or job without the approval ofthe Council of Labour Affairs.

(d) A migrant worker should take particular care to respect thetraditions, customs and practices of Singapore and also to strictlyobserve all Singaporean laws and regulations.


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(e) It is advisable to open a savings bank account in India forremittance purposes.

Acceptable public conduct: General Norms

v Speak in low and subtle tones. Do not shout.

v Keep eye contact with the other person whom you are talking to.However, avoiding or having too much eye contact are consideredrude.

v Intimate physical contact in public, to a certain degree, isacceptable. For example, it is a common sight to see coupleshugging and holding hands. However, physical contact betweenpersons of the same sex is disapproved. Women might hold handsor lock arms when walking on the streets, but physical contactbetween men is rarer. The spatial distance between two individualsvaries, depending on the gender and culture. Generally, you shouldstand at an arm’s length. Never pat a Chinese on the head orshoulders. Some of them are superstitious and believe that whenyou do it, you are putting out their ‘fire’, which protects them orgives them good luck. For religious reasons, avoid physical contactwith Muslims. Most Muslim women and some Muslim men donot like to have physical contact with another person.

v Do not invite Muslims to a party having a menu which includesalcohol or pork.

v Eating with hands is common especially among the Indians andthe Malays in Singapore.

v Your feet are believed to be unclean. Therefore, never move, kickor touch anything with your feet.

v It is considered rude to point at anyone with the forefinger ormiddle finger. People prefer to use an open palm or their thumb[with the hand closed].



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v Pounding one fist into the palm of the other hand is anothergesture to be avoided as many people perceive it to be obscene.

v To beckon someone, hold your hand out with the palm downand make a scooping motion with the fingers. Never beckonsomeone with your palm up and wagging your fingers.

v Among Indians, turning the head from side to side actually signalsagreement though Westerners interpret this as a ‘no’ signal.

v The ‘arms akimbo’ position—standing tall with your hands onyour hips—is typically perceived as an angry and aggressiveposture.

v Do not spit or throw rubbish on the floor. Even if the police donot nab you, the people around you will throw an offended glanceat you.

v Some public restrooms use toilet bowls while others still have the‘squat’ style cubicles. Be sure to carry a pack of tissues with you. Itwill come in handy if you enter a public restroom which has notoilet paper. If there is a restroom attendant, it is not necessary foryou to give tips, unless you see that he or she has a coin bowl forcollecting tips.

v In a restaurant, do not give tips openly or put them on the tablebefore you leave. To give tips, tell the waiter to keep the changewhen you are settling the bill.

v Smoking is prohibited in many areas, especially in air-conditionedvenues.

v If you are taking a course or attending a seminar, always bepunctual and switch your cell phone to silent mode. Thesecourtesies apply to any public gathering, such as at a movie theatreor a dinner appointment.


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v Singaporeans queue up for everything, even for food at a foodstall in the hawker centre [a sheltered place where there are manystalls selling food]. People will be offended if you jump the queue.

v To get a taxi, you may either join the queue at the taxi stand orhail one from the road. Normally, taxi drivers are not allowed toreject any passenger but if they do, please do not get offended.The taxi driver may already have an on-call job or he may bechanging shift. In these situations, there will usually be a sign onthe taxi to indicate ‘Change Shift’ or ‘On-Call.’ There are a fewtaxi companies which offer on-call service at an extra charge ofabout S$3.20 per trip. Usually at knock-off time, week ends orrainy days, it is nearly impossible to get a taxi just by waiting atthe taxi stand or hailing one off the road.

v Singaporeans are generally considerate. For example, if a pregnantlady, a child, a handicapped or an elderly person gets on a crowdedbus, someone will give up his or her seat. Likewise, someone mightallow such persons to jump the queue, such as at a taxi stand.

v Singapore has an exceptionally low crime rate, thanks to her verystrict law enforcement. People who do not obey the laws are finedor imprisoned. Such offences include spitting, littering, smokingin prohibited areas, chewing pan or gum, jaywalking, andneglecting to flush a toilet.

If certain conduct, such as smoking or jaywalking, is not allowed, therewill usually be a signboard to warn you.

Singapore is strict in enforcing her laws, even towards foreigners. Overthe years, there have been many instances of foreigners being punishedfor violating the laws.

Education

Primary education is compulsory in Singapore and as such the literacyrate is 95%. The standard for the school curriculum is set by the Ministry



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of Education with a mix of private schools and public schools. There isno strict public-private dichotomy: After primary education, studentstake the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE). Theirperformance in the examination is the main criterion in determiningwhether they are eligible to go on to secondary schools.

The major universities are National University of Singapore, NanyangTechnological University and Singapore Management University. Otherpost-secondary institutions include polytechnics, where students willgraduate with a diploma and may choose to move into the workforce orpursue higher education in public universities such as those mentionedabove.

Sources

Ray Jureidini (2003), Migrant Workers and Xenophobia in the MiddleEast, Geneva, United Nations Research Institute for Social Development.

International Labour Organisation(2006) www.ilo.org

Emigration and You- An Information Booklet, Protector General ofEmigrants, Ministry of Labour, Government of India, 2004.

Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/oman

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/countryprofiles.

www.justlanded.com

The World Fact Book, www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ba-html.

Human Rights Watch. www.humanrightswatch.org

The Hindu online edition. www.thehinduonline.com

Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs(MOIA) www.moia.gov.in

Annual Report of MOIA 2006-07


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