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The SMRT Labour Dispute: Symptoms of a dirty business

The SMRT Labour Dispute: Symptoms of a dirty business

Corporate greed, old authoritarian hangovers, and demographic changes in the foreign labour industry

Late last month 171 Chinese national bus drivers who were employed by the Singapore Government controlled bus and underground railway company SMRT took industrial action by staging a two day walkout. The bus drivers claimed that they were being underpaid relative to other foreign workers doing the same job, and the poorly sanitized conditions of their accommodation. This is reportedly the first strike in Singapore since 1986. The SMRT management took it upon themselves to immediately revoke the work permits of 29 of the drivers causing their immediate deportation last Sunday. Five drivers were charged under Singapore law that prohibits any industrial action like a strike without giving 14 days prior notice. One was additionally charged with inciting people to strike by posting comments on a Chinese social network site and received a 6 month jail sentence after pleading guilty.