Foreign workers are human beings TOO

I read with utter digust and how much prejudice Singaporeans have towards foreigners who are less well-off and are here to work as labourers to support their family back home.

Foreign Workers are not the Criminal Class, nor are Poor People the Criminal Class. Michael McCrea, A British Financial Advisor killed his driver and the driver's girlfriend in 2002. Lets not forget about the American teen, Michael Fay who was caned for multiple acts of vandalism in 1994. What about Strait's Times reporting about the army regular who was charged recently for molesting a young girl at a bus stop? Perhaps we should be wary of the British, Americans and Army Regulars too and bar them from living in Serangoon Gardens.

From what I picked up online and verified at the Singapore Police Force Website,

"The number of foreigners arrested for crime decreased from 3,036 to 2,758 persons in 2006. They accounted for about 14% of the total persons arrested, same as in 2005″.

I am not able to get any current statistics from the Singapore Police Force website. But statistics for 2006 seems to suggest, since 86% of the crime in Singapore are commited by Singaporeans, locals are the ones commiting most of the crime in Singapore. So perhaps I should be more wary of my fellow Singaporeans instead of foreign workers? Since I'm more likely to be a victim of a crime perpetrated by a Singaporean, or perhaps the foreign workers should be more afraid of Singaporeans?

Majority of Foreign Workers are law abiding people,. granted I understand that some of the foreign workers' public behavior are considered socially unacceptable in Singapore. Perhaps foreign labourers should be given a course in proper etiquette when they arrive in Singapore, which will be sponsored by the government.

I somehow connect this negative view towards foreign workers with the astounding rise in Maid Abuse cases in Singapore. In Febuary 2008, a husband, his mother and wife were charged for maid abuse.In March 2008, another family was hauled into court for maid abuse. In July 2008, there 3 cases of maid abuse being heard in court.

What about the Chinese National who got bashed for talking too loudly on the bus in May 2008? What surprised me were the views that some Singaporean netizens have: The PRC national got what he deserved, was some sentiments I've seen on a regular basis.
Let me assure you that if you take a bus around any school during the times the students get off from school, let me assure you: the school children sometimes make enough noise to make my ears ring. So perhaps the school children deserve to get bashed too? Or do the rules change for locals and foreign workers?

Foreign Workers are human beings too, they are not any less human as we are, despite the fact they may come from poorer countries to make a living here. I cannot help to feel that Singaporeans have a poor view of them due to their social status.

I quote Former Chief Justice Yong Pung How in 2001, when he sentenced a Singaporean Couple to serve consecutive jail terms for maid abuse:

"A maid sells her services, she does not sell her person. An employer should not exploit his maid's dependence on him for food and lodging, for these are basic rights," he said in a written judgment.

"A maid's abased social status does not mean that she is any less of a human being and any less protected by the law," Yong said.

Martin Luthor King Jr said: "I want to be the white man's brother, not his brother-in-law."

Foreign Workers and Domestic Helpers are here to stay, a necessary part of our society, as they help contribute to our society by doing their jobs.

It is a sad indeed when you realize that despite our economic progress we enjoy living in a developed country like Singapore; my fellow Singaporeans still discriminate against people because of their social status, have problems viewing them as human beings, and needs the law to remind us that Foreign Workers are Human Beings TOO..