Singapore - More foreign workers urged to sign up for Singapore casino ban

Chinese worker Zhang Chun Cong, 36, has never been to the two casinos in Singapore.

And he may never get a chance to do so.

The 36-year-old applied to exclude himself from the casinos on Thursday on the advice of his employment agency here, just three days after he arrived in Singapore.

"I didn't want to waste my hard-earned money gambling," said Mr Zhang, who is working as a driver at a manufacturing firm.

More employers and recruitment agents are encouraging their foreign workers to apply for voluntary exclusion from the casinos before they arrive in Singapore, or as soon as they set foot here.

Some employers are even making it a hiring requirement.

These employers say foreign workers need to be "protected" from the ills of gambling, since they do not have to pay the S$100 (US$79) casino entry levy which could otherwise act as a deterrent.

Critics, however, are concerned that these workers may be pressured into signing up for exclusion orders to keep their jobs.

The number of foreigners on exclusion orders has seen a big jump, from 12,660 as at the end of June to 22,700 as at the end of September.

Work permit holders, who earn less than S$2,000 a month, make up the bulk of these foreigners, said the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG).

Foreigners who work or live here can apply for exclusion orders online or by going down to the NCPG office or the Migrant Workers Centre.

But some are starting the process earlier.

Employers and recruitment agents say that starting about six months ago, exclusion forms have been bundled together with work permit documents and made available on the Manpower Ministry website.

Once a foreign worker touches down in Singapore, employers need only give him the entire set of forms to sign.

The exclusion forms would already have the worker's name printed on it, said Mr V. Jiang, a manager at recruitment firm Cobb & Nostra Employment Consultants. "This makes it easier for us, so we only need to get them to sign it," he added.

In response to queries from The Straits Times, the NCPG said employers were informed earlier this year that they can download the self-exclusion application form from its website. They can "encourage their foreign employees to sign up when they are in Singapore or in their home country", it added.

Employers and employment agents stressed that they will get the consent of the workers before helping them to apply for casino exclusion.

Those who decline will not be forced to do so, said Mr Jiang, but they will be told of the pitfalls of gambling. "Most employers will want their workers to sign it and most will do it," he pointed out.

But some employers are not giving workers a choice.

Mr Henry Sng, director at Henrich Building Construction, said all foreign workers seeking a job at his firm must sign the exclusion order.

"I'm doing it to protect them," said Mr Sng, who employs workers from countries such as Bangladesh and Indonesia. "Some workers ask me why I do it, but I ask them, why not? Every day you earn $25, you put one bet of $100... and you can lose it in one shot."

Mr Kelvin Lim, managing director for LKP Projects, said he is also planning to make it a company policy for workers to apply for exclusion.

Dr Ho Nyok Yong, president of the Singapore Contractors Association, said many of his member firms encourage casino exclusion.

"Employers should take a paternalistic role towards the foreign workers," he said. "We should tell them that this is not a place to go... there are a lot of other places to go for entertainment."

But some argue that the workers should be left to decide for themselves.

Said Mr Jolovan Wham, executive director of migrant worker rights group Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (Home): "Why is there an assumption that all migrant workers will be gamblers? What is the extent of the problem such that we need to get them to sign it when they are still in their home countries?

"Even if it's not compulsory, the firms can make the worker feel pressured to sign it. They are anxious to keep their job, they won't want to cause displeasure to their employers, so they do it."

Amanda Tan

The Straits Times

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