Concluding his 12-day Asia-Pacific tour, the Pope stressed the importance of ensuring that all workers, especially those from abroad, are treated with fairness and respect.

Addressing Singapore's leaders and dignitaries, including Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (pictured with Pope Francis), the pope highlighted the contributions of migrant workers.

Many come from South Asia and the Philippines and contribute to the country's economic growth.

Migrant workers often face low wages and difficult working conditions. The pope said "These workers contribute a great deal to society and should be guaranteed a fair wage".

Singapore's labour force includes around 300,000 low-wage migrant workers, often employed in construction and domestic work.

While some human rights groups have raised concerns about their treatment, the Singaporean government denies allegations of exploitation.

Pope's comments welcomed

Though not aimed directly at the country's policies, the Pope's remarks may prompt further discussions in Singapore, which lacks a minimum wage for both local and foreign workers.

"I'm so happy that the pope has chosen to speak on this topic" a 34-year-old Filipino domestic helper told AFP.

"Even if they don't raise my salary, I'm still happy to know that the pope himself is fighting and praying for us" she said.

The woman said she earned $460 a month in a nation where the median gross income is $3,985, according to Ministry for Manpower statistics for 2023.

Another South Indian worker welcomed the pope's comments but said he was happy after five years in the city-state.

"Yes, the work is very hard and a higher salary would be better but I'm happy."

Pope Francis' visit also celebrated Singapore's multiculturalism and its commitment to interfaith unity.

"Singapore is a mosaic of ethnicities, cultures and religions living together in harmony" he said, painting the population of almost six million as a shining light for the world.

Sources

UCA News

AP News

CathNews New Zealand

So wrote the Public Service Commission in its review report "Accredited Employer Work Visa Scheme".

The scheme was established in July 2022 after COVID-related border closures resulted in a desperate shortage of workers.

To shorten visa processing times, Immigration reduced the number of checks immigration officers would normally undertake before making decisions.

The Commission's review found that the newly established scheme led to migrant workers being able to buy jobs. The "employers" they'd bought the jobs from exploited them when they arrived in New Zealand.

The whistleblower

Last August, in an anonymous letter to the former Immigration Minister, a whistleblower alleged exploitation.

In it concern was expressed about the fast-track visa processes Immigration NZ was following.

The former Minister was concerned. He wanted to know if Standard Operating Procedures were being followed properly as he'd been given to understand.

Jenn Bestwick led the Public Service Commission's investigation into the allegations mentioned in the letter.

The Commission's report

Bestwick's subsequent investigation and report into whether Immigration NZ had mitigated the risk of migration exploitation found much to be concerned about.

It found that while reducing the checks was reasonable under the circumstances, Immigration didn't adequately assess the risk and impact the changes could have on visa abuse.

It resulted in ineligible employers being granted officially accredited employer status and some workers never being paid. Various other abuses occurred.

When Immigration staff raised concerns, their managers "failed to pay adequate attention" the review found.

But initial concerns staff raised about exploitation were too general to act on. This was a comment from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment chief executive Carolyn Tremain, who has overall responsibility for Immigration.

Not so, the Commission report says.

It says multiple staff members raised concerns with senior managers.

They were especially concerned that migrants had paid large amounts of money to secure a job and visa, and were giving scripted responses to officials to conceal this fact.

These staff members told the Commission they felt the responses from senior management were dismissive and the issues they were raising were "swept under the carpet".

Deputy Public Service Commissioner Heather Baggott says changes to the scheme did not work as intended and ,though unscrupulous employers exploited migrants, the risk could have been mitigated.

"Immigration could have and should have done more to minimise the risk of that happening" she says.

She says Tremain is undertaking the necessary changes to the scheme to ensure it better protects migrant workers coming into the country.

"I expect the chief executive will continue to make improvements in line with the recommendations identified in the report. And the chief executive has assured me this will happen" she says.

Dozens and dozens investigated

Tremain says she has been "very clear" with the Head of Immigration about her expectations.

There are 174 investigations underway and one licensed immigration advisor is facing prosecution.

Tremain says some 145 have had their accreditation revoked and 53 have had their accreditation suspended.

Of 33,000 accredited employers, she says post-accreditation checks have been conducted on 2,700.

Source

• Otago Daily Times
• Radio New Zealand
• Radio New Zealand