Two China workers arrested after standoff at construction site

Two China workers arrested after standoff at construction site
By Sara Grosse/Alice Chia | Posted: 06 December 2012 1600 hrs

SINGAPORE: Police have arrested two workers from China for unlawfully remaining on top of construction cranes at a construction site in Jurong and intentionally causing alarm.

The Ministry of Manpower says the two men, Mr Zhu Guilei and Mr Wu Xiaolin, were unhappy with their employer Zhong Jiang (Singapore) International Pte Ltd over salaries.

Since 6.30am, the workers were seen on top of the construction cranes at a work site near No 31, Jurong Port Road.

The workers remained on separate cranes, which are about 10 storeys high.

By afternoon, the heat was noticeable. Still, the workers did not get down from the cranes.

The Police Crisis Negotiation Unit was activated to get the two men down to safety.

Shortly after 2pm, SCDF officers were seen climbing up one of the cranes.

After some coaxing, one of the workers began to make his way down.

The second worker continued to stay on top of his crane for the next hour.

After it started to rain, SCDF officers began climbing up the second crane.

Eventually, the second worker got down from the crane at about 3.30pm.

Both men were seen being escorted by SCDF officers after they reached the foot of the crane.

The two workers had previously approached the Ministry of Manpower and claimed they had outstanding salaries owed to them.

However, the MOM said the workers did not have the necessary documents to support these claims.

MOM officers had asked them to return with the documents so they could investigate. The workers had agreed to do so.

Police said if convicted, the workers can expect to face imprisonment, fine or both.

On the incident, the Migrant Workers' Centre called for more outreach with migrant workers so that they can be made aware of channels of help available to them.

Mr Yeo Guat Kwang, Chairman of Migrant Workers' Centre (MWC) said: "We have contacted the Ministry of Manpower about the case and on our hope that they are given a fair opportunity to air their grievances. In the meantime, we are confident that MOM will be able to achieve an outcome, with the workers and their employers, which is satisfactory to all concerned.

"We would like to assure the workers that the MWC will monitor the developments in this case and will step in to assist them if the need arises. We are gravely concerned about the interests and welfare of our migrant workers, and would like to reiterate our call to them to abide by established channels of assistance, either through MOM, MWC or any other migrant organisation set up to champion their welfare, and not to take matters into their own hands."

- CNA/ck/de

- wong chee tat :)