SINGAPORE: The fate of Abul Hashem (44) of Feni who has been in Singapore for last eight years working in a Marine workshop has now become uncertain due to the policy of the incumbent government.

The man, Hashem who is now popularly known as ‘Sham’ did not get the renewal of his work-permit when it was submitted by his company to the government.

Hashem in his Feni home has built a semi-pucca tin-shed building by his total earnings and hoped to get his only daughter married soon and then pass the rest life peacefully with his wife.

But fortune did not smile on him. Some days back he was refused to renew his work permit by the ministry of manpower of Singapore government without citing any reason.

The news came to him as a bolt from blue. It is now totally uncertain to get a new job in his own country or to start a business with his meager savings. He has become restless thinking about his future along with his family. His employer company was also not desiring to lose such an experienced and skill worker. As the government does not allow then the company informed him to leave the job and go back to Bangladesh.

Like Abul Hashem few thousand workers of South Asia including hundreds of Bangladeshis have become victims of termination and asked to leave Singapore. Despite having skill and experiences the foreigners have become the victims of Singapore’s foreigner ‘Drive Out’ policy.

A big size of Singapore population consists of foreigners including good number of workers from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, China, Malaysia and some European nations.

Due to such huge foreigners the indigenous Singaporeans have been complaining that they are not getting employment. Some time back the Singaporeans drew the attention of the government by staging protest rallies with the slogans ‘return back our own country.’

The ruling government has taken it seriously in view of the ensuing national election. They have drafted a new policy to employ their own nationals after vacating the foreigners.

Under the new policy it is mentioned that if any foreigner has to be employed their must be proved that there is no such Singaporean with this capability required. Besides, the employer company is to pay heavy fee (levy) to the government for employing a foreigner. Under these circumstances the companies are not ready to face hassles and hurdles.

Accordingly, the government is not renewing the expired work permits of the foreigners and asked them to go back to their countries.

There is an announcement in the website of ministry of manpower and labor (MOM) of Singapore it has been mentioned that the South Asian workers can only be employed in the construction and shipyard sectors. Because the Singaporeans are not interested in doing physical labor and risky works.

The Singapore government hopes that by 2016 the number of foreign workers will come down to less than half.

BDST: 1207 HRS, JAN 05, 2015