Hundreds of migrant Chinese bus workers in Singapore have struck for higher pay.
Singaporean authorities have charged four workers with leading an illegal strike. If found guilty, they face imprisonment for up to a year, or a fine of S$2,000, or both.
Around 200,000 migrant workers from mainland China work in Singapore, including 450 out of 2,000 drivers at the SMRT bus company. Over 200 workers have so far participated in the strike.
Strikes in “essential services” are illegal in Singapore. The country’s last legal strike was in 1986.
Mainland Chinese authorities have expressed concern for the workers’ rights and say they hope the dispute will be resolved in their favour.
This may ring somewhat hollow, given the Chinese government’s own horrendous record of repressing workers’ struggles.
