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'Premature' to pin Little India riot on labour tensions, Singapore minister says

Manpower chief refuses to speculate on cause of unrest but vows continued tightening on influx of foreign workers

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Singapore manpower minister Tan Chuan Jin. Photo: SCMP

Singapore, unsettled by its first riot in more than four decades that involved 400 foreign workers, will continue to tighten the influx of overseas labourers, said Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan Jin.

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While foreign labour has contributed to the growth of the economy, there has been a cost, including a strain on infrastructure, Tan, 44, said in an interview last week. The government is also keen to boost the productivity of local companies, he said.

“We are continuing to tighten our manpower policies because we do want to move to a leaner approach,” Tan said.

Asked whether poor living conditions contributed to the riot and if the government would step up measures to ensure foreign workers’ well-being and safety after the incident, he said “it’s premature to conclude that actually it’s because of all these other deep-seated reasons and therefore the riot happened”.

I’m not denying that there are egregious cases; there are, I see them myself. But ... I think by and large, workers here are reasonably looked after 
Tan Chuan Jin, manpower minister

Discontent over the number of foreign workers, who make up about one-third of the workforce, has risen after years of open immigration and led to the worst election result for the ruling party since independence.

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