How past healthcare roles shape manpower focus

An update on the tripartite unpaid wage crisis

Why ground-level officers missed earlier cases

NGO recommendations and their true feasibility

Regulating recruitment debt and high fees paid

Foreign worker levies: Objective achieved yet?

Singapore's manpower landscape twenty years on

Social integration acting as a two-way street.

Dinesh Vasu Dash and Tan Dawn Wei discuss migrant workers - the unpaid wage saga and their role in our economy.

Synopsis: Conversations and interviews that give you something to think about. Each week, In Your Opinion speaks to thinkers, leaders, and the people shaping our lives and the issues of the day.

The Straits Times columnist Tan Dawn Wei sits down with Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash to discuss his transition to the Cabinet and how his background in healthcare for vulnerable groups shapes his approach to labour policy.

The conversation tackles a major wage crisis where over 400 migrant workers went unpaid, sparking a debate on whether Singapore’s system is adequate in picking up early warning signs. 

The Minister of State also outlines a future with fewer but better paid migrant workers and better living conditions, concluding with a call for stronger social integration and mutual empathy between Singaporeans and migrant workers.

Highlights (click/tap above): 

1:38 Transitioning to the manpower portfolio: Dinesh Vasu Dash discusses how his previous role in integrated healthcare shaped his focus on safeguarding low-wage and vulnerable workers.

10:06 The unpaid wage crisis: An update on the tripartite intervention that recovered salaries for the workers left stranded.

17:37 Why ground-level officers didn't pick up the unpaid wage case earlier.

26:43 NGO recommendations and their feasibility.

28:45 Regulating recruitment debt: Examining the high upfront fees workers pay in source countries.

35:13 Foreign worker levies: Has it achieved its objective?

39:04 What will Singapore’s manpower landscape look like in 20 years?

45:26 Social integration as a two-way street.

Read ST’s Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH

Host: Tan Dawn Wei (dawntan@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producers: Danson Cheong and Lynda Hong

Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb

Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

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Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts 

Watch The Mother Load on YouTube: https://str.sg/HnaV

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Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

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#inyouropinion

Dinesh Vasu Dash and Tan Dawn Wei discuss migrant workers - the unpaid wage saga and their role in our economy.
Synopsis: Conversations and interviews that give you something to think about. Each week, In Your Opinion speaks to thinkers, leaders, and the people shaping our lives and the issues of the day.
The Straits Times columnist Tan Dawn Wei sits down with Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash to discuss his transition to the Cabinet and how his background in healthcare for vulnerable groups shapes his approach to labour policy.
The conversation tackles a major wage crisis where over 400 migrant workers went unpaid, sparking a debate on whether Singapore&rsquo;s system is adequate in picking up early warning signs.&nbsp;
The Minister of State also outlines a future with fewer but better paid migrant workers and better living conditions, concluding with a call for stronger social integration and mutual empathy between Singaporeans and migrant workers.
Highlights (click/tap above):&nbsp;
1:38 Transitioning to the manpower portfolio: Dinesh Vasu Dash discusses how his previous role in integrated healthcare shaped his focus on safeguarding low-wage and vulnerable workers.
10:06 The unpaid wage crisis: An update on the tripartite intervention that recovered salaries for the workers left stranded. 17:37 Why ground-level officers didn't pick up the unpaid wage case earlier.
26:43 NGO recommendations and their feasibility.
28:45 Regulating recruitment debt: Examining the high upfront fees workers pay in source countries. 35:13 Foreign worker levies: Has it achieved its objective?
39:04 What will Singapore&rsquo;s manpower landscape look like in 20 years?
45:26 Social integration as a two-way street.
Read ST&rsquo;s Opinion section:<a href="https://str.sg/w7sH"> https://str.sg/w7sH</a>
Host: Tan Dawn Wei (<a href="mailto:dawntan@sph.com.sg">dawntan@sph.com.sg</a>)
Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim
Executive producers: Danson Cheong and Lynda Hong
Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:
Channel:<a href="https://str.sg/w7Qt"> https://str.sg/w7Qt</a>
Apple Podcasts:<a href="https://str.sg/wukb"> https://str.sg/wukb</a>
Spotify:<a href="https://str.sg/w7sV"> https://str.sg/w7sV</a>
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>
---
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: <a href="https://str.sg/wvz7">https://str.sg/wvz7</a>&nbsp;
Get more updates: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>&nbsp;
Watch The Mother Load on YouTube: <a href="https://str.sg/HnaV">https://str.sg/HnaV</a>
---
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store:<a href="https://str.sg/icyB"> https://str.sg/icyB</a>
Google Play:<a href="https://str.sg/icyX"> https://str.sg/icyX</a>
---
#inyouropinion

A hard look at the social issues of the month in Singapore. Join ST journalists and other guests as they discuss with Lydia Wong.

Synopsis: Conversations and interviews that give you something to think about. Each week, In Your Opinion speaks to thinkers, leaders, and the people shaping our lives and the issues of the day.

Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producers: Danson Cheong & Lynda Hong

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Synopsis: Conversations and interviews that give you something to think about. Each week, In Your Opinion speaks to thinkers, leaders, and the people shaping our lives and the issues of the day.
Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim
Executive producers: Danson Cheong &amp; Lynda Hong
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.