Proxy gambling issue sparks outcry
The government is exploring ways to prevent employers from sending their foreign workers to casinos to gamble in their place.
Minister of State for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin expressed his shock at the act of bosses using their workers as proxy gamblers, reported The Straits Times.
Releasing a joint statement late on Friday, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Ministry of Community Development, Youth, and Sports (MCYS) said that they were not for the act, and would work together with both casino operators to monitor the casino premises for such cases.
This comes after the same paper published a story on Friday about several businessmen -- some have exclusion orders blocking them from entering the casinos -- who have been sending their foreign workers to the casino at least once a week to gamble on their behalf.
These workers will be armed with cash, notebooks and mobile phones before being dispatched. It is understood that the workers, who are usually dressed in company polo t-shirts and jeans, get a cut of the winnings, but conversely, their pay will be docked if they lose too much.
This has sparked an outcry by Internet users after Tan criticised these employers on his Facebook page.
Commenters on his post agreed that action has to be taken, and suggested restricting or banning foreign workers from entering the casinos as proxy gamblers.
Some Members of Parliament (MPs) also believe that the employers should be punished.
"I think it is gravely wrong to make use of the vulnerable foreign workers, who are in a very difficult position," said Christopher de Souza, deputy chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Manpower.
"We should explore whether the employer has participated in a conspiracy to breach an exclusion order by getting other people to do the gambling in the casino."
This act by the employers has also drawn the ire of gambling support groups.
"What they are doing is very dangerous, making use of their workers and making them think they are actually helping them," said Reverend Tan Lye Keng, executive director of the One Hope Centre, which holds gambling support sessions for addicts.
As much as the government is looking to prosecute these employers, lawyers said that the area is grey, given that there are no laws preventing the workers from entering the casinos on their own free will.
In fact, in Friday's report, it was indicated that the workers were not forced to do this and were happy spending their time in the air conditioned casino rather than under the hot sun.
