Migrant sues Singapore firm

A BANGLADESHI migrant worker is suing his ex-employer and dormitory operator in Singapore, accusing them of “false imprisonment” after he was locked in his room during a coronavirus outbreak.

Construction worker Rahman Mohammad Hasibur filed a claim for £118,929 in damages, according to documents submitted in court.

Staff at his dormitory, run by Joylicious Management, had locked Hasibur and 20 other workers in their room on April 19, after a roommate was thought to have contracted the virus. After Hasibur reached out to TWC2, a NGO, the workers were transferred to a new room with an attached toilet which was also locked from the outside. They were confined for 43 hours.

Officials found the dormitory operator had confined the workers with consent from their employer, V Spec Engineering & Supplies, and imposed a hiring freeze on the firm. A representative at Joylicious declined to comment while V Spec has not responded to requests for comment.