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Pope Francis, in Singapore, urges fair incomes for migrant workers

Pope Francis on Thursday urged political leaders in Singapore, a leading international financial center, to look for fair wages for the country's millionplus lowerpaid foreign employees.

In most likely the last major speech of an enthusiastic 12-day tour across Southeast Asia and Oceania, the 87-year-old pontiff expressed concern for Singapore's quickly ageing population and its migrant labor force, centred in the building and construction and domestic services markets.

I hope that special attention will be paid to the bad and the senior ... in addition to securing the self-respect of migrant employees, the pope stated in an address to about 1,000 politicians and civil and religious leaders.

These employees contribute a good deal to society and should be ensured a reasonable wage, he stated.

There were 1.1 million foreigners on work permits in Singapore who earned less than S$ 3,000 ($ 2,300) per month as of December 2023, consisting of 286,300 domestic employees and 441,100 workers in the building and construction, shipyard and process sectors, federal government data programs.

Many of the migrant workers originate from neighboring countries such as Malaysia, China, Bangladesh and India. Many also come from the Philippines, a bulk Catholic country.

A Singapore NGO that supplies services for migrant workers, Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics, invited the pope's remarks, stating they were in full contract with his call for fair incomes.

Singapore's Ministry of Workforce stated in emailed comments that salaries were set by the free market and the government did not prescribe minimum salaries for employees in the country.

Our employment laws are matched by extensive enforcement to ensure that our migrant employees are effectively and relatively dealt with, and their employment rights and wellness safeguarded, the ministry said.

Concern for migrants has actually been a common style for Francis. Earlier on his trip, he asked leaders in Papua New Guinea to work for fair wages as that country becomes a major target of worldwide companies for its gas, gold and other reserves.

' EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW'

Francis' speech came after private conferences with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at the nation's parliament structure, where the pope was presented with a white orchid plant, a new hybrid that was named in his honour.

Francis applauded Singapore's efforts to confront environment change, calling them a model for other nations.

Singapore's government says rising sea levels due to global warming could have major implications for its low-lying coastline and it is planning to invest S$ 100 billion ($ 77. billion) over the course of the century on the concern.

Your dedication to sustainable advancement and the. preservation of creation is an example to follow, the pope. stated.

Francis, who has actually prioritised trips to locations never visited. by a pope, or where Catholics are a small minority, is just the. second pope to check out Singapore, following a short 5-hour stopover. by the late John Paul II in 1986.

Singapore, with a population of 5.92 million, is plurality. Buddhist, with about 31% of individuals relating to that faith. The Vatican counts about 210,000 Catholics in the nation,. although that number is higher if foreign employees are consisted of.

There are likewise strong Muslim, Hindu and Taoist communities,. and Francis praised Singapore as a mosaic of ethnicities,. cultures and religious beliefs cohabiting in harmony.

HONG KONG PRESENCE

Francis commemorated a Mass the Vatican said drew some 50,000. individuals to Singapore's national sports stadium, a place that has. also hosted entertainers such as Taylor Swift, who played 6. shows there in March.

Individuals queued outside the arena, under tight security. steps, at least five hours before the start of the occasion.

Connie Rodriguez, a Filipino Catholic in Singapore, said it. was frustrating to see the pope. You truly feel so. blessed, she stated.

Francis visited the arena at the beginning of the occasion in. a white golf cart embellished with the Vatican seal. He welcomed. dozens of schoolchildren, babies, and handicapped individuals. He also. took a couple of selfies.

Among those who participated in the Mass, which included a prayer. in Mandarin, were Catholics who travelled from Hong Kong for the. event, including the territory's archbishop, Cardinal Stephen. Chow Sau-yan.

The Vatican is currently renegotiating a controversial deal. with China over the appointment of Catholic bishops in the. country, which is up for renewal in October.

Francis' 12-day tour has actually also consisted of stops in Indonesia,. Papua New Guinea, and East Timor. He returns to Rome on Friday.

(source: Reuters)