SINGAPORE: By Saturday, the 10,000 Indian rupees that Mr Prakash's father sent him from India will have run out."After that ends, I'm not sure what to do. I'll see how. I might have to take on loans," said the migrant worker, who was employed by KPA Engineering. He has not been paid for about four months and is owed roughly S$7,100 (US$5,500).Mr Prakash has worked in Singapore for more than two decades. Now, he is planning to return to his hometown of Trichy in Tamil Nadu - and does not intend to come back."I've been here for 21 years. Now I just want to see how life would go back home," he told CNA in Tamil on Friday (Jun 26).
A lingering leg injury has made it difficult for him to find another job in the construction industry. For now, he is seeking medical advice on whether he is fit to travel, while waiting to recover his unpaid wages."I don't know what processes there are. If I go back home, since my salary case is ongoing, will the money be sent to my bank account? This is something I have to ask (the Ministry of Manpower)," he said.Others are choosing a different path.Of the eight KPA Engineering workers CNA spoke to on Friday, more than half said they had already begun searching for new jobs - some shortly after their employer became uncontactable weeks ago.Several said they had found companies willing to hire them, pending approval documents from the authorities.
