Four Chinese bus drivers charged with staging Singapore’s first industrial strike in 26 years said they will engage lawyers to defend themselves as activists called for their release.
Handcuffed during their appearance in a district court on Thursday, Liu Xiangying, 33, Gao Yue Qiang, 32, Wang Xianjie, 39, and He Jun Ling, 32, nodded their heads when the prosecution asked if they wanted to engage legal counsel.
Liu, Gao and Wang each face a charge of engaging in a conspiracy to instigate the November 26-27 work stoppage at state-linked transport firm SMRT, which was declared an illegal strike by the Singapore government.
The fourth driver, He, faces an additional charge of inciting his colleagues to strike through an online posting.
The four did not indicate if they had already hired lawyers.
Activist groups continued to urge Singapore to release the drivers, with Human Rights Watch (HRW) issuing a statement Thursday calling for authorities to “immediately drop charges”.
“Singapore defies basic labour rights by criminalising migrant workers for a work stoppage and threatening them with prison terms, fines, and deportation,” said Phil Robertson, HRW deputy Asia director.
Liu, Gao and Wang each face a maximum one-year jail term and a possible Sg$2,000 ($1,640) penalty if found guilty. He’s sentence, if found guilty, may be double that of his compatriots due to the additional charge.
The four were remanded in custody, ahead of their next court hearing on December 12, after indicating they were unable to pay for bail.
Authorities also deported 29 other drivers involved in the strike after revoking their work permits, and jailed another for six weeks after he pleaded guilty to charges on his role in the action.
SMRT has promised to look into the strikers’ demands, fumigate their bedbug-infested dormitory rooms and find them better housing but the government has vowed to take “firm action” against any future illegal strikes.
Last week’s strike, the first in Singapore since 1986, has highlighted the country’s heavy dependence on migrant labour to drive its economic growth amid a labour shortage resulting from falling birth rates.
Chinese drivers in Singapore strike to engage lawyers
