Baggage handlers attract local workers despite ongoing recruitment hurdles

While baggage handling positions have begun to draw applications from Singapore residents, the sector continues to grapple with persistent recruitment challenges, according to worker advocacy organisations monitoring the labour market.

Advocacy groups HOME and Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) have urged the Ministry of Manpower to heighten scrutiny of work pass applications submitted by employers in the baggage handling industry. The groups' call reflects ongoing concerns about labour standards and worker protections in a sector heavily reliant on migrant workers.

The baggage handling industry has long faced difficulties in filling positions, prompting employers to seek foreign workers. However, recent reports suggest that local interest in these roles may be increasing, potentially signalling shifts in employment patterns or improved working conditions.

Advocacy groups argue that more rigorous vetting of work pass applications is necessary to ensure fair hiring practices and prevent potential exploitation. Their intervention underscores the delicate balance Singapore must maintain between addressing labour shortages and protecting worker welfare across lower-wage sectors.

The Ministry of Manpower has not yet commented on the advocacy groups' recommendations regarding enhanced scrutiny of work pass applications in the baggage handling sector.