Singapore  - Two Singapore non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have called for adequate compensation for foreign workers, a growing number of whom are being left with unpaid wages or without jobs, proper accommodation and meals, news reports said Friday.

NGO Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) said some 800 workers, who had no access to work since they were brought into Singapore, were abandoned by their employers and had not been paid their due salaries, according to a report by the Channel News Asia.

Singapore - Singapore shares dropped by 3.4 per cent Thursday amid generally gloomy regional market news and overnight falls on Wall Street.

The Straits Times Index fell by 60.66 points or 3.4 per cent to 1,704.06.

The Singapore Exchange closed with 357 losers against 105 gainers.

Volume was 1,069.5 million shares.

Analysts said speculators forced a price correction on Thursday at the Singapore Exchange which had made recovery on Wednesday after a six straight days of losses.

Singapore - Singapore Wednesday said it would discuss with other Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies measures to support economic growth, address the global economic crisis, accelerate regional economic integration, and resist protectionism this year.

Singapore, as APEC chairman, would bring together, for the first time, APEC trade and finance senior officials, in February and July, to discuss fiscal and monetary measures to help businesses and workers tide over the economic crisis, the city state's Trade and Industry Ministry said.

Previously, APEC trade and finance senior officials have had separate meetings on their respective trade and finance agendas.

Singapore  - A Singapore sub-contactor is sending back 55 Bangladeshi workers, citing lack of work and projects due to the economic slowdown, according to a news report Wednesday.

Tunnel & Shaft said it has worked out compensation of 1,000 Singapore dollars (673 US dollars) per worker. However, the workers would have to return 500 Singapore dollars (336 US dollars) if re-employed.

The company was sending the workers home for two months and hopes to bring them back when the economy picks up, according to the Straits Times.

The Bangladeshis were recruited last year, with some of them just two months into employment. Some were quoted as saying they were left with an outstanding debt of

Singapore - The Singapore government has explained its decision not to renew the work permit of two Myanmar nationals, saying they had gone beyond the law allowed in staging political protests.

The case involves two Myanmar nationals, Moe Kyaw Thu and Win Kyaw, who were part of a group that held a protest march against their country's ruling junta during the 2007 Asean summit held in Singapore, according to a Tuesday report in Straits Times citing an online posting of one of the Singapore protestor.

Singapore - A 70-year-old man faced a court Monday, charged with grievously harming a Singapore legislator by pouring paint thinner over him and setting it alight during a Sunday afternoon community club event.

Ong Kah Chua, a former taxi driver, was remanded in the custody of the Institute of Mental Health and is to reappear in court on January 23, Channel News Asia reported. He is accused of attacking Member of Parliament Seng Han Thong at the club, causing burns to 10 to 15 per cent of his body.

Also injured during the incident was the 69-year-old chairman of a Chinese temple, Aw Chui Seng.

News reports said Seng, 59, had undergone skin grafts at a local hospital after suffering severe burns to his face, arms and upper body.