Costlier vegetables for Singapore likely after flash floods, crackdown
Several farmers said the higher prices will impact local consumers as well as exports to Singapore and other countries, particularly during the Christmas season next month and Chinese New Year in February.
The Immigration Department has hauled in scores of foreign workers, who allegedly do not have proper work permits, after a Home Ministry investigation revealed that a syndicate was bringing in thousands of illegals here. Many other foreign workers have also reportedly gone into hiding as the crackdown continues, giving the farmers a headache over how to tend their crops in the wake of the sudden shortage in their workforce.
This happened soon after flash floods and landslides caused much damage and killed five people on Nov 5.
The flooding was triggered by a long drawn out downpour that evening, which state authorities have blamed on illegal land clearing activities.
Source: straitstimes.com