Singapore ( CNN ) -- In a case that brought to light issues of unfair pay and poor living conditions among foreign workers in Singapore , a court sentenced four Chinese nationals to several weeks in prison for instigating an `` illegal '' strike in late November . The four , who had pleaded guilty , were led from court in handcuffs to begin their terms in Changi prison immediately . Debts and dreams : Singapore 's migrant workers . In announcing their sentence , Judge See Kee Oon said it was necessary so as `` not to embolden others . '' Regardless of their grievances , See said , the drivers `` could not justify taking the law into their hands . '' The strike could have had the potential to `` severely affect the lives of daily commuters , '' the judge said . See said the cases were `` not the forum '' to address the workers ' grievances . Worker rights advocates in Singapore say issues of unfair pay and living conditions across many of Singapore 's industries , including construction , need to be addressed . In late December the head of Singapore 's public bus company , SMRT , asserted that pay for Chinese bus drivers is `` fair '' but admitted the dormitory conditions need improvement . Singapore requires 14-day notice for any strike in an industry considered an `` essential service . '' In an unlikely moment in court , there was a reference to the Academy awards ceremony and actress Anne Hathaway 's speech after winning the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role as the prostitute Fantine in `` Les Miserables . '' Deputy Prosecutor Francis Ng said , `` Just as Anne Hathaway '' hoped the misfortunes of Fantine would someday be found only in stories , `` similarly we hope there will be no repeat of a strike among bus drivers . '' CNN 's Outlook : Singapore . One of the accused , He Jun Ling , was sentenced to seven weeks in prison as the instigator who had made online postings in Mandarin urging fellow drivers to strike and telling them how to do so . A translation of one of his postings issued by Singapore 's prosecutor is titled , `` The insults and humiliations suffered by Singapore drivers -- where is the dignity of the People 's Republic of China bus drivers ? '' The other three drivers , Liu Xiang Ying , Gao Yue Xiang and Wang Xian Jie , were sentenced to six weeks for their role in a `` conspiracy '' to instigate a strike . One other accused bus driver -- Bao Fengshan -- was deported after his guilty plea and sentencing in December . The remaining four had planned to fight the charges in a trial , but two weeks before their trial date decided to plead guilty . One of the attorneys representing the four said his clients were just happy to see the end of a difficult chapter . Defense attorney Mark Goh argued in court for a reduced sentence , saying that they had not been aware of the 14-day law , and noting that SMRT had not addressed the drivers ' grievances . On November 26 , 171 Chinese bus drivers went on strike alleging that Chinese nationals received lower pay than Singaporean and Malaysian drivers in Singapore , and objecting to the poor living conditions in the workers ' dormitories . Twenty-nine of those drivers were immediately deported . Singapore 's economy is heavily dependent on foreign labor , particularly in blue collar jobs , including construction and service work .
Four Chinese nationals are sentenced in Singapore to several weeks in prison . They were protesting low wages and poor living conditions . They did not follow Singapore 's law requiring a 14-day notice before a strike .