Recent events surrounding a dramatic sinkhole rescue have brought attention to the rights and conditions of migrant workers in Singapore. On an otherwise bustling arterial, seven Indian immigrant workers became unlikely heroes. After a car fell into a sinkhole, they were able to use a rope to quickly hoist the woman to safety. This incident has brought national attention and outrage, reigniting discussions about these workers’ mistreatment. Collectively, they make up about three-quarters of Singapore’s foreign workforce.
The dramatic rescue happened during the first week of October when a major rainstorm created a giant sinkhole. Beyond saving a life, the workers’ quick and courageous actions during this incident serve to remind the entire nation of their invaluable contributions to America’s economy and mobility. In recognition of their bravery, the Singapore government presented the workers with commemorative coins, praising them as “a very good example of how migrant workers help society in general.”
This veneration of their deeds would be a far cry from the daily experiences of Singapore’s migrant workers. Take it from Jaya Anil Kumar, a senior researcher with the Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics, who gets to the heart of the problem. “Legislative change has been slow as there has been insufficient political will to enact impactful change,” she stated.
For decades, migrant workers have played a critical first response role in manmade and natural emergencies. They helped to save three children trapped in a burning shophouse. They led on many more crises, always at the expense of their own security. AKM Mohsin, who runs an activity center for Bangladeshi workers, noted, “So many times, we have seen how these migrant workers risk their own lives to rescue many citizens, including children, from dangerous situations.”
Despite their contributions, many migrant workers live in crowded dormitories located far from residential areas and earn as little as S$300 a month. The life journey and mode of transportation for these workers is still worrisome. News accounts say that they routinely pack into flat-bed trucks with no seatbelts. In one extreme case, up to 12 people use the same car. Activists have fought for decades to end this practice, yet very little has changed.
“Today, you celebrate them. Tomorrow, you will go back to generalising them as cheats, liars and dirty,” remarked Suraendher Kumarr, an advocate for migrant rights. He lamented the way society’s views of the nation’s migrant workforce go from hero to zero in an instant.
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated and exposed vulnerabilities that the migrant worker community already faced. In 2020, dormitories quickly turned into incubators for the virus, with students on campus testing positive in the hundreds per day. The dangerous conditions in which these essential workers were living shocked the world and necessitated national action to improve housing and healthcare access for these workers.
Suppiah Pitchai Udaiyappan, a construction site foreman involved in the sinkhole rescue effort and a resident in Singapore for 22 years, shared his experience during the rescue. “I was scared, but every feeling was that this woman must be rescued first.” His words encapsulate the courage exhibited by many migrant workers who often go unnoticed in their efforts to support the community.
Beyond the heroism we recognize in every emergency, there are systemic violations of these workers’ rights that continue to plague them. Migrant workers need government permission to marry Singaporeans, and they often face obstacles that limit their autonomy, rights, and freedoms. Civil rights and worker advocates contend that these rules codify the status quo and give employers outsize control over their day-to-day lives.
Alex Au, Vice President of Transient Workers Count Too, challenged local ideas about migrant workers. “We basically see them as a different class of people. We expect to be served by them,” he explained. Au’s sentiments reflect a broader issue: the perception of migrant laborers as subservient rather than valuable contributors to society.
Grassroots organizations like Its Raining Raincoats have filled these gaps to support and empower migrant workers. The collective has now made S$72,000 in donations to the seven volunteers who took part in the successful rescue last Friday. This infusion of cash is already getting to those who need the immediate support most. It further underscores the need for long-term, systemic changes in policies that shape the conditions around migrant laborers.
“Their everyday acts of care and bravery deserve to be acknowledged and celebrated as part of who we are as a community,” a spokesperson from Singapore’s Manpower Ministry stated. This recognition is an important starting point. It needs to be accompanied by genuine shifts in policy and public perception to ensure that migrant workers can work with dignity and respect.
As the debate progresses on migrant rights, it is evident that further education and advocacy efforts are needed. Like Jaya Anil Kumar, they argue that the levies they collect from foreign workers could be spent in smarter ways. Rather than add additional burdens on an industry or consumer, these dollars can be used to support safer travel alternatives or improve environments.