How a sinkhole revived a debate about migrant workers’ rights in Singapore

When a group of deep basin swallowed 3 meters (10 feet) on the crowded Singapore Road in Mazda Al -Aswad on Saturday, a group of workers originated in a near construction site.

When seizing a rope from their workplace, they threw it in the pelvis to the female driver, who was at this time he left the car.

In less than five minutes, they managed to pull it into safety.

“I was afraid, but every feeling [sic] This woman could have been saved first, ”the construction site Foreman Sobai Picai Odiaiadan was later correspondent.

The accident footage soon became viral on social media, as many praised the workers as heroes.

Mr. UdaiyAppan is a “migrant worker” – a term used in Singapore to describe the 1.17 million people who come to the wealthy city of the city of low -income countries such as Bangladesh, India and Myanmar.

The vast majority of them work low -wage and intense jobs in the employment avoided by Singaporeon.

This is not the first time that migrant workers have worked as the first respondents to save lives in Singapore. In April, four of them helped save children trapped in Shofius after a fire.

Their recent actions revived a debate on rights-or their absence-for low wages workers in Singapore.

The rapid economy in Singapore was built on the appearance of these workers who make up nearly three quarters of the country’s foreign workforce. Many of them work in sectors such as construction, seafood construction basins and manufacturing

While Singapore does not have the minimum wage, workers earn less than $ 300 Singapore ($ 233; 175 pounds) per month according to the Da`wah groups, and they live in a crowded dates often located away from residential areas.

However, they are often subject to violations by employment agencies and employers, including excessive work, improper work and poor living columns. These issues are well documented, but activists say little has changed over the years.

“Today, you celebrate them. Tomorrow, you will return to their generalization as cheating, liars and dirty.”

During the Kofid in 2020, their naked living conditions were laid after the workers appeared as a virus focus, as hundreds of workers are tested daily.

This sparked a public debate about their circumstances – which defenders warned of it – and the authorities later took measures to improve the criteria of the dormitory.

Another continuous issue, which the pelvic accident again shed light on, is the use of flat trucks to transport these workers.

“There is something an influential poet about the fact that migrant workers, who are likely to be transported on the backs of trucks, have gone out by saving Singapore in her car,” said Mr. Kumar, a member of rights workers.

Singapore laws prevent people from traveling on shipping floors from these trucks – except in medical emergencies. But this is allowed if they are employed by truck owners.

Sometimes, up to 12 workers are mobilized at the back of a flat truck with no seat belts. This is an economic option for many employers who use trucks to transport goods.

But this led to multiple accidents, some of which involve deaths.

In April 2021, two foreign workers died and more than ten were wounded after the truck that were in a fixed truck in the bed.

In 2024, at least four workers were killed and more than 400 were injured in similar accidents.

Activists have long pressed the ban on this pattern of transportation – the case has also been discussed over and over again in Parliament – but little has changed.

The Singapore government says again and again that although it encourages companies to transport workers on buses, the direct ban on such trucks is not possible for small companies.

“Many of them can be forced to close, which caused the loss of workers, local and foreigners alike, to lose their jobs,” said a prominent state minister in Parliament in February.

“It will also delay important projects such as [public housing]Schools and hospitals and [train] Lines, and lead to high costs of Singaporean. “

Activists criticize the authorities to reduce workers’ rights in mere economic considerations, noting that other countries that rely heavily on migrant workers, including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, have banned the transportation of people on trucks.

Mr. Kumar suggested that the fees collected from foreign workers can be used to support other transportation patterns without transferring costs to companies and consumers.

The government’s speech maintains the current situation [and] “It places the improper power in the hands of employers, and for the life and life of migrant workers,” said Jaya Anil Kumar, the first researcher at the Humanitarian Organization for Immigration Economy, another organization calling for another organization for immigrants.

The ban on truck riding is just one in the list of changes called by defenders, which includes a living wage, stronger protection for those whose violations, and supported health care.

Although contracts from their lives are allocated to Singapore, these workers also do not have a way to quell the roots due to the type of work permit that they carry, which differs from foreign professionals and executives.

They cannot qualify for permanent residence, regardless of the time they worked in the country. For example, Mr. UdaiyAppan, who has removed the SinkHole rescue effort at the end of last week, for example, 22 years ago.

The holders of work permits also need the government’s approval to marry Singaporeans – another case, most notably activists for years.

“The legislative change was slow, as there was not enough political will for an effective change,” said Ms. Anil Kumar.

Earlier this week, the seven workers involved in saving the souvenir souvenir, with a state minister describing their actions as “a very good example of how to help migrant workers in society in general.”

But many of them criticized this step as a symbolic sign.

Kumar said: “No amount of” thanks “should not be excused for their championship, the exploitative economic model that persecutes them every day to preserve the lives we live in Singapore.”

Many chanted these ideas about social, saying that men deserve more recognition. Some have called for giving them monetary rewards and even permanent residence.

“He is encouraged to receive comments calling for more forms of appreciation” for migrant workers, but he did not address the specific suggestions that were raised.

“Their daily actions of care and courage deserve to be recognized and celebrated as part of those we as a community,” said the ministry spokesman in response to the inquiries.

The Migrant Rights Group has raised that rain coat is $ 72,000 Singapore (55,840 dollars; 41,790 pounds) of their donations, which will be equally divided among the seven men.

“Often, we saw how these migrant workers risked their lives to save many citizens, including children, from dangerous situations,” said Akm Mohsin, who runs a center for workers in Bangladesh in Singapore in central Singapore.

Mr. Mohsen said: “They make news and keep excellent examples of humanitarian work, but their humanity and human rights are constantly violating in their workplaces, how to transfer them, and how they live.”

However, there has been an increase in awareness of migrant workers ’issues over the years.

Da`wah and the government organized activities that bring together workers and the wider society.

For example, Mr. Mohsen runs a space for migrant workers for writing, dancing and playing music – and the Singaporean has helped translate and publish their works, and often provide an audience for their performance.

But some activists say that most of them in the country still see immigrant workers as a separate and less than the local community.

Many work lives in industrial areas that are often far from residential areas of the city.

In 2008, about 1,400 residents in Surgon Gardens, a top -class neighborhood, offered a petition against the construction of a migrant dormitory near their homes.

To disinfect them, the authorities reduced the wide river size and build a separate road for workers to reach deputies.

“We see them mainly a different category of people. We expect that they will be presented by them and we believe that this is the reason they are here,” said Alex Africa, Vice President of the Cross Group.

“The servant is supposed to jump to help their masters.”