A sinkhole revives debate about migrant workers' rights in Singapore

In Singapore, a dramatic event happened when a car fell into a deep sinkhole in the middle of a busy road. Seven Indian migrant workers who were working at a nearby construction site saw the accident and quickly acted to help. They grabbed a rope from their work area and threw it down to the woman who had managed to get out of her car. Working together, they pulled her up to safety in less than five minutes. Their quick thinking and bravery were praised by many people online, and they were called heroes. These men are part of Singapore's large group of migrant workers, who come from countries like India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar to do jobs that many Singaporeans do not want. There are over a million migrant workers in Singapore, and they are very important to the country's economy. They work in construction, shipyards, and factories, helping to build the city and keep it running.

However, even though migrant workers are so important, they often face many problems. Most of them earn very little money, sometimes as low as S$300 a month, and there is no minimum wage for them. They usually live in crowded dormitories far from the city, and their living conditions are not always good. Some workers are treated badly by their employers or by the agencies that bring them to Singapore. They may have to work long hours, not get paid on time, or live in places that are not clean or safe. During the Covid-19 pandemic, many migrant workers got sick because they lived so close together, and this made people in Singapore talk more about how to help them. The government made some changes to improve their living conditions, but many people think more needs to be done.

Another big issue is how migrant workers are transported to work. Many times, they are taken in the back of flat-bed trucks with no seatbelts, which is dangerous. There have been several accidents where workers were hurt or killed. Some people want to ban this way of transporting workers, but the government says it would be too expensive for small businesses. After the sinkhole rescue, the seven workers were given special coins as a thank you, but some people think they deserve more, like money or even the chance to become permanent residents. Many people are now talking about how to make life better for migrant workers in Singapore, so they are treated fairly and with respect. Some groups are raising money to help the workers, and there are more activities to bring migrant workers and Singaporeans together. But there is still a long way to go before migrant workers are truly accepted as part of the community.