SINGAPORE – A harrowing incident on a busy Singapore road Saturday saw a 3-meter (10-foot) deep sinkhole swallow a black Mazda, prompting a dramatic rescue by construction workers. In under five minutes, a group of seven Indian workers used a rope to pull the trapped female driver to safety.
“I was scared, but every feeling [sic] was that this woman must be rescued first,” said construction site foreman Suppiah Pitchai Udaiyappan, recounting the moment.
Footage of the rescue quickly circulated online, with many praising the workers as heroes. These individuals are part of Singapore’s large migrant workforce, numbering 1.17 million laborers from countries like Bangladesh and India. They often fill low-paying, labor-intensive jobs shunned by locals.
This isn’t the first time migrant workers have been lauded for life-saving actions. In April, four migrant workers rescued children from a burning shophouse. These events have reignited a crucial debate about the rights and treatment of low-wage laborers in Singapore.
The Backbone of Singapore’s Economy
Singapore’s economic boom is significantly credited to its migrant workforce, comprising nearly three-quarters of the nation’s foreign laborers. They are concentrated in vital sectors such as construction, marine shipyards, and manufacturing.
Despite Singapore having no minimum wage, many migrant workers earn as little as S$300 ($233; £175) monthly, according to advocacy groups. They often reside in crowded dormitories situated away from residential areas.
However, these workers frequently face abuses, including overwork, unpaid labor, and poor living conditions. Activists note that despite documented issues, significant improvements have been slow to materialize.
“Today, you celebrate them. Tomorrow, you will go back to generalizing them as cheats, liars and dirty,” commented social worker Suraendher Kumarr on Instagram following the sinkhole incident.
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 starkly revealed the challenging living conditions in worker dormitories, which became virus hotbeds. This led to increased public discussion and subsequent government action to improve dormitory standards.
Concerns Over Transport Practices
The sinkhole incident has also highlighted the persistent issue of migrant workers being transported on flat-bed trucks. “There is something poignantly poetic about the fact that migrant workers, likely transported on the backs of lorries, went out of their way to save a Singaporean in her car,” remarked Kumarr, a member of the rights group Workers Make Possible.
While Singaporean law generally prohibits travel on truck cargo decks, exceptions exist for employees of the truck owners. This practice, which can involve up to 12 workers per truck without seatbelts, is an economical choice for employers who also use the trucks for goods transport.
This mode of transport has unfortunately led to numerous accidents, some fatal. In April 2021, two foreign workers died and over a dozen were injured in a lorry crash. Statistics from 2024 indicate at least four workers were killed and over 400 injured in similar incidents.
Activists have repeatedly urged a ban on lorry transport, a topic also debated in parliament, yet little has changed. The government cites feasibility concerns for small businesses, warning that an outright ban could lead to closures and job losses for both local and foreign workers. It also suggests potential project delays and increased costs for citizens.
Critics argue that Singapore prioritizes economic considerations over worker rights, pointing out that countries like the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have banned truck transport for people.
Kumarr suggests using levies collected from foreign workers to subsidize alternative transport, avoiding increased costs for businesses and consumers. Jaya Anil Kumar, a senior researcher with the Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics, stated that the government’s stance “preserves the status quo [and] places disproportionate power in the hands of employers, over the lives and livelihoods of migrant workers.”
Advocates are also pushing for a living wage, stronger whistleblower protections, and subsidized healthcare for migrant workers.
Pathways to Permanence Blocked
Despite contributing for decades, migrant workers face difficulties establishing roots due to their work permit status, which differs from that of foreign professionals. They are ineligible for permanent residency, regardless of their tenure in Singapore. Udaiyappan, the rescue foreman, has worked in Singapore for 22 years.
Furthermore, work permit holders require government approval to marry Singaporeans—another long-standing concern raised by advocacy groups.
“Legislative change has been slow as there has been insufficient political will to enact impactful change,” noted Anil Kumar.
Recognition or Tokenism?
The seven workers involved in the sinkhole rescue were recently presented with commemorative coins. A minister of state described their actions as “a very good example of how migrant workers help society in general.” However, many criticized this gesture as mere tokenism.
“No amount of ‘thanking’ them for their heroism should excuse the exploitative economic model that oppresses them every day to sustain the lives we live in Singapore,” argued Kumarr.
Public sentiment, shared widely on social media, suggested the workers deserved more substantial recognition, with some calling for monetary rewards and even permanent residency.
Singapore’s manpower ministry stated it is “encouraged to receive feedback calling for more forms of appreciation” but did not directly address the specific suggestions. A ministry spokesman added, “Their everyday acts of care and bravery deserve to be acknowledged and celebrated as part of who we are as a community.”
The migrant rights group Its Raining Raincoats successfully raised S$72,000 ($55,840; £41,790) through its own fundraiser, which will be equally distributed among the seven men.
“So many times, we have seen how these migrant workers risk their own lives to rescue many citizens, including children, from dangerous situations,” said AKM Mohsin, who manages an activity center for Bangladeshi workers. “They make the news and are held up as excellent examples of humanitarian work, but their own humanity and human rights are constantly being violated…”
Despite these challenges, awareness of migrant worker issues has grown. Advocacy groups and the government have organized events to foster community integration. Mohsin’s center, for example, provides a platform for migrant workers to express themselves creatively, with Singaporeans assisting in translations and providing audiences.
However, some activists believe a perception of migrant workers as a separate and inferior class persists. Many live and work in industrial zones, often distant from residential neighborhoods. In 2008, residents in Serangoon Gardens successfully petitioned against a nearby migrant worker dormitory, leading authorities to reduce its size and build a separate access road.
“We basically see them as a different class of people. We expect to be served by them and believe that is the reason they are here,” commented Alex Au, vice president of Transient Workers Count Too. “Servants are supposed to leap to the aid of their masters.”
