The Shadows Of Singapore

This essay was written to raise awareness on the deplorable conditions migrant workers face not only in Singapore, but also worldwide. The lack of inclusivity of their community is shameful considering the fact that they are the building blocks of society. This article condemns the current treatment of these individuals but also shows that there is opportunities for society to progress and improve the quality of life for migrant workers!

Singapore. It is a seemingly utopian society that fosters diversity and inclusivity, a place where multiple individuals are aggregating in the pursuit of a better quality of life for themselves and their families. Unfortunately, this is not the case with migrant workers. The meagre wages they earn do not compensate for the countless treacherous hours of back-breaking work they have to endure under the blazing sun. Singapore ranks 15th in the world for net migration rate, but is the underpaid and overworked environment worth it?

Approximately 1.5 million migrant workers are currently compromising just over 38% of Singapore's labor force. The vast majority of the individuals come from low-income rural villages in Bangladesh and China, searching for a false utopian reality. These people come with the hope of being the breadwinners of their families and rising above the poverty line but leave agonisingly in debt, according to Asia. Nikkei, Migrant workers, frequently borrow large quantities of money at excessive interest rates to pay their recruiters that brought them to Singapore. They come here with aspirations to provide a better quality of life for their family, but most of the modest several hundred dollars they earn each month they use to repay their debt. Furthermore, they are also underpaid and lack access to primary health care amenities. The government has neglected to address this issue, with most individuals living in the shadows of Singapore.

The ongoing global pandemic has devasted many, particularly the cramped quarters that migrant workers are compelled to call home. With cases in Singapore skyrocketing to an all-time high, we see it taking a drastic impact on Migrants' mental health. According to the Straits Times, almost half the migrants living in dormitories tested positive for covid-19. These facilities are often overcrowded and lack basic hygiene. Individuals stay in deplorable conditions unfit for dealing with a widespread epidemic, putting their lives in jeopardy.

It's past time for migrants to be regarded as human beings and to have improved living conditions. According to a study conducted by YALE-NUS, restricted movement in dormitories augmented levels of stress and depression. The research surveyed 1011 male migrant workers and documented their health over a while. They uncovered a trend in mental health deterioration during isolation periods, with fears evolving about losing their job.

As expressed, the mistreatment and lack of empathy for migrant workers residing in Singapore have created a hierarchy in society. Migrants have helped construct the modern architectural buildings individuals reside in today, yet they inhabit deplorable and unliveable conditions. It is paramount to address this issue immediately, and only then could Singapore live up to the reputation it has been fostering for years.