A State of Limbo

Insecurities of Migrant Work in Singapore

Singapore attracts a diverse population of migrants from many neighbouring countries. They travel here to earn a higher income for their families living back in their home countries. Whilst these workers perform crucial underpaid roles in Singapore, they are often not on formal contracts that ensure their income is protected and that allows them to access support for workplace injuries. 

Akram is a young Bangladeshi man who moved to Singapore in 2013. We met through the Cuff Road Project, run by the Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) non-profit that provides case management support to workers seeking to dispute claims. TWC2 also offers support with access to basic needs, such as food, housing and transport, to ensure workers are able to support themselves whilst they can no longer work. Akram had been in Singapore for over 5 years when we interviewed him. It was clear from the damage to his arm that he was not working anymore. We sat ourselves on a table above the crowded hawker stall where the Cuff Road Project was running and before we mentioned anything, he laid out photos on the table.

This is my family, my wife, my son, my daughter and my father. My father died already this January but I wasn’t allowed to go back to see him at his funeral. The Singaporean government will not let us leave the country whilst processing claims for a workplace injury. For 5 years and 5 months, I have not been able to see my family.

How do you manage the long distance with your family?

I keep a positive mentality. TWC2 also supports us by giving us food and providing a safe space for me to meet friends. Other than that, I still have money problems.

I’m not really happy anymore. Before the accident, everything was good. Since the accident it has been 1 year, 8 months and 27 days that I haven’t worked. The injury happened on the 12th of May 2013, damaging and limiting movement from my elbow to my hands. I was previously working in maintenance for lifts, escalators and travelators.

What did a typical working day look like for you?

I worked 5 days a week starting from 5:00 am until 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm at night. The employer was good back then but once I had this accident, everything changed. I was earning $1,200 SGD before the accident per month, but for any over time past 5:00 pm, I earned cash in hand. After my injury, my base salary changed to $750 SGD/month. After I stopped working, I received money from the government.

IN SINGAPORE, THERE ARE NO WORKERS UNIONS TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF MIGRANT WORKERS. OFTEN AFTER RECEIVING AN INJURY, MIGRANT WORKERS ARE LEFT TO PROCESS THEIR CLAIMS ALONE AND RECEIVE MINIMAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE GOVERNMENT. THEY ARE ALSO IN A STATE OF LIMBO WHILST THEIR CLAIMS ARE BEING PROCESSED AND CLASSIFIED AS A SPECIAL PERSON WHO CANNOT LEAVE THE COUNTRY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. THIS MAY MEAN 1 MONTH, 3 MONTHS, 1 YEAR OR MORE.

How did you get the injury?

I was working in a lift standing on the high beam between two lifts. The building was 32 stories and my hand was caught in a lift coming down. I didn’t know the other lift was working and whilst standing on the high beam, the other lift came down and pulled my hand with it in a split second. At the time we had no safety equipment to avoid this.

It took about two hours for the rescue team to come, but then I had to sign papers before they could do anything. Because it took so long, they had to amputate my finger. If they came earlier, I’d still have five fingers. I’ve now had twelve operations. They have replaced this finger bone to another, and the skin from my legs to the ripped areas on my arm.

The employer has now handed me to the Ministry of Man Power. They have given me the Special Person status which means that I should stay here indefinitely whilst my claim is being processed but I cannot work in Singapore.

Would you still work if you could?

How can I work? I can’t even move my hands.

Can you go back to Bangladesh to your family?

It’s too expensive to fly back home. Now I can only transfer them $300 – $400 SGD per month.

So why did you choose to come to Singapore for work?

It’s better money than Bangladesh. I thought I could support my family. I couldn’t get a job back home. Since moving here, I can only talk to my family but can’t visit them anymore.

Do you feel that Singapore does enough to support migrant workers?

It’s a good country but some bosses and operations are very bad. The conditions at work aren’t good. The employers don’t support us enough. Now I have not just an injury on this arm, but my back and knees. It’s not the same anymore. I don’t know what my life will be like after this.

What could employers do better in Singapore?

Employers don’t really care here. They should give financial support and not complain about us or attack us. If there is no accident, then they are happy to have you.

ONCE YOU HAVE AN INJURY, YOU ARE USELESS AND THEY DON’T WANT YOU ANYMORE. NOW HOW CAN I LOOK AFTER MY OWN CHILDREN’S LIVES? IF I HAVE PROBLEMS, MY WHOLE FAMILY HAS PROBLEMS.

Now you are seeking help from TWC2. What do you get from them?

I come here for food and they help me with my forms. After the injury, I’ve had bills up to $40,000 SGD but the company won’t cover all of that. I don’t get support for anything. If I wanted to apply for a job, you wouldn’t hire me because of my disability. My wife could leave me because I can’t provide her with anything.

And what keeps you so positive everyday Akram?

I ONLY HAVE GOD. HOW DOES GOD HELP US? HE GIVES US PEOPLE.

People like TWC2 and the networks from there help. You are a sign of God. Between humans, we support and help each other.