Story and pictures by Damien Chng
Last Saturday, 7th March 2009, Mohamed Ismail brought me and my two companions on a tour of his dormitory. Mohamed is a Bangladeshi worker with shipyard firm, Ocean Marine.
We were taken to a place passed a forest where we had to fend off mosquitoes under a slight drizzle. The dormitory, as it turned out, was 200-metres from the nearest road.
Situated in a clearing between two factories, fifteen cargo containers are stacked atop one another in pairs. One is used to support a water tank. The only protection from the sun and the rain were zinc sheets placed on the roof of the containers.
The compound is home to a mini migrant workers community – hidden from the buzz of civilization.
Other than those from Ocean Marine, workers from various construction firms live here as well.
Their kitchen, lavatories and shower area are made out of makeshift bricks, metal scaffolding and sheets of zinc. Shoes scatter across the ground, and laundry hangs from clotheslines along the sides of the rectangular vessel.
Inside
Four double-decked beds are cramped inside the space of half a container. It measured no more than 3 meters by 2 meters. A fluorescent tube lamp illuminated the room which was void of windows. Two men live inside. The compartment is ventilated by a decrepit air conditioner.
Another container on the second floor houses 9 double decked beds; two at each end, while the remaining five takes up the rest of the space. This leaves the workers with a narrow aisle along the middle that is barely wide enough for one man to walk through.
There are two entrances, one on each end. It is stuffy; with a ratio of one air conditioning unit to a maximum of 18 men.
Towards the back of the compound, six Chinese workers are crammed into half a container. Junk is scattered around the compound; in between containers, behind them, and above them.
Compound
There is a common showering area to a group of an estimated 30 to 40 men, and five toilets. Out of the five toilet cubicles, only three have cistern flushing systems. The toilets have no lights.
The shower area has one pipe running down from a water tank. The valves that run along the water tank serve as showerheads. The men bathe by scooping water from a concrete tank. Algae cover the walls of the toilets and shower area.
The kitchen; a dark, dirty, and elongated space that contains thirteen gas stoves and a similar number of rice cookers, was situated beside the shower area. Grime sticks to the zinc walls.
A fire hazard
The dormitory is a potential fire hazard. Flammable materials are strewn on the grounds. Several electrical sockets are overloaded. A makeshift ash container hangs from the side of a bunk, which suggests that the workers smoke in there.
There is only one escape route. The narrow aisle in between the beds would only slow their escape. Some containers only have one entrance and exit.
There is no firefighting equipment, except for one fire extinguisher. Neither were there any roads leading from the main road to the compound, which would hamper the fire rescue.
The incessant presence of mosquitoes makes me wonder about the potential for a dengue outbreak. A big pool of stagnant, polluted water – a potential breeding ground for mosquitoes – is at the back of an abandoned container. In the first 10 minutes of our visit, each of us already had multiple mosquito bites.
The kitchen itself is dirty, with the most frequent visitor being the flies.
The potential for the spread of illnesses is also significantly higher. Those who are ill would probably not be separated from the rest simply because there is no other space where they could be isolated. In an air-conditioned environment, viruses are eminently a danger to their health.
Each of these men pays S$100 every month to live here.
Profit
TOC understands that the landlord leases the land from the Jurong Town Corporation (JTC). He then rents out the containers to Ocean Marine at $140 per month, per container. Ocean Marine then charges the workers $100 per worker, per month.
According to the workers, Ocean Marine previously housed 20 men in each container, and the employer owned four of these containers.
At $100 per worker, Ocean Marine would have collected a monthly fee of S$2,000 from the 20 workers housed in each vessel. Deducting $140 for rental of each container, the landlord makes a profit of S$1,860 from each container – and an estimated S$7,440 every month from the workers who live in the four containers.
The workers from Ocean Marine have since been moved out due to other disputes. There are currently other workers sheltered here. They are employed by different shipyard and construction companies.
It is unclear how often inspections are carried out by the JTC.
The landlord claims to have been renting the land for the last four years.
——–
Read also: The men who lived in the containers by Deborah Choo.
For more pictures and a background to this story, visit TOC Facebook.
———
Agongia,
“I am only concern of the consequences of those FWs who are still staying there after the report . Will the report benefit them?No .they will end up being poorer.
This report may resulted in them staying at a more comfortable room but it will also cost them paying more.”
I think you have missed the whole point of the report.
The highest charges we have come across for a dorm is $170 – one run by a private company. But that is not the point.
The point is that the place is an infestation which, if left unchecked and indeed shut down, will pose a health threat because of the mosquitoes. Right beside one of the containers at the end of the row is a small stream. It is filled with water – stagnant water – because the stream is clogged and the water cannot move.
And as we know, stagnant water is a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. We visited the site again today (March 15). Although MOM officials visited the site 2 days ago, some workers are still there. In fact, some have just moved in a week ago.
The point here is that of a health risk – especially when dengue cases in Singapore has jumped some 26%.
Second, it is MOM’s duty to make sure the men are re-housed in acceptable accomodation, according to the Employment Act for foreign workers.
Third, no one should condone the ill-treatment of workers, local or foreign, on the basis of cost.
I think, as I said, that misses the entire point.
51)
Thank you for your response and being gracious enough not to have my view deleted instead.That’s one thing you have gain my respect.I salute you.
1)”The highest charges we have come across for a dorm is S$170″
The S$70 makes lot of difference to these workers.,though it may appear peanut to some FWs.Of course one can argue that the employer should bear the cost but not forgetting that there’s way for employer to recover back.It will still make them poorer
2)Right beside is a small stream fill with stagnant water…stagnant water is a perfect breeding ground for mosquito……
I had lived in a kampong for 25 years besides a stream with few ponds which are stagnant .We have wells too .They water are stagnant.Many of those who have had these experiences will never have the fear of dengue and will not move out of the premises just because of mosquitoes.Sad to say ,I believe many of you had not got that experience and as such its seem improper to stay near a stream.Many are to young to see the advantages of staying with nature.
Places with people staying will have lesser mosquitoes.
Ask netizen like Patriot with that experience to see whether given a choice,where they will choose to stay.My missing Patriot,are you around?
3)Some have just move in a week ago…..
Of course,there is a difficulty geting budget accommodation for some,that is why they rather choose there.To some they rather choose to stay with mosquitoes than to be our neighbour.,in case you dun know.
4)Second it’s MOM duty to make sure….
Precisely,the Employment act is always there.Its the employer who should be taken to task,not the workers who need a simple place to sleep.Let MOM do their job then.
5)No one should condone ill treatment of workers….
Of Course.But how can we say its ill treatment if the workers willingly agree to stay in it.Unless they are the complainant than I got no say,but it is unfair to base on the feedback of those who had stayed there for 1 year,had dispute with their employer , left then complain…
Mr Andrew ,TOC have definately done a great job.My apology to you if I have not been tactful for having a different view in this case.
agongkia,
Your presumption that the workers are happy living there is wrong. In fact, some workers have told us that they were willing to pay more to have better accomodation. But this was rejected by their employer.
As for the stream of stagnant water, well, all I can say is that you have to see it to know how bad it is. But let me say that it is ridiculous to assume that your experience applies to everyone, every situation. It does not. When we visited on Sunday, there were workers there since some of them do not work on Sundays. They complained to us about the mosquitoes. Indeed, I myself was bitten quite a few times. And mind you, the workers are not provided with mosquitoes nets either.
I am sad to hear you say that just because “many of you had not got that experience”, another presumption on your part, that therefore we do not appreciate “staying with nature”, another presumption.
You’re saying that we should appreciate being bitten by mosquitoes everyday, day and night, after a hard day’s work, and accept the risk of contracting malaria and dengue and risk losing our lives?
I find this incredibly flawed logic.
“Difficulty in getting budget accomodation” is no excuse for employers to house workers in such conditions. If employers have no proper housing arrangements, they should not bring in these workers. Period. “Difficulty in getting budget accomodation” is no excuse for putting these men at risks of their lives while you reap big profits from them.
It is the employer who should – nah, must – be taken to task. It is MOM’s duty and job to tighten enforecement, it is S’poreans duty to speak up when they come across such conditions and it is for the workers’ own welfare and safety that they be moved out of such living conditions.
The employees do not necessarily “agree to stay there”. There are various ways and means which employers use to intimidate, frighten and silence workers who are unhappy into not complaining about the conditions – and for that matter, for anything else too. We have reported on these tactics which employers use, one of the most effective of which is the threat of forced repatriation, mostly carried out in the dead of night. The other is physical abuse.
Perhaps you should come forward, speak to the aid workers and maybe join us in visiting these places, talk to the workers and you will have a better idea.
After all, as you said, if one does not have the experience of having gone trhough the situation (like living in a kampong), one may not appreciate what the situation is.
Right?
These FW came here to work, and they should be expecting the fact that they will not be staying at nice houses, and as long as the it is a shlter over their head, WHAT’S THE PROBLEM!! Are you guys so sure that they have better housing in their own country, or they are probably living in slums worst then what they are currently staying in. Common, let’s get realistic!
TOC should perhaps also take more interest in many poor Singaporeans who are living below poverty (I know it as I ahd visited a few such households in my volunteering work with a few charitable organizations), and how we can help our own fellow citizens achieved a decent living first, before making such noble calling on helping FW. With the limited resources we have, I will openly declared that my priorities will be on my fellow Singaporeans first!!!!
FW came here to work, and they must be prepared to lead a hard life just as our forefathers had gone through similarly when they came here, we do not owe them any good living standards. And if they want sympathy, please go back to their own country and they will get lots of it.
Hard times – for individuals or companies – is no excuse for ill-treatment of others.
Andrew, do you really understand how our poorer Singaporeans are living their lives…can you really feel for those families who have to depend on volunteers to bring them about S$40 worth of groceries every 2 weeks just to get by with life? Are they being ill-treated as well??
You seems to prefer championing the FW, and are always claiming that Singaporeans ill-treat these FW…is that really so? And are Singaporeans the one ill-treating them or they were being given the false promise by their very own country man even before they set foot on RD? Any reason we Singaporeans should pick-up the responsibility just because they are cheated by their own people?
I don’t understand why you make such sweeping statements and are always at the forefront in painting the most negative pictures about Singaporeans being cold-blooded (and is TOC a disguise for you to take on such an agenda?).
good one hard luck..we feel the same way.
Hard Luck,
“Andrew, do you really understand how our poorer Singaporeans are living their lives…can you really feel for those families who have to depend on volunteers to bring them about S$40 worth of groceries every 2 weeks just to get by with life? Are they being ill-treated as well??”
Yes, I know. I have worked with them, visited them and even helped them. We also have highlighted their stories here on TOC. Just do a search on this website. Are they being ill-treated? Depends on what you mean. Their circumstances vary from family to family.
“You seems to prefer championing the FW, and are always claiming that Singaporeans ill-treat these FW…is that really so? And are Singaporeans the one ill-treating them or they were being given the false promise by their very own country man even before they set foot on RD? Any reason we Singaporeans should pick-up the responsibility just because they are cheated by their own people?”
First of all, please show me where I am “always claiming that Singaporeans ill-treat these FW…”. Thank you.
Second, are they truly being ill-treated, you ask. I extend an invitation to you to come and join me and my friends to see for yourself.
Thirdly, you ask if Singaporeans should pick up the responsibility…. It is more than a question of responsibility. It is a question of being humane. On your point about them being exploited by their own countrymen rather than their Singaporean employers, you are wrong. The bulk of the thousands of dollars which they pay to come to S’pore ends up mostly in S’porean employers’ pockets.
“I don’t understand why you make such sweeping statements and are always at the forefront in painting the most negative pictures about Singaporeans being cold-blooded”
First of all, which “sweeping statement are you referring to? Please point it or them out to me. Perhaps your sweeping statement is itself a sweeping statement?
On the contrary to what you say, Singaporeans are not cold-blooded. Indeed, I am fortunate to know and work with many who give off their time and effort and money to care for the less fortunate and those ill-treated, such as the foreign workers. They are tireless and, in my book, should be honoured.
It is precisely because of this that I am lending my effort to help them in their work so that we can see lasting and substantial change. I would be the happiest person here if I didn’t have to hear stories of foreign workers being ill-treated and blatantly exploited.
“is TOC a disguise for you to take on such an agenda?”
Disguise? I never have to hide or disguise myself.
And what agenda are you referring to?
Andrew,
Indeed, and does not the varying circumstances apply to the FW situations as well, and what make you so sure that you can totally believe what they tell you.
As the managing editor of TOC, you have chosen to again and again publish all these one-sided FW’s plights and putting the blame on Singapore employers and the Singapore government, is this not a way to reinforce your claims that Singapore ill-treated these FWs??
I would rather spend my time first to look at how my fellow Singaporeans can live a decent life first!
Really, why don’t you make a police report on behalf of these FW and get to the bottom since you are so sure of their claims (and you can certainly do so since you have TOC as your backing)! Do you mean you fully and truly believe all the claims these FWs made? Proved it to us that you said that the bulk of the thousands dollars ends up mostly in Singaporean (and you mentioned Singaporean again here) employers pockets! Or did you base your claims on just hear-say???
Yup, a sweeping statement to address a sweeping statement! You feel the pain now?
“Ill-treated and blatantly exploited” based on your own biased and self-righteous defined standards, or based on these FWs’ contract terms in coming over here???
I don’t know, I asked a question, you tell me?
[#58 Andrew Loh]
Andrew, you have raised some good questions – legit or rational – that’s how I would describe.
Some people seem to be good in making ascriptions that are not true; they are, in other words, putting words in other people’s mouths.
I would like to see the evidence for the statements made about you:
[a] “always claiming that Singaporeans ill-treat these FW..” and
[b] “..why you make such sweeping statements and are always at the forefront in painting the most negative pictures about Singaporeans being cold-blooded”
Hard Luck and DR John?
Shall i start by saying i am 100% for welfare and zero % for charity.
Stagnant water, be they puddle, stream, hole, pond and whatever that breeds mosquitoes, has to be taken care of by any good government. In SIN, the Environment Ministry has the duty to ensure that mosquitoes, snakes, stench and whatever undesirables are prevented from breedings and developing. It got nothing to do with foreigner or local.
Malaria and Dengue diseases were mentioned by Andrew and i am sure he does not want anyone, foreigner and local, to be infected and affected.
After mosquitoes and snakes, let’s talk about the Human Species which i am inclined to call the horrible species. TOC has always champion Rights, Justice an all other Good Endeavours, however it tends to be over generous and idealistic, there is a lack of proportion in wanting to do good. As we can read from the postings here and eslsewhere, there were/are many perspectives to an issue. FW suffering here may not be better off at their own home towns/countries and locals may not be much better than the the foreigners here in SIN and in their(foreigners) own countries. Amongst the problems the locals face are lack of space(land/sea/rivers where a living can be made) and nature.
Many foreigners are here not because they suffer back home, they are here because they can afford to come and are here to better themselves and their families back home by having better pays which have much higher currency values at the same time.
Lumping the poor living/working conditions of the foreigners with their employer’s lack of welfares and humaneness is a misguilded understanding. Had the Authorities, MOM, Immigration, Ministry of Environment and Home Affairs etc fulfilled their duties and take pre-emptive and preventive measures, much of the problems would not have exist/existed and solved. Failure to check/supervise and enforce which are the functions and duties of the various agencies lead to the many breaches of contracts/agreements by the offenders. In an ideal situation, the offenders should have acted honourably/compassionately to fulfill their duties.
When we want the best possible treatments for locals and foreigners here by championing them, do we want foreigners and Singaporeans oversea to live in similar or better conditions? The answer is a definite yes, at least the wish and spirit, but there are so many rogue regime plundering their countries and exploiting their people, are we in a position to help ? The answer is no for majority of us practically speaking and who is to say we free from similar predicaments.
I said above, i am 100% for welfare and zero percent for charity. This is because, being a born Singaporean, i have seen too many volunteer and charity organizations doing much of the duties of the Government which result in great complacencies in the various departments. And i think the charity organizations themselves benefitted much from the contributions of the people.
Lastly, i wish that our perspectives are circumspect, relevant and ideals are proportionate and realistic. Problems cause by and due to system failures must be corrected/rectified by fixing the failures and not to help victims of such failures. The help will lead to more complacencies of those organizations which then will call for more and more contributions of materials and efforts from the people and make the people their long term crutches.
This is my 3rd posting…wonder whether TOC would feature my earlier response to Andrew’s comments or not????
wkc, I had already sent in my views and response, but it is still under moderation…I wonder why this should happen??
Anyway, there are also some people who seems to be only good at riding on others comments without having a stand of their own, and I am certainly and evidently not that kind.
Hard Luck,
I’ve extended an invitation to you to join us and see for yourself. You have declined.
Lets leave it at that as I do not feel and indeed I am not obliged to convince you.
Thanks for your views.
Andrew
I didn’t want to argue for the sake of arguing, I just want to make a statement that people tends to always judge the surface of an issue or problem, It is like the fact that people can only see 1/9 of an icerberg (which is the only thing that is visible to all), but many neglect the underlying 8/9 of the iceberg below!
I had work with a group of FW before, and we’ve treated them well with good lodgings and weekend entertainment organized. However, when it is end of contract and time for them to go back, they tried many unscrupulous ways and means to stirred “sh!t” for all of us (including going to MOM to lodge a false report about ill-treatment), so as to force us to extend their contracts…who’s the victim now??? Have you interview and find out more from victims like us 9the employers), or are you already “blinded” by the fact that whatever the FW said, they are definitely the suffering end and the employers are the natural villains?
Well, MOM make the investigation and justice is back on our side, but the group of FW had bought enough time for themselves to be re-employed again! What will they do again when their contract terms end…no one knows!
However, knowing full well that MOM might not believe them anymore, they may now turned to TOC (betting on the likelihood that TOC is more sympathetic towards them) and cook-up some stories again that they have been ill-treated.
But don’t get me wrong, I am not claiming that the group of FW whom you had featured are of the same kind…it just that we’ll never know!
I thank-you too for airing my views as well.
59) Hard Luck on March 16th, 2009 2.17 pm
“Really, why don’t you make a police report on behalf of these FW and get to the bottom since you are so sure of their claims (and you can certainly do so since you have TOC as your backing)!”
Police report ??? Hey, they classify even those with physical contact as either seizable or non-seizable offence. What do you think they will classify this kind of case ?
[#62 Hard Luck]
“Anyway, there are also some people who seems to be only good at riding on others comments without having a stand of their own, and I am certainly and evidently not that kind”.
It is immaterial whether you are that kind or not. Once you have posted a comment your views may in turn be subject to comment by others. Anyone making a comment is already taking a stand whether it happens to be unique or one that others share.
#62 Hard Luck
You are just the person I am looking for. I am making a documentary about migrant workers in Singapore, and as you’ve said yourself, it is important to get both sides of the story. Employers, however have been extremely reluctant to talk. Since you’ve hired foreign workers yourself, perhaps you would like to share your experiences with me? I am particularly interested in recruitment and housing policies, and what you as an employer deem as fair treatment of the workers. Also, I am interested in finding out more about your bad experiences. How were you victimized? How was the issue resolved in the end?
You can contact me at migrantdoco@gmail.com.
Many thanks.
53)Andrew
“In fact,Some workers have told us that they were willing to pay more to have better accommodation……..”
Since you say its “some”,that means its NOT ALL .
Staying with nature does not means that you have to be bitten by mosquitoes everyday,day or night.
Yes I had said “Difficulty in getting budget accommodation”.I am referring to the Walk In FWs and not the employers.The fate of the Walk In FWs is what I am concern about.
Some employers gave a monthly allowance to the FWs to look for their own accommodation.If they choose to stay at a more expensive one,they pay the extras.If they chose to stay at a budget one ,they save on the balance.There are such walk in FWs that want to save by staying in such containers.They know that they spend only 6 hours in it.Now because of your report,these walk in FWs may have to look for a place elsewhere and pay more.They will have less money to send home.Will our neighbours feel comfortable if they chose to save by renting a flat or house with 20 of them sharing?
If 75% of the FWs claimed that they were forced to stay there,then I fully supported you on your report because I am also against these treatment and restriction of priviledges.But if you base only on a few especially those who had a dispute with their employer ,then i think its not wise.
Force repatriation ,tantamount to wrongful restraint and physical abuse,in case you know of ,should be reported to the authority,and not here.
You are acting in good faith,I believe,so I will not go further,unless you need me to.Thank you for your sharing.
Hard Luck (#59),
What one-sided story? MOM and Ocean Marine were contacted and they refused to comment. Is that a good reason to not publish the story at all? TOC will not be an apologist for Singaporeans who mistreat fellow humans and fail to abide the law. I note an assumption in your comments that Singaporeans is a homogeneous group, ie. one Singaporean is just as representative as another. I am sorry and this is not true. Singapore is an increasingly divided society.
There is a notion that citizenry helping the Government too much in social affairs, breeds or causes complacencies/irresponsibilities in Government Agencies.
How agreeable is the Notion ?
Hi friends!
Help speak up for these workers, sign a petition we are sending in to MOM to say “Yes! We care!”
Petition form: http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dEUtVjh3azltV3pNdy1kbXVwNjlTUUE6MA
Check out our blog for more info.
Yours,
Grace/Kah Yoke.
NUS Social Work Students