Jamus Lim hosts farewell meal for Anchorvale cleaners as residents praise years of dedicated service

SINGAPORE: Associate Professor Jamus Lim, Workers’ Party Member of Parliament for Sengkang GRC, hosted a farewell meal for a group of Anchorvale town council cleaners as part of a transition to a new conservancy contractor.

In a Facebook post published on 25 May, Lim said part of the conservancy team serving Anchorvale would be replaced at the end of the month following a contract renewal exercise by Sengkang Town Council.

He said the council had to remain “prudent” when renewing contracts by assessing past performance, quality considerations, and competitive bid prices.

Lim added that such contractor replacements “can and do occur” during procurement exercises.

Farewell for long-serving cleaners

Lim described having “mixed feelings” over the departure of workers whom he had worked alongside for more than five years.

Quoting William Shakespeare, he wrote that “parting is such sweet sorrow”.

He also highlighted the often-unseen nature of estate cleaning work, noting that cleaners typically carry out their duties early in the morning or late at night.

“Sometimes, we may not observe them as they go about their duties,” Lim wrote.

“But having seen what it’s like when they’re not around, I am aware that when they’re not doing their job, everyone can see — and feel and smell — their absence.”

He added that many of the workers had left behind family and friends in their home countries while working in Singapore under difficult weather conditions.

As a gesture of appreciation, Sengkang TC organised a farewell meal for the cleaners at a neighbourhood restaurant.

Lim said he wanted the workers to enjoy a sit-down meal at a venue “that almost all of the workers would only have walked by — and cleaned around — daily”.

“To those that are moving on: thank you for your service,” he wrote. “I hope that the next chapter of your lives will be meaningful and fulfilling, wherever that may be.”

Residents praise cleaners’ dedication

Residents responding in the comment section expressed strong appreciation for the Anchorvale cleaning team, with many praising the workers’ diligence, friendliness, and professionalism.

One resident described the team as the best they had seen in 20 years living in the area.

The resident singled out one younger cleaner for his dedication, saying he routinely worked from early morning until evening while maintaining a positive attitude.

While expressing sadness that the cleaner might be leaving Singapore, the resident added that he deserved the opportunity to reunite with his family after years of service abroad.

The same resident also cautioned against prioritising the lowest contractor bid over service quality, arguing that doing so could undermine the goodwill built by the workers within the community.

Another resident praised a cleaner overseeing their block, describing him as hardworking, friendly, and consistent in maintaining cleanliness standards.

The resident said the worker’s four-year contract was ending and that he would be returning to his hometown.

She also described the team as “the best” the residents had encountered in 25 years living in the estate.

Community bonds highlighted

Several comments said the cleaners had become familiar figures within the neighbourhood through daily interactions with residents.

Some shared stories of exchanging greetings and smiles with workers during routine cleaning rounds, while others described the cleaners as being “like neighbours”.

Many residents also expressed sadness over the departure of the team, saying the workers had contributed significantly to making the estate clean and welcoming.

One commenter thanked Lim for “setting an example” by publicly acknowledging the contributions of migrant workers.

Others said the farewell gesture served as a reminder not to take essential cleaning work for granted.