Current Issues
ABDUL RAZAK'S
ACCOUNT
During the Coronavirus outbreak, migrant workers accounted for almost 15,000 reported cases. The pandemic exposed the dwelling prejudice and discrimation Singaporeans had towards them. Racism, xenophobia, and nimbyism are some of the problems being raised. Their health, dormitory conditions, and fee rights were neglected till this pandemic brought light to them. International news broadcasted how poorly these workers were treated by companies and locals in Singapore. Here are some illustrative examples and photographs to illustrate their living conditions, the way they are spoken to and about.
“Majulah!
(Socio-Politicking Series)”
Majulah is Singapore’s motto, “upward and onward”. This artwork shows how the migrant workers did laborious jobs for a shiny city while their bodies and boots twisted to carry the city that did not take care of them.
Billy Mah’s Artwork. “Majulah! (Socio-Politicking Series)”. 2011.
Image size: 1100 x 548 Pxl. Digital Art.
Item from unknown.
Foreign Workers Productivity
The image expresses that organisational bias is to be addressed.
Even though migrant workers contribute immensely to the productivity of local infrastructure, they are not included as an integral part of Singapore's development.
MOH and HDB ignores them.
Fast forward to 2020, there are more than 15,000 workers who suffer from the virus.
Productivity? However, no equilibrium is equals to an empty promise
Straits Times Illustrations. Productivity. 2015.
Image size: 780 x 520 Pxl. Digital Art.
Item from Straits Times.
Xenophobia division
The divide between Singaporeans and foreign workers is prominent.
The image presents a common xenophobic comment made by many Singaporeans regarding foreign workers.
The reason why they smell the way they are is because of the 14 hours a day shift - to build Singapore, to send money to a loved one by doing a job Singaporeans do not want to do,
Yet we only see what is on the surface.
Comic Strip. Xenophobia in SG. 2019.
Image size: 800 x 560 Pxl. Paper & Ink.
Image from AsiaOne.
Nimbyism - A social issue
Nimbyism - a characterization of opposition by residents to proposed developments in their local area, as well as a support for strict land use regulations. In short, most Singaporeans are selfish in the support of allowing migrant workers into housing estates.
Straits Times Illustrations. Nimbyism. 2020.
Image size: 1536 x 1024 Pxl. Digital Art.
Item from Straits Times.
Foreign Workers' Dormitories
Take a look into the living conditions of current migrant workers. It is crowded, cramped and lacks hygiene. Living in comfort is a falsehood that was portrayed to them before they came to work in Singapore.
Photograph. Foreign Workers’ Dormitories. 2014.
Image size: 1200 x 781 Pxl. Photographs.
Image from Straits Times.
Foreign Workers Testing
It took an outbreak of the coronavirus within the foreign worker dormitories for them to receive attention - attention on how poor their living conditions are, how unfairly treated they are alongside the virus.
Singapore needs to wake up and help.
Photograph. Foreign Workers’ Testing. 2020.
Image size: 660 x 371 Pxl. Photographs.
Image from Reuters.