Why are we placing business costs above the value of human life by transporting migrant workers on lorries in Singapore?
If you’re a fellow Singaporean or resident, you might have spent 9 August soaking up the Singapore spirit, ogling brilliant fireworks, or catching the parade. Every year on National Day, we pause to contemplate the strides we’ve taken since gaining independence in 1965. But while we commemorate our nation’s progress amidst the iconic structures that define our skyline, we sometimes neglect to extend the same appreciation to the hands that built them – those of the migrant workers in Singapore.
These individuals toil under the hot sun to erect the homes, offices, shopping malls, and recreational spaces we live in and move through every day. If you haven’t heard, the recent spate of lorry accidents has turned the spotlight back on a decade-old discourse regarding their transportation. And the responses from local entities and authorities have stirred doubts among the public about their commitment to the welfare of these workers.
A quick recap on migrant workers and lorry transport in Singapore
On 18 July this year, a three-lorry accident on the Kranji Expressway (KJE) resulted in 26 migrant workers going to the hospital. Just a day later, another lorry mishap occurred on the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE), leading to the hospitalisation of 10 more workers.
In response, 47 organisations and members of the public posted a petition containing a whopping 22,000 signatures. Its purpose? To ban the use of lorries ferrying migrant workers in Singapore and prevent further unnecessary death. Signatures came from advocacy groups like the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (Home), ItsRainingRaincoats, and the Covid-19 Migrant Support Coalition (CMSC).
A subsequent joint statement countered the initial petition and triggered an online uproar. It was endorsed by 25 business associations, including prominent bodies like the Singapore Fintech Association and the Singapore National Employers’ Federation. They urged the government not to ban lorry usage, citing practical and operational complexities.
So far, we’ve gotten assurances from the authorities on additional measures to safeguard migrant workers – though lorries aren’t outlawed as a mode of transportation. The question remains: will these actions be enough to address a longstanding issue that has plagued us for over a decade?
The timeline: 14 years of lorry accidents
To understand the gravity of the situation, let’s look back at the history of lorry accidents involving migrant workers in Singapore. As far back as 2009, the Migrant Death Map alleges that an average of four workers per week faced injury or death in lorry accidents. In 2010, an accident on the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) led to three deaths and 14 injuries. Two years later, a 19-year-old migrant worker who had only been in Singapore for five months passed away in a lorry collision. More recently, in 2021, two separate accidents involving 30 migrant workers on lorries led to two fatalities within the span of four days.
These incidents have sparked parliamentary debates; even President Halimah Yacob highlighted the issue during her time as a Member of Parliament (MP). She described the matter as one that centred around ‘the lives and limbs’ of migrant workers and emphasised that lorries are meant for transporting goods, not people.
Of course, the government hasn’t sat idly by. Measures have been implemented to improve the safety of transporting migrant workers in Singapore and reduce the death toll. They include the installation of canopies and higher railings, the enforcement of scheduled 30-minute breaks, and the assignment of vehicle buddies. As a result, the average number of deaths from lorry accidents dropped from six per year between 2013 and 2017 to three per year from 2018 to 2022.
While these steps are commendable, they fall short of what is truly necessary. We’ve seen cities like Hong Kong, Bahrain and London take proactive steps to ban the transportation of workers on lorries and ensure their safety. So why can’t we implement more comprehensive actions to prioritise the safety of migrant workers in Singapore?
What are the barriers to change?
If you’re wondering why we haven’t followed suit, authorities cite potential effects that may negatively impact businesses and consumers.
Issues include heightened business costs tied to hiring buses and drivers for worker transportation, increased traffic congestion with more vehicles on the road, and potential delays in projects like housing and MRT lines. Plus, businesses that struggle to adapt to these changes – especially small and medium enterprises – may face closure. And this would cause their employees to lose their jobs. Some consumers also worry that banning lorry usage for worker transportation may cause a trickle-down effect and increase the current sky-high cost of living.
As frustrating as these concerns are, they shouldn’t justify the cost of human life. To put things into perspective, if these were our family members, wouldn’t we demand the highest level of safety and protection for them? Shouldn’t we prioritise their well-being over any business inconvenience?
Is this the country we envision ourselves to be?
With the current measures rolled out in Singapore, recent years have seen lorry mishaps constitute roughly 4% of annual traffic accidents. This number suggests fatalities and injuries are low – as compared to motorcycle accidents, which make up 50% of the total. But the value of human lives shouldn’t be measured in data points. The loss of a migrant worker’s life due to a preventable lorry accident isn’t just a numerical entry on a list. It’s stealing beloved sons and brothers from their families, robbing children of their fathers, and snatching husbands from their wives.
When economic considerations are placed above the lives of vulnerable workers, this can erode the public’s faith in the government’s values and priorities – particularly in its commitment to the underprivileged and marginalised. So, does a solid middle ground exist between the two?
While we can’t predict or control the government’s actions, we can all take small steps to support our migrant workers in Singapore. Organisations such as TWC2, ItsRainingRaincoats, Home, and SGForForeignWorkers advocate for better welfare policies, share the real-life experiences of migrant workers, and offer avenues for the public to donate and volunteer.
There’s no doubt this is a tricky situation to navigate. However, as the excitement of the National Day celebrations subsides, let’s continue to reflect on the Singapore we aspire to become.
