Toiling and Death in the Singaporean Workplace

Fifteen deaths in the construction sector this year in Singapore, with some numbers still in serious condition in hospital. On Monday came the first crane-related deaths of the year, killing one Thai worker and one Bangladeshi. Last year there were five crane deaths; six in 2011. Thursday last week a construction worker fell to his death at a condominium site; four days previous a falling tree killed an excavator operator. The Acting Manpower Minister who visited the latest crane fatality yesterday was photographed in his hard-hat wiping sweat from face. One would get hot under the collar in the outdoors. Minister in a lavender shirt with sleeves rolled, tie left on the back seat of the car.

         Certainly one could not complain about the lack of colourful sign-boards around work sites in Singapore: STOP THE ASSUMPTIONS. STOP THE ACCIDENTS out on Kallang Road to cite just one example. (STRIVE FOR LIFE - not a Methodist appeal for sanctity: Jalan Besar construction site.) Above the heads of the dark-skinned workers entering the gates at almost any other site too they can be observed, small puns and word-play revealing the practiced hand of advertising expertise; very little Singlish evident.
         Truc Mie paid the author a visit after her work shift the night before last with better news. The Immigration scam in her case turned out not to be as bad as one originally feared: her five star hotel at the top end of town is indeed paying her during her three month trial. Five day weeks 9 AM - 6:30 PM, food and uniform provided and latter laundered — $SG800 per month. It might have been far worse. Easy work under the cool of air-conditioning serving, clearing, folding napkins. Less than what an MBA might have hoped, but accepted cheerfully by Truc as a broadening experience in famous Singapore. Safe work-site to boot.