No More Risky Rides: HOME Renews Call to Ban Lorry Transport of Migrant Workers

“Lorry transport is dangerous, and it cannot be made safe, neither through helmets, safety belts, and definitely not by criminalising drivers." — Dr Stephanie Chok, Executive Director, HOME 

On 19 March 2025, HOME launched its latest report, Risky Rides: A Report on the Transportation of Migrant Workers on Lorries,  calling for a ban on the unsafe practice of transporting workers on lorries. The launch was attended by local and international media, as well as embassy officials and fellow civil society organisations, many of whom have also advocated for safer transport options for migrant workers. 

HOME’s Senior Research and Advocacy Manager, Jaya Anil Kumar, presented the report’s findings. The report traces policy changes  over the years, highlights advocacy efforts, and centres the lived experiences of migrant workers—many of whom described their daily commutes as unsafe and extremely uncomfortable:

“24 people capacity, but… [equipment and] some extra people... Some sit on the floor, some also sit on a chair or wherever there is space. Sudden brake and people injure their head, some also broke their teeth due to the impact.”

“For this lorry transportation we have to wake up really early in the morning, 4 am and we go to bed very late around 11 pm – 12 am…we end up dozing off in the lorry at the end of the day and when there is a sudden brake we are bound to get injured.”

The report also challenges common arguments used to resist a ban, such as  high business costs  and possible “knock-on” effects such as job losses and project delays. It argues that the state has a duty to protect workers’ lives and should step in with subsidies and practical solutions, and recommended timelines for the transition (18 months for larger firms, and 36 months for smaller companies) as well as measures to alleviate the shortages of bus drivers and buses. 

A panel discussion followed, featuring Associate Professor Walter Theseira (Singapore University of Social Sciences), Debbie Fordyce, President (TWC2), and Nicholas Chan, Co-lead (CMSC). All three lauded the report for amplifying workers’ voices—often silenced due to fear of job loss.

Panellists at the launch of Risky Rides. From left to right: Assoc Prof Walter Theseira (SUSS), Jaya (HOME), Debbie Fordyce (TWC2), Nicholas Chan (CMSC).

Associate Professor Theseira stressed that the “burden of proof” lies with the government in showing how much it will cost businesses to transition to safer modes of transport. 

“Often the burden of proof is framed as if the system is working fine, then the burden of proof is on those who want to change it to prove that it is not fine. I think it is obvious that this system works for everyone but migrant workers.” 

“To not know that the government’s decision to keep lorries is not founded on solid evidence is very frustrating. So even if the government says they don’t want to ban lorries, they should be based on solid evidence.”

He also stated that the exception found in the Road Traffic Act that allows for lorry transport is “a serious exception in the law”, and articulated the need for the government to study policies affecting non-resident workers (who are usually considered ‘transient’ but many of whom are long-term workers) more thoroughly. 

TWC2’s Fordyce highlighted that workers are not paid for time spent loading equipment and endure long hours commuting in unsafe conditions—factors not reflected in their wages. She also noted the lack of publicly available data on how many workers are transported on lorries. 

Chan from CMSC  spoke about the potential links between lorry transport and workplace injuries. The long commutes and uncomfortable rides may cause fatigue in workers, which in turn may cause workplace accidents to occur. He also pointed out that current regulations require individual workers and supervisors to carry the burden of ensuring safety standards are met. He called for systemic change (in the form of a ban) and  whistleblowing protections for workers. 

The floor was then opened for questions and discussion. 

A member of the audience reiterated that the government bears the responsibility of clearly communicating  the costs that businesses may incur in adopting safer modes of transport. Another commenter noted that while there are established  safety and regulatory standards for worksites and dormitories—along with consequences for non-compliance—transport safety for migrant workers is overlooked. He then stated, “So now the worker is safe at the worksite and the dorm but not safe in between the two places. That’s very funny. … if they are safe they should be safe all the way.”

The media posed questions around future plans for the report, including whether HOME intends to engage policymakers on this issue. Jaya (HOME) responded that HOME intends to use the report to push policymakers to implement safer transport for migrant workers, as well as to keep the issue alive in public consciousness. 

Other media questions included the possibility of increased costs around safer transport being passed to migrant workers. Associate Professor Theseira responded that there is increasing competition in attracting migrant labour to Singapore, given that other developed countries like Korea and Japan are opening up their job markets due to their ageing populations. If Singapore does not position itself as a destination of choice for migrant workers and offer the same, if not better, labour protections as other countries, Singapore may face a labour shortage. 

In closing, Stephanie (HOME) reiterated that issues of cost, shortage of buses and bus drivers, are feasibility issues that do not justify compromising the safety, dignity and lives of migrant workers, and that a ban on the practice of transporting workers on lorries is long overdue. 

Following that, attendees were invited to support other campaigns that HOME is running, such as the #RestDayAllDay campaign which advocates for 24-hour rest days for migrant domestic workers, and HOME’s 20th anniversary fundraiser.

Read the full report, Risky Rides: A Report on the Transportation of Migrant Workers!