Labour Rights Are Not Rewards: Reclaiming Worker Protections as Basic Entitlements
In a recent CNA commentary, Dr William Wan proposed several ways to honour the migrant workers who courageously rescued a driver from a sinkhole—such as automatic renewal of work permits, subsidised training and upskilling opportunities, comprehensive medical insurance covering both physical and mental health needs, and the granting of permanent residency.
Dr Wan frames these as rewards for those who perform extraordinary acts of heroism beyond the scope of their daily responsibilities. In other words, they are offered as a privilege, rather than a right.
We offer a different perspective. Rather than rewards for exceptional conduct and acts of valour, we believe they should be established as fundamental rights accessible to all workers — including migrant workers — who live and work in Singapore.
Migrant workers are a vital thread in the fabric of society.
It is essential to give migrant workers strong protections and rights because their labour is vital to the functioning of our country. They perform jobs that are physically demanding, hazardous, and low-paying, but which prop up many key sectors, such as construction and conservancy work.
Denying them fundamental rights or requiring them to “earn” these protections through exceptional acts of bravery is unfair and dehumanising. Migrant workers deserve respect and fairness simply by virtue of their humanity and their integral role in Singapore’s society. Strong protections are not only a moral obligation, but also a reflection of a society's commitment to justice, equality, and dignity for all, regardless of nationality or immigration status.
Three key protections
Job mobility: Much of migrant workers’ vulnerability rests on their dependence on their employers for their jobs. While Dr Wan advocates for automatic renewal of work permits, what migrant workers need is agency over their employment situations. They should be allowed to switch employers by giving clear notice periods. This will eliminate the vulnerability of migrant workers to abuse and exploitation, as it will grant them the freedom to change to jobs that offer better working conditions.
Healthcare: Migrant workers who have critical and chronic illnesses often face repatriation as current insurance limits are insufficient to treat such conditions. Many of these workers have been employed in Singapore for many years, yet are unable to avail Singapore’s medical facilities for treatment. Subsidised healthcare, which is a basic human need, should be made available to our migrant population, given their immeasurable contributions to our society and economy.
Pathway to residency: Mr Pitchai Udaiyappan Subbaiah, the foreman who led the migrant workers in the rescue, has been working in Singapore for 22 years. Another worker, My Sathapillai Rajendran, has been in Singapore for 26 years. Yet Work Permit holders currently have no pathways to long-term residency and have no choice but to return home at the end of their tenure, even if they have spent more time in Singapore than they have in their home countries. We recommend reviewing the eligibility criteria for long-term residency so that Work Permit holders are able to put down roots in Singapore.
Rights Should Be the Norm, Not the Exception
The seven workers from the sinkhole incident have been presented with the Singapore Civil Defence Force Community Lifesaver Award as well as a free data plan and goodie bags containing rice, toothbrushes, shower cream and other essentials. Acts of heroism deserve recognition and commendation. But it was striking that the “prize” on this occasion included items resembling what one might find in charity handouts. These goodies, as well as the suggestion to dole out worker protections like acts of benevolence, both miss the point. What we need is a genuine commitment to improve the troubling work conditions that the more than 400,000 migrant workers in Singapore experience every day.
Migrant workers should not have to jump into sinkholes, battle fires or endanger themselves to be given dignified treatment. Basic labour rights and social protections should not be considered privileges to be earned, but rather the foundational principles guiding our treatment of migrant workers. If we adopt such an approach, it follows naturally that migrant workers deserve more: autonomy to change employers, better living conditions, freedom from recruitment debt, safe transport, a minimum wage, and the right to form independent, worker-led unions to allow themselves to advocate for their rights.
Dr. Wan rightly observes that the 60th anniversary of our independence provides a timely opportunity to reflect on the invaluable contributions migrant workers have made to Singapore’s journey of nation-building. If we are committed to improving the lives of migrant workers, we must strive to treat them with dignity and fairness every day, rather than reserving such consideration for moments we deem them deserving.
Jaya Anil Kumar
Senior Manager, Research and Advocacy
Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics