To be honest, it should be Singaporeans who need to apologise for the state these workers are in now. We want everything to be cheap at the expense of these workers.
Singaporeans should not pretend that we care for them now because thousands of these workers are infected.
Where were we when the situation was all right? Were we ever concerned about their living conditions? I am definitely guilty of that.
Some Singaporeans were even bothered when certain dormitories were proposed to be built where they live. If these Singaporeans ever cared, they should have welcomed the idea and embraced these workers with open arms.
So let us all stop being hypocrites, and putting all the blame on the Government.
The real test of our concern for these workers is after this crisis is over. I hope all Singaporeans will still care for every one of these 300,000 fellow human beings.
Andy Chew Teck Huat
ST Forum, 7 May 2020
COVID-19 spread in migrant workers dormitories not just down to poor conditions: Tan Chuan-Jin
Speaker of Parliament says virus' highly contagious nature, living in close proximity key reasons
By Tan Tam Mei, The Straits Times, 8 May 2020
The massive outbreak of coronavirus cases among migrant workers in dormitories cannot be attributed to bad living conditions alone, even if there are abysmal examples, said Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin yesterday.
Rather, the highly contagious nature of the coronavirus and the fact that dorms involve groups of people living in close quarters are more likely to have contributed to the spread, said Mr Tan, who was Manpower Minister from 2014 to 2015.
Speaking on the sidelines of an event for migrant worker dorms yesterday, Mr Tan said it was important not to conflate the two issues of bad living conditions and the COVID-19 pandemic, which he called a healthcare crisis of "monumental proportions".
"For example, in our universities, if the hostels remained open and the students were there, you would expect a massive outbreak to occur as well. If people are living in close quarters, given the contagious nature of this virus, outbreaks will occur," he said.
Tackling questions regarding the outbreak in the dormitories, that as of yesterday has hit more than 18,000 cases, Mr Tan said it was not about "white-washing" cases of "abysmal" dorm conditions, but one should not generalise that all living conditions are as such.
There were 741 new COVID-19 cases reported yesterday, 7 May, bringing Singapore's total to 20,939.
The living conditions of lower-paid foreign workers have been in the spotlight recently when dorms emerged as huge clusters where the coronavirus has spread. The outbreak highlighted the cramped and poorly maintained living spaces of some of these workers and their low-quality catered meals.
On Monday, Manpower Minister Josephine Teo assured Parliament that the Government will see how housing standards for migrant workers can be further raised.
Mr Tan said: "It doesn't excuse (bad conditions), it is not acceptable and we need to take stringent action against those who violate the law - but it doesn't represent the whole space and that's the context that is important.
"It is important to speak to the migrant workers as a whole for their lived experience to have a sense of the conditions. And given the scale and nature of this outbreak, we should not conflate the causes with these less-than-accurate generalisations."
When asked about the raising of dorm standards here, Mr Tan said there are things that can be improved on and the Government will be taking stock of the lessons learnt and the adjustments that need to be made.
"It is something that we will work on, but meanwhile, let's grapple with the (present) issues, look after our people and look after all the people who are here in Singapore who are affected in different ways," he said.
During an online forum organised by the Institute of Policy Studies on Wednesday, analysts said a whole-of-society effort is needed to improve the wages and living conditions of foreign workers here.
Not only must the Government take the lead in making structural changes, but Singaporeans, too, must change their us-versus-them mindset and take up collective responsibility, said the panellists.
Speaker of Parliament says virus' highly contagious nature, living in close proximity key reasons
By Tan Tam Mei, The Straits Times, 8 May 2020
Rather, the highly contagious nature of the coronavirus and the fact that dorms involve groups of people living in close quarters are more likely to have contributed to the spread, said Mr Tan, who was Manpower Minister from 2014 to 2015.
Speaking on the sidelines of an event for migrant worker dorms yesterday, Mr Tan said it was important not to conflate the two issues of bad living conditions and the COVID-19 pandemic, which he called a healthcare crisis of "monumental proportions".
"For example, in our universities, if the hostels remained open and the students were there, you would expect a massive outbreak to occur as well. If people are living in close quarters, given the contagious nature of this virus, outbreaks will occur," he said.
Tackling questions regarding the outbreak in the dormitories, that as of yesterday has hit more than 18,000 cases, Mr Tan said it was not about "white-washing" cases of "abysmal" dorm conditions, but one should not generalise that all living conditions are as such.
There were 741 new COVID-19 cases reported yesterday, 7 May, bringing Singapore's total to 20,939.
The living conditions of lower-paid foreign workers have been in the spotlight recently when dorms emerged as huge clusters where the coronavirus has spread. The outbreak highlighted the cramped and poorly maintained living spaces of some of these workers and their low-quality catered meals.
On Monday, Manpower Minister Josephine Teo assured Parliament that the Government will see how housing standards for migrant workers can be further raised.
Mr Tan said: "It doesn't excuse (bad conditions), it is not acceptable and we need to take stringent action against those who violate the law - but it doesn't represent the whole space and that's the context that is important.
"It is important to speak to the migrant workers as a whole for their lived experience to have a sense of the conditions. And given the scale and nature of this outbreak, we should not conflate the causes with these less-than-accurate generalisations."
When asked about the raising of dorm standards here, Mr Tan said there are things that can be improved on and the Government will be taking stock of the lessons learnt and the adjustments that need to be made.
"It is something that we will work on, but meanwhile, let's grapple with the (present) issues, look after our people and look after all the people who are here in Singapore who are affected in different ways," he said.
During an online forum organised by the Institute of Policy Studies on Wednesday, analysts said a whole-of-society effort is needed to improve the wages and living conditions of foreign workers here.
Not only must the Government take the lead in making structural changes, but Singaporeans, too, must change their us-versus-them mindset and take up collective responsibility, said the panellists.
Bettering migrant workers' lives calls for whole-of-society effort, say experts
Structural and mindset changes needed to improve wages and living conditions of foreign workers
By Grace Ho, The Straits Times, 8 May 2020
Improving the wages and living conditions of foreign workers in Singapore requires a whole-of-society effort. Not only must the Government take the lead in making structural changes, but Singaporeans, too, must change their us-versus-them mindset, said analysts.
Dr Jeremy Lim, co-director of global health at the National University of Singapore's Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, said on Wednesday that the Government's framing of COVID-19 as two separate outbreaks - one in foreign worker dormitories and the other in the community - was a "defensible" one from a public health perspective.
That is because different strategies were used to tackle each outbreak, he added.
Dr Lim was speaking at an online forum organised by the Institute of Policy Studies titled "Migrant workers: Policy responses and lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic".
He noted that as infection numbers spiked in dorms and overwhelmed the ability of their operators as well as employers to contain the disease, the Government intervened swiftly. It brought in the army and police, and set up community care and recovery facilities for workers with mild symptoms.
SHIFT IN MINDSET NEEDED
But a whole-of-society mindset change is needed for the support to be sustained, said Dr Lim.
"The mental model we have traditionally taken is that foreign workers are part of the community but separate; we accept there should be different standards (for them).
"But it is clear now that the previous paradigm, of relying on the employers and dorm operators alone, cannot work in a crisis of this scale and complexity," he added.
Professor Paulin Straughan, Singapore Management University (SMU) sociologist and dean of students, said many Singaporeans object to migrant workers living among them, citing health and safety concerns.
Mr Bernard Menon, executive director of the Migrant Workers' Centre, pointed out that despite a surge in public discourse after the SMRT bus drivers' strike in 2012 and the Little India riot a year later, public memory has been short-lived.
SMU law professor Eugene Tan said Singaporeans have become used to the benefits of cheap and transient foreign labour. "There has not been enough focus on the values that make up the kind of Singapore we want our children to grow up in," he added.
STRUCTURAL CHANGES
Nominated MP Walter Theseira, an economist at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, said Singapore's economy has, over time, become significantly more dependent on foreign labour.
Without cheap foreign workers, the cost of goods and services here could rise sharply, he said, adding that if the Government implements more generous minimum wages and living conditions, some types of migrant workers and industries could become economically non-viable.
Agreeing, Mr Leonard Lim, country director at political consultancy Vriens & Partners, said low business costs remain a strong reason for companies to be located here.
There are consequences to relying less on foreign workers, he added. "Public transport and housing infrastructure will take a longer time to build - HDB flats and MRT lines could take longer to come on stream."
Dr Lim said it is unrealistic to expect the private sector to do more, as its primary concern is profit and loss. The Government should lead in making the necessary structural changes, he added.
Prof Theseira argued that the process is about collective responsibility and must also reflect the popular will. "The reason change doesn't happen is that it's in Singaporeans' economic self-interest not to - there is a large group who benefits from low-cost labour."
But there is reason to be hopeful, Prof Theseira said, as new developments owing to COVID-19 - such as remote working - are rapidly eroding the benefits of having a huge pool of foreign labour.
"If one can get away with more remote working, why do expatriates need to be sent to Singapore, as this is more expensive? So the need to have so many foreign workers serving the population comes into question," he added.
"Plus, some industries may be suppressed for some time (due to the pandemic), so there is an opportunity to restructure."
Ultimately, said Mr Menon, it takes two hands to clap and society must be more accepting. "We tried to rally the migrant workers to interact and hopefully integrate with Singaporeans, but learnt quite a painful lesson over time that integration is a two-way street."
Foreign workers have been treated far better in Singapore than elsewhere
Bangladeshi worker Sozal Mirza posted a message on the Facebook group True Life of Singapore Migrant Workers on April 17 which expressed gratitude for the treatment he received from the Singapore Government in many aspects of his current stay during this pandemic (Minister shares migrant worker's note of heartfelt thanks, May 5).
The treatment these workers have received is in stark contrast to the fate of such workers in many other countries where they have been given short shrift.
Singapore has supplied food, shelter, wage payment, medical treatment and other comforts.
In some instances, the food was not suitable for some of the workers, and pictures of discarded food were shared. This was rectified the following day after feedback from the workers.
I feel that the government response has been measured and correct regarding the epidemiological aspects, and the humanitarian measures are truly second to none.
I was aghast on Monday when Nominated MP Anthea Ong asked the Government to apologise for the handling of the migrant workers.
I believe this pandemic requires full support from all and any attempts at grandstanding or "actionism" should be curbed at source.
Chew Shing Chai
ST Forum, 7 May 2020
Structural and mindset changes needed to improve wages and living conditions of foreign workers
By Grace Ho, The Straits Times, 8 May 2020
Dr Jeremy Lim, co-director of global health at the National University of Singapore's Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, said on Wednesday that the Government's framing of COVID-19 as two separate outbreaks - one in foreign worker dormitories and the other in the community - was a "defensible" one from a public health perspective.
That is because different strategies were used to tackle each outbreak, he added.
Dr Lim was speaking at an online forum organised by the Institute of Policy Studies titled "Migrant workers: Policy responses and lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic".
He noted that as infection numbers spiked in dorms and overwhelmed the ability of their operators as well as employers to contain the disease, the Government intervened swiftly. It brought in the army and police, and set up community care and recovery facilities for workers with mild symptoms.
SHIFT IN MINDSET NEEDED
But a whole-of-society mindset change is needed for the support to be sustained, said Dr Lim.
"The mental model we have traditionally taken is that foreign workers are part of the community but separate; we accept there should be different standards (for them).
"But it is clear now that the previous paradigm, of relying on the employers and dorm operators alone, cannot work in a crisis of this scale and complexity," he added.
Professor Paulin Straughan, Singapore Management University (SMU) sociologist and dean of students, said many Singaporeans object to migrant workers living among them, citing health and safety concerns.
Mr Bernard Menon, executive director of the Migrant Workers' Centre, pointed out that despite a surge in public discourse after the SMRT bus drivers' strike in 2012 and the Little India riot a year later, public memory has been short-lived.
SMU law professor Eugene Tan said Singaporeans have become used to the benefits of cheap and transient foreign labour. "There has not been enough focus on the values that make up the kind of Singapore we want our children to grow up in," he added.
STRUCTURAL CHANGES
Nominated MP Walter Theseira, an economist at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, said Singapore's economy has, over time, become significantly more dependent on foreign labour.
Without cheap foreign workers, the cost of goods and services here could rise sharply, he said, adding that if the Government implements more generous minimum wages and living conditions, some types of migrant workers and industries could become economically non-viable.
Agreeing, Mr Leonard Lim, country director at political consultancy Vriens & Partners, said low business costs remain a strong reason for companies to be located here.
There are consequences to relying less on foreign workers, he added. "Public transport and housing infrastructure will take a longer time to build - HDB flats and MRT lines could take longer to come on stream."
Dr Lim said it is unrealistic to expect the private sector to do more, as its primary concern is profit and loss. The Government should lead in making the necessary structural changes, he added.
Prof Theseira argued that the process is about collective responsibility and must also reflect the popular will. "The reason change doesn't happen is that it's in Singaporeans' economic self-interest not to - there is a large group who benefits from low-cost labour."
But there is reason to be hopeful, Prof Theseira said, as new developments owing to COVID-19 - such as remote working - are rapidly eroding the benefits of having a huge pool of foreign labour.
"If one can get away with more remote working, why do expatriates need to be sent to Singapore, as this is more expensive? So the need to have so many foreign workers serving the population comes into question," he added.
"Plus, some industries may be suppressed for some time (due to the pandemic), so there is an opportunity to restructure."
Ultimately, said Mr Menon, it takes two hands to clap and society must be more accepting. "We tried to rally the migrant workers to interact and hopefully integrate with Singaporeans, but learnt quite a painful lesson over time that integration is a two-way street."
Foreign workers have been treated far better in Singapore than elsewhere
Bangladeshi worker Sozal Mirza posted a message on the Facebook group True Life of Singapore Migrant Workers on April 17 which expressed gratitude for the treatment he received from the Singapore Government in many aspects of his current stay during this pandemic (Minister shares migrant worker's note of heartfelt thanks, May 5).
The treatment these workers have received is in stark contrast to the fate of such workers in many other countries where they have been given short shrift.
Singapore has supplied food, shelter, wage payment, medical treatment and other comforts.
In some instances, the food was not suitable for some of the workers, and pictures of discarded food were shared. This was rectified the following day after feedback from the workers.
I feel that the government response has been measured and correct regarding the epidemiological aspects, and the humanitarian measures are truly second to none.
I was aghast on Monday when Nominated MP Anthea Ong asked the Government to apologise for the handling of the migrant workers.
I believe this pandemic requires full support from all and any attempts at grandstanding or "actionism" should be curbed at source.
Chew Shing Chai
ST Forum, 7 May 2020
Singapore ambassador to US rebuts Foreign Policy article on COVID-19 outbreak in dorms
By Tee Zhuo, The Straits Times, 28 May 2020
An article in American publication Foreign Policy (FP) on the spate of coronavirus cases in foreign worker dormitories presents a "distorted view" of Singapore's response to the outbreak, the Republic's ambassador to Washington has said.
Singapore's response to COVID-19 is guided by science and its best understanding of the disease, and this applies to all segments of the population, Singapore's Ambassador to the United States Ashok Kumar Mirpuri said in a letter.
Any approach to the welfare of migrant workers must take into account practical realities, he said, adding that the article's grim picture is belied by the vast majority of migrant workers who choose to continue working in Singapore well beyond their first contracts.
The May 6 article by Singaporean activist and freelance journalist Kirsten Han was titled Singapore Is Trying To Forget Migrant Workers Are People, and criticised what she described as the Government's "utilitarian, dehumanising approach" to the issue.
She added that the singling out of migrant workers in COVID-19 discourse "perpetuates the notion of them as vectors of disease, further feeding the twin beasts of racism and xenophobia".
Mr Mirpuri sent his response last Thursday (May 21) in a letter to FP's editor-in-chief Jonathan Tepperman.
Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs made the letter public on its website on May 27, saying FP refused to publish it despite having carried letters from accredited ambassadors to the US and spokesmen for various foreign affairs ministries last year.
The Straits Times has contacted FP for comment.
SENSIBLE TO ADOPT DIFFERENT APPROACHES
In her piece, Ms Han argued that policies and public discussions in Singapore segregated migrant workers "both physically and rhetorically" from the rest of the population.
For example, she said the government and daily reports treated migrant worker infections separately from "community" cases of citizens, permanent residents and expatriates.
In his letter, Mr Mirpuri said Singapore's Government has taken a three-pronged strategy for migrant workers in dorms.
"As Ms Han acknowledged, it is sensible to adopt differentiated strategies for different areas of the outbreak," he said.
First, it implemented social distancing measures to slow down transmission in dorms; second, on-site medical posts for workers to get prompt, appropriate medical treatment; and third, an aggressive testing regime that has tested one of every 15 workers so far, with the aim to eventually test all the workers.
"As a result, we have detected many cases with mild or even no symptoms. Few other countries have tested their migrant populations this intensively," he said.
Over half of the workers who tested positive had not presented symptoms at the point of being tested, and probably would not have been tested at all in other countries, he added.
ON CARING FOR MIGRANT WORKERS
Ms Han said that while it makes sense to adopt different approaches for different groups, Singapore's approach does not see migrant workers as people, but an inconvenience.
She wrote: "Migrant workers are viewed only as digits on a spreadsheet of menial labour, to be deployed as resources when necessary and kept out of sight when not."
She added that conditions at dorms have varied, with workers reporting hot and stuffy rooms and issues with food quality and quantity, some of whom were Bangladeshis fasting during Ramadan.
Mr Mirpuri said the Government cares for the welfare of migrant workers, giving free treatment to workers who show symptoms "just like everyone else".
Meals and Internet access are catered for workers being quarantined at the dorms, and during Ramadan, Muslim workers got their meals before dawn so that they could perform their religious practices, he said.
Support is also given to employers so that workers can continue to get paid, and arrangements have been made for workers to remit money to their families.
Mr Mirpuri said 3,000 public officers have been deployed to support dormitory operators and employers, and many Singaporeans have volunteered time, effort and money to complement the Government's efforts.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has also publicly committed to caring for migrant workers like Singaporeans, he added. "The scope and scale of our efforts reflects the responsibility we feel for our migrant workers," Mr Mirpuri said.
Singapore ambassador to United States rebuts Foreign Policy article on Covid-19 outbreak in dorms https://t.co/NMmYp4ez8X— The Straits Times (@STcom) May 28, 2020
MANY CHOOSE TO CONTINUE WORKING IN SINGAPORE
In her piece, Ms Han said the fact that about 20 dorm operators and an average of 1,200 employers are penalised yearly for flouting licensing laws suggested substandard living conditions are a longstanding problem that has not been effectively addressed.
She noted that rights groups had urged the Government to address issues of overcrowding and sanitation even before the pandemic hit the dorms, but the concerns were brushed off.
"Now that activists have been proved right in the most miserable way, Singapore still struggles with seeing migrant workers as equally valuable members of the community," she wrote.
In his response, Mr Mirpuri said any approach to migrant worker welfare must take into account practical realities, like Singapore's ageing society, small indigenous workforce, and lack of a hinterland to draw additional workers from.
Housing migrant workers in land-scarce Singapore can never be straightforward, he said.
The Government decided to meet this challenge with dorms built to specified standards, which have been progressively raised, with laws passed in 2015 requiring large dorms to have recreational and health facilities, as well as some amenities.
While dorms allow workers to socialise and relax together, any communal living space comes with risks in an infectious outbreak, he added.
Recognising the risks, the Government in January told dorm operators to take several precautions, more stringent than those for the general population. When cases grew sharply despite the measures, a massive effort was mobilised to take care of the workers, he said.
Ms Han had also said that the current posture towards migrant workers will hamper efforts for systemic change after the pandemic, and places them in an even more vulnerable position in society.
Already stigmatised as dirty or threats to public order, they are now also blamed by some for the spike in COVID-19 cases or berated for not being grateful enough, she added.
Mr Mirpuri acknowledged that the Government's response has not been perfect. "There certainly are areas we can improve. We are determined to learn from this episode and will do a thorough review after the crisis is over."
He added that some migrant workers have been in Singapore for as long as 20 years.
"They have chosen to continue to live and work in Singapore, rather than go elsewhere or return to work in their home countries," he said.
"Their revealed preference shows the reality of the migrant worker experience in Singapore. They reflect what the Government and Singaporeans have done to care for the migrant workers in our midst."
Moved by the care, migrant worker pens grateful Facebook note
By Calvin Yang, The Straits Times, 30 May 2020
When he found out he had tested positive for COVID-19, Mr JM Jasim, a migrant worker from Bangladesh, felt sad but did not panic.
"I knew Singapore has good medical facilities and will take care of us," Mr Jasim told The Straits Times.
He was so moved by the care he received that he penned a note in Bengali with a translation in English on Facebook earlier this week, thanking "each and everyone in Singapore who has loved us as their own from the bottom of my heart".
"During this pandemic, Singapore hasn't pushed us far away," wrote the 28-year-old, who has worked here for about seven years, adding that the Government has spent money to battle the coronavirus outbreak among workers in dormitories.
He told ST: "They appreciate our hard work in building their country and now, they take care of us when we are sick."
The construction safety supervisor was diagnosed on May 5, and is recovering.
He believes he contracted the virus at his Cochrane Lodge II dormitory, an infection cluster with more than 400 cases.
He said migrant workers were looked after in the same way as if they were Singaporean.
"We have left our families and our own dreams to work in this foreign land, but we are not alone in this country," he said.
Mr Jasim began feeling unwell on May 1, when he developed a fever.
The next day, he felt chest pains, dizziness and headaches.
The symptoms persisted, and he saw a doctor on May 5, and was referred to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH), where he had an X-ray and swab tests done.
That night, a nurse told him he had tested positive for COVID-19.
The father of a one-year-old boy broke the news to his parents and 22-year-old wife, who cried.
"But I told them they didn't have to worry because I would be getting better treatment here, and they calmed down."
During his stay in hospital, where he was in a ward with seven others, Mr Jasim felt well. His symptoms went away after a few days.
Mr Jasim, who comes from Jessore district in south-west Bangladesh, stayed in touch with his family through video calls.
The chats mostly revolved around his child. "I miss my son a lot. My son can't talk much, but he would call me 'papa, papa' when he sees me on the screen," he said.
"I would be so happy that I would forget I was sick."
However, it was difficult to be so far from home when his son, Tahamidul Hasan, turned one on May 13, his ninth day at KTPH.
"I felt sad that I couldn't celebrate it with him," he said.
"I shared with the nurses that it was my son's birthday, and when they came in, they would ask me to share their wishes with him. I cried because I was so touched."
On May 19, after two weeks in hospital, Mr Jasim was well enough to be transferred to the Singapore Sports Hub, a temporary accommodation where he is still at.
Throughout the past few weeks, Singaporeans have stepped up to spur him on, said Mr Jasim, who is a contributor for local Bengali newspaper Banglar Kantha.
"Some would message me to ask how I am, others tell me they are here for us," he said.
When asked why he wrote the Facebook note, Mr Jasim said he simply wanted to convey his appreciation.
In it, he thanked the healthcare workers. "They did not avoid us and took care of us like family," he said.
Some of the support workers here have received include continued salary payments, free quarantine accommodation and "top-class" medical treatment, he said.
He also thanked non-governmental organisations for their help.
"I am proud of being a migrant worker here," said Mr Jasim. "When I recover, I want to work hard and contribute back to Singapore."
By Calvin Yang, The Straits Times, 30 May 2020
"I knew Singapore has good medical facilities and will take care of us," Mr Jasim told The Straits Times.
He was so moved by the care he received that he penned a note in Bengali with a translation in English on Facebook earlier this week, thanking "each and everyone in Singapore who has loved us as their own from the bottom of my heart".
"During this pandemic, Singapore hasn't pushed us far away," wrote the 28-year-old, who has worked here for about seven years, adding that the Government has spent money to battle the coronavirus outbreak among workers in dormitories.
He told ST: "They appreciate our hard work in building their country and now, they take care of us when we are sick."
The construction safety supervisor was diagnosed on May 5, and is recovering.
He believes he contracted the virus at his Cochrane Lodge II dormitory, an infection cluster with more than 400 cases.
He said migrant workers were looked after in the same way as if they were Singaporean.
"We have left our families and our own dreams to work in this foreign land, but we are not alone in this country," he said.
Mr Jasim began feeling unwell on May 1, when he developed a fever.
The next day, he felt chest pains, dizziness and headaches.
The symptoms persisted, and he saw a doctor on May 5, and was referred to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH), where he had an X-ray and swab tests done.
That night, a nurse told him he had tested positive for COVID-19.
The father of a one-year-old boy broke the news to his parents and 22-year-old wife, who cried.
"But I told them they didn't have to worry because I would be getting better treatment here, and they calmed down."
During his stay in hospital, where he was in a ward with seven others, Mr Jasim felt well. His symptoms went away after a few days.
Mr Jasim, who comes from Jessore district in south-west Bangladesh, stayed in touch with his family through video calls.
The chats mostly revolved around his child. "I miss my son a lot. My son can't talk much, but he would call me 'papa, papa' when he sees me on the screen," he said.
"I would be so happy that I would forget I was sick."
However, it was difficult to be so far from home when his son, Tahamidul Hasan, turned one on May 13, his ninth day at KTPH.
"I felt sad that I couldn't celebrate it with him," he said.
"I shared with the nurses that it was my son's birthday, and when they came in, they would ask me to share their wishes with him. I cried because I was so touched."
On May 19, after two weeks in hospital, Mr Jasim was well enough to be transferred to the Singapore Sports Hub, a temporary accommodation where he is still at.
Throughout the past few weeks, Singaporeans have stepped up to spur him on, said Mr Jasim, who is a contributor for local Bengali newspaper Banglar Kantha.
"Some would message me to ask how I am, others tell me they are here for us," he said.
When asked why he wrote the Facebook note, Mr Jasim said he simply wanted to convey his appreciation.
In it, he thanked the healthcare workers. "They did not avoid us and took care of us like family," he said.
Some of the support workers here have received include continued salary payments, free quarantine accommodation and "top-class" medical treatment, he said.
He also thanked non-governmental organisations for their help.
"I am proud of being a migrant worker here," said Mr Jasim. "When I recover, I want to work hard and contribute back to Singapore."
Related
Don't blame migrant workers for coronavirus spread in Singapore
Forum letter on foreign worker dormitory cases reveals underlying racism, says Shanmugam
Fake news used to stir up unhappiness in foreign worker dormitories amid COVID-19 pandemic, says Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam
About half of dorm operators flout licensing conditions each year, says Manpower Minister Josephine Teo
9 in 10 coronavirus patients in Singapore housed in community isolation facilities
Singapore's response to COVID-19: Pulling out all the stops to save lives, and the economy
Singapore to build new dormitories with improved living standards for migrant workers
Don't blame migrant workers for coronavirus spread in Singapore
Forum letter on foreign worker dormitory cases reveals underlying racism, says Shanmugam
Fake news used to stir up unhappiness in foreign worker dormitories amid COVID-19 pandemic, says Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam
About half of dorm operators flout licensing conditions each year, says Manpower Minister Josephine Teo
9 in 10 coronavirus patients in Singapore housed in community isolation facilities
Singapore's response to COVID-19: Pulling out all the stops to save lives, and the economy
Singapore to build new dormitories with improved living standards for migrant workers
No comments:
Post a Comment