A common sore spot amongst Singaporeans is migrant workers, and we’re sure you have seen or heard unpleasant comments being made about them. Be it about stealing jobs, lowering local worker’s wages, diluting the “Singaporean identity” etc., these arguments are reiterated on a constant basis.
On the other hand, there are social justice advocates who encourage us to have some compassion as migrant workers are just like everyone else – simply trying to survive in a harsh world.
The debate about migrant workers just goes back and forth endlessly, with no end in sight.
But perhaps we’ve been looking through our lenses for too long. This debate has always been centred on what we think about them. But what about the other way around?
This video by a student-run project, Familiar Strangers, offers us a fresh perspective on this contentious issue by focusing on migrant workers themselves, and what they think about Singaporeans’ opinions towards migrant workers.
Migrant Workers Respond To Comments Made By Singaporeans
This video, which is quickly gaining traction on social media, drives home a simple yet poorly understood message: migrant workers are people too.
Just like us, they are socially aware (“There are differences between China and Singapore”), have a strong sense of justice (“But if we cause no harm and are just here to work, then this statement is wrong”), and are emotionally affected by what others say about them.
Although this message makes sense, it remains immensely difficult to erase the negative stereotypes about migrant workers that have long solidified in our society.
So the next time you engage in a discussion about migrants workers, be it online or offline, keep in mind that your words have an impact.
They can negatively influence the opinions of a family member or friend. They can contribute to a greater movement of accepting and embracing migrant workers. And they can actually make or break a fellow migrant worker’s day.
By sparing a thought for their feelings and being more careful about what you say, you are slowly chipping away at the harmful prejudices that separate us and them.
And hey, Singapore is small enough – is there really space for such a divide?
Check out Familiar Stranger’s Facebook page and website to learn more about their mission and volunteer for the upcoming Migrant Workers’ Awareness Week from 31 January to 4 February.
Featured image credits: Business and Human Rights Resource Center
