Thursday, September 16, 2010

A day in the life of a Migrant Worker!

Recently, a friend told me that Singaporeans have been complaining that the government has allowed too many migrant workers into the country. While some of these are high level jobs (where real "talent" is needed from other countries), Singapore is still flooded with "foreign talent" filling out low level jobs which can be filled by local workers. Well, after working a few years in Singapore, I am not sure if they will really want such jobs, even if they are available to Singaporeans. Here is what my recent typical day is like when I work on an 11am to 11pm shift.


0700hrs - Wake up, Wash up... and the usual!
0730hrs - Read a book, check my emails
0800hrs - Prepare some breakfast and have a quick meal.
                Sometimes, walk downstairs to eat and buy
                newspapers
0830hrs - Read the papers
0900hrs - Dress up for work
0930hrs - Walk to the bus stop (Punggol) to take Bus 3
1030hrs - Arrive at Tampines. Sometimes arrive at
                1045hrs depending on traffic
1045hrs - Walk into shop, punch card, change into
                uniform, get read for work!
1100hrs - Work
1330hrs - Lunch (usually eat a bun)
1400hrs - Work
1930hrs - Dinner (usually eat a bun)
2000hrs - Work
2230hrs - Close shop, clean up the place, prepare for
                the next day
2300hrs - Leave the shop
2315hrs - Board a Bus to Punggol
0015hrs - Reach home, shower, rest
0100hrs - Sleep
Occasionally, especially on an earlier shift, my boss may request me to work an extra hour, especially when there is a shortage of manpower. Still want my job?

16 comments:

  1. Thanks a lot for your advice guys, it helped me a lot, I went to www.saveabreakup.com and followed their step by step instructions and it worked perfectly, now me and my girlfriend are back together.

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  2. Hello Li Jing! 又是我 "黄瓜",哈哈! The won't believe the following thing i'm going to tell you! Last night when i saw these photos of you in your uniform, i just thought its just a normal photo of you during your work, and your uniform looks a little familiar though, but after that, the more i look, the more familiar it got.. Haha, and plus i also recognise the floor tiles outside the shop in the photo!

    Very interestingly, at this point of time, i did not even realised that this is the bakery shop that i often used to buy bread and cakes from, and i also wasn't so sure about the shop name, until when i switched off my PC, it suddenly hit me that this is the bakery shop that i was telling you about and the main reason that makes it all so clear is you! I remembered seeing you before! You were the cashier when i was making my payment for some bread i bought at this bakery shop a few weeks ago! Haha! Now i can surely say, Singapore is such a small country! I'm sure after hearing all these, you are also feeling very surprised! 对吗?? 哈哈!

    Anyway, its great to know that you are working at a place that i am very familiar with, dont worry, i won't stalk you but maybe i will take a peep to see whether you are working and that was excatly what i did just now, haha no la, the main thing was to check out the shop name and then to see whether you are really there. Haha! Anyway i didn't see you just now, maybe you were at the punggol branch which i had never been there before. =)

    Anyway, i feel glad and comforted that after all that you had gone thru, finally you managed to have a job in Singapore. Although, the pay might not be much for Singaporean standards and the working hours is long, i hope you perserve on and work hard and hopefully your boss will notice your hard work give you a pay increase!

    I think the outlook you have on life, etc is something that all young people in Singapore should look up to and learn from. Sometimes i find that this kind of 'never say die spirit' is somehow lacking in this little island we call Singapore. I think only those who had been through the deepest pit, all the hardships life has to offer, will truly understand this.

    So i hope you work hard, which i know you will and hopefully someday you can realise whatever dreams you may have in your life, after all, dreams are what motivates us in life, that's what i always believed in! Jia you ba, Li Jing!

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  8. Sorry sorry!! I didn't know that my comment were already posted because it kept telling me that i have entered the wrong verification word, where in fact, i have entered correctly.. so that's why i click and click and resulted in the numerous posts! OPPS! Haha!

    I have a question, actually you know how to read english but you don't know how to write? Or it is your friend who is helping to translate the comments to you?

    Anyway, forgot to add, i really enjoy reading your blog, especially those on your life in china, its quite an eye opener to me to see how's the living standards in your hometown is like. I like how you always inject some sense of humor into your posts! Love it! So please keep them coming!!! I have not read all the posts, but i'm getting there!

    And its funny because i reading it from the newest post to the oldest post. Haha! Must reverse it around the next time i come in and read your blog!

    Good night!

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  9. Ha ha 下次你来,只要告诉我你是"黄瓜", 我就知道是谁了!哈哈!You must add me on facebook and follow me on Twitter ok!欢迎!欢迎!

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  10. 哈哈! 今晚我有来呀! 我还问你这面包多少钱啊,你就回答 "$1.50!" 哈哈! Haha, ok, i dont have twitter, but i will add you on facebook, but recently i seldom have any updates on my facebook! Hehe..

    You very funny, i kept asking you that question, but each time you never give me a reply. Haha.. ok 3rd time asking now.. actually you know how to read english but you don't know how to write? Or it is your friend who is helping to translate the comments to you?

    I also see that you can reply in some english ("You must add me on facebook and follow me on Twitter ok!"),so did you replied this or its your friend who helped you to reply?

    I think you looked very tired just now, must be the long hours.. so i hope you have a good rest tonight!

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  11. 我知道简单的英语。我只能回答简单的英语呵!你没有介绍自己!下次一定要介绍自己呵!Ha ha... thank you!

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  12. I see.. 那我写了这么多英文字你看的懂吗? 哈哈! 我只会买面包,不会介绍自己leh! Haha! So your friend only help you to translate your posts but not the comments that people left for u? Am i right? Hehe..

    How are you these few days?

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  13. 你怕什么啊?我不咬人的!哈哈!

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  14. 哈哈! 我不是怕啦! 只是不知道该说什么好! 哈哈!

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  15. 就说,“我是黄瓜!这面包很好吃!”就好了!

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  16. 哈哈! 今晚我过来,我也不知道为什么你会说今天是你最后一天在这里。没关希,tonight i come and ask you. Have a nice day at work! =)

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