Migrant Workers - Are people getting it right?

After my post on migrant workers, a few readers who were also employers themselves wrote to my facebook account with some comments.

They felt that many Singaporeans are mistaken that migrant workers are coming to Singapore to take their jobs, bring down their salary and reduce their quality of life. Being employers themselves, they personally experienced little or no savings as far as salary for migrant workers is concerned. Sure we get less, but as mentioned in my post, it does not mean employers pay less.

With the recent rise in foreign worker levy, employers now have to pay as much for foreign workers as well as local workers. The main difference, as explained to me, is that employers find foreign workers to be hungrier, and willing to work longer hours.

Yes, we are hungrier. We need the money, or else, we would not have travelled so far to a foreign land to earn money. And being here, and having paid a hefty, agent's fee, we would need to make sure we work as hard as we can. The last thing we want is to be sent back with a big debt to pay. Most of us work 12hours plus days, 6 days week (sometimes 6.5 days as in my Bread Junction days) while our Singaporean colleagues work an 8 hour day and a 5.5 days week maximum. My own sister works a 13 hour day 7 days a week for two weeks straight just to be paid some overtime. She takes a day off every two weeks.

Please do not read the above as a complain or comparison. I am so blessed to have a job here and I am very happy working the hours assigned. I am so blessed to have a good boss, good colleagues and good friends. I am posting this hoping to shed more light on the matter (for myself as well as others) so that we can all live happily and make Singapore a better place.

Getting used to it!

After a few weeks, I had my stuff all settled. I bought my phone card that cost met about SGD26, my MRT card topped up with SGD50. It's a good thing I brought my old Nokia handphone from China with me and it worked well in Singapore. I had worried that it might not work and was afraid that I had to go buy another phone. Where am I going to get money from when I have not even got my first month's pay? And even if I do, I had promised to send back at least SGD700 every month so that my mother can help me settle my huge debt. I promised to pay back at least SGD500 every month and including interest, that alone is going to take me almost 2 years to clear. The thought of whether I had made the right decision to borrow money to come work in Singapore often keeps me awake at night.

However, I know I had to work at least 4 to 6 years to save enough to go home and start a small business. My first 2 years will be just clearing my debt. Hmm....

"I even got used to sleeping in a room with 8 people"

Anyway, I was getting used to working in Singapore. In fact, I was quite surprised that I see so many people from China here. Whenever I take a stroll in the evening out of my apartment, Icould hear people speaking mandarin and from their accent, I could tell very distinctly that they were from China. Chinese people speak very loudly, especially the men! Welcome home... ha ha!

I even got used to sleeping in a room with 8 people. I got used to sleeping with the lights on when some of my room mates came back late.... and I got used to hanging clothes all over the house. I don't think anyone's to blame for this untidiness. Try cramming 14 people into a 2 bedroom HDB apartment and you will know what I mean. A picture tells a thousand words!

A new beginning...

I woke up at 9am the next day. This was really late for me as I am used to waking up really early in the morning with the cockerels' crow in my front yard. However, I was really tired and I could really do with a few more hours rest. And I was hungry and there was no food anywhere. Just to be sure I don't break any house rules, I chatted with a house mate who was already hand washing her clothes. She gave me a few tips...  like not eating food on the table or refrigerator that is not yours, not spending too much time in the toilet etc... etc... while I made a mental note to remember all this. Then I did some unpacking so that I could get to my toothbrush for a quick wash and change of clothing. Only when I was fully awake did I realized that I slept without even putting on a bedsheet or pillow covers and there were stains all over the mattress... probably "left-overs" from all those who slept on it before I...

At 11am, the same guy who fetch me came and I was ready. He was a little more cheerful today as he told me what to bring along for my check-up. As we left the house, I had my first look at the location and neighborhood.

"This must be an apartment full of migrant workers... as I pondered the untidy state of the corridors..."

As we moved out of the main gate, he showed me the directions to the bus stop and told me that I have to take a bus from here to my assigned work place. I struggled to remember all the new instructions and routes... in my still groggy mind...

Along the way, I asked him several questions of my own, like, "How do I take a bus or MRT?", "Where do I buy a phone card?", "What type is the most economical for calling back to China?", "How much would I need to get all these in place?". Unfortunately, he was unable to help much and told me to ask my colleagues when I meet them during the later part of the day. I had a lot more questions than answers... but in the meantime, there was nothing I could do but let them rest! As he drove, I admired the new scenery... Singapore is certainly a beautiful country... beautiful people walking the streets, beautiful weather, orderly roads...

Finally in Singapore!

After a long 8 hours on the plane including a one hour transit in Guangzhou, I was totally exhausted. It's my first time taking a plane and I wasn't sure what and what not to do. I was sitting by the window which offered me a fantastic view as we left Shenyang... and it was my first time seeing my homeland from such a high altitude. I immediately tried to recognize the various places and looked for my home but to no avail.

While having a window seat has its privileges, I felt totally boxed in as two other Chinese men sat next to me. They tried to make small conversation but I was just too confused, exhausted and depressed to entertain them. They were migrant workers too, back for a short break before heading back to Singapore to work. Sometime during the flight, I wanted to go to the toilet but was afraid to ask the men to excuse me as I was afraid of starting the small talk all over again. I just wanted to go to the lavatory and come back to sleep. I was dead tired.

When the plane landed in Singapore, a wave of fear suddenly spread through me and cold sweat started pouring down my forehead and neck. It's my first time in a foreign land and I'm not sure what to expect. Instinctively, I looked around for that lady in black who helped me and saw her some distance in front. As the seat belt sign went off, passengers started standing up and taking their hand luggage while I was still stuck at my window seat waiting for the two men to move. I was excited and worried that the "lady-in-black", whom I intend to follow will alight before I do... and I will lose sight of her. I squeezed my way out to the annoyance of some of the passengers. I also tried to recognize a few passengers so that I can follow them should I lose the "lady-in-black".

Finally, we got through customs and was at the luggage bay. My luggage was one of the last to come out which  made me even more nervous as I wondered what to do should I lose my luggage. As I followed some passengers out of the gate, I kept my eyes opened for the representative agent from Singapore who was suppose to pick me. I do not recognize them but was looking for a signboard... I saw none! More cold sweat! What next?

I hovered around the gate waiting to see a familiar sign, hopefully one with my name on it but there were none. I was tired, sleepy, hungry, sweaty... all rolled into one... and possibly smelly too after that long, sweaty flight. Finally I gave up and decided to take a seat near the gate. As I sat down, the first big tears began to roll down my cheeks... images of home flash through my mind... my chickens, my donkey, the beautiful sunrise and sunsets, my mother...

Singapore!

The agent called to say that everything has been settled about a week later and I have to leave the following week. These two weeks were the fastest two weeks of my life. Now I'm really unsure... unsure about leaving my parents, friends, my sister and brothers and a place I've grown to call home. Butterflies churned my little tummy and I could not eat and sleep. Anxiety got the better of me... afterall, I'd never taken a plane before. In fact, I've not even seen the airport at Shenyang.

The day finally came and I was to meet the agent at the Shenyang Airport early in the morning. My parents were as anxious as I was, and got up really early to prepare breakfast... my last for the next two years at home. I could sense the tension and anxiety as I noticed my mum's eyes were perpetually wet. My dad was particularly quiet. As we had breakfast of home made dumplings, my dad finally broke the silence with his wavering voice. He told me to take care and be particularly careful in a foreign country. My mum finally broke down and cried, even though she had supported my desire to work in Singapore. I ate barely two dumplings as my churning tummy did not seem to like any food in it.

Finally we walked together as a family outside as we had booked a local taxi to take us to the airport. My sister and brother will be coming with me and helping me with my luggage. My tummy was churning even harder. Tears filled my eyes and the first big drop fell like the rain, even though I had wanted to appear strong. I hugged my mum and my dad. My dad pressed something into my hand... some money he had saved up and told me to keep it with me just in case (I was later to find out that he had given me another 1,000RMB, his savings! What a dad!). He knew I did not have much. In fact, I was going to Singapore with barely 500RMB in my pocket.I had taken the agent's word that lodging will be provided and I will start work within a few days of arriving in Singapore. My pay will be SGD800 a month!

The one hour plus to the airport felt like an eternity as I engaged in small talk with my sister and brother to keep sad thoughts out of my mind. I loved my sister and I promised her I will look for a job for her when I am in Singapore.

We got to the airport on time but the agent was late. But he finally arrived without so much as an apology as we had waited almost half an hour... not a long time but considering that my flight was coming up, half an hour felt like ages. My agent brought us to the check-in counter.

Finally the moment came to leave my sister and brother behind. I had to board. This was when I could not take and it virtually broke down and cried. I'd never left home for more than 2 weeks even when working in Shenyang and now I'm going to be away for 2 years. The thought just overwhelmed me. For the first time in my life, I saw tears in my brother's adult eyes as well!

Finally my agent ushered me into the boarding gate and I was all alone. I was lost and all alone. I was scared. I asked around and met a girl who was taking the same plane so kept close to her. Thinking back, while she had been helpful, she must have thought I was quite annoying... keeping close to her, when I don't even know her. Once when she got up to go to the toilet, I just went with her... hmmm!

Finally, the call....

I had been waiting for almost 2 weeks now and not a call from the agent. That little voice in me keeps telling me I had been taken for a ride. I already paid a big sum of money and looks like this time, I'm getting nothing out of it. My friends and relatives where not much help either. They told me to learn my lesson and move on.

Then when I have just about given up hope, the phone rang. When I saw the agents number, my heart almost skipped a few beats. The agent had good news for me. He said that much of the arrangements is confirmed and I need to go and pay my other 50% payment before they arrange for tickets and the rest.

Quite frankly, after all this wait and the humiliation I got from my friends and relatives, I was about to say yes to anything, just to prove them wrong!

That afternoon, I literally "flew" over to the agents office again. The agent had explained the procedure over the phone. I had to bring down the rest of my payment together with all the necessary documentation. I told the agent I do not have a passport and they said they will give me the necessary documentation to apply for one. It'll take a few weeks but that should be ok as I'm not expected to fly out till about a month later.

When I got home, I broke the good news to my parents. My dad was his usual doubtful self but my mother was rather supportive. I did sense a little sorrow troubling her that evening, as we had dinner. Despite her show of joy, she was saddened by the fact that in just over a month, I will be off to a distant country. She wondered how life will be like without her eldest daughter around. Even though I'm not always at home when I work in Shenyang, I'm still easily contactable by phone and I'm just about a 2 hours ride from home. But now... I don't even know how far away I will be! All I do know is that it is very very far and I am a little apprehensive myself.! In my whole 26 years, I've never been that far away from home, I've never taken a plane or a train. In fact, I've never been to Beijing, our capital city and I've never seen the Great Wall of China, one of the seven man made wonders of the world!