Future of Foreign Workers Beyond IRs

Today morning, when I was on the bus from Harbour Front to RWS site office, I saw so many workers near to Sentosa Gate (Arch). Seeing so many workers in this place is not new to me as of there are nearly twenty or thirty thousand of workers are working in this Sentosa IR project. This is the time they go into site and start a day of work. But, the scene today I saw was quite strange. Most of them are carrying huge luggage, they are looks alike going to start trip to somewhere. Somewhere...??? Which place will be somewhere they supposed to go? That's their hometown.

Of course, now the project is nearly end. There are a few tens of thousand of workers will be released from this project. And currently there are two of the biggest projects holding several thousands of workers are going to end soon. They are known as two IRs, one is Sentosa IR called Resorts World at Sentosa and another one is Marina Bay Sands.

As you all know, so many countries including Singapore were affected by global financial recession last year, several business sectors were affected, several thousands of workers are un-employed, some are retrenched, and wages cut out, so and so... But, construction sectors usually delay in effects. The reason is the projects that are running, on-going are bid-and-win in previous years. So, the effect of recession, lesser in projects will affect the construction sector by subsequent year, may be in 2010. Furthermore, not only Singapore, but also some of the countries in region were spoke out that they will try to be lesser dependent on foreign workers resources.

So, how does it affect to foreign workers? Of course, there will be huge impact on foreign workers. Now, start from this week there will be lesser and lesser workers on site. Especially workers from China, they are people who are going back to home first, the second batch will be second big amount of workforce who are Indian. And, after that, how about workers like us? If there is lesser construction projects and local government will emphasize to satisfy local people, how we all can survive.

We should have more diligence to play safe in next year in our working environment to be able to survive in construction industry. Now, the Cheese we are relying became lesser and lesser, so what should we do? Shall we go and find other place which cheese we like is abundant? That place, could it be our homeland?

The thing we are sure is better to be prepared!