Frontline workers during Covid-19

Till today, I am still hearing chatters about how Singapore shouldn't have gone into our version of "lockdown" aka circuit breaker. Chatters questioning the effect of it. Especially for individuals who believe in numbers, pointing out that the numbers of community cases before and after COVID-19 does not seem to have too much of a difference. I know this debate has no end but for the sake of a debate, what is the chance of COVID-19 cases increasing in Singapore if not for CB?

I have pretty much locked myself up during the whole period besides commuting to work on certain occasions when needed until late last week where I met some friends for dinner. First, in 4 months.

Through various feedbacks and observations, it seems like many have "gotten used to" various Covid-19 measurements. People are out and about dining casually, walking around in small groups with their face masks on as well as scanning into various buildings without having to enforce by security officers. While this is a good sign that our economy is able to open up a little more, and people are adapting. However, my biggest concern is that these practices will soon become "white practices", think white noise. Probably a better word to describe it. LOL.

Soon we will lose the understanding of the importance of such practices. And soon people will feel confident, and then over-confident about such practices and become complacent.

One of the most common texts I get from people around me is "bro, can we do this? phase 2 can visit gf already? can play basketball already?" People are overly concerned about what is permissible over what is the right thing to do to protect themselves and people around them.

Is it a sure thing that you are safe as long as it is 5 pax and below?

Is it a sure thing that as long as you think you wash your hands, it will be fine?

I think that these guidelines are there to allow us to live a little while trying to be careful at the same time. These guidelines are not foolproof.

So while there are no general rules about everything, we as an individual need to keep in mind and priorities what are the right thing to do and how we do it even without enforcement.

If I may, an extreme example:

Instead of Covid-19, we are now experiencing a Zombie apocalypse situation. Do you think we need to tell people that gathering is bad? Do you think that we need guidelines to close down night clubs? Fine, probably because some of these people running the places are already zombies but you get my point? I think till certain extent, we do not see COVID-19 as something life-threatening anymore.

"Wouldn't so suay de lah."

"Awhile only okay de lah."

"Dinner only mah."

I agree with this Forum letter that more needs to be done to protect our taxis/phv drivers. In fact, anyone else currently who are front-liners. That includes Food delivery riders, cleaners, security officers and more. They are the ones that still working out there to keep our lives less affected. So while MOH doesn't have certain enforced guidelines, I think as individual we need to respect them, and our way of showing gratitude is to ensure that they are safe and can continue to perform their tasks in a safe environment.

While I am no policymaker, I don't think they can look into every smallest detail of every policy to slap guidelines over. And neither is it possible for them to have a blanket guideline for everyone.

I am aware that if everyone can do their part, we do not even need police anymore. I am not that idealistic. I know that we are only humans.

With that in mind, still, I would like to urge everyone to do our part to keep everyone safe. #SGUnited

P.S. I know our attention probably already shifted from Covid-19 especially after GE. Let us remind each other that we are not out of the woods yet and we still need to pay attention. Share this and remind everyone that we still need to do our part.

: https://www.straitstimes.com/forum/forum-taxi-drivers-need-more-protection-from-covid-19

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Covid-19: Migrant Workers' Dormitories in Singapore

I believe that many have received videos, messages, and even images sharing concerns about our migrant workers' dormitories and the covid-19 situation.

I hear many of your concerns and I would like to share this post by Minister Jo Teo.

Link: https://www.facebook.com/123724534368517/posts/3665600290180906/?d=n

To quote her, "SHOULD STANDARDS IN FOREIGN WORKER DORMITORIES BE RAISED?

There’s no question in my mind, answer is “yes”."

I don't think I can say it better than Min Teo herself. The concerns are real and actions need to be taken. I like how she admitted it like it is instead of trying to defend it as if it was otherwise.

Of course, the standard question is, "would you stay in such dormitories yourself if you think it is good enough?"

Like her post pointed out, it is not easy to find a balance. To offer them what is best for them and also at the same time managing the cost for the employers.

Being a migrant worker is not easy. Being in the industry itself is not easy. I have visited some of these dorms and spoken to some of them before. I remember this article that I contributed to unscrambled many years ago when I was still a SEP;

“I love Singapore. I want to be here and continue working and contributing as long as I am healthy. I don’t care about other things or how other people look at me. I do my part and I’m happy where I am.”

Link: https://www.unscrambled.sg/2017/06/16/photo-story-migrant-workers-celebration-2017/

If there is something that we can take away at the end of this Covid-19 saga, I hope people learn to count your blessings. For everything we have, for everything we are given.

Before I end this post, I would like to share another post from another popular page in Singapore - SMRT Feedback. While I do not always agree with everything they share or calling themselves vigilanteh by hiding behind a Facebook page, there is some truth in their post.

"When the govt want to house foreign workers in neighbourhoods, residents complain then no choice gotta house the dorms in far-flung areas.

S'poreans are quick to criticise these workers when they board the trains at the end of the work day. Parents tell their kids that these workers should be avoided in public. More and more Singaporeans are turning xenophobic.

They beat their chest screaming for better conditions for foreign workers but in the same breath balked at the same workers living alongside them.

It's hypocrisy and racism, plain and simple."

While I am happy that many share the concern and wish to see improvement for these workers who contributed greatly to our nation-building, for now. I hope that they bring this compassion with them beyond Covid-19 situation and also beyond just their keyboards.

Link:
https://www.facebook.com/smrtsg/posts/3225055884185268

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