Earlier this week, local media posted a video showing a group of migrant workers sitting in the back of a caged lorry, which was locked from the outside.
The clip was filmed by one of the site’s readers, who expressed shock at the sight. According to him, the back of the lorry appeared to be locked with a chain hook. He questioned if it is “legal to transport people in Singapore” in that manner, citing safety concerns.
The topic ignited heated discussion among Singaporeans.
The majority have called for safer transport methods, and condemned the transport arrangement as a “mistreatment” of foreign workers. Some also pointed out how dangerous the situation could get — the passengers have no way of escaping in the case of accidents and fires.
“They are humans not non-living things .. is this correct to cage them??” questioned one netizen, while another simply stated: “Modern-day slavery.”
Others also said that the treatment of workers here is an example of how our society “lacks apathy”, and the situation, an example of how many turn a blind eye to the “dehumanisation” of the workers.
