Workers In Singapore Research Articles

Understanding community-based mental health interventions among migrant workers in Singapore

BackgroundMigrants in Singapore face unique mental health risk factors and barriers to formal care. Within this context, the Migrant Writers of Singapore (an arts collective) has organised a community-based intervention to address mental health needs, the Mental Health Awareness and Well-Being Festival.AimTo understand migrants’ motivations for organising and participating in the Festival as a form of community-based mental health support, as well as their perspectives on the role and effectiveness of such interventions.MethodsThematic analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted in October and November 2023, with 10 members of MWS involved in the Festival.ResultsInterviewees were primarily motivated by personal experiences of giving or receiving peer support, or finding relief through MWS’s arts-based activities; and to a smaller extent by the need for greater mental health awareness among migrants. Interviewees saw the value of community-based interventions in: (i) easing loneliness, (ii) establishing solidarity, (iii) facilitating communication in help-seeking, and (iv) building longer-term social networks.ConclusionsFindings suggest that community-based interventions may be an enabler of peer support, and help address underlying mental health risk factors. Arts-based activities can enhance these interventions, though further research is required to evaluate concrete outcomes, and ascertain the wider applicability of these findings.

Exploring Constraints and Sport Experiences: A Case Study of Adult Workers in Singapore.

Although rapid economic growth can produce various positive outcomes, the fast-paced society that inevitably accompanies it often results in longer working hours and higher stress levels, leading to reduced participation in sport activities among employees. To better understand this phenomenon, we aimed to explore the constraints and experiences of adult workers. We collected data from adult workers in Singapore who desired to participate in sport activities but were unable to do so due to various constraints. A total of 10 individuals were purposefully selected for interviews. This study identified four key themes: (a) factors causing the reduction of sport participation opportunities, (b) changes in sport activities and satisfaction, (c) nostalgic feelings associated with sport activities, and (d) the role of nostalgia in enhancing sport involvement. The findings of this study suggest the possibility of adapting the conceptual model of nostalgia to sport activities, as well as identifying four factors that hinder employees from engaging in sport activities.

Empowering Indonesian Women Migrant Workers in Singapore: the Role of Conflict Management Training and Personality-Based Communication for Migrant Workers Community

The present study focuses on a community service project designed to evaluate the efficacy of conflict management training and personality-based communication strategies on Indonesian female migrant workers in Singapore, who are also students at the Open University of Indonesia. The project's primary objective was to aid participants in comprehending themselves and their coworkers more effectively, and to develop practical skills for resolving conflicts and communicating effectively in diverse work environments. Conflict management training encompasses case studies, role-playing, and group discussions, enabling participants to acquire knowledge regarding different conflict management styles and effective communication techniques based on personality types. The post-training evaluation revealed a significant improvement in the participants' comprehension of personality types and their capacity to manage conflicts. This study highlights the significance of incorporating personality aspects into conflict management and communication training, and the advantages of such training in enhancing interpersonal relationships and productivity in the workplace, as well as managing conflicts between individuals and organisations.

The Restructuring Righteous Foreign Worker Regulations: The Challenge of Enormous Influx of Foreign Workers

Foreign workers are needed to overcome the challenge of a shortage of professional workers. However, the ineffectiveness of foreign worker licensing regulations in Indonesia hampers the supply of qualified foreign workers and impacts regional levy revenues. This research aims to structure the rules for the fair use of foreign workers. This is normative juridical research with conceptual, statutory, and comparative approaches. The results of a comparison of foreign worker regulations in Indonesia and Singapore are used to develop a regulatory concept that is more responsive to the use of foreign workers, especially in the health sector. The idea of licensing law and justice theory is used for analysis. The research results show that the regulations on using foreign workers in Indonesia are not yet comprehensive regarding the rules for qualifying foreign workers as a condition for issuing permits and justifying good public services. The issuance of permits to use foreign workers has been hampered because several regions do not yet have implementing regulations that impact the collection of regional levies. Second, setting up mechanisms for utilizing foreign workers in Singapore is relatively easy and successful with strict digital-based permit requirements. Thus, Indonesia needs to adopt a foreign labor policy system with strict requirements for issuing permits that are accessible in terms of bureaucracy, changes to laws, implementation of regulations, and drafting of regional regulations.

Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs on disability and vocational rehabilitation of injured male migrant workers in Singapore

PurposeThere are over 300,000 male migrant workers in Singapore. Around 600 major workplace injuries are reported in Singapore each year, mainly in the manufacturing and construction injuries. Migrant workers who are affected by workplace injuries often face many challenges, including not being able to work and thus may be repatriated to their home countries, which affects their financial status and that of their families, whom they support. This research aims to explore the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of injured migrant workers in Singapore, towards disability and vocational rehabilitation.Design/methodology/approachFifteen male migrant workers, from Bangladesh, China and India, who had acquired disabling injuries in their workplaces in Singapore, were identified through purposive sampling. They were interviewed by a male interviewer, either in Mandarin Chinese or with the assistance of interpreters for Bengali-English and Tamil-English. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, translated to English, then analysed thematically.FindingsThe interviewees generally had a pessimistic outlook on their disability, which often impacted negatively on their self-worth and familial relationships. Many of them also had little knowledge of vocational rehabilitation and had not yet seriously considered future job prospects.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, there are no similar studies exploring the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of injured migrant workers in Singapore towards disability and vocational rehabilitation.

Migrant domestic workers and transnational foodcare chains in pandemic times

AbstractIn view of heightened food security issues in COVID‐19 times, we employ a transnational lens to give bifocal attention to migrant women’s experiences during the pandemic, as they sought to secure access to food for themselves and for left‐behind children and family members in Indonesia and the Philippines. In conjunction with the classic idea of global care chains and the notion of foodwork, we propose the idea of transnational foodcare chains. This distinctly agentic, migrant, and maternal food labour came to the fore under exceptional times of pandemic‐induced social distancing, economic precarity, and limited travel. First, we argue that these foodcare chains are multi‐relational, involving interdependence and reciprocity among a web of caregivers to secure food gaps. Second, we suggest that foodcare chains also extend to friendship networks forged among fellow migrant domestic workers in Singapore. Third, under pandemic conditions, we argue that foodcare chains enter the domain of well‐being and healthcare as food becomes evoked as medicine and cures. Drawing on findings from 40 qualitative interviews with Indonesian and Filipino migrant domestic workers in Singapore, we focus on developing, within studies of food (in)security, the idea of foodcare chains by foregrounding the maternal, relational, and often invisible labour of achieving food security for migrant women and their left‐behind families.

A comparison of periodic health examinations and workplace health screening for workers in Singapore and Japan.

This article aims to provide a historical overview of how workplace safety and health legislations in Singapore and Japan have evolved, and perform a comparative analysis of the occupational health systems where work-related medical examinations and health screening are concerned. The discourse is centered on three key themes - coverage, comprehensiveness, and continuity of care. The comparative analysis was performed based on secondary data obtained from open-source platforms. Singapore and Japan have robust workplace safety and health legislative frameworks and laws. However, their approaches diverge because of differing socioeconomic and political contexts. Japan's regulations are generally more comprehensive, require more frequent monitoring of workers' health status, and encompass both physical and mental health components. Singaporean companies focus primarily on the physical component of health, and statutory examinations are required only for exposure to specific occupational hazards. With increasing prominence of mental health issues and shift towards preventive care in Singapore, there will be greater emphasis on a holistic approach to each employee's overall health in future. For Japan, the challenge would be to strike a balance between long-term sustainability of current policies against the need for state and corporations to still retain an adequate stake in ensuring workers' overall health.

The Psychological Impact of Hand Injuries Among Foreign Workers in Singapore.

Foreign workers comprise a significant portion of Singapore's workforce. They face multiple challenges when working there. A hand injury may add to these stressors, causing profound psychological and social impact. There are few studies in the literaturethat have analyzed this effect.The primary objective of this study, the firstof its kind in Singapore, is to investigate the psychological impact and functional outcomes of hand injuries among foreign workers. By assessing the prevalence of psychological conditions such as stress, anxiety, and depression, along with measuring functional impairment using validated tools, this study aims to provide insights into the psycho-social challenges faced by this vulnerable population. A single-encounter interview was conducted for eligible patients. Psychological impact was measured using the DASS-21, symptom severity and function with the QuickDASH, and pain with the VAS. Injury-specific and demographic data were also collected. The Mann-Whitney U test and the Chi-Squared test were applied for non-parametric variables and categorical data, respectively. The adjusted p-value was <0.05. Eighty foreign workers were recruited. The mean age was 33 years, and the median age was 31.5 years (28.2 to 37.0). The majority were male (97.5%), married (60%), and had a salary of less than SGD1500 (USD1077) per month (81.3%). The most common mechanism of injury was penetrating (60%, n=48). Stress, anxiety, and depression were positively associated with limitations in daily function. Multivariate analysis found that limitations in daily function were independently associated with stress, anxiety, and depression, regardless of hand dominance. Conclusion:This study has shown a significant psychological and social impact of hand injuries among foreign workers in Singapore. There is potential for the development of screening and support programs for at-risk workers to cater to their mental well-being. We recommend that the psychological impact of hand injuries be factored into holistic management and rehabilitation with adequate time and resource allocation. An ancillary benefit is the improvement of productivity and overall contribution to Singapore's economy.

Pemberdayaan Buruh Migran Indonesia (BMI) di Singapura: Penyusunan Panduan Kehidupan Berbangsa dan Bernegara

It is known that the number of BMI in Singapore in 2020 was 88 thousand people, including those from Ponorogo. On the other hand, the population in Singapore consists of various ethnicities and religions. Of course this also has an influence on religious life. The aim of community service with Madani Intitut Singapore is to prepare guidelines for national and state life for BMI in Singapore, especially in worship. The implementation method used in this service is in the form of collaboration with Madani Intitut by carrying out various activities, including: hearings, counseling and hearings. The results of this collaborative service, apart from obtaining an MoU with Madani Intitut Singapore, are also the preparation of practical guidelines for national and state life for Indonesian female workers in Singapore, especially in worship for Indonesian female workers in Singapore. The conclusion from the activity is that Singapore is a country that upholds pluralism, meritocracy and the supremacy of law. The key is that all agreements are stated in the employment agreement, including in worship. Then the state will guarantee the rights of the community, including BSI in Singapore, to worship.

AB019. MyWrightNeeds: delivering accessible and culturally-sensitive healthcare to migrant workers in Singapore

AB019. MyWrightNeeds: delivering accessible and culturally-sensitive healthcare to migrant workers in Singapore

The mediating effects of resilience on psychological distress in social workers in Singapore and South Korea during the Covid-19 pandemic

Under the pandemic situation, social workers functioning as front liners were found to be more adversely affected. This study examined the mediating effect of resilience between psychological distress and organizational support among frontline social workers in two countries, South Korea and Singapore. The hierarchical multiple regression and Sobel z-test were conducted. We found that resilience statistically significantly mediates the impact of organizational support on psychological distress among frontline social workers. Organizations in the social sectors need to consider how enhancing their practitioners’ resilience via resources like having quality relationships, professional identity, and self-care could contribute toward improving their well-being.

Building a healthy migrant workforce in Singapore – A cross-sectional study to understand health-seeking behaviours of male migrant workers

BackgroundThe healthcare policies for migrant workers in Singapore had a traditional focus on improving occupational health and preventing workplace injuries. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a rapid paradigm shift in the provision of healthcare for migrant workers, with an urgent focus on improving the accessibility and affordability of primary and preventive health services and strengthening public health surveillance. The purpose of this study is to identify areas for improvement, so that policy makers can improve the implementation effectiveness of healthcare policies for migrant workers. This is achieved by establishing a baseline understanding of (a) the health-seeking behaviours of migrant workers in Singapore, (b) how they consume primary and preventive health services, and (c) systemic gaps in the delivery of services. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted at five migrant worker dormitories and two community spaces in Singapore, between August and November 2022. 1101 male migrant workers participated in a survey and 1089 valid responses were analysed. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify sociodemographic factors associated with health service utilisation and awareness of the new healthcare financing plan introduced for migrant workers, called the Primary Care Plan (PCP). ResultsThe mean age of participants was 34 years. Most of them were of Indian or Bangladeshi nationality. At least 82 % of participants reported that they could access varying health services in Singapore and 73 % were satisfied with the costs of healthcare. However, a lower percentage of the participants (54 %) had seen a doctor, mostly for respiratory, fever or musculoskeletal conditions, and only 7 % saw a dentist at least once in a year. This was attributable to their low perceived need to see a doctor (91 %) or dentist (71 %). While the prevalence of chronic diseases (4 %) was low among the participants, about one-third of participants smoked (26 %), consumed alcohol (32 %), or resorted to self-treatment or medication (39 %). ConclusionThis study corroborated with previous observational studies where migrant workers in Singapore only sought care during an acute episode of illness. While participants perceived healthcare in Singapore to be accessible and affordable, there was limited evidence to suggest that preventive health care was prioritised. This indicates possible gaps in current outreach programmes and further development of new targeted programmes to increase the health literacy and awareness of primary and preventive health services among migrant workers in Singapore.

Financial Management Behavior Of Indonesian Migrant Workers in Singapore

Indonesian workers better known as migrant workers from Indonesia who work in Singapore need to receive entrepreneurship education to encourage these migrant workers to improve one’s quality of life going forward, especially after returning to their homeland. Entrepreneurship training is a type of education that supports the growth of migrant workers’ entrepreneurial ambitions by offering opportunity to build businesses through opportunities and needs research of the market. This education hopes that migrant workers will earn income after working in Singapore. Apart from that, migrant workers also need to obtain good financial literacy. Financial literacy can support prosperity in the future and help achieve prosperity for the family. In Singapore, migrant workers’ financial management practices are more than adequate. Financial self-efficacy and financial literacy have an impact on migrant workers’ money management practices in Singapore. A hedonistic lifestyle does not show an impact on financial behavior. Therefore, in order to improve migrant workers’ welfare in the long run, the government must increase financial literacy and their capacity to make financial decisions.

Chronic disease management: Preventive care framework for migrant workers in Singapore

Abstract Chronic diseases, if unmanaged, can contribute to significant premature mortality and morbidity. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there was limited data on chronic disease prevalence amongst migrant workers (MWs) in Singapore. The antecedent episodic and fragmented primary care for migrant workers also affected care continuity for common chronic diseases. In April 2022, a Primary Care Plan (PCP) was developed for migrant workers to improve access and affordability which included chronic disease detection and management and risk factor reduction. In addition, chronic disease screening was also enhanced in migrant workers’ pre-employment medical screening for those with risk factors or above 40 years old. Beyond disease management, interventions to address health gaps and strengthen the healthcare resilience of MWs are incorporated into a population-health based “Management of Oral and Chronic Conditions and Ailments - MOCCA” framework, anchored on three thrusts: 1. Address knowledge gaps and inculcate healthier habits - Improve health literacy via outreach programmes and culturally nuanced health materials 2. Mitigate risk factors - Build primary care providers’ capabilities to deliver alcohol/tobacco interventions 3. Treat and control disease progression - Set up referral pathways between primary and tertiary healthcare institutions including for post-discharge case management MOCCA was implemented in December 2022 through the collective efforts from the government, community, social service agencies and their employers. Key messages • Migrant workers have been receptive to interactive health programmes, regular health screening, follow up on chronic disease under the PCP and 324 workers attended basic dental screening. • The MOCCA framework is integral to the provision of care for MWs, through risk factor identification, empowerment of health ownership, and periodic assessment of health and behavioural outcomes.

Commercial milk formula marketing following increased restrictions in Singapore: A qualitative study.

The promotion of commercial milk formula (CMF) negatively impacts breastfeeding outcomes. In 2019, Singapore updated its 1979 Code of Ethics of the Sale of Infant Foods Ethics Committee Singapore (SIFECS) to increase marketing restrictions on CMF for infants 0-12 months. However, little is known about industry tactics to undermine these restrictions. This qualitative study explores health workers' and mothers' experiences with CMF marketing in Singapore following the 2019 restrictions. We conducted a qualitative study, using semistructured interviews with 14 mothers of infants aged less than 5 months and 20 health workers with expertise in antenatal, maternity, or paediatric care. We analysed data thematically using inductive coding. Five themes were identified. Mothers and health workers reported digital marketing, product line extensions with toddlers' milk and milk for mothers, and CMF sponsorships in the healthcare setting. Expert endorsement, competitive price, nutritional claims, and brand reputation influenced mothers' infant formula choices, yet both mothers and health workers appeared to be unaware of the impact of CMF marketing tactics on their own perceptions. The restriction of CMF marketing and infant feeding practices varied widely between hospitals, with private hospitals and practices having less strict controls on CMF marketing. Despite the updated SIFECS restrictions, CMF companies continue to target mothers and health workers in Singapore. SIFECS restrictions should be tightened to align with international guidelines, by increasing their scope to include toddlers' milk and prohibiting cross-promotion, digital marketing, and any sponsorships of events targeting health workers that may create a conflict of interest.

A qualitative exploration of factors that influence the uptake of tuberculosis services by low-skilled migrant workers in Singapore

IntroductionSingapore relies heavily on migrant workers to build its country and harbours a relatively large population of these workers. Importantly, tuberculosis (TB) remains a pernicious threat to the health of these workers and in line with the United Nations High-Level Meeting in 2023, this paper aims to uncover the qualitative discourse facing migrant workers’ uptake of TB services and provide policy recommendations to enable more equitable access to TB services for this population.MethodsIn-depth interviews were carried out with the migrant worker population recruited from a non-governmental organisation in Singapore that serves migrant workers through the provision of primary healthcare services, counselling, and social assistance. Interviews stopped once thematic saturation was achieved and no new themes and subthemes were found.ResultsA total of 29 participants were interviewed, including 16 Bangladeshis and 13 Chinese, aged between 22 and 54 years old, all worked in the construction sector. Four key themes emerged. They are (1) General TB knowledge: Misconceptions are prevalent, where we found that participants were aware of the disease but did not possess a clear understanding of its pathophysiology and associated health effects, (2) Contextual knowledge and perception of associated policies related to TB in Singapore: low awareness among migrant workers as participants’ accounts depicted a lack of information sources in Singapore especially on issues related to healthcare including TB, (3) Attitude to towards TB: Motivation to seek treatment is underpinned by ability to continue working and (4) Stigma: mixed perception of how society views TB patients. The gaps identified in migrant workers’ TB knowledge, their attitude towards the disease and their perception of the availability of TB-related services is despite Singapore’s efforts to curb community spread of TB and its proactive initiatives to reduce the prevalence.ConclusionOur study illuminates the various aspects that policymakers need to home in on to ensure this vulnerable group is sufficiently supported and equitably cared for if they develop active TB during their stay in Singapore as they contribute to the nation’s economy. Leveraging the COVID-19 pandemic as a window of opportunity to improve overall healthcare access for vulnerable groups in Singapore can be a starting point.

‘Like every other day’: Writing temporalities of banal exploitation among precarious migrant workers

AbstractThe violence of precarious labour migration is often represented in popular and policy accounts through episodic frames that emphasise particular—often sensationalised and extreme—aspects and moments of more complex and mundane experiences. These depictions commonly appear under the labels of ‘modern‐day slavery’ and ‘labour trafficking’. This paper advances a participatory methodology aimed at elucidating more complex temporalities experienced by precarious migrant labourers, drawing on a project with male migrant workers in Singapore. The methodology developed for this project centres on written diaries/narratives authored by the participants over periods ranging from one to three months. These detailed narratives document struggles—physically, relationally, financially and emotionally—in the context of post‐labour destitution. These struggles appear as both ‘everyday’ difficulties and longer‐term problems, with both temporalities rendered visible as a form of slow violence. This methodology fuses key principles of qualitative longitudinal research (QLR) methods with participatory action research (PAR) to develop a methodological orientation to temporally extenuative experiences of violence that are visible through processes that draw on participants as key producers of knowledge and advocates for change. As a way of engaging migrants' mundane post‐labour struggles, this methodology allows for tracing of the longer‐term and cumulative impacts of precarious migrant labour through participants' own frames of reference.

Investigating gig workers’ commitment to crowdsourced logistics platforms: Fair employment and social exchange perspectives

Crowdsourced logistics is developing rapidly during and post COVID-19. As key workers of crowdsourced logistics, gig workers' commitment is essential for the sustainable development of gig platforms. Drawing from the social exchange paradigm and organisational identification, this study explores how the five principles of Fairwork provided by crowdsourced logistics platforms (i.e., fair representation, fair management, fair conditions, fair contracts, fair pay) contribute to gig workers' organisational identification, which subsequently influences career satisfaction and career commitment. The study gathered 177 responses from gig workers in Singapore in July 2022. The structural equation modelling findings suggest that factors such as fair conditions, fair pay, fair representation, fair management, and fair contracts have substantial impacts on organisational identification. Moreover, the link between organisational identification and career commitment is partially mediated by career satisfaction. Overall, this study enriches the literature by proposing a suitable theoretical model to explain gig workers' commitment to crowdsourced logistics platforms. Moreover, the empirical results provide implications on the understanding of gig workers’ concerns for gig platforms, as well as policy suggestions for the maintenance of gig workers in the future.

“My young life, finished already?”: a qualitative study of embedded social stressors and their effects on mental health of low-wage male migrant workers in Singapore

BackgroundIncreasing evidence shows low-wage migrant workers experience a high prevalence of mental health disorders and adverse health outcomes. Significant disparities in health services usage among migrant workers create added vulnerability to health complications. However, much remains unclear about how vulnerabilities are constructed in migrant worker populations. Additionally, no studies in Singapore have attempted to critically examine the degree to which social environment and structures affect the health and wellbeing of migrant workers. Therefore, this study aimed to critically situate the socio-structural factors creating conditions of vulnerability among migrant workers using a social stress perspective.MethodsWe conducted semi-structured individual and group interviews with migrant workers focused on individual life experiences, community experiences (individual and collective social capital), health (mental and physical health concerns) and stress response behaviours. We used a grounded theory approach to identify sources of stress and stress responses and uncover pathways to social vulnerabilities.ResultsFindings from 21 individual and 2 group interviews revealed that migrant workers were embedded in a cycle of chronic stress driven by structural factors that were mutually reinforced by stressors arising from their social environment. Socio-structural stressors enacted as poor living, working and social conditions resulted in their negative quality-of-life appraisal. Stressors arising from being “foreign” resulted in anticipated stigma, concealment, and healthcare avoidance. These factors synergistically created a persistent mental health burden for migrant workers.ConclusionsFindings highlight the need to address the mental health burden placed on migrant workers and create avenues for migrant workers to seek psychosocial support to manage their stressors.

Micromanagement of foreign domestic workers in Singapore: The influence of state regulations and laws

Based on 30 in-depth interviews with employers in Singapore, this article examines how and why employers engage in micromanagement of foreign workers. The results suggest that government laws and regulations influence employers’ exercise of power of the workers. The S$5000 security bond and the day-off regulation shift the responsibility of policing the foreign domestic worker from the state onto the employers. Although some employers may choose to refrain from micromanaging their domestic workers, most employers perceive micromanagement as their legal entitlement. Employers who micromanage their domestic workers tend to engage in micromanagement of three key areas of worker life: their daily routine, social circle, and movement. Therefore, micromanagement is a tool that employers frequently use to guarantee that their S$5000 security bond will not be forfeited.