I was a Foreign Worker

Someone jokingly asked why I've been writing about the plight of foreign workers. Are you trying to champion their cause? Be the spokesperson for those whose voices are never heard?

Eh, actually no. I didn't start out with such noble intentions.... I just felt burdened to share my thoughts because I've been deeply inspired by the article in CatholicNews. Also, it's because I had once been a "foreign worker".......not in the true sense of the word as we Singaporeans know it; but the plight was synonymous, albeit under a different set of work environment, industry and remuneration package.

I was a flight attendant with an American airline back in the 90s. Based in Singapore, we were known as RFAs (Regional Flight Attendants). As the name implied, we primarily flew the regional routes - Hong Kong, Taiwan, Philippines, Japan, Korea and China. The reason for this domicile was to capitalise on our language abilities to serve the Asia-Pacific routes and their customers.

Although our parent company was essentially American, we were able to inject the Asian hospitality and creativity onboard our Singapore flights. It was an ideal marriage between the American culture of freedom, friendliness and the Asian grace onboard. However, the only glitch (and a major one at that) was that the disparity between the US-based crew (American Flight Attendant or AFA) and their Asian counterparts soon became more apparent.

We were all formally trained at our US headquarters. Everyone had to pass the same stringent course, emergency training and work on observation flights to qualify for our first solo flight. It did not matter that some Singapore crew performed better; our employment terms, staff welfare and the perks were distinctively different.

For starters, the uniforms were coloured differently. So were the wings. And those were only the tip of the iceberg. We were neither unionised by the Americans nor locally. Our travelling perks and availability of seats were subject to seniority staff numbers and of course, the AFAs always had priority over the RFAs. When the crunch came in the form of economic downturn, fuel price hike and scaling back, the regional domiciles would be the first to close.

No wonder so many of our RFAs applied to be AFA and be based in Hong Kong instead. I understand how companies work and am not questioning their policies. In fact, our national carrier would do the same to its worldwide offices if it needs to downsize. Always trim the outer fats first.

Because of my airline experience, I can empathise with these foreign workers. I believe they deserve the same humanity treatment as everyone else. Since when did they become lesser beings?

In George Orwell's satirical novel "Animal Farm", the animals who overthrew humans had Seven Commandments which included a general credo "All animals are equal". But over time, the credo was changed to "All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others" because the pigs had started to take charge and take on many human traits.

This poignant sentence has stayed with me through the years "The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which."

Are we more equal than these foreign workers in our midst?

"Help, jobless foreign workers cry"

Imagine coughing up S$8000 or more for the opportunity to eke out a living in a foreign land. Imagine the sum of money is in exchange for everything we have; the bottoming out of all our earthly possessions or livelihood. Imagine the promise of a job that commands S$900 per month to feed the 12 mouths at home. Imagine the risk taken; the faith in making it in a stable and law-abiding country. A land that is economically viable with good governance and menial jobs aplenty.

But why did dozens of out-of-work foreign workers turn up at MOM on Wednesday to seek help (ST 9 Oct 08)? How could they enter Singapore with valid work permits but end up with no work? Duped by "agents", some have been here since February or April with no more than 2 weeks' work. Others are less fortunate; they have not worked a single day since setting foot on our shores.

As a result, they roam the streets in Serangoon Road or simply hang around in deluded optimism, waiting for a chance to start work. They have been exploited and abused by unscrupulous agents without any avenue for recourse. An MOM officer had asked these workers to go to their 'boss, rather than MOM to ask for work. "If you have worked but have not been paid, that is something you can come to us for," she said'

And we are afraid that they will get into mischief and disturb our way of life. Whose life has been uprooted and left hanging now? Who is in deep debts, even depraved poverty if there are no jobs soon? When push comes to shove, these foreign workers might really dabble in shenanigans and crimes out of pure despair and desperation.

Foreign Workers in Serangoon Gardens

Serangoon Gardens.

Nestled amidst lush greenery and exuding old-world charm, it is an estate known for its laid-back tranquility, private residences, good food and quaint shop houses. It embodies a town stuck in the 70s; never quite catching up with urbanisation like the rest of the island. Never intending to, it seems. Quite happy to remain a self-sufficient little nook until it is thrust into the spotlight with its furore against housing foreign workers in an unused school compound.

Are the residents wrong in wanting to protect their homes and way of life? It is very natural to reject anything intrusive. Having a thousand foreign workers right there in the heart of this idyllic enclave does seem intrusive enough. But are the residents truly so wrong?

Conversely, are the foreign workers wrong to leave everything behind and try to eke out a living here? To be rejected before they set foot in the estate; to be petitioned against; to be perceived as trouble-makers; to be looked upon upon. Among them, I'm sure there are literate ones who are educated enough but chose menial labour here because of lack of opportunities back home. They are those who read the papers and who care about issues in society like you and me.

Both groups are not fundamentally wrong. Cicero says it very well "to each his own'. But can they co-exist peacefully? If the proposal becomes a reality, what then? A flurry of moving out, greater protestations and even street demonstrations?

An article in CatholicNews (Sept 28, 2008) by Fr Luke Fong touched me deeply. It says "Do not be afraid of foreign workers in the neighbourhood". It goes on to evoke our conscience with a heart-tugging hypothetical scenario: "

At the end of life, we find ourselves at heaven's door. Jesus comes to meet us. We are so glad to see him. We have waited for this moment all our lives. But then he says: "Remember, I wanted to live just 100 metres from your house, but you wanted me to live in Tuas and Choa Chu Kang. You were more concerned with the value of your property than your humanity. I gave you the opportunity to love me in the strangers from Myanmar, India, China and Thailand. But you rejected it and chose instead to go on annual foreign missions and to give generous financial donations on Mission Sunday. You came to the Adoration Room weekly to get close to me and yet when I wanted to sit next to you on Bus 317, you refused me."

How often have we tried to do grand and visible things God's name but forget the suffering in our own backyard? Have we forgotten that a foreign worker is also someone's son, someone's brother, someone's father? When it rains, he feels the cold. When the sun's out, he feels the warmth. When pricked with a needle, he bleeds.

When denied and rejected, he bleeds too. In his heart this time and the wounds might never heal.