It's Time for Change
The following letter was published in TODAY on 20 May 2009.
WORKER TRANSPORT
It’s time for change
Letter from Isabel Vadivu Govind
I REFER to “Tragedy at Gul Road” (May 19) in which four foreign workers died.
Concerns about transporting workers in the backs of lorries have been raised. I understand that the Land Transport Authorities said in March last year that it was setting up a work group with the Ministry of Manpower to review this.
More than a year and about 200 injuries and six deaths later, things do not seem to have changed.
Cost, I believe, is the reason why we need a “work group” to discuss what is obvious should be done.
Yes, it will be more expensive to humanely transport workers. But this is part of our ethical responsibility as a receiving country of foreign labour.
The present practice of transporting such workers is unsafe, inhumane and does not treat people with respect or dignity.
It is disturbing that as a developed nation we allow this. Furthermore, doing so is a safety hazard for other road users.
I would like to urge a ban on the transporting of people in the backs of lorries.
All workers should be seated in buses when being transported.
And I urge the swift implementation of such a ban without the excuse that it would take a long time to make the change at a practical level.
We are efficient in many ways. I am certain we can be efficient in this matter if we recognise how important it is.
We do not need a work group.
We need action and we need it now, before more lives are lost.
Let the deaths of the four workers not be in vain.
It’s time for change
Letter from Isabel Vadivu Govind
I REFER to “Tragedy at Gul Road” (May 19) in which four foreign workers died.
Concerns about transporting workers in the backs of lorries have been raised. I understand that the Land Transport Authorities said in March last year that it was setting up a work group with the Ministry of Manpower to review this.
More than a year and about 200 injuries and six deaths later, things do not seem to have changed.
Cost, I believe, is the reason why we need a “work group” to discuss what is obvious should be done.
Yes, it will be more expensive to humanely transport workers. But this is part of our ethical responsibility as a receiving country of foreign labour.
The present practice of transporting such workers is unsafe, inhumane and does not treat people with respect or dignity.
It is disturbing that as a developed nation we allow this. Furthermore, doing so is a safety hazard for other road users.
I would like to urge a ban on the transporting of people in the backs of lorries.
All workers should be seated in buses when being transported.
And I urge the swift implementation of such a ban without the excuse that it would take a long time to make the change at a practical level.
We are efficient in many ways. I am certain we can be efficient in this matter if we recognise how important it is.
We do not need a work group.
We need action and we need it now, before more lives are lost.
Let the deaths of the four workers not be in vain.
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