He came here because life was tough in China
The following article was published in The New Paper on 24 June 2010.
Colleague of worker who died in lorry crash says... He came here because life was tough in China
By Vivien Chan
The New Paper
24 June 2010
Three of their countrymen had died in a horrific crash the day before.
Yesterday morning, 15 Chinese nationals, employees of CREC Construction, turned up at the mortuary.
Their two bosses were there to identify the bodies of the three workers - Mr Li Jia Jun, Mr Li Xian Long, both in their 40s, and Mr Qiu Min Jun, 46.
Among the workers who were at the mortuary was the 22-year-old driver of the lorry. He had a bandaged left ankle.
The rest of the workers who turned up were not involved in the crash.
Solemn
Their boss, Mr Zhao Xue Bin, 41, the director of the construction firm, declined to be interviewed. He wore a solemn expression and frowned often.
A worker, who also declined to be named, told The New Paper that he knew Mr Li Xian Long, as they are both from Hebei province.
He said that the late Mr Li is survived by his wife, a farmer, and two sons back home. His elder son is also a farmer while the other is a student.
The worker said:"He wouldn't have come to Singapore to work if life wasn't so tough back home."
The man said that Mr Li has been working off and on in Singapore since 1997, drawing a monthly pay of just over $1,000.
"He would come and work for a year or two, then return to China, then come back here. It depended on whether the company needs him," he added.
"He was thrifty, hardworking and a nice person."
At the mortuary, Mr Zhao was seen collecting plastic bags and brown paper packets from the police. They are believed to contain the belongings of the dead workers.
The workers told The New Paper that the families of their dead colleagues have been informed and are preparing to fly to Singapore to collect the bodies.
The two Mr Lis had died at the scene while Mr Qiu died about 3 1/2 hours later at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH).
Six workers were warded for trauma and minor abrasions. Five were discharged on the night of the accident.
A TTSH spokesman said yesterday that one worker remains warded, but he is in "stable condition".
CREC's workers who were at the mortuary said they did not have to work yesterday.
When we visited their dormitory in Bukit Batok at about 3pm, the security guards recognised Mr Zhao from pictures we showed them. They said he visits the site occasionally.
Out of the "1,000-plus" workers who live there, about 16 are from CREC Construction, they added.
The guards said that CREC's workers were not in the dormitory when we visited. There was still no sign of them when we left the site at 5pm.
Additional reporting by Lim Wei Li and Danson Cheong.
Colleague of worker who died in lorry crash says... He came here because life was tough in China
By Vivien Chan
The New Paper
24 June 2010
Three of their countrymen had died in a horrific crash the day before.
Yesterday morning, 15 Chinese nationals, employees of CREC Construction, turned up at the mortuary.
Their two bosses were there to identify the bodies of the three workers - Mr Li Jia Jun, Mr Li Xian Long, both in their 40s, and Mr Qiu Min Jun, 46.
Among the workers who were at the mortuary was the 22-year-old driver of the lorry. He had a bandaged left ankle.
The rest of the workers who turned up were not involved in the crash.
Solemn
Their boss, Mr Zhao Xue Bin, 41, the director of the construction firm, declined to be interviewed. He wore a solemn expression and frowned often.
A worker, who also declined to be named, told The New Paper that he knew Mr Li Xian Long, as they are both from Hebei province.
He said that the late Mr Li is survived by his wife, a farmer, and two sons back home. His elder son is also a farmer while the other is a student.
The worker said:"He wouldn't have come to Singapore to work if life wasn't so tough back home."
The man said that Mr Li has been working off and on in Singapore since 1997, drawing a monthly pay of just over $1,000.
"He would come and work for a year or two, then return to China, then come back here. It depended on whether the company needs him," he added.
"He was thrifty, hardworking and a nice person."
At the mortuary, Mr Zhao was seen collecting plastic bags and brown paper packets from the police. They are believed to contain the belongings of the dead workers.
The workers told The New Paper that the families of their dead colleagues have been informed and are preparing to fly to Singapore to collect the bodies.
The two Mr Lis had died at the scene while Mr Qiu died about 3 1/2 hours later at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH).
Six workers were warded for trauma and minor abrasions. Five were discharged on the night of the accident.
A TTSH spokesman said yesterday that one worker remains warded, but he is in "stable condition".
CREC's workers who were at the mortuary said they did not have to work yesterday.
When we visited their dormitory in Bukit Batok at about 3pm, the security guards recognised Mr Zhao from pictures we showed them. They said he visits the site occasionally.
Out of the "1,000-plus" workers who live there, about 16 are from CREC Construction, they added.
The guards said that CREC's workers were not in the dormitory when we visited. There was still no sign of them when we left the site at 5pm.
Additional reporting by Lim Wei Li and Danson Cheong.
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