Humans Aren't Cargo

TODAY,  By Justin Ong, 10 May 2021 In an ideal world, workers would not be transported on lorries, Dr Amy Khor said Further regulation could cause the demise of some firms, she added The completion of building projects and workers’ livelihoods would also be affected The Government would continue to refine its policies and regulations to improve the situation, Dr Khor said SINGAPORE — Further regulation to make it safer to transport workers on lorries would likely affect the completion of various building projects, spell the demise of some companies and cause the loss of workers’ livelihoods, Dr Amy Khor said in Parliament on Monday (May 10). Despite this, the Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Transport (MOT) gave assurances that the Government will continue to refine its policies and regulations, and engage stakeholders to further improve safety rules. “From a road safety perspective, it would be ideal for lorries not to carry any passengers in their rear decks,” she sai...

Straits Times, By  Yuen Sin   PUBLISHED MAY 9, 2021, 9:00 PM SGT FACEBOOK TWITTER SINGAPORE - Two accidents last month have shown that trucks and lorries should not be used to transport migrant workers, and the labour movement is working with partners to push for the implementation of different transport arrangements as soon as possible, said National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) assistant secretary-general Melvin Yong on Sunday (May 9). In a blog post written in the wake of  calls by advocacy groups to stop using lorries to transport workers,  Mr Yong said the NTUC and the Building Construction and Timber Industries Employees' Union (Batu) are engaging the Singapore Contractors Association Ltd (SCAL) to advocate new arrangements. It is also in talks with the relevant government agencies to address issues of implementation, such as cost. Mr Yong said that he was "deeply disturbed" by the accidents last month, which took place within four days of each other and are no...

 Straits Times,  Clement Yong PUBLISHED MAY 7, 2021, 3:16 PM SGT FACEBOOK TWITTER One of 17 migrant workers travelling on the back of a lorry died after the vehicle collided with a tipper truck on the PIE on April 20, 2021. PHOTO: SCREENGRABS FROM FACEBOOK SINGAPORE - Amid calls by advocacy groups to stop using lorries to carry workers, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Friday (May 7) that the number of people injured or killed while on board lorries has been falling in the last 10 years, since safety measures were rolled out to protect workers. From 2011 to 2015, there was an average of nine fatalities a year. But the corresponding figure for 2016 to 2020 was 2.6 per year.  LTA also said that the average injury rate from 2011 to 2020 was 8.7 people per 1,000 lorries, comparable to the injury rate for the total motor vehicle population of about 8.6 people per 1,000 vehicles. It also said - in response to questions from the media - that Singapore is not ...

Straits Times,  Christopher Tan Senior Transport Correspondent Traffic accidents involving workers in lorries have continued, with two having taken place in April within four days of each other. PHOTO: ST FILE PUBLISHED MAY 3, 2021, 5:00 AM SGT FACEBOOK TWITTER SINGAPORE - It used to be quite acceptable to travel on the back of flatbed trucks and lorries. As recently as 30 years or so ago, it was common to see families travelling al fresco this way - even all dressed up during festive periods such as Chinese New Year and Hari Raya. If the weather was fine, it was even fun. I myself have travelled this way occasionally - more regularly when I was a casual labourer at a landscaping company just before national service. But times have changed. As society matures, safety standards improve and sometimes because our tolerance for accidents decreases. For instance, it used to be perfectly kosher for drivers not to be belted up. Or for children not to be in child seats. But in 2002, the Tr...

 Straits Times,  Clement Yong   and   Ang Qing PUBLISHED MAY 2, 2021, 11:42 PM SGT FACEBOOK TWITTER Builders told ST that switching from lorries to buses to ferry workers is simply not a realistic option right now. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI SINGAPORE -  The conditions that migrant workers live under  are once more the subject of debate - following two recent lorry accidents that left two dead and more than 20 injured. Ahead of the next Parliament session on May 10, Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC MP Alex Yam has filed questions for the Ministry of Transport, asking if it will consider requiring employers to transport their workers in minibuses or buses with the compulsory use of seat belts. Advocacy groups are more unequivocal, saying the accidents have created a "sickening sense of deja vu". For them, ferrying workers in lorries that are meant for goods, not passengers, is no longer acceptable for a developed country like Singapore, no matter the cost to employers. A Cha...

Straits Times Forum: https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/forum/forum-not-good-enough-to-just-show-sympathy-each-time-theres-an-accident-involving PUBLISHED APR 27, 2021, 4:00 AM SGT FACEBOOK TWITTER I refer to the letters " Unsafe mode of transportation for migrant workers has continued for years " and " Take care of migrant workers as we do our own children " (April 23), and agree that Singapore needs to mandate safe transport solutions for foreign workers. Cost is often cited as a reason why lorries are used as a transportation mode, but some companies are able to provide buses for migrant workers. Why is it that they are able to do so and others are unable to? Is it because some companies, in trying to offer the lowest bid or to maximise profit, are willing to forgo basic safety? Keeping costs down should not stop Singapore from doing the right thing. The Government should take action. Back in 2010, owing to another accident that killed a few foreign workers, th...