Migrant workers: Day out is a boost to mental health

WhatsAppWhatsAppFacebookFacebookTwitterTwitterPinterestPinterestRedditRedditGmailGmailShareShare

SingaporeSingapore Singapore – Migrant workers flocked to well-known spots in droves as restrictions limiting their movement were largely eased on Sunday. They claimed that the day out with friends had improved their mental health.

Many people nonetheless chose to register for a Popular Places Pass to attend some of their favourite spots even though they were free to visit community areas as of last Friday. The pass is only valid for dorm residents. On Sundays and public holidays, it is intended to reduce foot traffic in Little India, Jurong East, Chinatown, and Geylang Serai.

Mr. Min Manak, 46, a resident of Bangladesh, was waiting for his buddies from other dormitories to arrive at a bus stop on Haig Road in Geylang. He was the first to arrive after taking an East-West Line train from his South Tuas dorm.

“Me and my friends are going to stroll along Geylang Serai. Three years have passed since I last visited,” he added.

We’ll go have quick food afterwards, perhaps at KFC or McDonald’s. We are tired of eating rice every day, therefore we want something different. After that, I’ll go back to my dormitory. The previous time, we had a choice of going to work or staying in the dorm. Now we may stroll around and unwind. Our bodies and minds would benefit from it, he added.

On Sunday, he intends to travel to Little India to attend Angullia Mosque.

He used to do it frequently during his 15 years here, but he was unable to do so due to Covid-19 limitations that were imposed on both migrant workers and the general public.

Mr. Shyam Chandran, 29, was at Jurong East taking shots with his camera.

Mr. Shyam, a Bangladeshi photographer, used a zoom lens to capture images of his companion as he was sitting outside Westgate Mall. “The last time, all I experienced in my life was the dorm, construction, dorm, construction, and dorm. I was incredibly down. I was unable to go outside or visit my pal,” he said.

For these workers, the removal of restrictions meant they could resume their regular activities as well as reestablish their connection to their homes. Groups of office workers may be seen walking through Little India, catching up with friends and window shopping.

Related Posts

Ashok Kumar, a construction worker, had not ventured outside his dorm for entertainment in three months. The 37-year-old Indian native claimed that being able to move around Singapore without restriction “feels better,” and that Sunday’s outing gave him a chance to catch up with his pals and “swap stories.”

Little India was the next-best option for a taste of home because some dorms don’t have kitchens.

Workers were primarily in Chinatown to perform errands.

Chinese grocery stores nearby were humming with activity as employees bought regional snacks and meals to bring back to their dorms. Workers lined up at remittance businesses in the People’s Park Complex to send their hard-earned money home.

A factory worker who only went by Mr. Ren claimed that he rarely went to Chinatown since it was too far from his dormitory in Taman Jurong. He just travels to send money home, and that is the only reason for each visit. He hasn’t visited his house since 2017.

The Popular Places Pass was unknown to the 50-year-old, but Mr. Ren claimed he believed it was unneeded.

“I haven’t recently requested a pass to leave the house. I believed that the police would accept our work licenses as sufficient identification. What’s the point if we don’t know about the pass? They are now pretty bothersome to me,” he said.

Prior to now, the Ministry of Manpower had declared that it will carry out arbitrary inspections at the four sites and engage with migrant workers to clarify the process for requesting a Popular Places Pass.

About WR News Writer

WR News Writer is an engineer turned professionally trained writer who has a strong voice in her writing. She speaks on issues of migrant workers, human rights, and more.

WR News Writer

WR News Writer is an engineer turned professionally trained writer who has a strong voice in her writing. She speaks on issues of migrant workers, human rights, and more.

Recent Posts

The New Career Currency: Why Top Talent Now Demands Both Big Salaries AND Work-Life Balance

The labor market in India is modernizing the expectations for any employment where paychecks were a major consideration, workers now…

June 10, 2025

ITR Filing 2025: Is Landlord’s PAN Mandatory to Claim HRA?

For Assessment Year 2025-26, the Income Tax Department has broadened its disclosure requirements for salaried taxpayers who are claiming House…

June 10, 2025

The New York Fashion Workers Act: Key Impacts for Model Management and Fashion Companies – Details Inside

New York Fashion Workers Act (NYS Labor Law, Article 36) will come into effect June 19, 2025. This legislation makes…

June 10, 2025

Trump Deploys Additional 2,000 National Guard members to Los Angeles, Officials Confirm

President Donald Trump has approved the dispatch of an additional 2,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines to Los Angeles,…

June 10, 2025

Tier-2 Cities Take the Lead: Randstad 2025 Report Reveals India’s Job Market Shift

India's job market is going through a significant transformation with tier-2 cities emerging as massive employment centres. According to the…

June 9, 2025

Japan’s Ruling Party Targets 1000 Trillion yen nominal GDP by 2040, Higher Incomes by 50%

Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba revealed a bold new economic strategy, directing the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to present…

June 9, 2025