‘You call migrant workers useless, but can you even do any of their jobs?’ — SG woman calls out ‘self-entitled’ man who scolded them for resting at HDB void deck

SINGAPORE: While most of us were still snuggled in bed, they, our migrant workers, were already up—climbing lamp posts, scrubbing the streets, and painting void decks, yet one man who saw them resting for a moment started scolding them and even called them useless.

And that certainly didn’t sit well with one Singaporean woman, who took to TikTok with a fiery reality check for the man who questioned via @singaporeinfluenceviral TikTok channel why migrant workers were resting at the HDB void deck with his video captioned: “Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council allowed contractor to sleep anyhow…”

@singaporeinfluenceviral

Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council allowed contractor to sleep anyhow plus contractor no proper place to sleep or isit no house to stay or isit homeless?

♬ original sound – Singapore Influence Viral News – Singapore Influence Viral News

The woman then responded: “To the man who posted that video… You call them useless, but can you do any of these jobs with the salary that they are getting?” she asked, pointing out that although their wages may seem low in Singapore, “many of them can afford land, farms and homes with what they earn here,” adding, “They are not poor. They are just working hard for a dream.”

@confessionsofagrabdriver

I showed my mom the video of this man scolding the workers. She said, if you don’t show your face, you should make a video! I told her “I am going to make a video.” She said: “ you better don’t ah, don’t be a smart Alec!” I’m sorry ma. 🙏🏽 I have been collecting these footages/images for the longest time. And the truth is that, I can’t keep my mouth shut about this because I hope more people can see, understand, have more empathy and remember how lucky we actually are. Screen grab: @stomp #phvdriver #sg #sg #migrantworkerssingapore

♬ original sound – COAGD – COAGD

“I just want to show you what I see on the road every day,” she further shared in her voiceover, speaking over a collection of videos she had “been collecting for the longest time.”

She said, “I see our migrant workers carrying a ladder from lamp post to lamp post to remove all GE posters at 1 a.m., directing traffic and removing the F1 tracks or fences at 12:45 a.m., putting up Christmas decorations, sweeping roofs, painting our void decks, disassembling bulky items that you threw out, climbing high up and painting our blocks,
keeping our plants and trees neat and tidy, washing our dishes, cleaning up our roads,
doing dangerous road maintenance on highways at 12 midnight, then being transported back to the dormitory in a lorry with so many others…”

And if that wasn’t enough, she delivered one final, gut-punching reality check: “These workers wake up at 4 or 5 a.m. and still work till midnight. They build our city while we sleep.”

Her even sharper jab came with this line: “We are just luckier because we won the birth lottery to be born in a country like Singapore.”

The TikTok video, uploaded by COAGD @confessionsofagrabdriver, has since gone viral with over 200,000 views, nearly 14,000 likes, and close to 2,000 comments, most of which echoed the same sentiment: Finally, someone said it!

The woman’s post sparked an outpouring of support. One commenter wrote, “Used to work in construction for 5 years… When you see them resting like this, it’s not lepak-ing (Malay language for loitering), it’s just pure exhaustion. They built the very roofs over our heads. Let them rest.”

Another, emotionally moved by the message, said, “Can’t hold my tears watching. We migrant workers sacrifice for our family… we chose Singapore to work because of the salary that we cannot get from our own country.”

Many other migrant workers also flooded the comments section with numerous “Thank you, sister… ❤️” expressions to show their heartfelt appreciation to her for speaking up. Some called her their voice, while others went as far as to describe her as their hero.

Her words resonated deeply with those who often feel unseen, unheard, and unappreciated, turning her TikTok into a moment of solidarity and recognition.

Some Singaporeans also expressed shame: “I’m a Singaporean who is ashamed of that self-entitled guy. There is no ‘class’ status here. Respect people like human beings.”

So, to the man who scolded the resting migrant workers, “you’re all no use,” HDB void decks aren’t just for weddings and funerals. Sometimes, they can also be a sanctuary for those who’ve been breaking their backs to keep our country running.

Let them rest, please.

Read related: ‘National Day is for everyone who helped build this place we call home’ — says Singaporean who bought food & drinks for migrant workers on Aug 9