Publication Type

Report

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

11-2015

Abstract

Numbering nearly one million persons, low-waged, low-skilled migrant workers are a vital yet vulnerable part of Singapore’s economy and society. This study, undertaken several months before the Little India riots of December 2013, measures the psychological distress of 261 South Asian Work Permit holders, and 344 South Asian injury and salary claim workers. While most regular Work Permit holders are relatively happy and healthy, our study finds that 62 per cent of injury and salary claim workers meet the screening conditions for a Serious Mental Illness. We find that the three main drivers of psychological distress are (1) the housing problems of injury and salary claim workers, (2) threats of repatriation against both injured and regular workers, and (3) agent fee debt. We recommend a range of policy options to address these problems, including alternative housing for injury and salary claim workers; delinking Work Permit holders’ visas and employment contracts; and regulation of offshore migration agents.

Keywords

migrant workers, Singapore, foreign workers, unmet needs, housing, wages

Discipline

Asian Studies | Inequality and Stratification | Race and Ethnicity

Research Areas

Sociology

First Page

1

Last Page

51

Publisher

Lien Centre for Social Innovation

City or Country

Singapore

Copyright Owner and License

Authors

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