Current Issue Back Issues Occasional Papers Publications Webtheque Events About Us Archives Rethinking Screen Encounters: Cinema and Tamil Migrant Workers in Singapore Vijay Devadas Introduction Over a five month period — August to December 2010 — I conducted field research in Singapore where I interviewed 40 South Asian migrant workers engaged in both skilled and unskilled work, three senior executives from the construction industry (a major sector that employs unskilled foreign workers), an executive from the Singapore Construction Workers Association (SCAL), an organisation responsible for ensuring that industry best practices are observed, and 20 Singapore citizens of various ethnic descent. [1] The conversations traversed diverse issues and concerns including work conditions, personal afflictions, life in Singapore, institutional practices with regards to work and welfare, migrancy, racism, Singapore national culture and, most significantly Rethinking Screen Encounters: Cinema and Tamil Migrant W... http://www.screeningthepast.com/2011/11/rethinking-screen-... 1 of 18 24/02/12 10:52 AM