ACADEMIA Letters
Migrant workers in Singapore: Experiences in times of
Covid-19
Diotima Chattoraj, National University of Singapore
Introduction
This paper seeks to raise pertinent questions which help develop a deeper understanding of
migrants’ livelihoods in Singapore in times of Covid-19. To do this, I use data from narrative
interviews with Migrant Workers (MWs) who have been staying in Singapore for around 5-10
years. Based on an analysis of the empirical data, I seek to unravel the varied ways Covid-19
is impacting the lives of the workers. This also highlights the experiences of shared common-
alities that the MWs have in Singapore in times of crisis. Focus is mostly on the low-skilled
MWs from Bangladesh, who are prone to be afected in various ways by Covid-19.
Data show that sharing the common fate, mutuality and purpose demonstrates common-
ality. Cultural, social, and religious ties interconnected the workers of the dormitories. They
shared their daily struggles and joys, shared similar occupations like construction, cleaning,
and masonry, and stayed alive hoping to return to their families in Bangladesh at the end of
the pandemic. These narratives highlight the challenges they faced since the start of Covid-
19, living through the challenges of uncertainty and pain at the dormitories in Singapore,
explaining that commonality is individually perceived and embodied as well as collectively
negotiated and performed.
Despite living a painful life, they are happy to stay in Singapore during this crisis because
of the ways the Government has taken care of them, which, to them, is unimaginable. As
compared to their experience in Bangladesh, Singapore is considered highly preferable due
to its political stability, sound economic management, and democratic governance. The trust
Academia Letters, July 2021
Corresponding Author: Diotima Chattoraj, diotima.chattoraj@gmail.com
Citation: Chattoraj, D. (2021). Migrant workers in Singapore: Experiences in times of Covid-19. Academia
Letters, Article 2431. https://doi.org/10.20935/AL2431.
1
©2021 by the author — Open Access — Distributed under CC BY 4.0