Accounting for Accidents: The Precarious Work of Bangladeshi Migrants in Singapore

• In Event: The Impact of Outsourcing and Contracting on Accident Prevention in Complex Sociotechnical Systems (1)

Abstract

Nearly one-third of the workforce in Singapore are foreigners who are not citizens. Most of these foreign workers are migrants from nearby countries who are low-wage transient workers employed in the construction, shipyard, manufacturing, and domestic sectors. Work in the construction industry is considered to be one of the most dangerous jobs, with the most workplaces deaths. It is estimated that over 100,000 Bangladeshi citizens are working in Singapore, predominantly in the shipyard and construction industries.

Using ethnographic methods and qualitative interviews, this paper focuses on the work injuries of Bangladeshi migrant workers in Singapore. If an accident happens on the job, workers can file for a work injury claim. When workers file a work injury claim with the government, they are issued a Special Pass that allows them to stay legally in Singapore while they are treated and wait for their medical claims to be processed, which can take anywhere from 3 months to more than 2 years. I argue that despite the regulation of workplace safety and injury compensation, the precarious nature of their work in the form of short-term contracts affects their willingness to report workplace accidents. I discuss what constitutes an injury and what counts as evidence to link injuries to work accidents, contributing to STS studies on translation, evaluation, and accountability.

Author

• Karen Marie McNamara, National University of Singapore (NUS)