Migrant rights group seeks transport subsidy for workers

A rights group for migrant workers is urging the government to provide a transport subsidy to reduce the use of lorries for transporting workers. The Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics (HOME) made this call after talking to 34 migrant workers and other experts for a new report. HOME suggests that decommissioned public buses could be used for this purpose. Current public buses have a lifespan of 17 years, while private buses can last 20 years. HOME also recommends that the government collaborate with companies to create dedicated bus services and encourage firms to train their own drivers. The organization emphasized the need for stricter road safety measures. This includes enforcing limits on drivers' working hours and requiring speed limiters in larger lorries. As of 2024, only about 50 out of 17,000 eligible lorries had these speed limiters installed. The Minister of Home Affairs, K Shanmugam, has expressed concern about this issue. Another of HOME's suggestions is to provide subsidized public transport passes for migrant workers. Many workers start and finish their days at different times than local commuters, so the impact on public transport usage may not be significant. Additionally, HOME argues that better planning for migrant worker housing could help reduce transport costs. The group advocates for placing accommodation closer to work sites, allowing workers to travel shorter distances each day. Last month, a government official, Amy Khor, stated that banning lorry transport for migrant workers is not a practical solution for many small businesses. She highlighted the ongoing shortage of bus drivers and the operational challenges related to transporting workers and their equipment efficiently. The government is working to place worker dormitories closer to job sites and exploring alternatives to lorry transport.