Bangladeshi workers reveal village life back home & why so many choose to work in S'pore

And why they get a culture shock in Singapore.

Mandy How | December 15, 2018, 03:01 PM

Their lives are worlds apart.

But when Ethan Guo, a member of a Singapore non-profit organisation TWC2 (Transient Workers Count Too) accompanied Mamun back to his village in Bangladesh, he learnt not only of the differences between their countries, but also why so many young Bangladeshi men aspire to work in Singapore despite the mounting difficulties.

Photo via TWC2/Facebook

Photo via TWC2/Facebook

Often beaten with a big stick

Mamun had to return to Bangladesh after suffering a serious workplace injury.

This was after he took great pains to be employed in Singapore, including borrowing large sums of money for related fees.

On the drive home, Guo and Mamun passed by the training centre the worker had spent many weeks in, learning the skills he needed in order to work in Singapore.

The Bangladeshi recalls that he was often beaten with a big stick.

But he did not dare to complain, as he was afraid that it might affect his grades in the centre.

Hard to understand Singapore

In Mamun's village, life does not proceed at the frenetic pace as it does in Singapore.

Photo via TWC2/Facebook

The streets of Bangladesh is described as "peaceful and idyllic", roused to noise and action only when the chickens and ducks scramble out from their opened coops.

Farmers work in the fields for a good part of the day, tending to their rice and vegetables.

Photo via TWC2/Facebook

For entertainment, a tea stall is where the villagers gather to chat and gossip.

The houses in the village -- mostly spartan brick buildings with zinc roofs -- have no proper addresses.

Photo via TWC2/Facebook

Photo via TWC2/Facebook

When asked how the postmen deliver mail, Mamun explains that the tight-knit community just asks around.

Outside the city, most of the roads are just dirt, but new bridges and flyovers are being built.

Despite the austerity, Guo received warm hospitality from his hosts:

Photo via TWC2/Facebook

Photo via TWC2/Facebook

With these stark differences, Guo gains a deeper understanding of the migrant workers:

"It is no wonder that migrant workers often find it hard to understand the formal structures and systems in a modern metropolis like Singapore. It is simply not what they are used to at home."

"Singapore has good laws and won't cheat us"

After Guo departed from Mamun's village, he went to the capital city of Dhaka, where he met more aspiring workers in a training centre.

Photo via TWC2/Facebook

Photo via TWC2/Facebook

The men, mostly in their 20s, want to work in Singapore, because “Singapore has good laws and won’t cheat us”.

They had heard good stories from those who came back from Singapore.

On the flight home, Guo met a Bangladeshi on his way to Singapore for the first time.

The young man could hardly speak English.

Photo via TWC2/Facebook

Passing him a card, Guo told the worker, "Any problems, call me."

Original post:

Top image from TWC2/Facebook