More than 20 business groups wrote to the government in a joint statement on Aug. 1, urging for “careful consideration” when looking at possible regulatory changes to transporting workers on lorries.

The letter, addressed and sent to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Acting Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat, and Senior Minister of State for Transport Amy Khor, was issued on behalf of 11 associations and companies, including the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, and 13 other groups under the Specialist Trade Alliance of Singapore.

The statement cited “real, practical and operational complexities” involved in any changes to existing regulations.

This came after advocates made the call to improve safety standards following accidents involving lorries on July 18 and 19 that left 37 people hurt.

What business groups said

The business groups said addressing the issue requires “responsible and thoughtful engagement with various stakeholders” for the majority of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

"Regulatory changes have the potential to acutely affect industries that have historically relied on this practice, leading to potential delays in completing projects and risking the livelihoods of workers who depend on these industries for their employment,” they said.

They added that changes such as implementing a ban on the practice was of great concern to them, and added that many large companies have stopped using lorries to ferry workers.

Financial concerns and “real, practical and operational complexities” could emerge from regulatory changes.

They attributed the use of lorries to “geographic constraints, limited infrastructure, and economic realities that certain regions and industries face”.

Any changes will also have society-wide implications and people here must “accept a change in the social compact” as workers utilise safer modes of transport.

“As workers adopt other modes of transport more readily as their mode of commute, including public transport, there could be potential challenges, such as increased traffic and commuter congestion and delays in the current infrastructure that Singapore citizens use for their commute,” they said.

The groups said they remained committed to finding effective solutions.

Two statements have been issued urging safer transport for workers.

The first statement saw more than 40 organisations and individuals including migrant worker welfare groups and former Nominated MPs, asked the government for a timeline to ban the use of lorries for ferrying workers.

Two days later, a second statement was issued on behalf of 53 co-signatories comprising community organisations and civic groups.

It called on the government to immediately ban the ferrying of migrant workers in lorries.

Top photos via Complaint Singapore and ItsRainingRaincoats