China worker, 49, wins S$28,888 cash in S'pore company's Squid Game-inspired challenge

For 49-year-old Yin Yan An, winning S$28,888 during a company event was like hitting a jackpot.

The Singapore migrant worker from Shandong, China, won the prize money during the games section of Pollisum Group's annual dinner and dance event on Oct. 26.

The event featured a "Survive and Win" competition inspired by season two of "Squid Game" and YouTuber MrBeast's survival challenges, held at Woodlands Recreation Centre.

"Did not expect to win"

Yin beat 309 other employees in a series of elimination challenges, such as the "Merry-Go-Round" and "Hot Potato" games, according to a press release by the company.

Participants also took part in a tug-of-war and "building blocks" challenges.

The S$28,888 prize is equivalent to nearly nine months of Yin's salary, and around three years of household expenses in China.

"I'm still supercharged with adrenaline! Even now, my heart is racing," he said, adding that he did not expect to win.

He added: "To me, it means that when you put in effort, you'll always have a chance to be rewarded. Nothing comes easy, but if you give your best and don't give up, good things will come your way, just like how I won this prize!"

Started work in Singapore to repay debt

Yin first arrived in Singapore in 2013 to repay a debt he took to buy his younger brother a marital home.

Before coming to Singapore, he spent around 10 years working as a welder and later drove taxis in China.

He joined Pollisum in 2019 as a lorry crane driver, left during the Covid-19 pandemic, and returned to the company in 2023 once travel restrictions were lifted.

The Singapore-based Pollisum Group is a crane company, which also dabbles in transport leasing, marine, fabrication, and logistics.

Plans to support family with prize money

Yin said he plans to send the full amount to his family in China to support his wife, who recently resigned from her job as a cook.

He added that he will set aside savings for his son, who has just graduated from university and is preparing for the civil service entrance exams in China.

Pollisum organised the event to acknowledge employees' contributions.

The company distributed more than S$120,000 in total, including lucky draw prizes, mini-games, appreciation awards and S$188 red packets for all employees.

"I feel proud to tell my family that working in Pollisum is really good. It's a company that looks after its people," Yin said.

Top photos by Pollisum Group