Guai Lo

I was bored.. waiting, outside the necessary stage. So I decided to pen my thoughts down, something which i had wanted to share for awhile. The foreign workers issue had bother me quite a bit. This is what I feel:

We have to go back to the definition of foreign workers and in this case, it is referred to skilled factory and construction workers and also unskilled ones who work as cleaners. These people lack the necessary paper qualifications to be grouped as a professional or rather a foreign expat. (just to note that many Indian and Burmese foreign workers actually have degrees but is not recognise here, thus, they have to accept lower-paid jobs). Majority of singpore's foreign workers legion comes from India, China and Southeast Asia, collectively classified as developing countries. Forced by circumstances such as lack of social welfare and job opportunities, they leave their countries in search of a better life. Now here's the twist. What if, on top of these workers, there are also foreign workers from those Western developed countries setting foot on our shores? I am not referring to expats but those "working class" blokes and dudes, who worked their lives in coal mines, construction sites and factories. These people are those who share the same culture and habits as the expats except that maybe they eat cheaper bread and younger wines. And now, the government decide to build them a dormitory in Serangoon Gardens, how do you think the residents will react? Will there even be a debate if that happens? Unlikely. Lets be real, the whole issue ain't about whether the workers are foreign or not but rather, the country where these workers come from. Sadly, our society is still plagued by stereotypes and prejudice.