Mutual trust and understanding on both sides needed

This letter was published in TODAY on 6 September 2008.

The fears that the Serangoon Gardens residents have towards the potential presence of foreign workers in their midst is an understandable one. However, is isolation rather than integration the answer to the problem?

Whether they are construction workers, shipyard workers or HDB estate cleaners, many Singaporeans acknowledge the value and contributions foreign workers make to our society.

But, our appreciation of their economic contribution is not matched by our attitudes towards them: socially, they are viewed as a liability and a potential threat to our community.

Crime, anti-social behaviour and the de-valuation of property are some of the reasons cited for keeping them at arm’s length, but as Singaporeans, we need to ask ourselves the extent to which these reasons are justifiable, and why we so readily associate foreign workers with social instability.

Could our fears towards the possible problems that they might cause be disproportionate to their numbers in our community? It would not be fair to blame an entire community of workers for the actions of a few troublesome ones.

As a nation of immigrants, we have also had periods of tension and strife among the different communities and ethnic groups. But we have been able to achieve harmony and respect for each other’s differences thus far. We should be able to do the same for foreign workers.

Mutual understanding, trust and respect can only be achieved if we take active steps to communicate and engage with one another. Will “ghetto-ising” foreign workers to the fringes achieve this?