Letters | What Singapore can teach Hong Kong after dine-in ban debacle

On the first day of the Hong Kong government’s short-lived restaurant dine-in ban, our social media channels were flooded with photos of outdoor workers eating lunch in the streets, parks and toilets. At a press conference, a government official implied that workers could eat in country parks. This reflects a lack of empathy and of understanding of workers’ lives. With barely enough time to finish a meal, how is it realistic to travel to a country park for lunch?

Many street cleaners are used to having their meals in toilets or rubbish stations because eating in parks might be seen as skiving by their supervisors. Covid-19 is a time for us to refocus on the welfare of outdoor workers, to enhance their occupational safety and working conditions.

Singapore released a set of guidelines to improve rest spaces for low-wage workers last year. These rest spaces are to be furnished with chairs, tables and lockers for security guards and street cleaners to take a break in. Workers could also take their meals in these areas when lockdown measures are imposed. Singapore’s Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad said: “Given the maturity of our economy and society, we can do more for the well-being of our outsourced workers”.

With many Hong Kong outdoor workers still facing exploitation and discrimination, the government must develop ‘human-centric’ policies – review outsourcing policies and address the need for proper rest spaces for workers to ensure their safety and dignity.

Apart from outdoor workers, another issue is ‘McRefugees’, the homeless who seek refuge at night in 24-hour McDonald’s branches who have now been forced onto the streets. This time, the government responded relatively quickly, announcing the opening of 19 temporary night shelters for people in need.