Migrant workers seen locked in caged lorry compartment, netizens urge authorities to take action

SINGAPORE: Migrant workers were seen sitting in a locked, caged compartment at the back of a lorry in the Farrer Park area, raising renewed concerns about worker safety and transport practices in Singapore.

The lorry was spotted at the junction of Serangoon Road and Rangoon Road at around 9pm on 30 November.

Speaking to Mothership, 35-year-old resident Ram Prasath said he was on a bus when he witnessed the scene, which left him shocked.

At least five workers were seated in the rear compartment, with one man gripping the metal cage with his fingers. The lorry appears to belong to a Jurong-based timber flooring company, with a yellow sticker indicating that the vehicle is permitted to carry up to 13 people.

Ram also noticed what appeared to be a chain hook used to secure the compartment from the outside. It was unclear whether the workers had a key, though the narrow gaps would likely make it difficult for them to reach the lock even if they did.

He expressed concern that the locked cage could trap workers in an emergency, asking: “Is it legal to transport people in Singapore like this?”

According to a 2022 inter-agency advisory on the safe transportation of workers, employers must ensure “safe means of access and egress to and from the lorry deck”.

This suggests that a compartment that cannot be opened from the inside would be inadvisable for transporting workers.

Netizens Question Human Dignity and Call for Action

Under Mothership’s Facebook post, netizens voiced frustration and concern, with several questioning the treatment of the workers.

Some users stressed that workers are “human and not animals”, urging that they be accorded dignity.

Others called for the authorities to investigate and prevent similar incidents. One asked how the driver could be “so heartless to lock them in this manner”, adding that LTA enforcement should take action.

Several users noted that the transport of migrant workers on lorries has been a long-standing issue in Singapore.

One remarked that companies often cut costs while bosses profit significantly, leaving migrant workers to sit in the back of lorries. The user argued that nothing would change unless employers shift their mindset beyond focusing solely on cost.

Another commenter claimed that the Singapore government has long ignored the problem, despite repeated concerns raised over the years, and said there has been no substantive action from the authorities.

Long-Standing Safety Concerns

While transporting workers on lorries remains legal in Singapore, the practice has long faced public scrutiny due to recurring safety incidents.

Between 2020 and 2024, an average of 161 workers were injured each year while being transported on lorries.

In 2023, more than 50 community groups signed a joint statement criticising the practice, arguing that lorries were not designed to carry human passengers and expose workers to heat stress, heavy rain, and severe injuries during accidents.

The groups highlighted that between 2011 and 2020, 58 workers died and 4,765 were injured in lorry-related accidents.

They called for safer alternatives such as shared buses, minibuses, and goods-cum-passenger vehicles.

In 2025, the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (HOME) reiterated its call for a complete ban on transporting workers via lorries, arguing that the state has a responsibility to safeguard workers’ lives.

The group proposed subsidies and a clear transition timeline for companies to adopt safer transport options.

Government Says Ban “Not Feasible”

In February 2025, then-Senior Minister of State for Transport Amy Khor said in Parliament that banning lorry transport was “not feasible”, particularly for smaller companies.

She cited the shortage of bus drivers and the operational needs of micro, small, and medium-sized contractors, who often transport workers and equipment together.

“It is neither practical nor viable for employers to have different vehicles and drivers to transport a small number of workers separately from their equipment and goods,” she said.

Khor added that the government has been encouraging alternatives such as buses and has been working with industry associations to promote safer options.