By Nellie & Sudhan
Singapore has many sewage cleaners, however, are Singaporeans aware of the difficulties that they face, due to our negligence, just to keep our country clean?
"We want money. You want me to jump also, my people will jump(into the sewage system)", said Selvam, who works at a waste management company, when asked about the extent that they will go to for their job. Selvam is a wastage cleaner who specialises in cleaning sewage pipes, removal of kitchen wastes and drain cleansing.
According to Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM)'s official website, there are an estimated 1.3 million foreign workers and three hundred and fifty-three waste management companies in Singapore. Most of the people who work at the waste management companies are foreign workers. As they are in need of money, they are not reluctant to take up a job that involves working under dirty circumstances and situations. To add on, jobs like these are available and accepting of foreigners as the majority of Singaporeans would prefer not to work under these conditions. Because of that, they clean Singaporean's waste from our houses, shopping malls, food centres and even sewage canals.
Where Do Our Waste Travel To?
Singapore is filled with restaurants and hawker centres and the waste pipes in all of these common places that we go to have to be cleaned regularly. The oil that is used for cooking is usually disposed of through the sinks and pipes. This oil is then filtered through the 'floor traps' and afterwards the 'grease taps' which finally leads down to the Public Utilities Board (PUB) sewage system. These traps and pipes which are only about four inches wide need to be flushed, vacuumed and serviced by the wastage cleaners every three months for all the food centres in Singapore.
All the households in Singapore are linked to the Public Utilities Board (PUB) sewerage plant through the deep water sewerage system. Every household consists of two major pipes. The first pipe allows the water to flow to each household and on the other hand, the second pipe removes the waste produced from every household. These pipes are eventually joined at the first floor of HDB buildings as well as Basement 1 of Condominiums. The dirty water then travels through the pipes that are underground which thereafter leads to the PUB sewerage plant.
Most condominiums have an ejector pump room which filters huge wastes and dirt. Every month, the ejector pumps which are situated in the designated ejector pump rooms have to be cleaned. This calls for the workers from the waste management department to come down to whichever location to clean these pumps. These cleaners will vacuum all the rubbish, toilet paper or other waste that gets stuck in the pumps. Sometimes, the household wastage pipes get trapped with dirt which causes the water to overflow. This not only affects a particular household but also the ones above. When a situation like this happens, wastage cleaners are informed of the case and are tasked to clear the pipes within an hour or less.
Major sewage canals, that are linked to these household pipes, are regularly cleaned to remain free-flowing and prevent any debris from accumulating. Other than household, the used water from places such as shopping malls and food centres are collected through a network of underground sewers. These underground sewers are linked to a water reclamation plant to ensure that the waterways are free of pollution.
Selvam and Harjit are foreign workers from India who have been working in Singapore as wastage cleaners for more than ten years. As we sat down with them, they described their job scopes as wastage cleaners and how they get through their struggles.
With more than ten years of experience working in Singapore, not only have they been groomed to be skilled in their job, they have also come to understand that Singaporeans rely on these foreigners to labour in jobs that seem to be “dirty”. They are willing to go to any extent, even jumping into the sewage water, because of their need for money. Adding on, Singaporeans become more oblivious to those who are willing to be on the ground who would help clean up their waste to keep a country, that is not even their home, clean.
Life Before Working As Sewage Cleaners
Selvam, 35, has been working in SM Waste Management for two years whilst Harjit, 30, has worked in this company for ten years. When asked about their family, Selvam’s eyes sparked and he had a wide smile while mentioning he has a family of his own - his two year old daughter and wife. Selvam, who hails from a fishing village and family, experienced the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, had to abruptly put a stop to his work as a fisherman. He was not able to study any further than Standard two (equivalent to JC Year two in Singapore) because of his family's poverty state. Due to that, he had to work in an foreign country to feed his family, clear off his debts and reach a financially stable position.
Selvam had worked in other countries but it was only after many persuasions from his brother that he was certain on residing in Singapore instead, with the sole purpose of finding a job. Since his brother has lived here years before Selvam decided to make his way to Singapore, it was not too difficult for him to get comfortable in a new environment. Besides that, knowing he was not going to be alone in a city that was brand new to him, this also encouraged him further to get a job here. When asked about his motivation to work in a job that is not favourable by many, he explained that his sole drive is his two year old daughter. He added on by stating that he is willing to be separated from his family so that he could save up for his daughter’s studies and to also give her a better life.
Whereas for Harjit, who is from Punjab, he was determined to continue his education after Standard two (equivalent to JC Year two in Singapore). However, his family could not provide sufficient funds for him to further pursue his studies. Deeply disheartened, he continued by explaining, instead of continuing his education, he had no other choice but to consider his next possible option which was to find a job in Singapore. Before coming to Singapore, he got married to his childhood friend and started working here. But unfortunately his marriage did not go well as he expected.
Difficulties On The Job
Being in the same team, Selvam and Harjit complemented each other on how they are both hard workers who will toil until the job is done. Whilst they are tasked to work in ground floors of many places, they have to also withstand the atrocious dirty smell which comes along with cleaning the sewage pipes. Despite the foul smell, they still gave an expression of content to be able to have a job with good income as compared to the salary they would receive in their hometown. Both also added on about being glad to be the ones helping Singaporeans live in a clean environment.
After explaining about the pungent smell emitting from the ground floors and sewage pipes, Selvam mentioned more on the difficulties he faced regularly while on the job, “sometimes my body, sometimes my eyes, sometimes my mouth also touch already (by the) toilet water and grease water which is more dirty”. Even though his job requires him to be surrounded by filth, he never once made a gesture or uttered a word of disgust.
When working in a job like this, coming into contact with polluted water is rather common. However, these foreign workers are still determined to work and clean the dirt produced by Singaporeans without hesitation. It was quite appalling to hear them speak without complaining about cleaning waste for a country that is not even their home. Furthermore, Selvam and Harjit showed so much passion as they were explaining in detail of their daily struggles on the job. To add on, they also mentioned despite the hassle of this job, they still showed respect for their work and appreciation for their employer as they explained that he is assisting them with supporting their family.
As for working hours, Selvam and Harjit stated that they would get a day off every week. Despite that, a team of wastage cleaners has to still be on standby during that specific off day. This is required so that if in any case, a cleaning emergency were to crop up, they would have to rush down and resolve it. On their working days, they may also receive calls after working hours. Be it right after their shift ends or in the wee-hours of the morning, they would have to attend the case to ensure the sewage waste is cleaned or unclogged. Although they are paid for the work, it is no doubt troublesome for any individual to have distruptions in the middle of their sleep but still, Selvam and Harjit never made a fuss about it.
Despite working so hard for Singapore, these foreign workers are still invisible to Singaporeans. Moreover, many of us often turn a blind eye towards them. Wastage cleaners are serving us throughout the day but we fail to acknowledge them and the difficulties they go through for us. So are we giving them our utmost respect and recognition that they truly deserve?
Photos:
Vacuum pipes and sewage waste pipes placed at the basement floor which links to the high jet pump room. (PC: Nellie d’Silva)
High jet pumps found in a barricaded cage situated in the middle of a condominium car park.(PC: Nellie d’Silva)
Internal view of sewage drain which will eventually lead to the sewage canal and PUB plant. (PC: Govindh Sudhan)
Back Alley of a food court where the sewage cleaners do their regular checking of pipes and grease traps. (PC: Govindh Sudhan)
From the left: Harjit, 30, and Selvam, 35, who have been working in Singapore for more than ten years. (PC: Govindh Sudhan)
References:
Foreign workforce numbers. (2020, April 29). Ministry of Manpower Singapore. https://www.mom.gov.sg/documents-and-publications/foreign-workforce-numbers
PUB. (n.d.). PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency. PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency. https://www.pub.gov.sg/watersupply/fournationaltaps/localcatchmentwater
PUB. (n.d.). PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency. PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency. https://www.pub.gov.sg/drainage/network/draincleansingmaintenance
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