What’s the most common response we hear in Singapore when we ask our friends how they are? Been really busy. So exhausted. Burnt out. Fell sick again. Work’s been stressful.
We try so hard to keep up - we make to-do lists, work through lunch, stay up later, wake up earlier, take on one more side hustle to keep up with rising costs. But we can’t keep up, can we? We fall behind on chores, we snap at our loved ones, stop doing the things we enjoy, and spend money on cabs we can’t afford because we just. don’t. have. time. We desperately need a break, but there are no safety nets to protect those who can’t go out to work. We get sicker, poorer and lonelier, while our sweat, blood and tears make our bosses richer and more powerful.
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We work some of the longest hours in the world, and are one of the most sleep-deprived countries globally. Our bosses expect us to reply to work texts late at night, to cover extra shifts because they’re “under-staffed”, and to work from home even when we are sick. Meanwhile, our wages don’t go up, we pay through our noses for housing and healthcare, and more of us are realising that no matter how hard we work, we can never afford to retire.
From doctors to domestic workers, from students to stay-at-home caregivers, most of us are pushing ourselves to survive in a culture that asks too much of us and makes us feel like we can never be good enough. Some of us turn to gig work to take back some flexibility and freedom, but with falling wages, we are back at square one - forced to take on more jobs, more risks, more stress. And at what cost? Overwork damages our bodies, our minds, our relationships, and steals our lives from us. We are squeezed harder and harder, and many of us are choking.
We have been struggling to survive in this system, but together, we can struggle to change it. On 1st May, gather with us at Hong Lim Park for Labour Day 2024 to roar - we want our lives back. Come and hear how workers, parents and students in Singapore are fighting for their safety, their health, their families and their futures, and join in the fight. Learn about the victories that ordinary people in Singapore’s history have won for all of us, when they dared to come together and fight back.
Featured booths:
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Financial Aid Friends
NTU Financial Aid Friends (FNAF) is a group of students campaigning to improve NTU’s financial aid system and broaden access to everyone’s right to public education. They recently won their key demands for better financial aid after a 1-year long campaign.
FNAF believes that student movements are inseparable from the labour movement. In Singapore’s history, students have been a vital part of many struggles which fought for our independence and rights. As future workers, students are a key force for change in labour movements around the world.
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Function 8
Function 8 is an initiative by a group of citizens who believe that there is a need to facilitate the sharing of social, political and economic experiences through reflection and civic discussion.
Many members of F8 underwent detention without trial under the Internal Security Act as part of the burgeoning labour and social movements of the ‘70s and ’80s. They have fought for and believe deeply in the importance of an independent, grassroots labour movement in Singapore.
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Sick and Tired
Sick of how patients are treated. Tired of the working conditions.
Sick and Tired is a collective of healthcare workers who believe that the healthcare system can and should be one that treats both patients and workers with dignity.
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Singapore Bus Drivers
SG Bus Drivers (SGBD) is a community of bus drivers in Singapore who help one another regardless of race, gender, or nationality. They are most well-known for taking SBS Transit to court over rest days and overtime issues. Although SBS terminated all 13 drivers who were involved in the lawsuit, the contracts for all remaining SBS bus drivers improved significantly. It is estimated that every bus driver now earns between $300 to $500 more per month. SGBD also provides case work assistance for bus drivers and low-wage workers from various sectors. They have helped at least 20 workers win salary and work injury related claims.
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Singapore Riders
SG Riders is a growing network of food delivery riders advocating for their rights to a safe working environment. For Riders, by Riders.
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Singapore Climate Rally
SG Climate Rally (SGCR) is a youth-led climate justice collective which stands for collective action, systemic change, and justice, with an understanding that individual action alone is insufficient to tackle our climate emergency.
They seek to uplift communities, build people power, and work with those in power to achieve fair, ambitious, and socially just climate policy. Workers bear the brunt of the effects of climate change, hence we advocate for the rights of the working class to spearhead the way to a just transition.
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Transformative Justice Collective
Transformative Justice Collective was founded on the principles of transformative justice. It is committed to seeking the reform of Singapore’s criminal punishment system, starting with the abolition of the death penalty.
Transformative justice is crucial to the labour movement because our carceral punishment system is weaponised against the poor and the working class to maintain deep inequalities within our society.
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We Support Us
We Support Us is a community network formed by people living in Singapore's public and private rental flats, who aspire to achieve their goals and dreams together. The network provides a platform for mutual support, protecting one another, sharing experiences and gaining inspiration. It also advocates for better community support and social safety nets for all. Until we have strong and stable safety nets, we have to form our own safety net through supporting one another.
In her career, she has worked at a public hospital and various welfare homes. It was during the pandemic that she made the switch to be a locum nurse.
She is also a member of Sick & Tired, a network of healthcare workers who believe in a healthcare system that treats both workers and patients with dignity.
During Covid-19, he started doing food delivery for Foodpanda, later joining Deliveroo. Andy is an active member of SG Riders, a network of food delivery riders advocating for safer work conditions. His article ‘The Headache of Parking in Condos. 3 Main issues & 1 Simple Solution’ went viral online, gaining thousands of riders’ and customers’ support.
Recently, his workplace abruptly closed down without giving him and his colleagues any notice or pay. Kyle and his colleagues are in the process of claiming what they are all owed by the company. In his free time, Kyle makes music and writes about issues concerning the working class.
She has a passion for equity and raising her voice for a better future for all.
You can also pre-order our Labour Day shirt and collect it from the Workers Make Possible booth on May 1st. The preorder form is not ready yet, please check back soon.
- All ushers will be wearing a pin with the words 'LD 24 USHER'. Please approach any usher if you require assistance.
- Sign language interpretation will be provided by Equal Dreams SG. If you need to stand closer to the stage to be able to see the sign language interpreter, please approach an usher for assistance
- We recommend that wheelchair users entering via the car park next to Kreta Ayer Police Post use the paved areas to access the booths, which are double-facing towards both the pavement and the park.
- A childcare space is available with toys and activities, as well as 2 volunteers who are assigned to childminding for the duration of the rally. The childcare booth is easily visible from the booths and the audience space.
- Reserved seating will be provided for the following groups of people: Blind, low vision, deaf, hard of hearing, elderly & physically disabled people.
- Everyone is highly encouraged to mask up for our collective safety. Many immunocompromised people need our collective support to access this event without risking their health.
- An umbrella/poncho in case of wet weather,
- Caps, fans, hats,
- Lots of water to hydrate!
- Mask up if you/those you attend with are immunocompromised,
- Picnic mat, snacks, drinks... make a day of it!
- Corrugated board, signboard, cardboard
- Markers, color pens, tape
- There will be photos, videos, and livestreaming of the event. If you would like to be discreet about your attendance, consider wearing a mask, hat, sunglasses, scarf or other creative attire
- There will be a First Aid Booth. If you need medical attention, let our volunteers know and they will guide you there.
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