Migrant worker says his salary hasn't gone up over 14 years in S'pore: 'They just give 10 cents, 20 cents, $1'
He was able to laugh about it.
A Bangladeshi migrant worker who has been in Singapore for 14 years was asked whether his salary goes up every year.
Mr Ripon Chowdhury, 35, shook his head and said: "Same."
He was speaking with Singapore-based Russian YouTuber Max Chernov in a video uploaded on Oct 17.
Mr Chowdhury elaborated: "Same meaning like they just give 10 cents, 20 cents, $1."
He laughed.
Surprised, Mr Chenov said: "What? Oh my god."
Mr Chowdhury continued: "In the marine sector... if you get $2, it's high."
The average monthly salary of a migrant worker is between $800 and $900, according to him.
He said he pays nearly $200 to live in a dormitory and spends $300 to $400 on food.
"If I cook myself, maybe it's near $200 to $250," said Mr Chowdhury.
After deducting other expenses such as for transportation and telecommunications, he has around $400 to $500 left, but if he gets overtime pay, he would have more.
Mr Chowdhury came to Singapore in 2010 to work as a quality controller in a shipyard and founded Migrant Workers Singapore, an advocacy group to showcase migrant workers' talents and share their culture, in 2017.
In the video, Mr Chowdhury said the best thing about Singapore is the food while the worst thing is too many "unnecessary" rules and regulations for migrant workers.
"Like I can't go out after midnight," he said. "I don't know why. Nobody gives the reason why."
He added: "The employer can send you back any time if they want to."
Mr Chowdhury also wished that dorm conditions were better.
"In most of the Singapore dormitories, 16 to 20 people stay in a room. It depends on room size," he said. "I mean, it's small and congested for 16 people staying together.
"And also, the dormitories very hot. If there's no rain, it's really hard to sleep."
Asked whether there is tension among the dorm mates, Mr Chowdhury said: "If 16 people are staying from different places, of course there is conflict...
"Some people like to stay in underwear. Some people don't like to see people in underwear."
But he added: "Nothing triggers me, luckily."
