Grappling with an ageing population and a low fertility rate, Singapore has stepped up efforts to improve conditions facing its many low-paid migrant workers, also known as work permit holders. Who else is going to do the construction work in the hot sun?" asked Ethan Guo, executive director from Transient Workers Count Too, a nonprofit working to improve conditions of migrant workers. "The Singapore way of life and economy completely depends on access to large numbers of work permit holders. To cope with this boom in demand, in July Singapore removed a limit on the number of years work permit holders can work in the city-state.

Source: Bangkok Post January 09, 2026 17:22 UTC