Treat manual workers with kindness

My private residential estate is undergoing an estate upgrading programme and I have the opportunity to observe first-hand the contributions of the foreign labourers who build our infrastructure and improve our living conditions.

I am particularly impressed that the workers, mainly foreigners, work diligently, rain or shine, building drains and roads, and, by their special efforts in alleviating inconvenience to the residents, ensure that our daily commute will not be much affected.

To show my appreciation, I have offered them cold drinks on some particularly hot days.

However, I have noticed that when it rains heavily, the workers, are left drenched as there are no nearby shelters or buildings in our estate for such a purpose.

During a particularly heavy storm, I invited them to take shelter in my garden porch.

When the rain lightened, they left to continue their work.

But I was appalled when I overheard someone, whom I assume is their supervisor, reprimanding those who had sought shelter from the rain. He lambasted them and said work had to continue in the rain.

Is it not the employer's duty to equip workers working outdoors with raincoats, at the very least?

Clara Ng (Ms)

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