Recently, it saddened me to read reports of migrant workers being hurt or dying in accidents involving the lorries they were on.

These workers are vital to our economy and especially to the construction, manufacturing and services sectors.

Some borrow heavily to secure a chance of working here, and dream of providing their families with a way out of poverty. 

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) could impose an extra safety levy of S$20 monthly for 24 months for each work pass issued, with the employer having to pay S$480 upfront.

This safety levy should be refundable when the work pass expires, if the migrant worker did not get injured while being taken to work assignments.

This way, employers will have a financial incentive to roll out basic safety measures, such as reminding their drivers to be cautious and not overcrowding the lorries. 

I hope that MOM would consider rolling out this suggestion as a form of gratitude to the migrant workers for their priceless sacrifices to our country.

Like many others, I do not wish to read another sad report of a mother having to bring home the body of her migrant worker son in a coffin after a tragic death here.

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