<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Sep 7, 2008
THAI
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>'People here are good to us'
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Mr Somkhit Krasae, 46, is a site supervisor and has been working in Singapore for the past nine years. On his days off, he studies electrical technology at the ITE in Simei. He hopes to eventually take up a course at a polytechnic here. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIM
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->Where from: The majority are from Udon Thani and Nong Khai in north-eastern Thailand, and Korat in central Thailand.
Likely to see them: At construction sites and Golden Mile Complex.
Living in: Dormitories in Jurong, Tuas and Kaki Bukit, and makeshift dormitories at construction sites.
Mr Somkhit Krasae, 46, a site supervisor with construction company Scan-Bilt, has been working in Singapore for the past nine years.
His wife, a 41-year-old seamstress, and two sons, aged 19 and 12, live in the city of Udon Thani.
Before he came here, he worked in Taiwan for three years as a foreman. He came to Singapore after hearing it was safe and clean. His agent's fee was $5,000, which he settled after a year.
He lives in a dormitory in Jurong West and earns between $2,500 and $2,800 a month, including overtime. Each month, he remits home $2,000. He calls his sons every night to help them with their homework.
During his days off, he studies electrical technology at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) in Simei. He hopes to do well enough to take up a safety officer course at a polytechnic. He spoke in English.
How do Singaporeans tend to see you?
Singaporeans are good to foreigners like me even though we are poor and not well-educated. But I must say Singaporeans are less friendly than the Taiwanese. They are always in a hurry and look busy all the time.
How do you feel about this?
It doesn't bother me. I realise that when I get to know Singaporeans better, they can be very kind.
Singaporeans think foreign workers have bad habits. How true is this?
Unfortunately, it is true that some foreign workers drink and make a nuisance of themselves at void decks. This saddens me. Their behaviour will affect the way Singaporeans look at foreign workers.
Where should foreign workers live if Singaporeans don't want workers to live near them?
The Singapore Government has done the right thing by building workers' dormitories. It is easier to have rules and regulations when the workers are all under one roof. But I think the dormitories should provide a place for the workers to eat and drink so they will not hang out at the void decks.
Last words
I want to upgrade myself so that I can apply for permanent resident status here. I want my sons to study in Singapore because I've heard the schools here are very good.
THAI
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>'People here are good to us'
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
Mr Somkhit Krasae, 46, is a site supervisor and has been working in Singapore for the past nine years. On his days off, he studies electrical technology at the ITE in Simei. He hopes to eventually take up a course at a polytechnic here. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIM
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->Where from: The majority are from Udon Thani and Nong Khai in north-eastern Thailand, and Korat in central Thailand.
Likely to see them: At construction sites and Golden Mile Complex.
Living in: Dormitories in Jurong, Tuas and Kaki Bukit, and makeshift dormitories at construction sites.
Mr Somkhit Krasae, 46, a site supervisor with construction company Scan-Bilt, has been working in Singapore for the past nine years.
His wife, a 41-year-old seamstress, and two sons, aged 19 and 12, live in the city of Udon Thani.
Before he came here, he worked in Taiwan for three years as a foreman. He came to Singapore after hearing it was safe and clean. His agent's fee was $5,000, which he settled after a year.
He lives in a dormitory in Jurong West and earns between $2,500 and $2,800 a month, including overtime. Each month, he remits home $2,000. He calls his sons every night to help them with their homework.
During his days off, he studies electrical technology at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) in Simei. He hopes to do well enough to take up a safety officer course at a polytechnic. He spoke in English.
How do Singaporeans tend to see you?
Singaporeans are good to foreigners like me even though we are poor and not well-educated. But I must say Singaporeans are less friendly than the Taiwanese. They are always in a hurry and look busy all the time.
How do you feel about this?
It doesn't bother me. I realise that when I get to know Singaporeans better, they can be very kind.
Singaporeans think foreign workers have bad habits. How true is this?
Unfortunately, it is true that some foreign workers drink and make a nuisance of themselves at void decks. This saddens me. Their behaviour will affect the way Singaporeans look at foreign workers.
Where should foreign workers live if Singaporeans don't want workers to live near them?
The Singapore Government has done the right thing by building workers' dormitories. It is easier to have rules and regulations when the workers are all under one roof. But I think the dormitories should provide a place for the workers to eat and drink so they will not hang out at the void decks.
Last words
I want to upgrade myself so that I can apply for permanent resident status here. I want my sons to study in Singapore because I've heard the schools here are very good.
