I am really glad that so much conversation has happened on the migrant worker issue in Singapore and to a limited extent in Malaysia. A lot of NGOs and well meaning citizens have taken steps to help out in the crisis. These are however at best band aid measures, as after the crisis many new regulations will come in including encouraging Singaporeans to pick up work in the construction sector.

The negative PR hurts tourism intensive economies. Singapore will make amends creating incentives to grow a local workforce. C19 is an inflection point. The vast proportion of migrant workers will still be around. Solutions will include better housing which will be better enforced from a public health standpoint and reputational capital. Costs across the board will increase as ‘input costs’ step up. #stakeholderengagement