As most of the people are working from home due to this COVID-19 pandemic, there are essential workers are on the front line, risking their lives against coronavirus crisis. Despite the healthcare workers, these essential workers include anyone who takes care of Singaporeans and the country such as food delivery riders, public transport operators as well as the cleaners.
A blogger, Syazwan Majid took to his Facebook on Monday (27 April), expressing salute and respect to his father and other essential service workers for their significant contribution in keeping the country moving during this extremely trying period.
Mr Majid, who is the founder of Wan’s Ubin Journal, said his father, who is also an essential worker, but not as a doctor or nurse and could not read or write, had helped to keep the streets and parks clean for the past four decades of his life.
Same as countless others in other essential services such as food delivery riders, public transport operators and supermarket staff, Mr Majid’s father is “but a hardworking man” which continue “being out and about” by putting themselves at the risk of COVID-19 infections.
“This worries me more because my dad is a senior citizen, making him among the vulnerable subset of our community,” Mr Majid said.
In his post, Mr Majid also shared a photo of his father wearing uniform and going out to work in the early morning.
He said, “I was feeling overwhelmed looking at how extraordinary of a man my father is and how unbelievably proud and lucky I am to be his son – no matter what society views him as.”
Hence, he also urged the people to take the circuit breaker with “utmost seriousness” by staying home for their loved ones, seniors and frontline workers.
“While they do appreciate the singalongs, claps and cheers that we have been giving thus far, the greatest form of respect and tribute that you could offer in your own capabilities to them is by simply staying at home.”
“It’s already a difficult period, so let’s not be a difficult people,” he added.
Member of Parliament (MP) for Fengshan Cheryl Chan also wrote on Facebook on 21 April to remind the Singaporeans showing kindness and care to cleaners and essential workers on a daily basis after an incident of someone left some “watery stuff and sticky stains” on the seats at a bus stop.
Ms Chan asked the people to think twice before they litter or vandalise anything, while adding that those who have done unintentionally should have the common courtesy to clean up the mess before they leave.
She urged the public to appreciate essential workers and cleaners as this “appreciation is a reflection of who we are and comes from within, not just on formal appreciation day”, saying, “Seldom do people remember the hard work and who were behind these completed tasks.”