Bangladeshi Construction Workers and the Politics of (Im)Mobility in Singapore
摘要
This chapter delves into the complexities of the Bangladeshi construction workforce in Singapore, illustrating how their labour and mobility are intricately managed within the city-state’s rapid urban development framework. It emphasises the broader concept of (im)mobility, showing that the labour process extends beyond physical construction sites and is intertwined with the sociopolitical mechanisms that regulate migrant workers’ movements and lives in Singapore. By employing a mixed-methods approach, the study unveils the nuanced experiences of Bangladeshi workers, addressing the temporality of migration regimes, spatial constraints within the urban environment, and the management of time to enforce productivity. The analysis highlights the paradoxical nature of migrant labourers’ existence: while they are essential for Singapore’s urban expansion, they remain marginalised and transient within its socioeconomic landscape. The chapter argues that understanding the (im)mobility politics of these workers is key to unpacking the complexities of labour migration and the urban transformation in global cities like Singapore.