Project 24h 2014

Miss Li (Right) | vegetable seller

30th May 2014, Friday | 5:05am

Toa Payoh

  “In life, I have [no time] to think about happiest and saddest moments, but I am [happy] generally”

  I have worked here for about 10 years. I work everyday starting from 11am till I am done selling all of the vegetables.  I don’t have kids and have no time to think about happiest or saddest moments in life but I am a happy-go-lucky kind of person.

Miss. Li delivers greens so that vegetables are constantly supplied at our markets.

But, have you thought about people like her?

Mr Teh Yin Kwang | security guard

30th May 2014, Friday | 6:15am

ION Orchard

“When you are young, you must work hard

and not go down the wrong way or path.”

I work the night shift from 7pm to 7am and I protect the building and do my best to ensure the safety of the shoppers passing through ION. It does not matter whether I like this job or not. I simply have to work. I feel happy especially during the festive seasons when we attendants exchange gifts to show their appreciation for one another. Sometimes I meet shoppers who are quite demanding but I still have to handle them in a professional manner and it can get quite tough for me then.

Mr Teh spends his night ensuring the safety of the people in or passing through ION.

Have you thanked him?

Ms Sharly | security guard

27th May 2014, Tuesday | 11:30am

Dhoby Ghaut 

"We must accept somebody for who they are, 

  some people have all the talent in the world, some don't,

  but we are all the same."

  I started off as a security guard 20 years ago, however, I have also worked as a police women at the airport. I never detested coming to work. 

Actually, I've always enjoyed it despite the fact that I wanted to be a teacher, just like my mum. I'm going for hot dogs later with a few of my friends. We have been friends since 7 years old and we all love hot dogs. But, I lost two of them during the Indonesian tsunami and they were never found. I guess we are still friends because we can be ourselves and accept the flaws of each other.

  Ms Sharly keeps public buildings safe everyday.

  But, have you thanked her?

Mr Chen De Ee | Vegetable Seller

30th May 2014, Friday | 4:07am

Toa Payoh

 “Whether you like it or [not], you have to go through [sad moments]”

I have worked here for almost 30 years. Even though I am 78 year old and still single, the happiest moments of my life are always when talking to my friends. They are like my family, like brothers. I am actually quite used to working here.

Mr Chen supplies us with vegetables to eat.

Have you thanked him?

We took his picture as he gave an embarrassed laugh, asking for us to wait for him to put on his shirt first.

Mr Mohammad | karang guni

28th May 2014, Wednesday | 3.00pm

Little India

“How much do you earn by selling what you collect?”

“Enough to eat, enough to buy cigarettes, can already.”

I go around collecting cardboard boxes and recycled bottles and cans. Being a karang guni is very busy and tiring. Look at the hot sun, how do you expect me to walk? But I am an old man already, and I have no more strength, how to do other kinds of jobs? People will see me, and because I am so old, they will say I cannot work anymore, then how does one expect me to survive?

Mr Mohammad helps to recycle our used materials.

But, have you seen him?

It was heartbreaking to hear from Mr Mohammad talking about his simple yet humble life. Living alone seemed extremely tough for him since he is also getting old.

Mr Kalum | construction worker

28th May 2014, Wednesday | 2.30pm

Little India

“Being able to [concentrate on my] work [in Singapore], provide for my family and [have] friends, I am very happy.”

I have stayed in Singapore for 5 years. I have to work 8 to 10 hours a day, but since I am a supervisor, it is not as tiring. I am happy, and I enjoy my work, especially since I can provide for my family. I will visit my family once in a while.

Mr Kalum helps to facilitate the construction of buildings.

But, have you noticed his efforts?

  Before we approached Mr Kalum, he was taking a break and talking to his friend. Conversing with Mr Kalum was rather smooth, as he is very friendly and approachable. Despite only staying here for 5 years, his English was very fluent.

Anonymous | trash sweeper

30th May 2014, Friday | 4:20am

313 @ Somerset

“I’m really happy with my job because I get breaks with my friends in between sweeping sessions,”

  I am a road sweeper stationed at pavements located right outside the entrance of 313 @ Somerset. My responsibility is to clear off all unwanted trash thrown by passer-bys. I feel contented with my profession right now because I get to meet interesting friends and people along the way. It’s nice because we have breaks in between cleaning sessions and we get to share our different life stories with each other and that is what makes this enjoyable, despite the fact that pretty much no one is around in the wee hours of the morning.

This anonymous road sweeper clears unwanted wastes along pavements into the wee hours of the morning everyday.

But, have you noticed him?

Kamrul | construction worker

30th May 2014, Friday | 5:50am

Orchard, Park Royal

“[The] work here [is] very good. Singapore [is] very nice!”

I have worked in Singapore as a construction worker for 1 year. What I like about this job and working in Singapore is the good pay. I am going back to Bangladesh soon to see my family, so that makes me happy.

Kamrul helps to maintain the electrical lines.

But, have you noticed him?

We approached Kamrul as he was eating his dinner; he used the sparse English he knew to converse with us, telling us about his hometown and his job as a migrant worker in Singapore. Soon, we were surrounded by a small group of fellow construction workers who decided to take a break from fixing the pipes to listen in on the short conversation.

When asked if we could take a photograph, Kamrul shyly rejected, pointing at his friend standing next to him saying instead, “Take picture of him!” Even though we repeatedly asked for Kamrul’s photograph, he insisted that we take a photograph of his friend, who had already eagerly put on his yellow hard hat. Seeing how keen he was, we complied and just as I was about to click the shutter, he adjusted his collar one last time, Kamrul sniggering at him from the side.

 Joe (left) | exhibition logistics vendor

30th May 2014, Friday | 4:56am

Paragon Shopping Centre, Orchard Road

“I enjoy pay days and the end-of-year bonuses the most as I get to use the money to take my family on a holiday and spend time with them.”

I work from 9pm to 6am and I actually really enjoy working during these hours. When there are very few people, it is quieter and therefore much easier to properly carry out my job without having to disturb the people shopping in these buildings. This job can be quite difficult at times as some clients can be quite demanding since the majority of our clients have fixed schedules, which they need to meet on time. Therefore, they get angry at us if we are unable to complete these jobs they pay us to do on time.

Joe sets up exhibition logistics to showcase certain products so as to enhance our shopping experience.

Have you seen him?

When we asked Joe if we could take a portrait shot of him, he felt quite shy so he asked his co-workers to take the photograph with him. Once we took the photograph of them, they then told us to stand together as they wanted to take a photograph of us with their phones as well.

Joel | taxi driver

30th May 2014, Friday | 4:09am

313@Somerset

“While on the job, you must always be streetwise and selective when picking up passengers during these hours.”

I work from 8pm to 8am, as it is a 12-hour shift. I usually go to places where there would be many passengers that need a ride like Changi airport, Clarke Quay and Marina Bay Sands, as there is a casino there. I usually drive for about 4 hours and rest for 30 minutes after that, but it’s quite a flexible arrangement, which is something I like about this job. My friend, who is also a taxi driver, recommended this job to me and I enjoy it. Since I work alone, there is no office politics or injustice like how there was in the company I previously worked at, so I think driving this taxi is something I feel happy doing. I really like driving the night shift as it is not hot and the roads are emptier. However, one of the difficulties I face in this job is that it is very tiring as you need concentration and may need to drive very long distances before being able to rest.

Joel spends the night making sure commuters get home safely.

Have you thanked him?

  When we asked Joel if we could take a photograph of him he initially refused as he felt quite shy but after seeing our slightly disappointed faces, he thankfully agreed to take the photograph. He also kept moving around to different areas with different lighting just so that we could take a good photograph.

Mr. Chen  | vegetable distributor

30th May 2014, Friday | 5:20am

Toa Payoh

 “Actually [you], as students, are really lucky. But you guys [don’t know] it. You only have to [worry] about studies. ”

I have been doing this job for over 40 years and unfortunately, we are always being chased away by the Land Transport Authority all this while. Thankfully we are still able to hold on to your jobs.  An interesting fact about myself is that I was part of the pioneer batch in NAFA (Nanyang Academy of the Fine Arts). That is something that I share in common with you Art students.

Mr. Chen did not fail to connect with us, putting aside differences and boundaries.

Will you do the same for workers like him?

Mary Jane | convenience store cashier

30th May 2014, Friday | 4:00am

Concorde Hotel, Singapore

“If one bus leaves, there will be another one coming,”

I work as a convenience store cashier at Cheers running night shifts from 7pm to 8am. I am a mother of two children, a 17-year old son and a 21-year old daughter, both of whom are smokers. It is a blessing as much as it is of a struggle to raise my two kids. I find that it is important for people to be “content with whatever [they] have” and “always be positive in life”.

Mary Jane runs our convenience stores into the wee hours of the night so that we can always get our emergency supplies at any time of the day.

But, do you take her for granted?

Mr Wang | vegetable grocer

30th May 2014, Friday | 4:45 am

Toa Payoh

“Don’t take [my] picture, [Not after] I get plastic surgery from America.”

I have been working this job for quite a long time already. Everyday I work diligently from 1.30am till 6.30am. However,  I am unable to finish selling the vegetables almost everyday. Life is hard in Singapore. Even getting a job washing dishes at Kopitiam requires a degree. Without a degree, we will not be able to get anywhere far. It’s a pity how Singaporeans only look at academic qualifications instead of what is lying beneath our society.

  Mr Wang keeps our refrigerators stocked with vegetables.

But, have you seen him?

Mr Jacky | graphic designer

30th May 2014, Friday | 12:45am

Raffles City Shopping Mall

  “We can only start work at night and that’s hard, because that’s when everyone [is resting].”

This job requires a lot work behind the scene. The hardest part is working late at night when you are supposed to be sleeping. I work 2-3 hours after the mall closes. There is a lot of teamwork required in doing this and everyone plays a part.

Mr Jacky ensures that decals are applied evenly so that it blends in and complements the malls' decor.

But, have you seen him?

When we asked to take Mr Jacky’s picture, he picked up the decal, and began to pose with it.   

Mr Huang  | vegetable grocer

30th May 2014, Friday | 4:00 am

Toa Payoh

“[I have spent almost] half of my life working on this job [alone].”

Time flies. Before I know it, it has already been 30 years that I work as a vegetable grocer. My working hours span from 8 to 12 hours everyday of labour and hard work. I wake up at 7 pm to start importing the vegetables in and setting my stall here at Toa Payoh. I can only end my work when I finish selling these vegetables. Singaporeans are not willing to do this kind of job. Therefore, it is very difficult for me to find workers. Working so hard alone just to earn a simple living is simply not worth it.

  Mr Huang ensures that there will be greens on our plates.

But, have you thanked him?

Mr Huang is very dedicated to his work as when we were interviewing him, he was multitasking while being interviewed by us. His commitment on his work is something to be commented.

Gao Hong | vegetable grocer

30th May 2014, Friday | 4:15am

Toa Payoh

  “My [only wish] is that [my son] studies well and stay in Singapore”

This is only my first week in Singapore. After being employed, I have been working from 11.30pm to 7.30am everyday. I am an immigrant from China and have a 6-year-old son studying here. My husband remained in China as a construction worker and my only struggle is settling down in this new country as a single parent.

Gao Hong continues to sell her vegetables despite her difficulties.

Will we acknowledge her contribution in return?

Mr Jonasun | Street performer

29th May 2014, Thursday | 11:00pm

Chinatown

“Technique is not the most important. It’s basic. What is most important is your passion. You must love [what you do].”

I have been doing this for 9 years and I am from Japan. I am a freelance performer and I travel around the world to earn a living. I started by watching and learning from Youtube videos. The hardest part is learning the different styles and techniques of the art form. There was a time I felt like giving up because of all the good performers out there. But this is my passion and I really enjoy doing this. I work everyday, 2 hours on weekdays and 4 hours on weekends.

Mr Jonasun helps make the streets of Singapore lively everyday.

But, have you seen him?

  We were so captivated by Mr Jonasun’s juggling performance and animated dancing. He was so welcoming when we approached him to ask him about his work. His advice to us really motivated and inspired us, especially since we are students who are pursuing the arts as well.