A Facebook post by a foreign worker in Singapore has gone viral after he asked whether his employer was allowed to install a CCTV camera inside the room he shares with another worker. The post, which quickly drew hundreds of comments, has ignited public debate over privacy rights and employer conduct in worker accommodations.
Online Post Raises Privacy Concerns
The man, believed to be a construction worker, shared on Facebook that a surveillance camera had been placed inside his sleeping area. In his post, he expressed discomfort and questioned if such monitoring was legal in Singapore. Many netizens reacted strongly, calling the act “unacceptable” and “a clear invasion of privacy.”
Several commenters urged the worker to lodge a complaint with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), while others shared similar experiences, saying that some employers allegedly use cameras to “keep watch” on workers even when they are off duty.
Authorities Remind Employers About Privacy Laws
In Singapore, it is illegal for employers to install CCTV cameras in private living spaces such as bedrooms, toilets or bathrooms. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has repeatedly reminded employers that while cameras can be placed in common areas for safety and monitoring, installing them in rooms where workers sleep, rest or change clothes is strictly forbidden.
Such actions may amount to criminal offences under the Penal Code, including outrage of modesty or voyeurism, depending on intent. Authorities have also advised any affected workers to report suspected privacy violations directly to MOM or the Singapore Police Force.
Public Reactions Highlight Workers’ Vulnerability
The incident has drawn renewed attention to the treatment of migrant workers in Singapore, with advocacy groups calling for clearer enforcement of privacy protections in dormitories and employer-provided housing.
Some Singaporeans commenting online said that installing cameras in bedrooms “crosses a moral line,” while others called for employers to “respect the basic dignity” of those who live and work under their roofs.
As the debate continues, the viral post has become a reminder that surveillance — even for security purposes — must never come at the expense of an individual’s right to privacy.