A group of more than 10 migrant workers housed at the former Ngee Ann Polytechnic staff apartments are helping to trim some 1.5 hectares of overgrown grass around the Housing Board blocks in Toh Yi.
Earlier in May, some 1,030 migrant workers in essential services moved into the apartments, where they were given “care packs” by residents.
Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information Sim Ann, also joined in Sunday’s initiative.
Sim Ann said: “I was very touched by how positively the workers responded to the community’s efforts to welcome them and that they are willing to come out and help us even on their rest day.”
She also added that it has been hard to maintain the landscaping of the estate during this pandemic, because many horticultural workers have yet to be cleared by the authorities to resume their work but Mr Edward Chia, her recently elected teammate, used his business network to secure help in the form of his friend Michael Teh, who runs a firm called Nature Landscapes, to help with the cutting of the grass.
Mr Chia said: “This can-do spirit and ownership really exemplifies the best of our community.”