Tag Archives: Cardboard collectors

A reader has shared a tongue in cheek list of occupations for Singaporeans facing retrenchment in their 40s and above.

MP Louis Ng collecting cardboards? Why??? Will that help solve the problem of old people who will still be cardboard collectors? Really, is this a so-called"undercover boss" stunt which Singaporean will applaud and appreciate? NO!

I am writing in to complain about the standard of our MPs. I really think some MPs are the most rubbish quality and I don't know how they can get into parliament other than on the coattails of ministers and daft Singaporeans who voted for PAP.

Yesterday, our team gathered for another project. We saw a viral video on cardboard collectors in SG and thought we could do a small part in giving a helping hand. We handed out goodie bags that contained essentials that might help them in their day.

Was damn pissed reading the post by Minister Tan Chuan Jin about his cardboard collecting experience with some elderly. We did two cardboard collections with a elderly woman at Chinatown late last year and her experience told us that it is not as fun as Minister Tan would suggest.

I was heartened and impressed by your sincerity when I read your Facebook post about cardboard collectors. When you described the elderly folk who collected cardboard sheets - not because they are poor - but because they wanted to exercise and keep themselves occupied, I immediately thought of my auntie. You see, my 70 year-old auntie collects cardboards with a cart to help the recycling effort, she doesn't mind if the waste company doesn't pay her for her effort, she is middle class with an environmental mission.

Elderly cardboard collectors are not "poor" or in poverty - or at least that's what Minister for Social and Family Development (MSF) Tan Chuan Jin would have you believe. In a Facebook post yesterday, Tan said that he had received a report from ministry volunteers who had gone out to interview the elderly cardboard collectors in the Jalan Besar area in a bid to understand what motivates them. What they found "surprised" him and his volunteers.

PRC cardboard collectors bully 70 year old Singaporean cardboard collector, claims that Chinatown is PRC territory and she is not allowed to pick up cardboard from certain areas. Ah Ma recounts, "PRCs are saying Singaporeans depend on Chinese nationals! You are just an Ah Ma (old woman)." Ah Ma shares, "My son is getting married, but we can't afford an apartment for him."

Not too long ago, there were heated debates and discussions regarding the meagre wages that construction workers in Singapore were paid. These debates even found their way to the front pages of our local newspapers. Some construction workers in Singapore earn as little as $1.50 an hour, so for 8 hours of work they earn $12 a day. I think most of us can agree that $12 a day is barely enough.