Pope Francis, during his visit to Singapore on September 12, 2024, made a strong appeal for fair wages for the country’s migrant workers. Addressing a crowd of about 1,000 political, civil, and religious leaders, the pope emphasized the importance of recognizing the contributions of Singapore’s large migrant workforce, many of whom are employed in construction and domestic services. He urged the country’s leaders to ensure that these workers receive a fair wage, noting their vital role in society.
Singapore is home to over a million migrant workers, many of whom come from neighboring countries such as Malaysia, China, India, and Bangladesh. The majority of these workers earn less than S$3,000 ($2,300) per month, with many working in industries like construction and domestic services. Pope Francis stressed the need to protect the dignity of these workers, highlighting the significant impact they have on the country’s economy and infrastructure.
The pope’s message resonated with the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics, a local NGO that supports migrant workers. The group welcomed his call for fair wages, expressing agreement with his message. However, Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower has yet to comment on the pope’s statements.
The issue of migrant workers has been a recurring theme throughout Pope Francis’ travels. During his earlier visit to Papua New Guinea, he made a similar appeal for fair wages as that country continues to attract international attention for its natural resources. In Singapore, he also took time to praise the country’s efforts in addressing climate change, calling it a global example of commitment to sustainable development. Singapore is planning to invest S$100 billion over the century to tackle the threat of rising sea levels caused by global warming, which could have severe consequences for its low-lying coastal areas.
The pope’s visit to Singapore marked one of the final stops in his 12-day tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania. This tour, which also included visits to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and East Timor, has been part of his effort to reach regions where Catholicism is a minority religion. Singapore, which has a population of 5.92 million, is predominantly Buddhist, with about 210,000 Catholics, a number that rises when migrant workers are included. Despite the Catholic minority, Pope Francis praised Singapore as a harmonious mosaic of cultures and religions, acknowledging the peaceful coexistence of its diverse population.
In addition to his address to political leaders, Pope Francis celebrated a Mass that drew around 50,000 people to Singapore’s National Stadium. Attendees included Catholics from neighboring regions, such as Hong Kong, where the territory’s archbishop, Cardinal Stephen Chow Sau-yan, also participated in the event. The Mass featured prayers in various languages, including Mandarin, underscoring the multicultural nature of the gathering.
This visit to Singapore is significant as Pope Francis is only the second pope to visit the country, following a brief layover by Pope John Paul II in 1986. During his visit, Francis met with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, where he was presented with a white orchid hybrid named in his honor. As the pope continues to prioritize regions often overlooked by his predecessors, his message of unity, fair treatment of workers, and environmental responsibility remains central to his mission.