Singapore TikTok users try painting HDB blocks and power washing alongside migrant workers; videos draw mixed reactions

Two TikTok users have shared videos of themselves trying their hand at jobs typically carried out by migrant workers in Singapore, drawing mixed reactions online, including praise for the interactions and concerns over workplace safety.

In a TikTok video uploaded by user mother_tooty on Tuesday (Oct 13), she is seen approaching a cordoned-off area on the ground floor of an HDB block, where painting works were ongoing.

The video was posted with the caption: "Side questing again, thank you guys!! They were so sweet."

Text overlaid on the video showed her asking if she could try riding a hanging platform used by workers to paint the exterior of HDB blocks.

"Of course, they said no, understandable," the text read.

She then asked one of the migrant workers to demonstrate how to paint a pillar using white paint. He obliged, and she was later seen giggling as she tried painting the same pillar herself.

At the end of the video, she handed cans of coffee to the three migrant workers as a thank-you gesture.

The post has been viewed more than 21,000 times as at Wednesday afternoon.

One commenter asked how she managed to get the workers to let her try painting.

TikTok user mother_tooty replied that she had simply asked nicely and tried her luck.

She added that she had hoped to try the hanging platform, but said, "I wanted to, but they say cannot, expected it! [Of course,] I understand, happy they let me try for that few seconds” when referring to the painting activity.

However, some commenters raised concerns about the interaction taking place within a cordoned-off work area.

One commenter said that the workers could be held liable if something went wrong, if a rope snapped and injured the woman.

Another TikTok user tries power washing

In a separate video, another TikTok user shared her experience trying out a different task alongside a migrant worker.

In a separate video, user rnlexandra was seen operating a power washer to clean parts of a neighbourhood playground, with a migrant worker assisting her.

The worker wore a collared T-shirt bearing the words "Sembawang Town Council" on the back.

The video was captioned: "So happy that he allowed me to do this (prior to this I've already clocked 26 hours on power wash simulator ... so I guess you could say it's been a dream of mine."

The clip ended with the user thanking the worker before he continued with his cleaning duties.

One commenter praised the user, saying: "We need more of you. Instead of snobbish people looking down on and sidelining them [i.e. migrant workers].”

In response, the TikTok user rnlexandra said she had enjoyed the interaction and criticised those who would not acknowledge migrant workers.

She added that the worker had ensured both of them remained safe throughout the activity.

"If anything, the town council should praise him for letting me try while keeping everything professional and safe," she wrote.

Another commenter expressed concern that the worker could get into trouble for allowing her to try the equipment.

She replied that the video had been filmed some time ago and that she had made sure the worker's face was not shown.

AsiaOne has reached out to mother_tooty for more information.

helmy.saat@asiaone.com

两名 TikTok 用户分享了他们尝试在新加坡从事通常由外籍劳工完成的工作的视频，在网上引起了不同的反响，包括对这种互动方式的赞扬和对工作场所安全的担忧。

在用户 mother_tooty 于周二（10 月 13 日）上传的 TikTok 视频中，可以看到她走向组屋一楼被警戒线围起来的区域，那里正在进行粉刷工作。

这段视频的配文是：“又去支线任务啦，谢谢大家！！他们人真好。”

视频上叠加的文字显示，她询问自己是否可以尝试乘坐工人用来粉刷组屋外墙的悬挂式平台。

“当然，他们拒绝了，这可以理解。”短信中写道。

随后，她请一位外来务工人员示范如何用白色油漆粉刷柱子。他照做了，之后人们看到她一边咯咯笑着一边尝试自己粉刷同一根柱子。

视频结尾，她将几罐咖啡递给三名外来务工人员，以示感谢。

截至周三下午，该帖子已被浏览超过 21,000 次。

一位评论者问她是如何让工人们让她尝试绘画的。

TikTok 用户 mother_tooty 回复说，她只是礼貌地询问了一下，碰碰运气。

她补充说，她原本希望尝试悬挂式绘画平台，但谈到绘画活动时说：“我很想尝试，但他们说不行，这也在意料之中！[当然，]我理解，很高兴他们让我尝试了那几秒钟。”

然而，一些评论者对在警戒线内进行互动表示担忧。

一位评论者表示，如果发生意外，例如绳子断裂导致女子受伤，工人可能要承担责任。

另一位TikTok用户尝试高压清洗

在另一段视频中，另一位TikTok用户分享了她与一名外来务工人员一起尝试完成一项不同任务的经历。

在另一段视频中，用户 rnlexandra 正在操作高压清洗机清洗社区游乐场的部分区域，一名外来务工人员在一旁协助她。

该工人身穿一件翻领T恤，背面印有“三巴旺市镇理事会”字样。

视频的标题是：“很高兴他允许我这样做（在此之前，我已经在高压清洗模拟器上累计训练了 26 个小时……所以我想你可以说这一直是我的梦想）。”

视频最后，用户向工作人员道谢，然后继续进行清洁工作。

一位评论者称赞了这位用户，说：“我们需要更多像你这样的人。而不是那些势利眼的人瞧不起和排挤他们（指外来务工人员）。”

对此，TikTok 用户 rnlexandra 表示她很享受这次互动，并批评了那些不承认外来务工人员的人。

她补充说，工作人员确保了他们两人在整个活动过程中都保持安全。

她写道：“如果说有什么值得表扬的，那就是镇议会应该赞扬他，因为他让我尝试，同时又保证了一切的专业性和安全性。”

另一位评论者表示担心，允许她试用设备的工人可能会惹上麻烦。

她回应说，这段视频是之前拍摄的，而且她已经确保没有拍到工人的脸。

AsiaOne已联系mother_tooty以获取更多信息。

helmy.saat@asiaone.com