On Thursday, Pope Francis urged political authorities in Singapore, a major hub of the global financial system, to take action. He called for fair wages for the millions of lower-paid international workers employed there.
The eighty-seven-year-old pontiff expressed concern about Singapore’s aging population and its reliance on migrant labor. He highlighted that most migrant workers are employed in the construction and domestic services industries during what was likely his final major address of an ambitious 12-day tour across Southeast Asia and Oceania.
In a speech to over 1,000 legislators and leaders of the civil and religious sectors at the National University of Singapore, the pope expressed his hope that “special attention will be paid to the poor and the elderly… as well as to protecting the dignity of migrant workers.”
“These workers contribute a great deal to society and should be guaranteed a fair wage,” he said.
Government data shows that as of December 2023, 1.1 million foreign workers in Singapore held work permits. These workers earned less than S$3,000 ($2,300) per month. These workers included 286,300 domestic workers and 441,100 workers in the shipyard, construction, and process industries.
Numerous migrant laborers are from neighboring nations like Bangladesh, India, China, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
Francis made his statement following private meetings at the nation’s parliament building with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. The pope was met with a formal honor guard and the playing of the Vatican hymn.
In addition, a white orchid plant—a new hybrid—was given to him and given his name.
Singapore’s population is aging rapidly. In 2023, the country’s fertility rate dropped below 1, and by 2026, with 21% of the population expected to be 65 and older, the UN will classify the nation as a “super-aged” society.
Francis has frequently expressed concern for immigrants. Earlier in his 12-day tour, he urged Papua New Guinean officials to strive for equitable salaries. The nation is increasingly being targeted by foreign corporations for its deposits of gold, gas, and other resources.
Francis hailed Singapore’s efforts to combat climate change on Thursday, describing them as a role model for other nations.
The government of Singapore plans to spend S$100 billion ($77 billion) over the next century. It believes that rising sea levels caused by global warming could significantly impact the country’s low-lying coastline.
“Your commitment to sustainable development and the preservation of creation is an example to follow, and your search for innovative solutions to address environmental challenges can encourage other countries to do the same,” said the pope.
After the late John Paul II’s brief 5-hour layover in Singapore in 1986, Francis is only the second pope to visit the city-state. Francis has prioritized journeys to regions never visited by a pope or where Catholics are a small minority.
With 5.92 million residents, 31% of the population of Singapore identifies as Buddhist, making the country a plurality Buddhist nation. Roughly 210,000 Catholics are counted in the nation by the Vatican.
There are sizable Taoist, Muslim, and Hindu groups as well. “A mosaic of ethnicities, cultures, and religions living together in harmony” is how Francis described the nation. The political establishment is “preventing extremism and intolerance from gaining strength or endangering social harmony,” he stated.
The Vatican expects that Francis’ Mass at Singapore’s national sports stadium later on Thursday will draw about 55,000 attendees. Among them will be Catholics traveling from Hong Kong.
A contentious agreement between the Vatican and China on the appointment of Catholic bishops in that nation is presently being renegotiated. The agreement is set to expire in October.
In addition, Francis visited East Timor, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia during his 12-day tour. On Friday, he will be back in Rome.
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