Rain or shine, our migrant workers in Singapore have toiled extensively just so that they can send money back home to support their families. It is no different for Alagu Periyakarrupan and Subbiah Sivasankar who were both sole breadwinners with a wife and young children back home.
Except, both had to leave their families behind prematurely after succumbing to COVID-19 related deaths last week.
In light of their passing, a non-profit organisation Itsrainingraincoats, created to spread kindness to migrant workers in Singapore, have posted a tribute via their Facebook page.
Rest in Peace: Thanking Migrant Workers in Singapore
“We thank both Alagu and Subbiah for all their years of contributions to Singapore, for leaving their families to come here to work hard and are sorry they could not be reunited with them. May they Rest In Peace,” wrote Itsrainingraincoats.
Photo: Itsrainingraincoats / Facebook
On the cause of death, rather than complications from COVID-19, 46-year-old Alagu passed away after sustaining multiple injuries from a fall from height at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, according to an update from the Ministry of Health (MOH).
37-year-old Subbiah however, was said to have passed away from pulmonary thromboembolism on April 22, according to Itsrainingraincoats.
Photo: Itsrainingraincoats / Facebook
Medical journal and other reports shared by the organisation also showed heart attacks and blood clots that could be linked to the coronavirus.
Providing Help to the Families
Itsrainingraincoats said that they are in touch with the families of Alagu and Subbiah to help tide them through this ordeal, having arranged for friends in India to check in on Alagu’s family, their well-being and deliver rations.
In speaking to Subbiah’s wife, she was said to be “inconsolable” and in disbelief after receiving news about her husband’s death.
After all, Subbiah had been healthy and “had called and spoken to her and the young children just the night before”, according to her.
Both wives have also “not directly heard from or received anything from the employers as of the time of this post,” as told to Itsrainingraincoats.
“A father and husband gone too soon”
No matter how hefty the monetary compensation that employers and others might have contributed to help these families, they can never replace the lives of Alagu and Subbiah, shared Itsrainingraincoats.
“We should remember that both men would have at least 15 – 20 years of earnings ahead of them. Regardless of amounts that may be given by employers and others, there is a large gap to fill in terms of compensating the family for a lifetime of lost earnings and in any case, no amount of money will bring back a life lost, a father and husband gone too soon.”
Here, we thank Alagu and Subbiah for their dedication as well as other migrant workers and frontline workers who have fought hard but unfortunately lost their lives to COVID-19.
You can view the full post by Itsrainingraincoats here: