What Were Some Of Their Contributions To Singapore's Growth ?

Samsui women continued to toil at construction sites right up to the 1980s ; when most of the construction jobs they did were replaced with machinery. Urban development also led to the demolition of many of the shophouse in Chinatown where the samsui woman stayed

What Were Some Of The Challenges Faced By The Immigrants in Singapore ? How Did They Feel About Living in Singapore ?

A typical workday involved waking up before dawn to prepare their breakfast-cum-lunch and then assembling with other Samsui women to go to work. Their meal's were sparse and usually consisted of cooked rice, some bean cheese and a bit of pickled or free vegetables. They were living harshly in Singapore which resulted in being fierce, aggressive, wary of strangers and tending to only associate with fellow Samsui Women.

How Were Their Living Conditions Like ?

They lived in rooms above shophouses that lined streets such as Upper Chin Chew , Upper Nankin and eu Tong Sen. A room was further divided into cubicles , with at least four women sharing one single room. Rent in the 1930s to 1940s ranged from $0.80 to $1.20 a month. Samsui women usually began their workday at 8 a.m . The work was physically demanding. They dug soil and carried earth, debris and building materials in buckets hung from shoulder poles.

Describe The Jobs The Immigrants Did In Singapore

Some of the woman found employment as labours in tin mines and rubber estates ; other became domestic servants in wealthy households. Most were hired as general labours on construction sites to carry building materials and clear debris - these women become referred to as Samsui women.

Why Did The Immigrant Come?

The Chinese population was overwhelmingly male at the time , immigration polices opened the door for female immigrants such as the Samsui woman to come to Singapore.