Migrant Worker Lorry Crash in Singapore Prompts Renewed Calls for Ban

A serious traffic accident on Orchard Road in Singapore on 28 January 2026 has reignited concerns over the longstanding practice of transporting workers on the back of lorries, after 13 people, including 12 migrant workers were hospitalized following a collision involving a lorry and a car.

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The incident prompted migrant worker advocacy groups to renew calls for an outright ban on the use of lorries for passenger transport, citing significant safety risks associated with the practice.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) was alerted to the collision at around 6:15 a.m. at the junction of Orchard Road and Orchard Link, a busy intersection near major commercial landmarks.

According to authorities, the crash involved a lorry ferrying migrant workers and a car, with both vehicles veering onto the pavement as a result of the impact.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) responded swiftly, mobilizing paramedics who transported six casualties to Tan Tock Seng Hospital and seven to Singapore General Hospital.

All 13 individuals taken to hospital were conscious at the time of transport, with an additional five people assessed on site for minor injuries who declined further treatment. Investigations into the factors leading to the collision are ongoing.

In the aftermath of the crash, migrant worker advocacy organisations renewed longstanding calls to ban the practice of transporting workers on the rear decks of lorries, a method that has repeatedly drawn criticism for being unsafe and undignified.

The Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics (HOME) emphasised that the accident was a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in using freight vehicles to carry passengers, and called for immediate policy action to end the practice altogether.

The group urged authorities to explore safer alternatives, such as dedicated passenger buses equipped with proper seating and safety restraints.

Another worker rights group, Workers Make Possible, argued that existing measures including speed limiters and safety modifications for lorries were insufficient to address the fundamental risks of the practice.

The group stated that incremental safety fixes had repeatedly failed to prevent serious accidents and that a complete ban remained the only acceptable long-term solution.

The issue of transporting workers on the backs of lorries has been the subject of debate in Singapore for years.

While the Road Traffic Act generally prohibits goods vehicles from carrying passengers, an exception currently allows lorries to ferry workers between their dormitories and work sites, a provision that public safety advocates say is outdated and unsafe.

Critics have pointed to past collisions and injury reports as evidence that the exception poses ongoing risks to vulnerable road users.

Industry and government stakeholders have previously cited practical challenges in eliminating the practice, pointing to transport logistics complexities and the need for more bus drivers and vehicles if an outright ban were implemented.

Studies by the Ministry of Transport have acknowledged difficulties in quantifying the full economic impact of changes but stressed the importance of enhancing worker transport safety.

From a road safety perspective, the Orchard Road crash underscores the hazards associated with transporting passengers in vehicle compartments not designed for human occupancy, especially in mixed urban traffic flows.

Lorries carrying workers often operate in traffic alongside smaller vehicles, increasing the likelihood of serious outcomes in the event of abrupt maneuvers or collisions.

Safety advocates argue that transporting workers in dedicated passenger vehicles equipped with seat belts, proper seating, and structural protection would significantly reduce injury risk and align transport safety standards for all road users.