The political story of Singapore’s industrialisation is well-known, including the role of Jurong Industrial Estate and Dr Goh Keng Swee. However, the stories of the Singaporeans who worked in these factories have rarely been discussed in detail until now. Today, we speak to Dr Loh Kah Seng, co-author of the book Theatres of Memory: Industrial Heritage Of 20th Century Singapore, on who worked in Singapore’s early factories, what the workplace environment was like, and the important role of technical education in creating a qualified workforce.
#17 – Workers’ perspectives of Singapore’s industrial history (A conversation with Loh Kah Seng)
Historyogi 