Malayali in Singapore


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The majority of Indian migrant workers living in Singapore come from Tamil Nadu villages in southern India. These Indian migrant workers are scattered throughout Singapore in approximately three hundred work sites. Many workers are educated and literate, while others are illiterate. Those who are educated have received a secondary to a university level education. Most of the Indian migrant workers are married and have left their families behind to seek employment opportunities since there is a lack of job opportunities in India. They come with the promise of employment and are willing to make this sacrifice with an expectation of sufficient earnings to support their family back home. The vast majority of Indian migrant workers are male. However, there is also evidence of illegal immigration of Indian women to Singapore in the capacity of domestic help.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Life in Singapore is tough for migrant workers. They generally work six to seven days a week under the hot sun in risky and sometimes life threatening situations. On most Friday and Saturday nights in Singapore's Little India neighborhood male workers meet on their evenings off work. Hundreds of workers come together along Serangoon Avenue to socialize, eat and phone home on special calling booths late into the night.

Migrant workers cannot get sick or they can receive a pay cut or not receive overtime wages if they miss work. Some workers are not able to settle their loans during their two-year contract and return to India in debt to their agent.

Due to hard work, pressure, loan repayment, new-found freedom or loneliness, many migrant workers will resort to alcoholism, prostitution, and gambling.

Some migrant workers live in well-built flats, but a majority are poorly housed and live in small shacks or containers. Migrant workers can be exploited by their employers who take advantage of loopholes in the legal system. Most Indian workers earn a low income. Work permits are only valid for two years and it is not guaranteed that their permit will be renewed. Some workers in shipyards can go without work for several months.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most of the Indian migrants adhere to Hinduism. A few of them embrace Islam and Christianity. Some major religious sites of the Hindus are Kaliamman Temple, Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple and Chettiar Temple. The annual Thaipusam festival is a unique public event that sees Hindu devotees trek barefoot through several downtown Singapore streets, with a peacock-feather decorated structure, called a kavadi, mounted over their head. This Thaipusam processional goes all day long and is a festival of thanksgiving.


What Are Their Needs?

Most Indian migrants might state their problems as over-worked, exploited, lonely or overlooked by Singaporeans. They need a day off every week, better medical and dental care, safe working environment, better housing and adequate wages. Pray that more believers in Singapore will take an interest in migrant workers. Pray for more of those who will love them in Christ and are willing to care for the personal needs of these workers. Several businesses have responded by addressing the medical and dental needs of some of these workers. Pray that this might continue and grow. Pray for believers to have a burden to help people who are going through these crises in their lives.


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Malayali in Singapore.


Profile Source:   Southeast Asia Link - SEALINK   Copyrighted ©   Used with permission  

People Name General Malayali
People Name in Country Malayali
Pronunciation mah-lah-YAH-lee
Alternate Names Cochin Jew; Malai Gounden; Malai Jati; Malaikaran; Male Gounder; Moplah; मलयाली
Population this Country 28,000
Population all Countries 1,627,000
Total Countries 12
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 17433
ROP3 Code 112836
ROP25 Code 305029
ROP25 Name Malayali
Country Singapore
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Country Singapore
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 2.00 %)
5.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
77.00 %
Islam
18.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Malayalam
Language Code mal   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Malayalam
Language Code mal   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Malayalam

Primary Language:  Malayalam

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1811-1968)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1829-1995)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1841-2022)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Malayalam Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source Southeast Asia Link - SEALINK   Copyrighted ©   Used with permission
Profile Source Southeast Asia Link - SEALINK  Copyrighted ©  Used with permission 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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