World · Singapore Bureau
Malaysian workers push through haze despite health risks
While some have the option to stay indoors during air quality crises, many Malaysian workers lack the flexibility to avoid prolonged exposure to hazardous pollution. Economic necessity often trumps health concerns for vulnerable populations.
LSN Singapore ·
Malaysia's recurring haze episodes continue to disrupt daily life, but for a significant segment of the workforce, there is no option to simply wait it out indoors. Construction workers, street vendors, delivery personnel, and others in outdoor-dependent roles must navigate hazardous air quality to earn their livelihoods, even as pollution levels spike.
Unlike office workers who can benefit from indoor air filtration systems or work-from-home arrangements, manual and informal sector workers face a stark choice: continue working in polluted conditions or forgo income they cannot afford to lose. Many lack employer-provided respiratory protection or the financial cushion to take unpaid leave.
Public health officials have repeatedly urged residents to limit outdoor activities during high pollution episodes, but such advisories offer little practical relief for those whose employment depends on their physical presence at job sites. Workers in construction, agriculture, transportation, and street vending bear disproportionate exposure to air pollutants, heightening concerns about long-term respiratory health impacts.
The disparity underscores how environmental crises in the region affect different socioeconomic groups unequally. While some can retreat to cleaner environments or adjust their schedules, millions of workers across Malaysia continue their daily routines, masked or otherwise, as haze remains a seasonal reality across South and Southeast Asia.