Singapore has 970,000 Work Permit holders, most of whom work six days a week, with long hours each day and no home to return to or family to spend time with on their free day.

The living spaces of these workers are normally cramped and less than comfortable.

It is no wonder that most of them would want to spend their day off outdoors with their fellow countrymen and women.

About 30,000 in Little India may sound like a big crowd, but this figure makes up only 10 per cent of the foreign workforce in the construction sector.

Bored and with a lack of suitable, cheap amusement, it is hardly surprising the workers take to alcohol.

Unless these issues concerning workers are solved, the riot might not be the last ugly incident involving migrant workers, who, I am sure, are no better or worse than locals when it comes to violence.