New media as an alternative in changing spatial perceptions of work and achieving work justice for temporary migrant workers

Studies have suggested that given temporary migrant workers’ short periods of stay and their unfamiliarity with the receiving countries in which they work, they are more likely to be exploited. Spatial segregation is another important factor which limits a more efficient collective action. Remoteness may make it difficult for workers to share information about fraudulent recruiters or access legal services. Scholars, NGOs, unions, and governments work hard to promote temporary migrant workers’ labour consciousness and collective solidarity. Past studies and advocacy groups have focused on how to remove barriers to collective action. However, these studies have not explored the subjective considerations that underpin why individual workers prefer to leave online reviews (e.g., disseminating information about fraudulent employers) on various social media platforms rather than going through legal means as resistance strategy. This article argues that digital interaction on new media significantly change the temporariness and spatial limit of temporary migrant workers, and lead the new media reviews to be the most ‘effective’ way as workers can do ‘hit-and-run’ revenge. New media reviews also shape the spatial mindsets and urban experiences of temporary migrant workers in a global city such as Singapore. This paper concludes by discussing to what degree digital technology can form a strong off-line collective consciousness and action.