Netizens praise company for celebrating Deepavali with its foreign workers

A video showing a company's effort to celebrate Deepavali with their foreign workers has warmed the hearts of netizens, with many praising the bosses for appreciating their staff.

It was simple affair: a buffet spread that included dishes like briyani, poppadom, sambal prawns, and butter chicken, followed by an awards ceremony for the workers.

"We are thankful for all your hard work and efforts and are appreciative of times like this where we bond together as one at YBH," says an AI voiceover in the video. YBH is Yew Ban Heng Construction, a company based at 10 Admiralty Street.

The video was shared on Facebook page Singapore Incidents on Deepavali (Oct 20).

At press time, it had garnered 70,000 views, a thousand reactions and 45 comments, most of which were positive.

"Good company culture that taken care the well being of their staffs n therefore will have goods mindset n initiative at works," said one.

"These workers deserve a good treat. Thank you for the hard work & contribution to our building construction industry," said another.

Some Facebook users also shared how other companies treated their workers.

"My good boss also brought all our 160 workers to Muthus Curry Restaurant, chartered 4 buses on Deepavali eve and we had over 60 lucky draw prizes and 4x $500 cash winners. The workers were all so happy with good food and prizes to bring back," said one.

Some were not so impressed. "I think All company did the Same thing - Annual staff party, Staff Bonding Gathering. So sorry. Moreover holding in Hotel," said a Facebook user.

Meanwhile, one netizen lamented that he was commenting while working on a public holiday: "Our company barely give us the holiday off Soo to ask for a day off on public holiday seems like a crime and u may get ditched from ur work if u are willing to take off. Soo these kinda companies are really appreciative that values its workers and I m happy for them being celebrated. BTW now I'm on my break time (Working on holidays too)."

A spokesperson for YBH told The New Paper that the company holds a Deepavali celebration every year for its 100 or so workers from India and Bangladesh.

YBH project coordinator Ramasamy Vijayakumar, who hails from India, also expressed his gratitude to the company for organising the dinner. "I really enjoyed celebrating the festival with my colleagues, and even though I'm far from home, I still felt the warmth and joy of the occasion."

Editor's note: This story has been updated with statements from YBH and Ramasamy Vijayakumar.