Singapore Retiree Spends 8 Years Sweeping Carpark for Free — ‘Seeing It Clean Makes Me Happy’

SINGAPORE — Most people dream of slowing down after retirement. But for 78-year-old former taxi driver Chen Jinhe, sitting at home was never part of the plan.

For more than eight years, the Singapore retiree has voluntarily swept fallen leaves at an open-air carpark in Ang Mo Kio — without a boss, without a salary and using many of his own tools.

His simple daily routine has now captured public attention, with one reason behind his remarkable dedication: he simply enjoys seeing the place clean.

“I get a great sense of satisfaction seeing the ground clean, and it makes me very happy,” Chen said, according to reports by AsiaOne and Chinese-language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao.

From 35 Years Behind the Wheel to Eight Years Behind a Broom

Chen worked as a taxi driver for 35 years before retiring in 2015. But after decades of constantly being on the move, he found that retirement came with an unexpected challenge — he could not stay still at home.

“I used to be out and about all day,” he said.

What started as a small act of community service eventually became an eight-year commitment.

Chen initially helped clean a senior citizens' club located on the ground floor of an HDB block. Over time, however, he expanded his cleaning routine to the nearby open-air carpark in Ang Mo Kio.

Today, Chen reportedly spends more than two hours a day sweeping up fallen leaves.

And he does it entirely for free.

No Salary, No Boss — Just a Desire to Keep His Community Clean

Chen said he started sweeping the carpark because he could not bear seeing fallen leaves scattered across the ground.

So he picked up a broom and got to work.

Eight years later, he is still doing it.

“There is no boss and no salary,” Chen explained, noting that the voluntary arrangement gives him the freedom to manage his own schedule and still have time to fetch his grandchildren.

The retired cabby even provides many of his own cleaning materials.

According to reports, Chen buys his own brooms and other tools and collects cardboard boxes from different places to store the leaves he gathers. When residents throw away old brooms that are still usable, he sometimes rescues and puts them to work.

He is also particular about the equipment he uses.

The broom bristles, he reportedly said, should not be too long or too soft. In some cases, he trims newly purchased brooms to make them easier to use.

‘I’ll Keep Sweeping as Long as I Can’

For Chen, sweeping is more than just cleaning.

It has become part of his retirement lifestyle — a daily routine that keeps him moving and gives him a sense of purpose.

After years of driving a taxi and getting little exercise, Chen said his new routine has helped him become more active. He even joked that sweeping fallen leaves can help with weight loss.

His dedication is not going unnoticed.

According to reports, Chen received a community award in 2021 in recognition of his contributions.

Despite concerns from his family about the physical demands of the work and his prolonged exposure to the sun, Chen remains determined to continue.

“As long as my health allows, I’ll keep sweeping,” he said.

His commitment, however, is not about recognition or money.

It comes down to something much simpler.

Seeing a clean carpark makes him happy.

A Small Act That Carries a Bigger Message

Chen's story is resonating because his work challenges the idea that retirement means stepping away from purpose.

After 35 years of driving passengers across Singapore, the former taxi driver found another way to remain active — not through a paid job, but through a quiet act of service to the people around him.

Every day, fallen leaves return to the Ang Mo Kio carpark.

And every day, for more than eight years, Chen has returned too.

Armed with a broom, a dustpan and a determination that shows no sign of fading, the 78-year-old retiree continues doing something few people asked him to do.

But something he believes is worth doing anyway.

Because sometimes, making a difference in a community begins with nothing more than picking up a broom.

WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D