Model ID: 07370c05-3853-452d-8014-607d044485fb
Sitecore Context Id: 07370c05-3853-452d-8014-607d044485fb;
Recognising that a good proportion of foreign domestic workers (FDWs) in Singapore tend to congregate at specific areas during their weekly rest days, the Centre for Domestic Employees (CDE) opened new satellite offices in City Plaza, Peninsula Plaza and Union Square in mid-November this year. The operating hours of the satellite offices in City Plaza and Peninsula Plaza are from Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm, while the satellite office in Union Square is opened from Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 6pm. CDE has since moved out of its previous premises in Goldhill Centre.
As a strategic move to provide FDWs easier access to assistance via CDE, the satellite offices will go beyond being walk-in centres for FDWs with employment-related concerns. FDWs and CDE volunteers will be able to use two of the satellite offices in City Plaza and Peninsula Plaza as mingling places, engage in meaningful activities like handicrafts, and outreach to fellow FDWs.
According to CDE Social Report Card released in January this year, salary disputes was one of the three most common issues raised by FDWs. In line with its advocacy efforts to encourage e-payment of FDWs’ salaries through bank transfers to reduce salary-related disputes, FDWs will be able to open a POSB Payroll Account (FDW) through an online channel at CDE’s satellite offices without having to make any initial deposit or maintain a monthly minimum deposit amount . This collaboration bears testament to CDE’s advocacy efforts since last year and will help to reduce the number of salary-related disputes through a more transparent payment method.
Chairman of CDE Mr Yeo Guat Kwang shared, “CDE wants to encourage both our FDWs and employers to adopt electronic payment to minimise any salary-related disputes. According to the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, if the FDW requests for her salary to be paid through electronic means, the employers shall respect her request and make the necessary arrangements for her salary to be paid through direct transfer into her Singapore bank account. Should FDWs or employers require assistance in opening up the POSB Payroll Account (FDW), they can approach our CDE staff at the satellite offices.”
CDE's International Migrants Day Celebration
The above developments were announced at CDE’s International Migrants Day celebration held concurrently at City Plaza and Peninsula Plaza, where CDE staff and volunteers were out in full force to appreciate FDWs for their hard work.
Gifts such as packets of nuts (sponsored by Nuts & Co), tote bags (sponsored by Sian Chay Medical Institution) and EZ-Link cards (card sponsored by EZ-Link) containing a token value of $2 funded by the Domestic Employees Welfare Fund, were distributed to a total of 1,000 FDWs. StarHub, one of the Labour Movement's partner, also participated in the event to offer an exclusive promotion to FDWs.
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