To curb the spread of Covid-19, the Malaysian government imposed a Movement Control Order (MCO) on 18 March 2020, restricting the movement of Malaysian citizens in and out of the country. With approximately 300,000 workers coming into Singapore from Malaysia daily, many were left with the dilemma of staying in Malaysia and not working, or coming across the border without accommodation.
Responding quickly to the MCO, unions, management partners, communities and social enterprises came together to ensure that those who chose to come back and work were properly accommodated and cared for.
Here’s a photo journey of their efforts…
The Union of Security Employees (USE) worked with several of its branches to help accommodate security officers affected by the Movement Control Order.
(Left) Union leaders and Industrial Relations Officers from the Singapore Industrial & Services Employees' Union (SISEU) engaging affected workers at the staff canteen of Turbine Overhaul.
Words of appreciation from the company:
“I would like to send my appreciation to the union for helping the team to secure the accommodation required to support our Malaysian staff. Let’s continue the close collaboration and work as one!” – the Management of Turbine Overhaul Services
(Right) NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng visits GE Aviation. Overnight, everyone, from their HR to their admin staff and even their site leaders chipped in to secure accommodation for their affected colleagues.
Union leaders from the National Transport Workers' Union visiting affected bus captains at their accommodation.
Around 40 Migrant Workers' Centre (MWC) staff and volunteer ambassadors went to the ground after work on 19 March 2020 to search out workers in need of accommodation. Most had already sorted their accommodation.
The FairPrice Group care package for workers affected by the Malaysian Movement Control Order includes a Kopitiam card for them to have their meals,
