They build our homes, hospitals and schools and also help to look after our children and the aged at home.
As part of the May Day celebrations this year and to show appreciation, the Labour Movement reached out to nearly 35,000 migrant workers.
They include the May Day Domestic Employees Celebration event on 6 May 2018, mass outreach activities at the Centre for Domestic Employees’ (CDE) satellite offices, and over 35 engagement activities at unionised companies.
Some 10,000 migrant workers were treated to a day of fun and festivities at the May Day Migrant Workers Celebration 2018 at the Tuas View Dormitory on 27 May 2018.
At the event, Manpower Minister Josephine Teo announced details of the Settling-in Programme (SIP) for new foreign workers arriving from October this year.
Since 2009, MWC has been serving the needs of migrant workers in many areas and it is set to play a bigger role in two areas –running the settling-in programme for new migrant workers and taking over the running of a recreational centre.
Settling-in Programme (SIP)
The SIP for migrant workers is not new. There is already one for foreign domestic workers.
Speaking to the media at Tuas View Dormitory, Minister Teo explained that the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) wants to build on MWC’s strengths in outreach and knowledge of foreign workers’ needs and concerns.
MOM will start by making it compulsory for all new non-Malaysian work permit holders in the construction sector to go through this SIP. Other sectors would be included a year later.
The SIP will be a compulsory one-day programme for new arrivals before the work permit can be issued.
Topics covering local practices here, employment rights and obligations, laws and security issues, will be shared in the foreign workers’ native language. Employers will bear the cost of the SIP fees.
MOM has assured that the fees set by MWC will be reasonable when compared with similar training programmes being provided for foreign domestic workers by other training institutions. The amount has not been decided yet.
Welcoming MWC’s wider role was its Chairman, Assistant Director-General (ADG )Yeo Guat Kwang who explained: “Appointing MWC to conduct the SIP enables it to double up as a one-stop service centre for newly arrived foreign workers. Those who encounter employment issues, such as payment of kickbacks, overcrowded or unacceptable housing provided by employers, or forced to revise their salary downwards, can immediately seek help from MWC. Those with questions and doubts can also seek clarifications from MWC at the SIP.”
MWC To Manage Recreation Centre
Meanwhile, MWC will take over the running of the Soon Lee Recreation Centre from the second half of this year.
The Singapore Contractors Association Limited is the current operator and the lease will end in August 2018.
Minister Teo says MWC will rejuvenate the centre with better facilities and activities like an open field for sports and a mix of shops and stalls to meet the daily needs of foreign workers.
Tripartite Partners Say Thank You
“Thank You” can be said in many ways and and the tripartite partners chose to pen their thoughts on a message board at the May Day celebrations.
They also set to create a record-breaking message board that carried notes of appreciation dedicated to the migrant workforce and penned by union leaders, students, volunteers, members of the public and migrant workers themselves.
Minister Teo and NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng personally penned individual thank you notes in dedication to the contributions and sacrifices of migrant workers towards Singapore’s economic success.
They were also joined by Deputy Secretary-General Koh Poh Koon and ADG Yeo.
