By Fawwaz Baktee
Since coming onto the scene in 2009, the Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC) has been championing for the fair treatment and the integration of migrant workers in Singapore.
Its latest move includes the introduction of MWC Help Kiosks at all four migrant-worker recreational centres located at Penjuru, Woodlands, Soon Lee and Kaki Bukit.
The launch of the kiosks on 14 February 2016 was held as part of MWC’s Lunar New Year celebrations at Penjuru Recreational Centre.
The kiosks seek to complement MWC’s 24-hour helpline and the centre’s mobile office, also known as the Forward Response, Engagement and Intel Deployment Asset (FREIDA).
The MWC Help Kiosks will provide workers with a safe and conducive space where migrant workers can consult MWC’s specialists on any employment concerns or issues without the fear of apprehension.
According to MWC, having the kiosks in these areas also saves time for migrant workers as they no longer need to travel to the help centres located in the city.
The four kiosks will take turns to operate on each Wednesday of the month from 7pm to 9pm. The centre will monitor the demand for the kiosks’ services and will increase the frequency of operations should there be a need.
Enhancing Heartware
While reaching out to migrant workers, MWC has also been enhancing its capabilities to deal with the psychological wellbeing of workers that come to the centre.
In January 2016, MWC’s specialists went through a mental wellness workshop conducted by Silver Ribbon (Singapore), a non-profit organisation that combats mental health stigma. The workshop helped equip the specialists with skills to identify migrant workers who exhibit signs and symptoms of mental stress or illnesses due to workplace issues.
Silver Ribbon has also partnered MWC to set up an escalation protocol where migrant workers will be given access to help from professional counsellors.
“With the training, I feel that I’m better prepared to handle cases of workers with mental wellbeing issues. There were some workers that I’ve seen who were quite depressed. Although we weren’t trained to handle such situations then, we made sure we approached the matter very carefully. Even so, there were no other channels we could refer these workers to before the collaboration with Silver Ribbon,” said MWC Specialist Ethan Gan.
MWC Chairman Yeo Guat Kwang said that it is critical for MWC to continue to uplift and update its capabilities so that it is always ready to assist migrant workers in need.
He added: “The difference we can make by ourselves is limited, but as we have done from the beginning, we will continue to work through partnerships with like-minded organisations and initiatives with a view to creating ‘a whole that is greater than the sum of its individual parts’ when it comes to safeguarding our migrant workers.
“Migrant workers have also contributed to building our society today, and we feel strongly that their welfare and wellbeing must continue to be protected.”
Last year, MWC helped about 3,600 migrant workers with issues related to employment and living conditions.
Source: NTUC This Week
