1 The Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC), a bi-partite initiative between the National Trades Union Congress and the Singapore National Employers Federation, will orchestrate the largest Mid-Autumn Festival for Chinese migrant workers on 18 September 2011.
2 As evidenced by the growth in migrant workers to about 1.05 million, accounting for a third of our total workforce, it is clear that our country is reliant on foreign labour. As this group has become a major contributor to Singapore’s economic development, it is only fitting that we help migrant workers integrate into our society.
3 Held at the scenic Singapore Flyer Greek Theatre, the second MWC Mid-Autumn Variety Show is the largest organised for Chinese migrant workers in Singapore. MWC held its inaugural Mid-Autumn Festival last year at One Marina Boulevard with a turnout of 300 migrant workers.
4 This year’s festival is aimed at promoting social integration and harmonious co-existence. The second, in a series of six integration-focused events spread over the year, is open to the Singaporean public for the first time and seeks to be a platform for Singaporeans and migrant workers to better interact with one another.
5 Some 1,000 guests will be entertained by popular local and international getai acts, games, and the opportunity to understand more about local customs and social norms through a static exhibition display. The exhibition, first featured in the MWC Dormitory Roadshows held in June this year, provides information on Singapore’s history and national symbols, origins of its multi-ethnic population and multi-racial outlook, backgrounds behind the more typical religious and cultural practices and celebrations, as well as behaviours that Singaporeans might consider peculiar or anti-social. Available in four languages – English, Mandarin, Tamil and Bengali – the exhibition also contains some lesser known facts and figures regarding Singapore’s migrant workforce.
6 Migrant workers will also stand a chance to win attractive prizes and walk away with goodie bags containing lanterns and mooncakes. Brochures on worker rights, hygiene, as well as the Migrant Workers’ Compass, a workers’ pocket guidebook jointly produced between MWC and the National Institute of Education group, will fill the goodie bags.
7 Following recent incidents involving Chinese workers, in which some individuals resorted to taking the law into their own hands, MWC also hopes to reach out to foreign workers and reiterate that these workers in distress should instead, approach the Centre or the Ministry of Manpower for assistance.
8 Guest-of Honour, Chairman of MWC, Yeo Guat Kwang said, “It is crucial that migrant workers understand they are needed and accepted in the Singapore society. These workers have travelled far to ensure better lives for their families back home. They feel alone and vulnerable and when distressed, feel they have nowhere to turn to and therefore, have resorted to extreme measures to express themselves. I believe that through such social events, we can better reach out to foreign workers and educate them on various issues important to them, such as employment rights, housing standards and hygiene. It is also important that these workers are exposed to MWC and understand they can approach us for humanitarian support and welfare when in need. We will continue in our efforts to engage foreign workers through events such as these.”
