The Migrant Workers' Centre (MWC) organised its inaugural Migrant Workers' Assistance Fund (MWAF) Charity Dinner, raising more than $175,000 for the fund through donations and sales received for the dinner tables. The MWC announced this at the dinner graced by Guest-of-Honour Acting Minister for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin. He was joined by some 350 guests, comprising corporate and individual donors, and members of the Labour Movement and the Singapore National Employers Federation, at the Orchid Country Club on 4 April 2014.
With this amount, MWC will be able to scale up its operations as part of its plans to help more migrant workers this year. MWC has set out to provide more migrant workers with humanitarian assistance and strengthen its assistance programmes and outreach initiatives that promote the available assistance channels for the migrant workers. The MWAF was set up in 2012 to fund humanitarian efforts including feeding and sheltering distressed migrant workers. To date, the MWAF has been used to offer such help to over 5,000 migrant workers here.
Mr Yeo Guat Kwang, who is also NTUC Assistant Secretary-General, said: "When we started the MWAF in 2012, response was positive, but a little slow moving. Year-on-year, with greater awareness, we have seen an increase in the support of donors, especially members of the public, which has been very encouraging to us. Through this, we see that migrant workers are being increasingly recognised and accepted by the Singaporean public and society. Integration is a key part of our work at MWC and we take this as a reassuring step forward. The generosity of the donors and partners has made it possible for us to continue doing what we are doing on a larger scale and we are happy that we will be able to care for and reach out to more workers through upping our resources."
During the dinner, the MWC also shared its future plans for 2014 – 2015 to enhance protection for migrant workers through: skills training and the obtaining of local skills certification for work permit renewal; a Change of Employer policy for deserving workers; model employment contracts (by sector) carrying clearer employment terms and conditions for work-permit holders which must be sighted by workers before departure for Singapore; and electronic salary payment to provide both employer and employee clear evidence of payment having been made in full and on time.
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