Although it makes up about 17 percent of Singapore’s population, the migrant worker community is one that many of us hear surprisingly little about. That was until COVID-19. As the pandemic has gone on, we’ve all read how the majority of cases on the island have been within foreign worker dormitories – a result of cramped conditions and limited sanitation. Here are some great ways that you can get involved to help these workers weather the storm, and learn more about the issues they face on a day-to-day basis at the same time.
#1 Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2)
A well-established group, TWC2 has been in operation since 2003. According to its mission statement, it aims to “advocate a more enlightened policy framework for migrant labour, extend assistance to workers in need, and promote the social conditions in which exploitation, abuse and injustice become history.”
How can I get involved?
TWC2 always welcomes donations, which go towards its various social work projects, and you can also volunteer to help hand out food and participate in social work.
#2 HealthServe
Founded in 2006, HealthServe originally focused on providing medical services, but since the start of the pandemic it’s been providing counselling and mental health support for migrant workers – a vital service during these difficult times.
How can I get involved?
Aside from donations, HealthServe is looking for volunteers for its counselling programmes. No experience or qualification is needed, as they provide training, but fluency in Chinese, Bengali, Tamil or Hindi is a plus.
#3 It’s Raining Raincoats
It’s Raining Raincoats is an NGO that has garnered plenty of attention over the past couple of months for its large variety of schemes and projects to aid foreign workers. To find out more about them, check out our interview with the founder, Dipa Swaminathan, in the June issue of Expat Living or online at expatliving.sg. How can I get involved? One of the main projects of It’s Raining Raincoats has been sourcing pre-paid SIM cards for workers, which allow them to stay in contact with family back in their home countries.
Check the Facebook page for updates. facebook.com/itsrainingraincoats
#4 Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (HOME)
The work done by HOME rests on three pillars: welfare, empowerment and advocacy. As well as advocating for migrant worker rights and providing immediate support for workers in crisis, it runs the HOME Academy, which provides a variety of educational and vocational courses for workers to develop their skills and further their careers.
How can I get involved?
At the moment, donations are vital to keep their shelter running, which supports exploited and abused workers, providing them with rehabilitation and counselling.
#5 SGforForeignWorkers
This is one of the many ground-up organisations that has emerged since the beginning of the pandemic. Aside from its “Notes for foreign workers” campaign (see below), SGforForeignWorkers (or @sgforfws) is encouraging Singaporeans to educate themselves about the issues that foreign workers face and pledge to do better in the future.
How can I get involved?
Over the course of the pandemic, @sgforfws has been collecting personal messages of solidarity from Singaporeans to foreign workers, which are then translated and distributed. It started out aiming to collect 300 notes, but has already received more than 1,000! Visit the Instagram page for details.
For more helpful tips head to our living in Singapore section
This article first appeared in the September 2020 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!
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