Helping Singapore's transient workers

First published 27th February, 2013

Visitors to Singapore always speak of its impeccably clean streets and ultra-modern architecture, but few know the secret behind the city-state's flawless appearance: transient foreign workers. As the wealthiest country in the region, Singapore is able to 'import' people from neighbouring countries to do its dirty work for wages of a couple of dollars per hour.

It is estimated that there are nearly one million people living in Singapore who've travelled from countries like Bangladesh, Indonesia, Philippines, India, Burma and China to accept low-paying jobs as construction workers, street cleaners, window washers, dock workers and maids.

Though transient workers willingly come to Singapore to work, the conditions are often not what they expected. Many foreign workers toil for more than 12 hours per day without overtime pay and are considered lucky if they get one day of rest per week. Construction workers are forced to work under dangerous conditions and, if injured on the job, are shipped back home so employers can avoid their legal obligation to cover the medical bills.

Foreign workers are involved in many different occupations.

Domestic workers have it even worse. Since they usually live in the private households where they are employed, they are at their employer's beck and call 24 hours a day and only 12% report having at least one day off per week. There have also been reports of emotional and physical abuse against domestic workers –- who are almost always female -– and in some cases employers have beaten their 'maid' to death.

If transient workers do want to quit their job or take legal action against their employers they often cannot because they lack the language skills and formal education to navigate Singapore's system of work permits and paperwork.

Volunteer translators are often in need.

Thankfully, Transient Workers Count Too is there to help. Founded in 2003, TWC2 is a non-profit organisation dedicated to assisting low-wage migrant workers being exploited in Singapore. Operated entirely by volunteers, TWC2 can arrange access to social workers, lawyers and translators and has helped remove domestic workers from dangerous environments. All of these services are completely free.

TWC2's signature project is the Cuff Road Food Programme which offers free meals and a friendly ear to migrant workers. Employers bringing migrant workers to Singapore are required to provide them with room and board, but when there are disputes -– either over salary or working conditions -– the workers are often kicked out of their dorms and left destitute. This is not an issue you'll read about in a Singapore newspaper, but on average 200 workers show up for the free meals each day.

When injured some employers ship the worker home to avoid their obligations.

Donations to TWC2 can be made via their website and every little bit helps.

“A donation of $50 will provide a meal for 20 hungry workers at our soup kitchen or can buy five Transitlink cards for injured workers to take public transport to their medical appointments,” said TWC2 president Russell Heng. “If no such assistance is given, the men would walk whatever distance to the hospital or clinic.”

Out of the public eye, maids can be especially badly treated.

If you're in Singapore and have free time, TWC2 is looking for volunteers to assist at the soup kitchen and with fundraising, research, editorial and general administrative work. Also needed are people who speak Tamil, Bengali, Burmese or Mandarin to act as interpreters.

Heng invites anyone with a caring heart and free time to get involved: "If you want to know more about volunteering with TWC2, please visit our website at http://twc2.org.sg or come to Heartbeat, our monthly volunteer orientation programme."

All photos courtesy TWC2.

Each month a Travelfish.org writer selects a charity or non-government organisation that they believe does excellent work on their patch in Southeast Asia. They write about them and we donate $100, a small way for us to give something back to the region. If you're looking to give back too, please consider giving a little cash as well.