Harmonious Work-Life

While working in Singapore, you should obey to the local laws. Here are some of the tips while staying and living in Singapore.

Is the Private Residential Unit you are Living in Good?

While working in Singapore, you should also take note of your own living conditions. Keep your accommodation clean for your safety, health and overall well-being.

For Private Residential Unit,

Make sure that there are only a maximum of occupants, and there are no fire safety risks.

A Fun Day Out For Our Migrant Friends

FOCUS Adventure is organizing an event that is held in Sentosa for Migrant Friends in Singapore. If you are free on the 25th February, and would like to take part in the event, please contact DIPA at 90183764.

For more information, you can visit ItsRainingRaincoats Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/itsrainingraincoats/

There will be a lot of activities organized just for you! Enjoy water rafting with your peers in a rafting challenge, or join in the cardboard race car challenge! There will also be transport, lunch and free goodie bags to be given away!

Wait no less! Find your friends and sign up with Dipa right now!

Dormitory and training centre for Jurong Island foreign workers officially opens

Dormitory and training centre for Jurong Island foreign workers officially opens

Article taken from Straits Times, by Joanna Seow, Published on 6th January 2018

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/dormitory-and-training-centre-for-jurong-island-foreign-workers-officially-opens

Aspri-Westlite Dormitory-Papan, a 7,900 bed dormitory near Jurong Island, is the first to be integrated with an Aspri training centre so workers can attend trade courses for oil and gas and chemical industries.ST PHOTO: BENJAMIN SEETOR

SINGAPORE - General worker Vijay Sankar, 26, used to wake up at 5.30am every morning to get to his workplace on Jurong Island from his dormitory in Pioneer.

Now, he gets almost an extra hour of sleep after moving to a new dorm in Jalan Papan, which opened about 1 1/2 years ago and is a 12- minute drive away from Jurong Island Checkpoint.

In his free time, he also spent four Sundays attending a safety supervisor course at the training centre run by the Association of Process Industry (Aspri) on the same site as the dorm.

"There are interesting things to do and when I have time I can attend courses to improve myself," said Mr Vijay, who came to Singapore from India four years ago.

"I want to work more safely so I can continue to take care of my family," he said.

Over a quarter of the 85 courses at the training centre are 90 per cent subsidised by Aspri for dorm residents, so Mr Vijay paid only $25.

The 7,900-bed dorm, called Aspri-Westlite Dormitory - Papan, is the first of its kind in Singapore with an attached training centre.

It also has recreational facilities and amenities such as cricket training pitches, an indoor gym, a dental and medical clinic and a barber shop. Eight workers share a large room in two-bedroom units with ensuite bathrooms and kitchens.

Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said at the official opening on Friday (Jan 5) that this integrated model is an advance in how foreign workers are treated and is part of efforts to engage workers to boost productivity in the process industry.

"It is a far cry from the norms we saw in foreign worker dormitories less than a decade ago," he told some 300 government officials, employers and workers at the event.

He also highlighted how Aspri worked closely with companies in the process, construction and maintenance industry as well as government agencies and the dorm developers to meet industry needs through the dorm.

"This model of collaboration...is the way we must keep tackling challenges faced by industry - speeding up innovations, transforming productivity, ensuring employees' interests are served and opening up new markets," he said.

Aspri president, Mr Charles Quek, said the association has raised the number of training hours it delivers to 125,000 a year at the integrated training centre, up from 30,000 a year at its old facility. It hopes to ramp that up to 400,000 hours over the next three years.

"We work closely with plant owners and the government to come up with training curriculum, and can develop new courses that suit industry needs," he said.

Mr Tony Bin, executive director of accommodation at Centurion Corporation - which jointly developed the 1.5ha dorm site with Lian Beng Group for about $200 million - said he hopes it will show the many multinational companies on Jurong Island that Singapore has good quality migrant worker accommodation, and will "put Singapore on the map" in terms of caring for migrant workers.

"Our hope is that our residents will leave Singapore with more than just their hard-earned money, but just as they have helped Singapore, so too we hope they have also tasted the goodness of our society towards their efforts and will have fond memories of Singapore and Singaporeans," he said.

Employer Dan Chua, director of engineering and maintenance firm CYC International, said he moved 45 of his staff who work on Jurong Island to the dorm, from their previous accommodation in Woodlands, saving them two hours of travelling time each day.

He said his workers also benefit fromthe subsidised courses and 48 hours of free training that residents receive each year. His workers have attended English and computer courses, among others.

He also said that he was not worried about workers tiring themselves out by choosing to attend too many classes.

"If they are willing to go for courses, it means they are genuinely interested to learn. They know how to manage their time," he said.

Support and affordable care for migrant workers

Article from Straits Times by Toh Wen Li, published on 18th December 2017

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/migrant-talent-on-show

Dr Goh Wei Leong, co-founder of HealthServe, says its vision is to see dignity in the lives of every migrant. HealthServe will be putting more resources into research and to campaign for causes.PHOTO: DIOS VINCOY JR FOR THE STRAITS TIMES

The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year seeks to honour Singaporeans whose extraordinary acts of goodwill have improved their community and the lives of others. Today, ST announces the latest batch of finalists for the third edition of the award.

Since its first affordable clinic for migrant workers opened in 2007, HealthServe's track record has been nothing short of robust.

The non-profit organisation, which now has clinics in Geylang, Mandai and Jurong, saw its consultations double from fewer than 4,000 in 2015 to nearly 8,000 by the end of last year.

In the first three quarters of this year, it helped 445 migrant workers over work injury and salary-related issues, gave out about 20,000 free meals and 1,500 MRT top-ups, and housed 30 workers in its two emergency shelters.

But HealthServe's co-founder Goh Wei Leong, 57, feels it has grown too quickly. "When we grow too fast, we may compromise some of our deeper values... it becomes purely transactional, and loses its soul."

Dr Goh, a general practitioner, co-founded HealthServe in 2006 with businessman Tang Shin Yong.

It has 10 full-time staff, 70 active volunteer doctors, 20 dentists, and 300 volunteers from pharmacists to counsellors.

Workers pay $5 for each medical consultation. Those on Special Pass and unable to work after lodging an injury or salary claim with the Manpower Ministry need not pay.

In the year ahead, HealthServe will enter a more "reflective" phase, pumping more resources into research and to campaign for causes.

Dr Goh added: "Our vision is to see dignity in the lives of every migrant. So we feel going deeper in building relationships and truly bridging communities in a very hostile and broken world is paramount... not just plain efficiency and more programmes."

Ways of forging these relationships have included an art and story showcase, Samasama, and Bengali language classes by migrant workers. HealthServe also sponsored a book of poetry, Braving Life, by Bangladeshi construction worker Md Mukul Hossine.

Dr Goh feels the public now has a better understanding of the issues migrant workers face. But many issues from a decade ago are still there, like Bangladeshi workers paying exorbitant fees to work here.

But "we are slowly inching there", he said.

---

MORE INFORMATION

Members of the public have been nominating Singaporean individuals or groups to be considered for The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year Award.

A judging panel has selected the 10 finalists. Public voting will begin on Dec 25 and end on Jan 14 at 6pm. Judges will use the results as reference when making their final decision.

To find out more about The Straits Times Singaporean of The Year award, go to http://str.sg/soty17

Foreign domestic workers can now get help to receive e-payment of salaries

Article taken from Straits Times by Zhaki Abdullah, Published on 17th December 2017

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/manpower/foreign-domestic-workers-can-now-get-help-to-receive-e-payment-of-salaries

Centre for Domestic Employees chairman Yeo Guat Kwang, with Mya Mya That and her sister, Nae Jae May, both domestic workers from Myanmar, at an event to celebrate International Migrants Day on Dec 17, 2017.ST PHOTO: DIOS VINCOY JR

SINGAPORE - Foreign domestic workers who wish to receive their wages via electronic payments can now get help to do so at one of three centres run by the Centre for Domestic Employees (CDE).

These workers can approach the CDE to set up a special POSB account - called the POSB Payroll Account (FDW) - that does not require an initial deposit, or call for maintaining a monthly minimum amount in their accounts.

This initiative is an extension of an earlier three-month trial that ran between May and July this year (2017).

E-payments will help reduce instances of salary disputes between foreign domestic workers and their employers, said CDE chairman Yeo Guat Kwang, speaking on Sunday (Dec 17) at an event to celebrate International Migrants Day.

"In these cases, there is often a dispute over the records of how much (the workers) have received or whether their employer has paid them," he added.

"Using electronic modes of payment, there will be a proper record to reduce some of these unnecessary disputes."

There are about 240,000 foreign domestic workers employed in Singapore.

Salary disputes are among the top three issues most commonly raised by foreign domestic workers here, according to a report released by the CDE in January, with the other two issues being requests for transfer of employer and cases of physical abuse.

Mr Yeo noted that a provision under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act allows for domestic workers to request that their employers pay them through electronic means.

One foreign domestic worker, Filipina Lalaine Ortigas, whose employers have been paying her salary electronically since 2013, said she no longer encounters late payments.

"With e-banking, you don't have to worry about when your salary comes in," said the 32-year-old.

At the CDE's offices at City Plaza and Peninsula Plaza on Sunday, about 1,000 domestic workers received gifts including EZ-Link cards and snacks as part of International Migrants Day celebrations.

Separately, the Foreign Domestic Worker Association for Social Support and Training (Fast) also held early Christmas celebrations for about 600 foreign domestic workers on Sunday (Dec 17).

These workers were treated to lunch, as well as musical performances and makeup demonstrations, at the Fast clubhouse at the Singapore Manufacturing Federation building on Jalan Bukit Merah.

Dorm with training centre a boost for Jurong Island workers

Dorm with training centre a boost for Jurong Island workers

Article taken from Straits Times, by Joanna Seow, Published on 6th January 2018

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/dorm-with-training-centre-a-boost-for-jurong-island-workers

The 7,900-bed dorm, called Aspri-Westlite Dormitory - Papan, is the first of its kind in Singapore with an attached training centre, which is run by the Association of Process Industry and offers subsidised courses. The dorm, which is a 12-minute drive away from Jurong Island Checkpoint, also has recreational facilities and amenities such as cricket training pitches, an indoor gym, a dental and medical clinic, and a barber shop.ST PHOTOS: BENJAMIN SEETOR

Facility saves travel time for foreign workers and offers subsidised courses, free training

General worker Vijay Sankar, 26, used to wake up at 5.30am every day to get to his workplace on Jurong Island from his dormitory in Pioneer.

Now, he gets almost an extra hour of sleep after moving to a new dorm in Jalan Papan which opened about 11/2 years ago and is a 12-minute drive away from Jurong Island Checkpoint.

In his free time, he also spent four Sundays attending a safety supervisor course at a training centre run by the Association of Process Industry (Aspri) at the dorm.

"When I have time, I can attend courses to improve myself. I want to work more safely so I can continue to take care of my family," said Mr Vijay, who came to Singapore from India four years ago.

More than a quarter of the 85 courses at the training centre are 90 per cent subsidised by Aspri for dorm residents, so Mr Vijay paid only $25.

The 7,900-bed dorm, called Aspri-Westlite Dormitory - Papan, is the first of its kind in Singapore with an attached training centre.

It also has recreational facilities and amenities such as cricket training pitches, an indoor gym, a dental and medical clinic, and a barber shop. Eight workers share a large room, in two-bedroom units with en suite bathrooms and kitchens.

Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who was the guest of honour at the official opening of the dorm last night, praised the integrated model.

"It is a far cry from the norms we saw in foreign worker dormitories less than a decade ago," he told some 300 government officials, employers and workers at the event.

Aspri president Charles Quek said the association has raised the number of training hours it delivers to 125,000 a year at the integrated training centre, up from 30,000 a year ago at its old facility. It hopes to ramp that up to 400,000 hours over the next three years.

Mr Tony Bin, executive director of accommodation at Centurion Corporation, which jointly developed the 1.5ha dorm site with Lian Beng Group for about $200 million, said he hopes it will "put Singapore on the map" in terms of caring for migrant workers.

Director Dan Chua of engineering and maintenance firm CYC International said he moved 45 of his staff who work on Jurong Island to the dorm from their previous accommodation in Woodlands, saving them two hours of travelling time each day.

His workers also benefit from the subsidised courses and 48 hours of free training that residents receive each year.

Living, learning and earning a living on Jurong Island

Article taken from Straits Times, Published on 6th January 2018

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/living-learning-and-earning-a-living-on-jurong-island

The first workers' dormitory here with an integrated training centre was officially opened by Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam last night in Jurong. Workers who live in the dorm work in the process, construction and maintenance industry on Jurong Island. They can attend courses at the dorm on technical skills, safety, English and computer skills, some of which are highly subsidised. They also save on travelling time as the 7,900-bed Association of Process Industry (Aspri)-Westlite Dormitory - Papan is just a 12-minute ride away from Jurong Island Checkpoint.

Mr Tharman, in a speech at the opening ceremony, said that Aspri had worked closely with companies in the process, construction and maintenance industry, as well as government agencies and the dorm developers, to meet industry needs. "This model of collaboration... is the way we must keep tackling challenges faced by industry - speeding up innovations, transforming productivity, ensuring employees' interests are served and opening up new markets," he said. He also praised the dormitory as an advance in how foreign workers were treated, adding that it was also part of efforts to engage workers to boost productivity.

Migrant talent on display at first ever cultural show

Migrant talent on display at first ever cultural show

Article from Straits Times by Kevin Lim, published on 8th January 2018

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/migrant-talent-on-show

Sekar Arum (meaning fragrant flowers in Bahasa Indonesia), a group comprising Indonesian domestic helpers, performing a traditional Javanese dance at the inaugural Migrant Cultural Show held yesterday evening at the Arya Samaj Building in Little India.ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

Yesterday's first Migrant Cultural Show, which was organised by the migrant worker community, was a fun way for them to showcase their passions and talents, as well as break down cultural boundaries

Every Sunday - his only day off for the week - for the past two months, 30-year-old Bangladeshi construction worksite supervisor Fazley Elahi has been swopping his safety helmet for the hat of a show organiser.

Together with compatriots Ripon Chowdhury, 29, A.K. Zilani, 25, Sowrjik Sarothi Das, 25, Nil Sagar Sahin, 27, and Md Sharif Uddin, 39, Mr Fazley has embarked on a recruitment drive to uncover fellow migrant workers who share his passion for culture and the arts.

The group visited dance rehearsals by Filipino domestic workers at *Scape in Orchard Road, and watched music collaborations between Indonesian and Bangladeshi workers in Little India.

They also held drama auditions - in which they were also actors - at Sing Lit Station, a literary non-profit organisation in Jalan Kubor.

Their endeavour culminated in the inaugural Migrant Cultural Show, organised by the migrant worker community, which was held yesterday evening at the Arya Samaj Building in Little India.

The show, which lasted four hours, featured music, dance, drama and poetry performances by more than 90 foreign workers from countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, India and the Philippines.

"I want to promote cultural bonding and friendship between different nationalities through this event. This is a great opportunity to increase understanding between cultures and combat stereotypes," said Mr Fazley, who came to Singapore eight years ago.

Indonesian domestic helper Menik Sri Suyati, 46, who performed two traditional Javanese songs and dances as part of a duo, said the event provided a platform to showcase her talent.

Ms Menik, who has been working here for 15 years, used to be a professional dangdut singer in Central Java. Dangdut is a genre of Indonesian music that is partly derived from Hindustani, Malay and Arabic music.

Bangladeshi worker Ahsan Habib Sohel, 27, belting out a song as a member of the Migrants’ Band, a group comprising mostly Bangladeshi workers, during a rehearsal for the Migrant Cultural Show. Yesterday evening, the band also collaborated with a group of Indonesian migrant workers in a music performance. One of the aims of the show is to provide opportunities for migrant workers to bond culturally and promote diversity and friendship. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

"I thought my singing career was over when I came to Singapore to work. But I made friends who also enjoy singing and started joining singing competitions," she said.

"Having this cultural show is a very good idea. We can see the traditions and cultures from different countries. I hope it's not just for today. Maybe every year, if possible."

Another performer, Ms Belen Esposo Repollo, 42, a Filipino domestic helper, said she felt proud to have shared her poems - about love - with the audience.

Filipino domestic worker Belen Esposo Repollo, 42, receiving applause from her employers, Mr Wee Yik Keong 43, a civil servant, and his wife Rina Wee, 40, also a civil servant, and their daughters Rae Ann, 11, and Mae Ann, eight, after reciting her poem Where Is Y?, which is about love. Ms Repollo, a poetry lover, took part in the Singapore Writers Festival last year. According to Mrs Wee, Ms Repollo has even influenced Rae Ann and Mae Ann to develop an interest in writing poems. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

She started reading and writing poetry in 2012, four years after arriving in Singapore. A friend introduced her to the International Poetry Society, an online community of poetry lovers, and poetry became her way of dealing with homesickness.

"Poetry is now my life. Without poetry, maybe I'll still be in a dark place. People have the impression that maids are lowly. We are not just here to work, but also to change our lives," she said.

With her savings, she has managed to raise her three children, aged 21, 20 and 16, back home in the town of Cabangan.

Migrant workers of various nationalities in traditional costumes from Indonesia, the Philippines, China, Myanmar and Bangladesh. They appeared on stage at yesterday’s show as part of a special segment on traditional costumes. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

Ms Repollo's employer, Mrs Rina Wee, 40, a civil servant, said poetry has been a good platform for Ms Repollo to express herself and be exposed to like-minded people.

"She's always looking to improve herself. We support her by giving her time off when necessary and she has been able to balance her interests with her housework," said Mrs Wee.

Staging the Migrant Cultural Show was not easy for its organisers, who had to overcome challenges such as securing sponsorship, finding a suitable venue and coordinating rehearsals with various performing groups.

Migrant workers of various nationalities in traditional costumes from Indonesia, the Philippines, China, Myanmar and Bangladesh. They appeared on stage at yesterday’s show as part of a special segment on traditional costumes. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

Mr Fazley and his organising committee plan to make the show an annual affair.

"We want to constantly provide this opportunity for migrant workers to bond over the arts," he said.

"More importantly, I want to show Singapore that migrant workers are not just workers, but also have passion in the different arts."