People say the way Singapore treat our migrants is “third-world”.
And there are reports of workers being closed off from the rest of Singapore in dirty, cramped spaces.
But is the way we treat our migrant workers, who helped to build the backbone of Singapore, really third-world?
Does everyone in Singapore do it?
You’ll be surprised at the lengths that inter-agency teams have gone to help keep their charges safe and well.
Forward Assurance and Support Team (Fast)
On 9 Apr 2020, Manpower Minister Josephine Teo spoke about the formation of Fast teams which were deployed all across Singapore to help manage daily necessities and ensure cleanliness and hygiene practices at 43 dormitories across Singapore.
Each team is formed out of 9 people from MOM, the police and the SAF.
Their job is to ensure the well-being of our migrant workers and take care of their daily needs.
Food Tasting, Hiring of Chef & Making Things Possible
One of the teams deployed to a Tampines dormitory realised that the layout of the place doesn’t allow for mass distribution of food and other necessities.
So they set up a tent 20m by 30m big to serve as a distribution centre where they hand out hand sanitisers, thermometers and masks.
To help in overcoming the language barrier, operators helped to identify English-speaking residents for the team members.
A WhatsApp chat group was also set up with the workers.
In Westlite Papan dormitory, the Fast team ensures that the food provided is acceptable to the residents.
And they do so by arranging food-tasting sessions with workers of different nationalities who will give feedback to the team.
A Bangladeshi chef was also appointed by the Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC) to cook for his fellow countrymen.
WiFi Access & Remittance Services
Just because they’ve stopped working doesn’t mean that the world comes to a standstill. People still needed to eat and workers still have to remit money back to their families.
The Fast team at Tampines managed to obtain approval to allow a remittance team into the compound to help workers send money back to their country.
WiFi hotspots were also set up in workers’ rooms so that they can be kept occupied while on lockdown.
And while workers are provided essentials like masks and hand sanitisers, they still need other things like soap and washing powder.
Which is why the team set up an arrangement where workers can place orders with a minimart within their compound and pay via bank transfer.
Goods will be directly delivered once payment is made.