Opening Remarks at Centre for Domestic Employees International Migrants Day Event – “Empowering Me”
Ms Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State for Manpower, Resorts World Sentosa Convention Centre
NTUC President Sister Thana,
Advisor of USME and Migrant Workers Segment Brother Guat Kwang,
Director of Migrant Workers Segment Brother Michael,
Partners,
My fellow colleagues from Ministry of Manpower,
Brothers and sisters,
Introduction
1. Good morning, everyone! I am very glad to celebrate International Migrants Day with all of you again this year. Thank you, Centre for Domestic Employees or CDE, for organizing today’s event and bringing joy to so many of our migrant domestic workers and giving out free tickets to the S.E.A. Aquarium. I enjoy the S.E.A. aquarium, so do my children and I hope that it will bring you a lot of memories and fun looking at the sea creatures and being connected with nature.
Migrant Domestic Workers (MDWs) and their contributions
2. To our migrant domestic workers, I want to thank you for your invaluable contributions to many households in Singapore. I know that many of you help to take care of families, including young children and the elderly, and also helping with many of the household duties at home. Without you, Singapore families will have a lot more to do for ourselves and for those at home. You play a significant role in our society, as about one in five households employ a migrant domestic worker. A big round of applause for our migrant domestic workers!
Empowering and supporting MDWs
3. CDE is a key partner of the Ministry of Manpower, in supporting the well-being of migrant domestic workers. CDE provides channels of assistance for you through the three CDEConnect Centres at Pasir Panjang, Tampines and Woodlands, and through many touchpoints in the community.
4. CDE helps to facilitate conversations, providing assistance or advice for stronger employer-employee relationships, and ensure that you are settling-in well in your new homes. Through the Domestic Employees Welfare Fund, CDE also provides financial, medical and legal support to migrant domestic workers who need it.
5. The theme for today’s event is very apt, as CDE “empowers you” by supporting your growth and well-being. Through CDE’s regular activities and workshops such as arts and crafts, digital literacy, and financial literary, you can perform your roles with more confidence, become more aware of your mental well-being, and embrace the importance of self-care. I know that many of you also play your part in looking out for one another including your fellow sister migrant domestic workers.
6. I am heartened to hear of many ongoing initiatives. This includes CDE’s partnership with Healthcare Academy to pilot an eldercare training programme for migrant domestic workers in their native languages, as well as upcoming plans to offer Mandarin, Hokkien and even Cantonese dialect courses. These language lessons will help to improve communication skills between migrant domestic workers and employers as well as other household members. In the leadup to the celebrations today, CDE has also been conducting events such as yoga, gardening, and cooking, for migrant domestic workers to de-stress and relax. I commend CDE for supporting the holistic well-being of our migrant domestic workers.
Partnering the community to provide greater support for MDWs
7. I am also encouraged to know that more community partners are coming forward to collaborate and provide greater support for our migrant domestic workers, such as the partnership between Silver Ribbon and CDE to be signed later today. This collaboration will provide migrant domestic workers with access to free counselling services, among other things like mental health workshops and mental health support. This complements MOM’s efforts, such as our helpline for distressed MDWs, who can reach out to native speakers if they just need someone to talk to.
8. As we embark on these efforts, it is ever more important to have our employers on board with us. I know that there are some employers who are here today to support the migrant domestic workers. I thank the employers for taking care of your migrant domestic workers and for making them feel like a part of the family when they are working and living far away from their own homes, and for supporting MOM and CDE’s efforts.
Conclusion
9. A harmonious relationship between migrant domestic workers and their employers will make life better not just for the migrant domestic workers, but also can go a long way in supporting good relationships with employer and the family the migrant domestic worker is taking care of. MOM will continue to work closely with community partners, employers, and volunteers and many of the community organisations to improve and strengthen the ecosystem of support for our migrant domestic workers.
10. Once again, I would like to express my deepest appreciation to CDE and their partners like Silver Ribbon, Singapore Red Cross, The Salvation Army, Singtel and DBS – for working together to improve the well-being of our migrant domestic workers.
11. Finally, to all our migrant domestic workers who are here today, please enjoy your day and Happy International Migrants Day! Thank you, and have a great celebration today!