Topic: Rights of migrant workers' and their plight as second class citizens

Moderator:
Sha (Transient Workers Count Too TWC2)

Translator:
Sreyashi Sen

Panelists:
Abdul Based Late Nurul Islam (Representative from Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics HOME)
John Gee (Representative from Transient Workers Count Too TWC2)
Jolovan Wham (Representative from Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics HOME)
Shaun Teo (Representative from Migrant Voices )
Shelley Thio (Representative from Transient Workers Count Too TWC2)


Estimated Duration: 210 mins

===
About The Films:

(1) Breaking Labour
The documentary traces the migrant workers who suffered in detention camps in Malaysia. It tells the stories of those who are still struggling in Malaysia seeking for justice. The documentary reveals the dreams of potential migrant workers and their hope of a better life. This documentary chronicles the quest for survival in and out of detention camps of migrant workers from Bangladesh, India and Indonesia.

Presented by Tenaganita, a non-governmental organization in Malaysia that works towards the welfare of migrant workers.


Director: Tenaganita
Genre: Documentary
Running time: 55 mins
Year: -
Country: Malaysia
Language: Bengali, English and Malay with English subtitles


(2) Migrant Workers Left in Lurch
The film is raw but carries a strong message. It shows the lives of migrant workers in Singapore, with emphasis on their living conditions and the lack of welfare. Though a series of interviews conducted with the migrant workers, other issues such as lack of meals and unpaid labour is also highlighted. The employer gets confronted in the film and his reaction is...

Director: Shelley Thio
Genre: Documentary
Running time: 8 mins
Year: 2009
Country: Singapore
Language: Bengali, English and Malay with English subtitles


(3) Plight of the Migrant Workers
This film supplements "Migrant Workers Left in the Lurch", furthering the issue of migrant workers in Singapore being subjected to substandard living conditions. "Plight of the Migrant Workers" takes us into the workers' dormitories, where living standards are being compromised. Workers are not paid for their labour and are not taken care of. The negligence on the part of the employers led to the death of one migrant worker. His life could have been saved if...

Director: Shelley Thio
Genre: Documentary
Running time: 8 mins
Year: 2009
Country: Singapore
Language: Hindi with English subtitles

===
Organization Information:

About TWC2
Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) is a Singaporean society concerned with the well being of migrant workers. Since 2003, we have promoted the rights and welfare of workers and good relations between migrant workers and employers. TWC2 believes that sound information and understanding are basic foundations for promoting change for the better.

The most effective responses to existing difficulties will be those based on investigation and study that produces realistic assessments of the migrant workers’ role and conditions, looks at the needs and expectations of all the parties concerned and clarifies what the problem areas are. We therefore undertake and encourage research. We believe that prevention is better than cure. Changes in public attitudes, in the practices of agencies and official bodies in Singapore and workers’ home countries, as well as in laws and regulations, could improve life for both workers and employers. By seeking to bring about these changes, we hope that the conditions that lead to many an experience of unhappiness and injustice can be removed or improved.

This is what TWC2 means when we talk about advocacy. It is central to our work. We deal with problems of here and now: the kind that won’t wait for research to be concluded, attitudes to change or rules to be re-written.

We do this through our direct services. Since December 2006, we have operated a helpline service. Since March 2008, we have worked with development charity, ONE (Singapore) to provide free meals to workers without regular incomes through the Cuff Road Project. Through these channels and others, TWC2 has been able to offer sound advice and practical help to thousands of workers in desperate situations. TWC2 was the winner of the National Voluntary Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) New Non-Profit Initiative 2005. We are registered as a charity with the National Council of Social Services (NCSS).

About H.O.M.E
The Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (HOME) is a registered society and charity dedicated to the migrant community in Singapore. We work with government agencies, civic groups and other partners through advocacy and public education. At the same time, HOME responds to displaced and destitute migrants with welfare programmes and skills training for employability and livelihood development

Our Mission
To develop research and education on the socio-economics of migration
To provide social integration services for emigrants and immigrants
To develop humanitarian assistance for the effects of crisis migration

Our Programmes
Shelter and food for abused female and male migrant workers
Helpline/Help desk
Legal assistance
Research
Outreach and advocacy through public education, campaigns, and dialogues with partners and other stakeholders
Training courses for knowledge building and skills enhancement


About Migrant Voices
Migrant Voices is a registered arts society that runs art events and programmes for the migrant worker community in Singapore to use as a platform of expression. This society grew out of the realisation that many migrant workers turn to the arts as a release from their personal and work stresses. Migrant workers leave behind families and deep kinship ties to work here, in order to provide a better life for their loved ones. They are work permit holders such as domestic workers, construction workers and road sweepers who cook for our families, care for our elderly, clean our streets and build our homes. Bringing these different migrant workers together, we hope to share an insight of their life through the arts. This project was inspired by the Migrant Voices CD project which was an effort by volunteers and active partner organisations like The Necessary Stage and Music For Good. The result was a CD compilation filled with tracks by different migrant bands (Filipino, Thai, Indian and Indonesian) who worked hard on it. The CD eventually saw a launch at the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival at the Esplanade. Migrant Voices is a registered arts group with the Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts (MICA). We were a recipient of a grant under Young Changemakers, a subsidiary of the National Youth Council.