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In celebration of the International Migrants Day (IMD) on 18 December, the Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC) is organising a series of activities both at the MWC Recreation Club @ Soon Lee (RC) and online to celebrate our migrant workers’ hard work and contributions to our economy and society; and take care of their needs and welfare. At the RC, MWC will distribute care packs, meals and vouchers for use at the RC food court and supermarket to migrant workers, with partners of MWC setting up booths so that migrant workers have a one-stop access to essential services. On 19 December, MWC will also host a hybrid virtual show for migrant workers.
To strengthen and build upon the support and protection that MWC has offered to migrant workers through the COVID-19 pandemic, NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng, who was at the RC on 18 December to distribute the meals and vouchers to migrant workers, also unveiled plans by MWC to introduce a new MWC Associate Membership for migrant workers, which will be available for registration from the first quarter of 2022.
MWC’s strengthening of support and protection for migrant workers
Even before the start of the pandemic, MWC has been championing the rights and interests of migrant workers and taking care of their evolving needs. Over the last two years, MWC focused efforts aimed at providing migrant workers with workplace protection, mental health and wellbeing support, including Project Dawn. As a trusted partner of the government and employers to support migrant workers, MWC has been ensuring that migrant workers are able to get prompt assistance and advice for any issues they may face at the workplace.
Building on this momentum to further protect and strengthen the support for migrant workers, the MWC will be rolling out the MWC Associate Membership in the first quarter of 2022. The MWC Associate Membership is aligned with the aspirations of NTUC to serve more groups of workers, by evolving its protection, welfare and benefits for them. The new MWC Associate Membership will be introduced in two phases, with the initial rollout targeted at newly arrived migrant workers under the Settling-in Programme (SIP) for work permit holders, followed by all other migrant workers who are already in Singapore from 2022.
Guest-of-Honour for the IMD celebrations on 18 December, NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng said, “MWC has embarked on the journey to take ground feedback from migrant workers and address their needs through a membership tailored to their lifestyle. The rollout of a new, fully digital membership app for migrant workers reflects NTUC's continued commitment to help migrant workers. They will enjoy benefits ranging from training and upgrading, telco, medical and employment agency services, and access affordable insurance against workplace injuries or accidents.”
MWC Associate Membership benefits for migrant workers
Under the MWC Associate Membership, migrant workers in Singapore can expect to enjoy the following benefits and features. For more details on the benefits and partners of the membership, please refer to Annex A.
a. Insurance coverage
Under NTUC Income, members are protected with a group term life insurance against critical illnesses, death, and non-work-related accidental total and permanent disability.
b. Training and upgrading
To support members with continuous skills training and upskilling, members will be able to enjoy special rates of up to $50 off, for selected courses related to the construction, marine and process (CMP) sectors via the NTUC LearningHub and receive accredited certification training.
c. Exclusive benefits on essential services
Members will get to enjoy exclusive benefits by Singtel and employment agency services offered by Aptiv8, and GP consultation fee of $15 provided by Raffles Medical.
d. Fully digital membership
Members will have 24/7 access to the fully digital app, allowing them to do many things digitally via the app, from signing up for the membership, to staying up to date with the latest advisories and events, and get notifications about the latest lifestyle/retail benefits that would be relevant to their lifestyle. Additionally, members will also be able to get in touch with MWC for assistance or advice directly through the app.
e. Subsidised MWC Associate Membership fee
To encourage more migrant workers to sign up for the membership, MWC will be subsidising more than half of the membership fee for the first year. At $24 a year, members will only have to pay $6. Newly arrived migrant workers under the SIP will enjoy a full subsidy from MWC for the first six months.
MWC shows appreciation to migrant workers on International Migrants Day
As part of the IMD activities organised by MWC at the RC, a total of 6,500 meals; vouchers for the RC’s food court and supermarket valued at $30,000; 3,000 care packs with items such as masks, toiletries and dry food rations, were distributed to migrant workers between 12 and 19 December 2021. To provide migrant workers with convenient access to telco and employment agency services at the RC, physical booths were also set up by MWC’s partners, who have worked with MWC over the years to support the migrant worker community, including Singtel, SPF, APTIV8, POSB and the Workplace Safety and Health Council (WSHC).
MWC Chairman Yeo Guat Kwang said, “The International Migrants Day celebrations are organised by MWC for migrant workers and by CDE for migrant domestic workers to bring cheer and a piece of home to them by offering food and performances that they are familiar with. Over the past two years, MWC went the extra mile to develop the new MWC Associate Membership for migrant workers, in support of the Labour Movement’s objectives to serve more groups of workers. We aim to have 100,000 migrant workers sign up for the membership within a year of its launch in first quarter 2022, and we look forward to providing a 100-day report of the membership by the second quarter of next year.”
On 19 December, MWC will also host a hybrid virtual celebration for IMD from 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm on MWC Facebook page (
https://www.facebook.com/mwcsg). The show will feature performances by talents from South Asia, lucky draws for the migrant workers, and virtual interviews with migrant workers to hear about their life experiences working here. 20 MWC Grassroots Ambassadors will also be presented with the annual recognition award to recognise their active participation in the events organised by the MWC. The award is a testament to their outstanding contributions to the migrant worker community, particularly, for having gone above and beyond to help fellow workers during the pandemic.
In recognition of the migrant workers’ hard work throughout the pandemic as well as their patience and resilience in complying with the government’s regulations on migrant workers living in dormitories, NTUC FairPrice donated hand sanitisers, canned food products, vitamins and supplements valued at a total of $1.8 million to take care of the welfare and wellbeing of our migrant workers. On 18 December at the RC and on behalf of NTUC FairPrice, NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng, presented these care items to Dormitory Association Singapore Limited (DASL) Alfred Lee (1st Vice-President), which represents most of the larger dormitories in Singapore and houses up to 80% of the migrant workers in Singapore.
Commenting on the donation, Group Chief Executive Officer of FairPrice Group, Seah Kian Peng said, “FairPrice Group joins the community in appreciating our migrant workers and commemorates International Migrants Day by extending our solidarity and support to them. We hope that the sponsored care initiative – comprising hand sanitisers, canned food, vitamins and supplements, will further serve to help safeguard their well-being and welfare."
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