Civil Society 1, Government 0

Yesterday, this turned up in my NUSmail inbox:

Towards a Caring, Dignified and Professional Working Environment: Foreign
Domestic Workers in Singapore

Panelists:
- Dr Noorashikin Abdul Rahman, Fellow at Institute of Southeast Asian Studies
(ISEAS)
- Mr Ho Siong Hin, Divisional Director of Ministry of Manpower
- Miss Braema Mathi, Chairman of Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2)
- Mrs Bridget Lew, Director of Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics
(HOME)
- Mr Chew Kim Whatt, author of Foreign Maids: the complete handbook for
employers and maid agencies

Why are Foreign Domestic Workers excluded from the Employment Act?

What are the legislation in place to regulate their wages?

What are the organizations that Foreign Domestic workers can seek help from?

As Singapore plugs herself into the capitalistic node of global forces, foreign talents remain an important resource in our economic persuasions. What is usually ignored or forgotten by society, is the 150, 000 foreign domestic workers (FDWs) that work silently in the domestic household. Indeed, for every sensationalized report of abuse in the media, there are many more "quiet indignities" behind the closed doors of our households.

Why it should concern you?

In conjunction with USP and Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), a group of students is organizing a forum to raise awareness amongst the NUS community in the political, economic and social climate of Singapore that surround the wage issues of the FDW.

If you want to know more about the legislation, policies and institutions that are in place to protect migrant workers in Singapore, and have a better understanding of civil society at large, we hope to see you at our forum.

And today, I receive this:

Dear students, faculty and staff

Please kindly note the
following updates with regards to the forum on foreign domestic workers in
Singapore:

(1) The venue will now be the xxxxxx.
(2) The panelist from Ministry of Manpower has withdrawn from the forum.
(3) If you wish to attend this forum, please do confirm your attendance with xxxxxx.

Thank you very much.