MyVoice issue HOME Singapore May 2012

I am delighted, even ecstatic, that at last we have launched ‘My VOICE’ an online newsletter of domestic workers, by domestic workers and for domestic workers. Thanks to the great team of domestic worker volunteers who wish to be the voice for the millions of domestic workers who are yet to be fully protected under national labor legislation.

With the adoption of the ILO C189 “Decent Work for Domestic Workers” in Geneva 2011, to date only one country – Uruguay – has ratified the convention. Domestic workers all over the world are demanding for their rights under ILO C189 and yet the demands may seem elusive as the world is spectator to women living with ‘no choice’ and vulnerability to labor exploitation and horrendous abuses.

Here in Singapore, we have more than 200,000 domestic workers, or one in five families employs a domestic worker. More than two decades, women from the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and India have left their homes to sacrifice for their own families. These women, or the modern heroes of slavery, do not enjoy the rights of workers because they are excluded from the Employment Act. As a result, they are not eligible for their rights as workers – overtime pay, public holidays, sick leave, maternity benefits and more.

My VOICE hopes only to be the voice for those who are dispossessed of their rights as women and as workers. Domestic Workers are WOMEN. Domestic Workers are WORKERS. My VOICE seeks to champion the rights of Domestic Workers under the Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the ILO C189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers.

My VOICE is our Voice for Justice and Freedom from Modern Day Slavery. Happy Mother’s Day!

With Love,

Sister Bridget

Our Voice for Justice and Freedom from Modern Slavery

From the heart of

From the heart of Bridget Tan

Page 2Finally – A mandatory day off!

BRIDGET TANFounder and PresidentHOME (Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics)

In thIS ISSueIce V

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@ H.O.M.E.

Page 2Helping us to be aware of our rights – A forum organized by HOME and the Philippine Embassy

Page 5Ban dangerous window-cleaning

Page 6Laughter, tears at International Women’s Day celebrations

Page 8Singapore Women’s Award

Page 9Training schools

Page 10World Kartini Day

Page 12Meet the My Voice Team

HOME (Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics)Peace Centre, 1 Sophia Road, #04-02/03, Singapore 228149 T: (65) 6348 9939 / 6836 5676 E: [email protected]

Voices for Freedom from Modern-Day Slavery

MAY 2012 Issue 1

On Sunday, March 18, 2012 the HOME team led by Bridget Tan, together with the Trojan Horse committee organized a forum with two officials from the Philippine Embassy. They were represented by Labor Attaché Rodolfo Sabulao and Jed Llona. It was the first such forum conducted by HOME and it turned out to be a huge success, attended by about 150 domestic workers, volunteers, and HOME staff.

The forum was organized especially for domestic workers in Singapore. It tackled matters such as employment contracts, days off, PAG-IBIG/SSS/PHILHEALTH memberships and even their rights while working here.

The crowd was entertained by Marissa de Guzman, a HOME staff in charge of human trafficking and exploitation. Her happy and witty disposition had the crowd laughing while waiting for the embassy officials to arrive.

Following that was a short speech from HOME founder Bridget Tan. “Sister Bridget”, as she is fondly known, pointed out that it is crucial for workers to be aware of their rights and the terms of their employment contracts

BY JULIET UGAY

A forum on our rights

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The Trojan Horse team. Clockwise: Sister Bridget, Juliet, Marissa, Lita and Myrna.

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BY JULIET UGAY

It has been a long-standing issue in Singapore on whether to give domestic workers a rest day.

It became a hot topic after the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) approved a weekly rest day for them effective January 2013. Domestic workers and Non-Governmental Organizations such as Humanitarian for Migration Economics (HOME), with their continuous effort in promoting worker’s rights rejoiced upon hearing the news. On the flip side however were bitter faces from some employers and people with selfish intentions.

This outcome comes as a huge success. to the many years of campaigning. There are about 200,000 domestic workers in Sin-gapore, mainly from the Philippines and Indonesia, and from other countries in the region. Only about 10% of them receive a weekly day off.

I can picture the happiness of an Indonesian girl I met a few years ago who had not stepped out her employer’s home in the four long years she has been in Singapore.

It’s a pity though that there are still many who disagree with giving helpers a day off. Their negative reactions were seen on the forum sections in newspapers and Internet chatrooms. The matter also came up for discussion in Parliament.

Some of the concerns raised included helpers having boy-friends and getting pregnant. The issue of having a boyfriend created a big stir among both employers and helpers.

Domestic workers are not kids and are entitled to their right to love and have relationships. For as long as they know their limitations and the terms of their employment, I do not see anything wrong with it.

According to HOME founder Bridget Tan, foreign domestic workers play an important role in the country’s economic de-velopment and it is only fair to give them their right to a rest day once a week, like ordinary workers in Singapore.

The majority of domestic workers who run away or those who have committed suicide have been those who get no days off.

MOM has given employers options like compensating domes-tic workers for not taking the off day, in case they need them to stay and work. The ministry would also only deduct half of the bond should the worker get pregnant or terminate the con-tract.

Finally – A mandatory rest day

Continued on Page 3

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and it is also important that they know about other government allied agencies such as PAG-IBIG, Phil Health and SSS which are also connected to the Overseas Foreign Worker (OFW). She said that it mattered a lot for workers to know what benefits, options, terms and conditions and services they get for being a member.

Vice Consul Jed Llona discussed some of the consular services offered by the Philippine Embassy in Singapore. He pointed out that Filipino citizens must acquire new e-passports as they have biometric information and are not subject to falsification of information, photo fraud and cheating.

The old passports, which are green in color, are not compliant to international regulations. The Vice Consul also discussed how the embassy assists its nationals in matters of police cases, prison visits, immigration violation cases, hospital visits, problems with civil registry documents (e.g. marriages, birth and baptismal certificates), legal advice, whereabouts (for lost nationals),referrals to appropriate offices/agencies and illegal recruitment and human trafficking.

The common problems that an Overseas Foreign Worker encounters in Singapore include

Right: Vice Consul Jed Llona discusses services offered by the Philippine Embassy.

Below: Jolovan Wham (HOME), Labor Attache Rudy Sabulao and Vice Consul Jed Llona.

Above: Forum participants and Above Right: Pro Bono Lawyer Lyn Uy

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It is crucial for workers to be aware of their rights and the terms of their employment contracts.

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Continued on Page 4

Trojan Horse team with vice consul and labor attaché. From left, Jel, Lita, Marina, Vice Consul Jed Llona, HOME President Bridget Tan, Labor Attaché Rudy Sabulao, Beth, Juliet, Montesa, and Myrna.

Participants at the Forum

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scams, theft, fraud, consumer protection, loans/debts, illegal recruitment and human trafficking, physical abuse, drugs, accidents, customs-related problems and health related concerns.

Labor Attaché Rodolfo Sabulao discussed the labor services for OFWs in Singapore which include accreditation of manpower agencies, verification of employment documents, OEC, processing and renewal of OWWA membership, processing of Pag-Ibig and SSS membership.

Mr Sabulao also talked about welfare services. These include counselling, conciliation/mediation with employers, hospital visits, and temporary shelter for distressed female workers, reintegration training program and repatriation services. He also mentioned the OWWA programs and services like scholarship grants, permanent disability benefits and death benefits. The last part of the event was an open forum where participants had the chance to ask questions about their concerns regarding employment contracts, day off, Pag-Ibig, OWWA, PhilHealth and SSS membership. Some girls shared unpleasant experiences with embassy staff which led to some useful discussion on how the embassy could treat customers better.

Marissa gives a brief on the forum.

HOME Gabriela members

Student volunteersKevin (HOME Volunteer), Lyn Uy (lawyer), Marissa (HOME), Montesa (HOME volunteer)

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BAN dangerous window cleaning!

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The Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics (HOME) has called the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to ban the cleaning of window exteriors and hanging laundry on bamboo poles from high-rise residences following eight accidental death falls of Indonesian Domestic Workers in the first quarter of 2012. According to reports, there were in the last 5 years, 27 domestic workers who died and 45 injured as a result of such accidental falls.

HOME‘s call is overwhelmingly supported by Indonesian and Filipino domestic workers of the HOME family. HOME Kartini and HOME Gabriela are the groups campaigning members to petition MOM to ban such unsafe domestic work. All petitions for the ban will be collected and sent to the Minister of State, Manpower by the end of May.

“This is serious as many victims have fallen and died and by calling for a ban, it is our hope that such accidents will not happen again,” said an Indonesian Domestic Worker.

HOME is targeting to collect 1000 petitions by end of May 2012. Support for HOME’s call came from Madam Halimah Yacob, Minister of State, MCYS, in her statement as Guest of Honor at a graduation event of the Indonesian Embassy Training Centre.

On May 1, the Straits Times reported that the Indonesian Embassy would ban new Indonesian Domestic Workers from cleaning window exteriors and hang-ing laundry on bamboo poles from high-rise apartments. As this call for a ban by HOME and the Indonesian Embassy gained tremendous public interest, an online poll was conducted by Yahoo which reported 76% of respondents agreeing to the ban. There were however others including the Association of Employment Agencies (AEAS) who did not support the call for a ban. They rec-ommended more safety training and using safer methods and tools to make the cleaning tasks safer.

However, Bridget Tan the President of HOME is firm in her position as posted on Facebook:“We are grateful to the Indonesian Government for supporting our ban on cleaning window exteriors and hanging laundry outside high-rise residences for newcomers... we ask the Indonesian Government to extend this ban to all domestic workers and we urge the Philippines to do likewise... finally the law in Singapore is under our jurisdic-tion ... so Singapore, do the right thing. Stop these accidents by enforcing a ban on the cleaning of window exteriors and hanging laundry on bamboo sticks from high rise residences!

You too can stop the killing of lives by sending your petition for a ban to [email protected].

BY RIsTA TANOur letter to the Straits Times Forum section

Dear Editor,

We are writing on behalf of HOME (Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics), a family of 8000 Indonesian and Filipino domestic workers employed in Singapore. We wish to express our sorrow over the the recent tragic death of yet another young Indonesian domestic worker, and the many others who have died before due to falls while cleaning windows or hanging laundry from high-rise buildings.

We feel sad thinking about how the families would feel when their loved one returns home in a coffin . Their families would have been looking forward to a better future and a better life, but all of that is rudely crushed with news of their death. Not only do we feel sad, we feel angered at the callousness of the employers. Surely merely cleaning windows or hanging laundry is not worth risking another person’s life?

We request employers not to instruct their domestic workers to clean windows in high-rise buildings. A little dust on a window is a small inconvenience and should not be a reason to place domestic worker’s life in danger. One life lost is too many, yet for the year 2012 alone, with only 4 months passed there have been six tragic deaths involving domestic workers. Are we going to keep counting? How many more lives will be lost by such menial acts?

Based on the number of accidental deaths of domestic workers over the years, we request MOM to impose an immediate ban on the cleaning of windows and the hanging of bamboo sticks for laundry in high-rise buildingd. Though untrue, some employers continue to believe that they will lose their bond if the domestic worker gets pregnant and therefore deny them the right to a rest day. What about employers who continue to endanger their domestic workers by flouting safety rules? Should they not lose their $5000 security bond and be banned from hiring domestic workers again?

We also urge our fellow domestic workers to say No to your employer if asked to do any dangerous work. Do not be afraid to tell your employer that your life is as precious as theirs.

On behalf of the HOME family,

Ristanti Ningrum and Juliet Ugay

lies back home a brighter future. According to these women, working in Singapore has taught them a lot about patience, hard work, and dedication and to be strong and positive no matter how hard life gets.

Ruby Cana then sang I Have a Dream and her melodic voice made the crowd sing with her.Seven women from the shelter also shared their personal experiences – stories of sexual,

Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics (HOME) celebrated International Women’s Day on March 4, 2012 at the Health Promotion Board building – an event filled with laughter, tears and excitement.

Home President Bridget Tan’s message touched on gender equality. She reiterated that gender equality is an equal representa-tion of women and men. It does not imply that women and men are the same but she pointed out that they have equal value and should be accorded equal treatment. She said that women are more prone to vulner-ability than men and as such, women are subjected to abuse, discrimination, human trafficking, wage disputes and reproductive health issues.

The speech was followed by testimonies from seven migrant women workers about their experiences working in Singapore. The seven women were Myra Sales, Loida Espora, Josette Falcorina, Lalaine Rapal, Leizl Minez, Lilis Sofiati, and Nur Fadillah. They talked about their role as a woman, as a mother, as a daughter and as domestic workers.

Some of them talked about their bad experi-ences while others spoke of being fortunate to have good employers.

These women endure homesickness, sacrific-es, pain and suffering just to give their fami-

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verbal and physical abuse from their employ-ers. . Most of the girls were very emotional as they recounted the incidents. One girl men-tioned being accused of stealing, another one said she was forced to do something that was against her religion. A moment of silence, tears and sympathy surrounded the room. After each testimony, the HOME angels sang, followed by the distribution of ‘bread’ and ‘roses’.

Laughter, tears at International

Women’s Day celebrations

The next part of the event was an audition for the upcoming Mother’s Day celebrations and was a great showcase for some amazing talent among our very own foreign workers from the Philippines and Indonesia.

There was lots of dancing, singing and sto-ry-telling The audition not only gave these women and men a chance to show their hidden talents but also a chance to be con-nected to their culture and their roots.

Despite the tears at the start, the event end-ed on a high note.

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More photos on Page 7

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BY JULIET UGAY

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Judges Ruby Cana, Jo-Anne of Body Shop and HOME volunteer Kevin Castro.

Rofel’s energetic moves had the audience on its feet.

Sarong dance by HOME Academy girls.

The Nightingale group ‘s belly dance

HOME Roses belt out Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’.

Indonesian cultural dance

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It was a moment we had all been waiting for. The MediaCorp Singapore Women’s Award night held at the Shangri-La Hotel on March 22, 2012 where our own Sister Bridget would be recognized for her amazing work. It was a very proud moment for all of us at HOME when Sister Bridget’s name was announced!

The annual event celebrates and honors extraordinary women who have made significant changes to the lives of others, have made recognizable contributions to society, and who have served as an inspiration to all.

Sister Bridget was hailed as the heroine who fights and campaigns unconditionally in promoting the rights of migrant workers, especially foreign domestic workers in Singapore and throughout the world. The other two nominees were Theresa Tan, a writer-editor and breast cancer survivor, and Cassandra Chiu, founder of the counselling practice The Safe Harbour and who is herself visually-impaired.

It was the first in the Singapore Women’s Award that all three nominees won. The event was attended by friends and family of the honorees, Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports Halimah Yacob, and staff of Mediacorp and Robinson’s.

On behalf of the migrant workers community, we proudly extend our congratulations and to Sister Bridget, our star, for winning the Singapore Women’s Award 2012.

Singapore Women’s Award for Sister Bridget

The annual event celebrates and honors extraordinary women who have made significant changes to the lives of others, have made recognizable contributions to society, and who have served as an inspiration to all.

Above: The Home Family with Minister for State for Community

Development, Youth and Sports Ms Halima Yacob.

Right: Bridget with Ms Yacob.

Left: The three winners of the Singapore Women’s Award 2012

– Theresa Tan, Bridget Tan, and Cassandra Chiu.

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An auditorium full of elegant kebayas and beautiful smiles – it was “World Kartini Day” (Tut Wuri Hardayani) on Sunday April 22, and HOME Kartini, representing more than 1000 Indonesian domestic workers, celebrated the life of a truly inspiring wom-an. Hosted by HOME, the event was held at the auditorium of the Health Promotion Board, Singapore.More than 200 people, not only from Indo-nesia but from the Philippines, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Singapore attended the event. There were foreign domestic workers and also expatriate employers, all beauti-fully dressed in traditional and modern ke-bayas.“Indonesian women in this modern era should play an active role, forward thinking, without forgetting their nature as a wom-an,” said Guest of Honour Enik Julistiowati, who is Head for the Learning Program Stu-dio Education Department at Batam. She added: “Although residing in other countries, we should use our time wisely in activities, to improve self-quality, nation, and country. There are many things that can be learned in Singapore, such as joining classes or become volunteers.”

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An inspiration to women around the world

Raden Ajeng Kartini (1879-1904), an Indonesian national heroine, was a pioneer in women’s rights and women’s education in Indonesia. Born to an aristrocratic Javanese family from Jepara, Kartini was allowed to attend school only until she was 12 years old after which she was ‘secluded’ at home, a common practice among the nobility to prepare a young girl for marriage. Fortunately she learned to read Dutch and even during her seclusion, she continued to educate herself through books, newspapers and European magazines which fed her interest in European femi-nist thinking, fostering the desire to improve the conditions of Indonesian women, who at that time had a very low social status. Kartini’s concerns were not only in the area of the emancipation of women, but also other problems in society. Kartini saw that the struggle for women to obtain their freedom, au-tonomy and legal equality was just part of a wider movement.Against her own wishes, but to appease her ailing father, Kartini married Joyoningrat, the Regency Chief of Rembang. Her husband understood Kar-tini’s aims and allowed her to establish a school for women in the east porch of the Rembang Regency Office complex. Kartini’s only son was born on 13 September 1904. A few days later on 17 September 1904, Kartini died at the age of 25. She was buried in Bulu Village, Rembang.Inspired by R.A. Kartini’s example, the Van Deventer family established the R.A. Kartini Foundation which built schools for women, ‘Kartini’s Schools’ in Sema-rang in 1912, followed by other women’s schools in Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Malang, Madiun, Cire-bon and other areas.

HOME Founder Bridget Tan, recipient of MediaCorp’s Singapore Women Award 2012 for her dedication to migrant workers in Sin-gapore, highlighted that the World Kartini event is to celebrate the rich traditions and cultures of Indonesia and to celebrate Indo-nesia’s R.A. Kartini as a heroine not only for Indonesian women but also for all women in the world.The event was made more inspiring with the presence from Nunung Hartati (26), an Indonesian domestic worker from Cilacap, Central Java, who is a published author, writing prolifically under the pen name Anung De Lizta while working in Singapore for a single employer for 11 years. Among the entertaining traditional dances and songs was the audience favourite ‘Miss Kartini 2012 Contest’. Every contestant was in a beautiful kebaya, and was judged not just on beauty but on talent as well. In a show of solidarity towards the Indo-nesian celebration, more than 30 Filipinas joined Bridget Tan to sing “Bengawan solo” to honor Indonesia’s famous river.“World Kartini Day” was a celebration to unite us with the spirit of Kartini – a spirit of independence and courage – to work for In-donesian migrant workers wherever we go.

WORLD KARTINI DAY

A pioneer in women’s rights

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BY RIsTA TAN

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Indonesian women in this modern era should play an active role, forward thinking, without forgetting their nature as a woman. Although residing in other countries, we should use our time wisely in activities, to improve self-quality, nation, and country. – Guest of Honour Enik Julistiowati

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World Kartini event is to celebrate the rich traditions and cultures of Indonesia and to celebrate Indonesia’s R.A. Kartini as a heroine not only for Indonesian women but also for all women in the world.

– Bridget Tan

TRAINING SCHOOLS FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS

HOME AcAdEMy

Caregiver, aromatheraphy, baking, cooking, cosmetology, dress making

Peace Centre 1 Sophia Road, #04-02/03 Singapore 228149 T: 65 6348/9939/68365676 E: [email protected]

2 Nassim Road, Singapore 258370 T: 65 6732 5434 E: [email protected]

43 Pasir Panjang Road Singapore 118503 T: 6834 1378 6472 2954 E: [email protected]

02-17 Fook Hai Building 150 South Bridge Road Singapore 058727 E: [email protected] website: www.neovitagroup.com

9 Norris Road #02-01 Little India Singapore 208252 T:6299 4221 (Ms Annette Lang)

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Cooking course

Cooking, Baking

Computer course (computer fundamentals, fun with emailing, microsoft excell 2003 basic/advanced, microsoft power-point basic/advance, microsoft word), cookery course, cooking course, foot massage

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Computer training programme (basic computer training, intermediate computer training, advanced computer training, photoshop, web design, java, UNIX system, Auto CADD), Perl Programming Training, VBScript Programming Training, entrepre-neurship and business managemet, caregiver training programme, english training programme, food and beverage services training, lodging management programme

Dressmaking, basic computer, nursing aide, hair and beauty care, guitar lesson, aromatheraphy, basic englishcourse, cook-ing course, foot massage

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gO FORtH tRAInIng SERvIcES 304 Orchard Rd, # 03-93 Lucky Plaza, Singapore 238863T: 6734 7889 Website: www.goforthtraining.com

Baking basic / intermediate / advanced, caregiver, computer, basic dressmaking, international cuisine, basic English, hair-dressing, small business enterprise

ARcHdIOcESAn cOMMISSIOn FOR tHE pAStORAL cARE OF MIgRAntS And ItEnERAnt pEOpLE (AcMI)

11Hillside Drive (off Upper Serangoon Rd) Singapore 549115 T 62848797 E: [email protected]

First Aid Course

FIRSt AId tRAInIng Singapore Red Cross Society 15 Penang Lane Red Cross House Level 3 Singapore 63360269 Website: www.redcross.org.sg

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Have Your Say

This newsletter is about YOU. This is YOUR space. Write in if you have a story to tell, a burning issue you wish to discuss, or a funny anecdote you want to share.

We will be accepting articles, to be selected for publication by our Editorial Board. Feedback, letters, articles, reviews, recipes – we’d love to hear from you.

Submissions can be sent [email protected] and marked ‘Have Your Say’.

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Coffee Break

To save trees we circulate an online newsletter only. If, however, you wish to receive a printed version, do write to us at [email protected]

The Editorial Board

Editor

Juliet Ugay

Sub Editors

Rista Tan

Anung D’Lista

Janet A. Peremne

The Advisory Board

Art DirectionRinkoo Bhowmik Editorial ResourceDesiree Pakiam Policy & MissionBridget Tan

THE TEAM

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HOME Directory Principal Office: 1 Sophia Road, #04-02/03 Peace Centre, Singapore 228149. Telephone No. 6836 5676 Fax 6337 5056 Branch Office: 304 Orchard Road, #06-22 Luckcky Plaza, Singapore 238863.Telephone No. 6333 8384 24 Hour Toll Free Hotline: 1800 7 977 977Email: [email protected] Website www.home.org.sg

MyVoice issue HOME Singapore May 2012

Documents

Transcript of MyVoice issue HOME Singapore May 2012