What you can do to help migrant workers affected by COVID-19 in Singapore

As Singapore goes into circuit breaker mode today (Apr 7), several foreign worker dormitories have been declared as isolation areas due to the spike in COVID-19 cases.

Two dormitories, Toh Guan Dormitory and S11 Dormitory @ Punggol, have been gazetted as isolation areas, while a new cluster at Kranji Lodge has emerged.

Over 20,000 foreign workers are currently quarantined in their rooms for the next 14 days to avoid the spread of COVID-19. Movement is restricted within the dormitories, and workers have been advised to “cease social interactions” with others who are not residing in the same room or floor.

Amidst these worrying developments, many Singaporeans have come forward offering their help. Here are some ways you can help while still keeping to safe distancing measures:

1. Help Project Chulia Street raise funds for their ‘Coronavirus Prevention Care Packets’ 

Non-profit group Project Chulia Street is raising funds to prepare and distribute their Coronavirus Prevention Care Packets (CPCP) to 38,000 migrant workers in Singapore.

Each Care Packets includes essentials such as shampoo, soap, hand sanitisers, masks and top up prepaid phone cards. Donations start at $10, which helps one migrant worker receive a care packet.

2. Help ItsRainingRaincoats purchase data cards for migrant workers 

After receiving tremendous support from those hoping to help, local volunteer group ItsRainingRaincoats is encouraging Singaporeans to purchase data cards to help migrant workers stay connected “in these uncertain times”.

These data cards, which costs $10 each, will be donated to migrant workers in the coming few weeks.

3. Help Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) top-up migrant workers’ prepaid SIM cards 

Another non-profit organisation, Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), is also looking for donors to help them raise money for migrant workers to top-up their prepaid SIM cards.

In their Facebook post, TWC2 wrote that “there are many migrant workers with zero balance in their prepaid card, or insufficient funds for a data plan.”

4. Donate to HOME 

Singapore-based charity Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (HOME) is looking for donations to support its efforts to prepare cleaning supplies, sanitisers and masks for migrant workers.

While their drop-in helpdesks will not be operating till May 4 due to the circuit breaker measures, you can support their work with migrant workers via cash donations.

Head here for more info.