Chronology

2008

18th March: First free breakfast served to migrant workers in need as part of the Cuff Road Project; by the end of 2008, it provides for over 300 workers a week. (TWC2 and ONE-Singapore)

1st May: Launch of joint 2008 ‘Day Off’ educational campaign (UNIFEM-Singapore, HOME, TWC2), in favour of a regular day off for all domestic workers.

29th June: ‘You Can Make a Difference’, first TWC2 capacity-building workshop, held in Little India, with ILO sponsorship.

19th October: ‘Stand Up and Party with TWC2’: social including ‘Stand Up’ element as part of ONE-Singapore initiative.

7th December: second TWC2 capacity-building workshop, held at The Substation, with ILO sponsorship.


2007

26th May: Redesigned, more user-friendly website launched.

10th July: ‘Migrant Workers: Turn Words into Action’ statement on ASEAN policies towards migrant workers released.

6th August: Partnership of British Council, Migrant Voices (MV), Singapore Film Society and TWC2 shows Nick Broomfield’s film ‘Ghosts’ at Golden Village, Vivocity. Proceeds to Morecambe Bay Victims’ Fund, MV and TWC2.

1st November: Seminar on ‘Migrant Workers and Their Legal Issues,’ co-organised by TWC2 and the NUS Pro Bono Group, with the co-operation of Law Society.

15th-16th December: Weekend of International Migrants’ Day events includes TWC2-HOME joint distribution of ‘Day Off’ leaflets on Orchard Road, Migration Film Festival (MV, HOME, TWC2), a futsal tournament in Queenstown attended by 300 people (TWC2, HOME, NTUC) and a forum theatre presentation (MV, HOME).

2006

 18th February: ‘Dignity Overdue', edited by John Gee and Elaine Ho and offering an account of TWC2's 2003 campaign, as well as the results of its research, is launched.
 
 5th March: TWC2 organises and facilitates the forum ‘Remaking Our World: Foreign Domestic Workers Speak' as part of the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival. It focuses on the recreational interests of the workers and the issue of time off.
 
  18th September: Release of TWC2 report, ‘Debt, Delays and Deductions: Wage Issues Faced by Foreign Domestic Workers in Singapore. It is based on interviews and research conducted earlier in the year.

  17th December: TWC2 marks International Migrants’ Day with a celebration at which 19 people who have gone through our first helpline training programme are honoured. The launch of the Helpline is announced by guest of honour, Halima Yaqob (MP for Jurong GRC and Assistant Secretary of NTUC). Afterwards, gifts are distributed to over 5000 workers, along with a pocket calendar bearing the help line number.

 2005

 2nd January: ‘Hands Across the Island, Hearts Across the Seas'-TWC2 and partners mark their solidarity with all the migrant workers who suffered losses and anxiety as a result of the 24th December tsunami.

 29th May: TWC2 and HOME hold joint ‘Memorial for an Unknown Worker' after the employers of a construction worker from Myanmar dump his body in a car park in an attempt to hide their employment of illegal workers. Just before the memorial event, he is identified as 24-year old Ko Soe Thein, nicknamed Ah Nya.

 13th July: ‘A Study on Indonesian Domestic Workers in Singapore'. TWC2 and the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies organise a seminar addressed by Sri Palupi, Executive Director of the Institute for Economic and Social Rights, Jakarta.

 24th November: The National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre presents TWC2 with its New Non-profit Initiative Award.

 18th December: International Migrants' Day Sports Carnival organised by TWC2 and partners. It is held at Queenstown Stadium and draws 3000 participants, most of them domestic workers. TWC2‘s ‘Where to get help' cards (English and Indonesian versions) published.

 2004

 At the beginning of the year, those who wish to continue The Working Committee 2's work decide to apply for the registration of a successor group as a society. Preserving the TWC2 initials, the society is to be called Transient Workers Count Too.

 18th August: TWC2 gazetted as an officially registered society.

 31st December: ‘Mutual Respect-Building a Good Working Relationship with Your Domestic Worker' is published. Prepared by Noor bte Abdul Rahman and Beatriz P. Lorente, it is a handbook aimed at employers.

 2003

 23rd January: TWC2's statement of aims finalised.

 14th February: Press conference announces formation of The Working Committee 2 (TWC2) and outlines its aims and plans.

 9th March: ‘Domestic Workers Speak': TWC2's public launch. 120 people attend the forum held at the National Library. Three domestic workers (Filipina, Indonesian and Sri Lankan and TWC2 Chairperson, Braema Mathi, are the speakers.

 19th April and 5th May: Internal workshops, for TWC2 members, discuss the papers prepared by the five research groups.

 17th May: TWC2-The New Paper (TNP) Hotline takes calls on foreign domestic worker related issues. Aimed mainly at employers. TNP sponsors a prize for the most constructive feedback and publishes related story.

 1st July: Closed door dialogue with various interested parties in the foreign domestic worker issue held by the Institute of Policy Studies.

 5th July: ‘Maid in Singapore: The Foreign Domestic Worker Issue, Its Cultural Dimensions and Alternatives' - TWC2-Singapore Council of Women's Organisations Public Forum. It aims to reach out to career women who are already, or may become, employers of domestic workers.

 5th-10th September: ‘The houseWORK project', an exhibition involving 16 artists, is held at the Alliance Francaise de Singapour. It looks at attitudes towards housework, including how both the work and those who perform it are undervalued.

 13th September: Youth Forum at Victoria Junior College (VJC), organised jointly by Global Positioning-VJC and TWC2.

 5th October: ‘Sundays Off' event held in conjunction with Kampong Ubi Greenville Residents' Committee.

 23rd October: Prizes are presented to the winners of ‘The Maid at Home' children's essay competition at a ceremony at Bedok Community Library. Over 2000 students from 40 schools submitted essays.

 24th October-2nd November: ‘A Day Off' photo exhibition shown at Toa Payoh Bus Interchange.

 17th November-14th December: Photo exhibition travels around the community libraries at Ang Mo Kio, Bedok and Bukit Batok and to Woodlands Regional Library, with the backing of the National Library Board.

 25th November: International Day Against Violence Against Women, when men opposed to violence against women are asked to wear a white ribbon. Original target date for the end of TWC2's public education campaign. No permit granted for a march to be held, but 60,000 ribbons - voluntarily made by the inmates of Jalan Awam Prison - were distributed in advance or on the day.  


 2002

 The first discussions that lead to TWC2 being formed take place in the middle of the year.

 11th October: First formal meeting. Five areas for research identified and groups launched to work on them. Their papers will provide a strong basis for the public education campaign that the group plans to launch in 2003.

 

Please note: A chronology such as this only provides a limited glimpse of what TWC2 does. Much of our work, such as answering appeals for advice and help, providing information to the media and consulting with other organisations and institutions concerned with migrant worker issues, is not reflected in it. In 2008, we provided practical support for thousands of workers and produced new information materials, including updated help leaflets and a general information leaflet.