International Migrants Day 2022 Statement

18 December 2022

18 December is International Migrants’ Day. On this day in 1990, the United Nations adopted the Migrant Workers’ Convention.*

The Convention reminds us to respect all migrants’ human rights and fundamental freedoms. As a destination country receiving migrant workers, we are responsible to ensure they get adequate labour and social protections. They leave behind their families and young children to take on work that many Singaporeans shun, for long hours and low wages. 

 The COVID-19 pandemic has strongly reinforced the fact that migrant workers are an indispensable part of our community. Post-COVID, we should reflect on our society’s mindset and protections for migrant workers’ fundamental rights. HOME observes that pre-COVID issues were exacerbated and new problems have surfaced due to the lack of implementation and enforcement of laws protecting their rights. 

 As a silver lining, the pandemic did  increase awareness of issues faced by migrant workers. Local residents make greater efforts to appreciate and integrate migrant workers. 

 Recognising migrant workers’ hard work and contributions is important. But we need to go further and address systemic injustices that keep migrant workers vulnerable.  These include excessive recruitment fees, lack of employment mobility, exploitative wages, unsafe working conditions, lack of rest days, excessive overtime. 

 The pandemic prompted reimagination of how many things are done. In the same spirit, migrant workers’ living and working conditions in our country must be fundamentally re-conceived as dignified and rights-based. We call for all migrant workers to have the freedom to change employment, have safe workplaces, be protected by a minimum wage, have limits on working hours and consistent, proactive enforcement of existing laws which protect migrant workers. 

 We continue to urge the Singapore government to ratify conventions related to migrant workers, including the Migrant Workers’ Convention and the Domestic Workers’ Convention.**

 In 2023, HOME looks forward to working with all stakeholders to ensure dignity for all migrant workers. We wish all migrant workers a Happy International Migrants’ Day. 

*International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, A/RES/45/158. 18 December 1990

**International Labour Organisation, 2011 (C189)

Photo: Financial Times