Singapore NGOs Join Forces To Launch National Day Off Campaign For Domestic Workers

SINGAPORE NGOS JOIN FORCES TO LAUNCH NATIONAL CAMPAIGN 

 “DAY OFF” encourages employers to give domestic workers one regular day off 

Singapore, 29 April 2008

Prominent non-governmental organisations, UNIFEM Singapore, HOME, and TWC2, are this May joining forces to call on all employers in Singapore to give their foreign domestic workers a regular rest day off. 

The new campaign, entitled Day Off, will commence on Labour Day, 1st May with the unveiling of a new website www.dayoff.sg. The site includes information about how to improve the working relationships between employers and domestic workers and a register of supporters for the campaign.  The campaign is planned to run through to December 2008. 

Approximately 170,000 migrant women are currently employed in Singapore as domestic workers and 1 in 6 Singapore families currently hire one. Day Off aims to educate Singaporean employers on the importance of a rest day for these women and offers advice and practical suggestions on how employers they can make personal adjustments to make this happen and answers some of the questions or concerns they may have about doing so.

The campaign will be a multi-pronged public education campaign including activities such as talks and partnerships with educational institutions, community groups, public and private organisations. 

Part of a larger body of work designed to improve the conditions many domestic workers live and work under in Singapore, Day Off seeks to remedy the current condition whereby only 50% of domestic workers are thought to be receiving a regular day off. 

A day off is critical in creating and maintaining a positive working relationship between employer and employee. It can improve morale and productivity and most importantly empower the domestic worker as an individual.  And with so much focus on the importance of a work life balance for all kinds of workers - the campaign is really only asking people to treat others as they would wish to be treated themselves.

Globally, one of UNIFEM's key mandates is to empower women migrant workers, with a specific focus on domestic workers - the bulk of whom are female. 

Since 2003, UNIFEM has instituted programs to support domestic worker rights in other destination countries like Jordan and Hong Kong as well as source countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka and The Philippines. The Day Off Campaign in Singapore is a contribution to this global effort to improve the status and well-being of women migrant workers.