Singapore,- Humanitarian Organitation for Migran Economics (Home) organized a celebration for Mother day in Singapore (13/5/12). The event held at Kalang Teater Building was attended by almost 1000 participants all of which were female workers.
At the event, the guest of honor, Minister for State for Community Devolepment, Youth, and Sport (similar to Minister for Youth and Sport Affair), Halimah Yacob also attended delivering a speech on the migrant worker issues which gained applause from the participants. The representatives of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, Fachry Sulaeman and Indah, along with the guest of honour from the Embassy of the Philipines also came to the same podium.
“HOME doesn’t convert to another religious. Islam, Buddha, Hindu, Catholics, or Cristian, we are indifferent. The same one red-blooded. God unites us to create harmony. For 8 years HOME’s existence, none of the Moslem TKI in the shelter changing their belief into a Cristian.’’ A message delivered by the founder and president of HOME, Bridget Tan.
Different activities such as gamelan music performance, angklung, tradisional dance, drama were performed by Migrant Workers from Indonesi, the Philipines, and Singapore. Another performance was also presented by the group of Malayan-Singaporean playing the Javanese gamelan along with the dancers. The event lasted from 11o’clock in the morning to 5 o’clock in the evening.
“STOP OVER CHARGING DOMESTIC WORKERS! The salary deduction for DW: 7-9 months that is too much. We came here to work for our family not to give money to the agent. Do you agreed with me? Domestic workers are not SLAVE to the agency! STOP OVER CHARGING US!’’ stated Anung D’Lizta through the speech.
HOME also invited BMIs staying at the shelter of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI). Happiness appeared on their face after the event finished. As their responsibility to the KBRI party, Rista and Anung accompany all of them until the KBRI yard. Hopefully, sometime they staying in the shelter will also be able to show up, not merely attend as participants. And such request had been stated by Anung to KBRI by facebook and email.
‘’ILO convention on decent work for domestic worker has been adopted in 2011. Its important to be ratified as its ratification means that DW are workers, will be included in labor act and has the same right as other workers. Right for decent work, decent salary, weekly day off, public holidays off, and overtime pay. Do you want that? YES, so we have to be united and voice out RATIFY C 189…RATIFY C189… MERDEKA…!”, a speech from Rista Tan who represented Indonesia.
The most spectacular moment in the middle of the event was the first release of ‘MY VOICE’ Newsletter from HOME. Everybody could get the Newsletterby sending the email address: newsletter.home@gmail.com
