Mental health support is underway for migrant workers coping with pandemic stress
Since the virus outbreak in migrant worker dormitories in 2020, preventive measures at dormitories have been stringent, and dormitory residents are confined to their rooms outside working hours. There are rising concerns about the mental health of these migrant workers as they cannot return to their home country while their freedom in Singapore is restricted. In view of the immediate attention needed by this community group, Tzu Chi Singapore is working with the Ministry of Manpower and other non-profit organisations to roll out a series of activities to help relieve the pandemic pressure of the migrant workers and safeguard their mental health.
*Syful and his friends are free to move around as they live in a private dormitory.
Volunteers, Syful and Delovar have come to Little India to buy cooking ingredients. Today’s mission is to prepare authentic Bengali food for his dorm mates. This is one of the collaborative projects between Tzu Chi Singapore and Migrant Writers of Singapore (MWS)
Bangladeshi migrant worker, Syful Sultan: We have our Bangladeshi culture over here. Pre-COVID, I actually come very often. Now I very seldom come here because we cannot go out.
Humanistic Youth Centre Manager, Lim Choon Choon: This group of migrant workers left their home country to work here. To them, being respected and accepted is the kind of treatment that they most yearn for.
Strict preventive measures are imposed at dormitories during the pandemic. The prolonged movement restrictions which migrant workers are going through have led to concerns about their mental health. Tzu Chi Singapore works with MOM and other non-profit organisations to arrange for a series of customised activities to relieve the pressure of these migrant workers.
In the first phase, there are activities such as virtual Pilates classes and online health seminars.
Founder of Dr Xiang Jun The Modern Traditional Doctor, Dr Lim Xiang Jun: Although I did not physically meet the migrant workers, I still hope that everyone learns how to live in the present. This period of time has taught us all to be considerate and caring to people around us.
Founder of Migrant Writers of Singapore(MWS), Zakir Hossain Khokan: They understand the migrants’ views and feelings. We also understand how Tzu Chi volunteers work. That’s why I find this partnership very meaningful.
As people who live and work in the same country, we should not differentiate between one another but care for each other. Do not let the pandemic draw us apart.
