Migrant workers get to soak in CNY revelry

MIGRANT workers enjoyed the festive cheer this year as they were treated to parties, extra time off work and bonuses to celebrate Chinese New Year.

In addition, four shows featuring song and dance performances were organised by the Migrant Workers Centre (MWC) for workers to soak in the festive revelry.

The first two shows, held at the Singapore Contractors Association's recreation centre in Pioneer, were staged on Sunday and Monday. The remaining two are planned for tomorrow and Saturday at the same venue and will feature well-known Bangladeshi artiste Ronty Das.

Funded by the National Trades Union Congress, the shows were organised by MWC for the first time to celebrate Chinese New Year.

Mr Edwin Pang, the executive director of MWC, said: "The celebrations were aimed at catering to migrant workers of all nationalities, with performances from both local and foreign artistes from Bangladesh, India and Malaysia."

The performances over the first two nights were attended by over 12,000 workers. More than 30,000 are expected to turn up at all four shows.

The shows are also targeted at Chinese migrant workers who are unable to make the trip back home to celebrate the festive occasion with their families.

"We want to tell them that they will not be alone here. And for their non-Chinese counterparts, we invite them to share in the celebration of one of our major local festive occasions," said Mr Pang.

Employers also stepped in to help their workers get into the festive spirit.

Bangladeshi worker Rezaul Karim, 24, got to enjoy an early Chinese New Year party organised by his employer, air-conditioning company Best Tech, on Jan 11.

The event, attended by more than 100 workers, was held at Yio Chu Kang Community Centre and was paid for fully by the company.

"We enjoyed lots of music and food from all my favourite places, like Singapore, Malaysia and Bangladesh," said Mr Karim.

In addition, he received a bonus of $250 and was given four days of paid leave over the Chinese New Year period.

A check by my paper with Bangladeshi workers from six different companies showed that they received bonuses ranging from $6 to over $1,000 each from their employers over the festive period.

Some of these workers spent their days off in Dibrasham, an art space for Bangladeshis in Little India.

"We came to chat with friends and read the newspapers," said Mr Robiul Hasan, 27, a construction worker with Techno Build, who also enjoyed four days off from work.

Most of the migrant workers that my paper spoke to were granted two to four days' paid leave over the Chinese New Year period, in order for both employees and employers to enjoy their own celebrations.

The Ministry of Manpower said in a statement: "All employees, including foreign workers, covered by the Employment Act are entitled to 11 paid public holidays in a year. These include the two days of Chinese New Year holidays that fall on Jan 23 and Jan 24 this year."

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