Migrant worker ambassadors have voiced over Police video content in their vernacular for sharing through their networks, so that the advisories would be more relatable and accessible to the migrant worker community. This was shared by Mr Alvin Tan, Grassroots Advisor for Tanjong Pagar GRC (Moulmein-Cairnhill Division), who was the Guest-of-Honour (GOH) at the Migrant Workers Community Outreach Programme 2023 (MW COP 2023) on 26 November 2023 (Sunday). The event is SPF’s first large-scale crime prevention event in Little India since the pandemic.
Intended to capitalise on the high Sunday migrant worker footfall in Little India, SPF uses annual event to reach out to migrant workers to help them understand Singapore’s laws and norms and engage them on scam and crime prevention advisories so that their time in Singapore is safe and free from crime.
The theme for this year’s event was “Raising Awareness to Keep You Safe”. The key focus for this year was on scams, as the migrant worker community is equally vulnerable if they are not aware of the methods of the scammers. In 2022, more than 3,500 migrant workers and migrant domestic workers were victims of scams, with total loss in these scam cases amounting to more than $25.2 million. This year, up till September 2023, more than 3,700 migrant workers and migrant domestic workers fell prey to scams, with total loss in these scam cases amounting to more than $17.1 million.
The event attracted about 10,000 migrant workers throughout the day and through social media. Other than scams, migrant workers were also educated on crime prevention advisories for them to avoid crimes and reminded of the local regulations e.g., Little India is a Liquor Control Zone prohibiting weekend public drinking. This is part of the SPF’s constant and continual effort to engage migrant workers to raise awareness of our laws, regulations and norms.
The event also featured the strong partnership SPF has built with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) like the Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC) and the Centre for Domestic Employees (CDE). With strong support from these NGOs, SPF rolled out the Migrant Workers Community Awareness Programme (MW CAP). MWC and CDE assisted in recruiting migrant worker volunteers, whom SPF trained to be scam and crime prevention ambassadors. These migrant worker ambassadors committed their off days to visit migrant worker gathering spots on a weekly basis, including Little India, Peninsula Plaza, and Esplanade Park, to engage fellow migrant workers on scams and crime prevention in their vernacular languages. In 2023 alone, more than 3,700 migrant workers and 600 migrant domestic workers were engaged through this programme, with many providing feedback that the engagement was beneficial to them.
Migrant worker ambassadors have also translated Police advisories and done voice over videos to their vernacular language for sharing through their networks. For example, two migrant worker ambassadors helped translate a scam prevention advisory on malware scams when the Police reached out to them after realising that many migrant workers were falling prey. Such initiatives demonstrate the strong support of the migrant worker community and their deep desire to help their fellow countrymen and women to work safely in Singapore. This initiative was only made possible with MWC and CDE’s strong ground networks and deep knowledge of the migrant worker communities. In recognition of their support and partnership in MW CAP, SPF presented community partnership awards to MWC and CDE.
Annex A
Photographs of the Migrant Worker Community Outreach Programme
Speech by Guest of Honour, Grassroots Advisor to Tanjong Pagar GRC (Moulmein-Cairnhill), Mr Alvin Tan ▼
Commander Central Division Assistant Commissioner of Police Jeremy Ang with recipients of awards from MWC and CDE ▼
Grassroots Advisor to Tanjong Pagar GRC (Moulmein-Cairnhill), Mr Alvin Tan participating at a game booth▼
Sharing scam and crime prevention advisories with Migrant Workers through relatable games ▼
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
26 November 2023 @ 8:53 PM