Reaching out to foreign workers with roadshows

Home Team aims to raise awareness of S'pore laws, promote understanding
By Joanna Seow, The Straits Times, 26 Jan 2015

TAKING someone's wallet without asking is a crime. So is throwing a cigarette butt on the ground. Some 3,000 foreign workers at a roadshow yesterday were quizzed on these and other local laws, as part of a new initiative by the Home Team.

They were also entertained by an educational skit and games at the event held beside Burmah Road in Little India, the first of a series led by the Central Police Division in the Home Team Southern Sector.

Post by Singapore Police Force.

It is part of "Project Transient Workers Outreach", which the police are rolling out to promote cultural understanding.

As part of a year-long pilot project, the next roadshow will be held in around two months' time in Little India, followed by events at other places frequented by foreign workers, such as Peninsula Plaza and Golden Mile Complex.

The Home Team hopes to reach as many workers as possible, and may expand the project to other parts of the country.

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower and Education Hawazi Daipi, the guest of honour yesterday, said he hopes the initiative will strengthen the current state of harmony which Singapore enjoys, which should not be taken for granted.

"Singapore is a cosmopolitan, open and multi-racial nation, which plays host to a similarly diverse foreign worker community... Both locals and foreign workers desire to coexist in peace and harmony," he said in his speech.

New foreign worker ambassadors at nine dormitories in the southern sector, which includes Rochor and Pasir Panjang, were also recognised at the event. They are among 35 workers who have volunteered to pass on information on crime prevention, social norms and even first aid to colleagues and friends.

Building maintenance worker Muthusamy Selvaraj, who is from India, said he is proud to be one of the volunteers.

"We are happy to be helpful. We can explain to (others) that they need to throw rubbish in the dustbin, if not, they will be fined," said the 49-year-old, who has lived in Singapore for 14 years.