• The pilot is in its third week and saw hundreds of foreign domestic workers gather
• They can participate in activities like painting and Zumba, and sign up for educational courses
• A booth has also been created where maids can speak to community volunteers about their issues

SINGAPORE — The Centre for Domestic Employees (CDE) is looking into setting up alternative gathering sites for maids, and in partnership with the authorities has started a pilot at the former site of Raffles Girls’ School (Secondary), which will be open every Sunday to welcome them.

The initiative, which began on Feb 21, is in its third week and saw hundreds of foreign domestic workers gather at the site at 20 Anderson Road despite the heavy rain on Sunday afternoon (March 7).

Workers are able to sit in groups at the former school’s amphitheatre or hall, or participate in a slew of activities at the canteen and other common areas.

Mr Shamsul Kamar, the executive director of CDE, said that the site was set up due to the need to decentralise large groups of maids from popular hangout spots such as Lucky Plaza and Peninsula Plaza due to Covid-19.

“They were concerned that the places where they normally congregate… are not so safe as they are congested with so many people,” he said.

The need for a safe site for these workers was also highlighted by the Lucky Plaza car crash which killed two maids, Mr Shamsul added. The group was gathering by the sidewalk when the incident occurred.

The Anderson Road site, which is off Stevens Road and is about a 20-minute walk from Orchard Road MRT Station, can accommodate about 300 maids and safe management measures are in place, said Mr Shamsul.

Workers will have to scan their identity cards to enter. They will receive a token which they have to wear at all times within the premises.

The token will capture close proximity data and help in contact tracing efforts in the event of a Covid-19 infection.

CDE volunteers were also present on Sunday, reminding the workers to keep to distinct groups of no more than eight and to keep a safe distance.

Maids who visit are able to participate in activities such as tote bag painting, Zumba dance groups and handicraft activities. There is also a booth set up by the National Trades Union Congress’ LearningHub, offering English language and basic computer skills courses, and a CDE booth where workers can flag any employment issues.

Speaking to the media, Minister of State for Manpower Gan Siow Huang said that while many families take good care of their helpers and have good relationships with them, there are some maids who will meet unreasonable or abusive employers and will need to seek help.

“By creating a space like this, where they can get out and meet their friends, we hope that there will be additional touchpoints for them to seek help if they have to.”

Ms Gan added that the authorities are looking to expand the initiative, though she did not elaborate on how many sites are being looked into.

A PLACE WHERE MAIDS FEEL SAFE

Maids who spoke to the media said that Covid-19 had prevented them from meeting their friends like they used to before the pandemic, but they are able to do so more freely at the Anderson Road site.

Ms Dearly Paspe, a 31-year-old Filipino who has worked here for seven months, said that given the restrictions at popular gathering sites such as Lucky Plaza, she sometimes prefers to stay in her room on her days off.

“It’s more safe here and it’s more convenient, because we have a lot of places here to hang out, and people here are free to do whatever we want as long as we keep to the safety measures,” she said.