Community

Ex-RGS Site Turns Into Safe Space For Helpers To Hang Out, Will Ease Congestion At Crowded Spots

Domestic Helpers Can Hang Out At Former Raffles Girls’ School Site

For many foreign domestic helpers living and working in Singapore, their hangout spots tend to be in popular areas like Lucky Plaza and Peninsula Plaza.

Perhaps due to familiarity and word of mouth, the numbers that gather there are numerous, especially on their days off.

To ease congestion at these spots, the Centre for Domestic Employees (CDE) worked together with authorities and set up a gathering site at the former site of Raffles Girls’ School.

At the Anderson Road site, helpers will be able to gather safely and partake in various activities.

Former RGS site can fit about 300 people

The former school was repurposed for use as a gathering ground away from popular hangouts, and allows for about 300 people, according to CDE executive director Shamsul Kamar.

Source

Safe management measures are in place to ensure there’s no overcrowding, TODAY reports him as saying.

For example, helpers scan their identity cards upon entry and have a token that they must wear inside the area.

Source

The token is for tracking close proximity data, which would assist in contact tracing in case Covid-19 infections are detected.

 

Helpers can gather and partake in activities

In this space, helpers can engage in activities such as Zumba dancing and tote bag painting.

Source

Of course, if the helpers prefer to sit around and chill with friends, that’s possible too.

Source

TODAY reports that there’s also a NTUC LearningHub booth offering English and basic computer skills courses.

The space is meant for them to be a safe place where they can gather.

Helpers can seek help for issues at space

On Sunday (7 Mar), Minister of State for Manpower Gan Siow Huang was in attendance and shared that the space can help those who face issues with employers.

There’s a CDE booth set up for helpers to raise issues with their employment.

Source

She hopes that “there will be additional touchpoints” for helpers to seek help as well as meet their friends in a space designed for them.

There’s also a hint that authorities might have more spaces designed for helpers, although as of right now there’s no news on where they may be.

Safe space for helpers at ex-RGS site

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, some helpers have not been able to meet their friends at their usual spots on their day offs.

There are currently crowd-control measures at Lucky Plaza and Peninsula Plaza.

But with spaces like the one at the former RGS site, there’s now a safe space to gather.

Source

Helpers are just like anyone else and want to hang out with their friends on their day off.

Kudos to CDE for the initiative and we hope there’ll be more such spaces set up for these helpers.

Have news you must share? Get in touch with us via email at hello@mustsharenews.com.

Featured image adapted from Facebook.

Jonathan Yee

Jonathan is a bedroom headbanger. His Kobo is never far from him.

Recent Posts

Water supply cut off at Woodlands block for more than 1 day, residents shower at swimming pool

Residents queued to collect water from taps in the void deck or PUB water wagons.

14 Nov 2024, 2:15 am

URL on ‘Wicked’ dolls’ packaging links to porn site, Mattel apologises for misprint

The misprinted boxes are now coveted items on eBay.

13 Nov 2024, 6:30 pm

‘It suits you’: Daughter in Thailand asks for car, dad gets her tuk tuk instead

And she named her new purple ride after a popular Thai rum.

13 Nov 2024, 6:01 pm

2 boys rush out of MRT to return laptop left by alighting passenger, praised for actions

They managed to run back onto the train in time.

13 Nov 2024, 5:29 pm

Croatian scientist treats own breast cancer with viruses she developed in lab, has been cancer-free for 4 years

During the treatment, her tumour substantially shrank and was later removed easily.

13 Nov 2024, 5:16 pm

Boy with autism in M’sia refuses to get his haircut, barber patiently plays with him

The barber played with the autistic boy until he was ready for haircut.

13 Nov 2024, 5:15 pm