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SINGAPORE: A total of 400,000 migrant workers and 250,000 domestic workers will receive face masks as part of efforts to improve the safety of foreign workers, the Temasek Foundation said Sunday (April 19).
Workers will receive 1.3 million reusable cloth masks that have a filter pocket and 650,000 surgical masks that can be used to “provide additional filtration,” the philanthropic arm of state investor Temasek Holdings said in a press release.
“Given recent COVID-19 outbreak groups, it is important to provide our migrant workers with additional mask supplies for their protection,” added the foundation.
Each worker will receive two reusable cloth masks and a surgical mask, he said.
The mask kits will be phased out to migrant workers starting Monday. The Migrant Workers Center will inform dormitory operators about the details of the collection.
Masks for domestic workers will be shipped to their homes from the end of May.
Since April 14, people are required to wear a mask when they are out of their homes, with few exceptions.
READ: COVID-19: What the law says about having to wear a mask when you are away from home
The Temasek Foundation is part of the “MaskForce” initiative, which involves donors, non-governmental organizations and private sector companies that have contributed more than S $ 3 million in donations, in cash or in kind, to produce the masks.
The “community-led” initiative is spearheaded by the Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth, Sim Ann.
Mask kits. (Facebook / Sim Ann).
The reusable masks were produced by Singaporean garment manufacturers Bodynits, Spring Knitwear and Teo Garments, with the help of 10 other local apparel companies such as Danovel and Esta. It took a “record time” of two weeks to produce the masks, the Temasek Foundation said.
Local tailor CYC contributed fabric for 20,000 masks, while Brother International Singapore contributed 12 sewing machines and repair services.
READ: ‘I think about my family, not me’: a foreign worker affected by COVID-19 has far-away concerns
READ: ‘Just pray, very soon I can improve’: migrant dormitory workers struggle
Sim said the country is committed to keeping migrant workers safe amid the COVID-19 outbreak, as they are “an integral part of the Singapore workforce” who have contributed to building Singapore’s infrastructure and caring for the community.
“MaskForce is now ready to look beyond masks to equip migrant workers with even more practical and useful elements,” he added.
In a Facebook post, Sim said the initiative will work with the Ministry of Human Resources to ensure workers get the kits.
Human Resources Minister Josephine Teo wrote on Facebook that she was “very touched” because people approached the ministry with offers to help workers.
“In addition to NGOs, the business community also came together,” said Ms Teo. “This community-led initiative complements the government’s efforts to care for our migrant workers as we fight the COVID-19 outbreak.”
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