The Centre for Domestic Employees provides alternative location for domestic workers to enjoy their rest days

1. Background and objective of providing domestic workers (DWs) the alternative gathering site at Amphitheatre @ 20 Anderson Road:

• Based on CDE’s ground sensing and outreach efforts ever since COVID-19 outbreak started, DWs have been sharing with CDE that they were very concerned about the situation then. After the Circuit Breaker ended and they could go out on their rest days, they realised that the places they used to frequent were crowded, which worried them. But still, they needed to go to their favourite malls to run their errands, remit money back home, and find a space that was centrally convenient for everyone in their group to have a meal together while doing their best to adhere to the safe management measures.

• Many DWs are aware of the prevailing safe management measures and the need to keep a safe distance from another group. They shared with CDE that sometimes, it was challenging for them to maintain safe distances as there were simply too many people around that area. At times, we even saw some negative postings online or in the media about DWs ignoring all the safe management measures and intermingling but it may not be the case for every group of DWs. Like us, they do want to go out, meet their friends and at the same time, keep themselves safe from harm’s way. However, at times, there was simply insufficient space in the areas that they love to rest and chill out at.

• Hearing such ground feedback, CDE then worked closely with its tripartite partner – the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to explore ways to bring DWs to a conveniently located alternative space where they can meet up with their friends safely.
   

2. Amphitheatre @ 20 Anderson Road:

After working with various government agencies such as the MOM, the Singapore Land Authority as well as the local grassroots leaders, we managed to find this school compound which has been vacant for some time. It is also quite conveniently located (a few public bus stops away from the Orchard area). CDE managed to get the approval to use this location for a few months. As this is a new initiative, we will assess and discuss further with the various government agencies to explore plans for similar spaces. More updates will be provided in due course.

3. Activities and services offered at Amphitheatre @ 20 Anderson Road:

• Since 21 February 2021, the Amphitheatre @ 20 Anderson Road is open for DWs to use every Sunday till end of June 2021.

• Besides providing an alternative location for the DWs to meet, CDE has also roped in its various partners to provide services and activities for the DWs, within the safe management measures. For example:
  • Aaxonn: Basic First Aid + CPR & AED demonstration, and promotion of their eldercare skills courses.
  • The Centre for Domestic Employees (CDE): Free membership & volunteer signup, and free handicraft activities conducted by CDE volunteers
  • Makro Max Pte Ltd: Sales of daily necessities
  • Nelia’s Beauty & Hair Academy: Promotion of discounted courses for CDE members
  • POSB: Promoting and assisting digibank sign up, and opening of bank account
  • Singapore Red Cross: Art Jamming to express emotion and strengthen emotional well-being
  • Singtel: Telecommunication and remittance deals (e.g. 60GB of data for only $35)
  • The Salvation Army’s Thrift Shop: Discounted ladies’ apparel, bags and various items
  • Food, drinks and snacks for sale

• CDE was heartened by the support of many partners who came in to provide the activities and services, so that our DWs can have an alternative, relaxing and conducive gathering site for their rest days. CDE will explore bringing in more partners over the next few weeks to enhance the offerings and services to our DWs who visit this space.
   

4. Safe management measures in place at Amphitheatre @ 20 Anderson Road:
    

• To give our DWs and partners a peace of mind when they are at the Amphitheatre @ 20 Anderson Road, CDE has put in place various safe management measures including Safe Entry, temperature taking, and safe distancing measures.
• We have marked out on the ground of the amphitheatre ‘rectangles’ which each group should stay within. Tables and chairs at the canteen area are safely distanced to align with current safe management measures.   
• Individuals who are unwell (including staff and partners) will be refused entry.
• Issuance of colour-coded wrist tags to each group of FDWs, and Blue Pass tokens at the entrance to everyone who comes into this space.
• The Blue Pass tokens will have to be carried everywhere they go in the premises. It is an additional measure we have undertaken, as it can capture close-contact data from other devices to let the authorised personnel to better understand who an individual had been in close contact with. At the end of the day, all the Blue Pass tokens are ‘checked out’, disinfected and placed in the collection box placed at the exit. Data collected will only be accessed by authorised personnel for contact tracing purposes.
• Our staff and volunteers will also be spread out over the area to ensure that DWs adhere to safe distancing guidelines, and do not intermingle between groups.

5. If an DW tests positive for COVID-19 after visiting the site, and there were many others she interacted with, how would it impact the households who hired them?

• As with any individual who contracts COVID-19 within the community, the health ministry will start the standard processes such as initiating contact tracing and informing those who have had close contact with an infectious person. This is the reason why the Blue Pass token was issued to everyone who came into the space so that the authorities can quickly ringfence and limit the number of possible infections. CDE will follow all the necessary guidelines by the authorities to manage and disinfect the space, should a positive case be detected here. We urge everyone to continue practicing good personal hygiene, avoid sharing food and drink, and visit the doctor if they feel unwell.

6. Other information:

• Every Sunday, from 10am to 3pm, free shuttle bus services are provided by CDE at three locations to let DWs enjoy the convenience of coming to the space. The locations are Lucky Plaza Taxi Stand at the main entrance, Newton Food Centre Carpark and Tanjong Katong Complex (entrance facing open carpark). The latest timings of the shuttle services from the three pick-up locations can be found on CDE’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/cde.singapore. There will also be shuttle buses going out of the Amphitheatre @ 20 Anderson Road from the afternoon until 5pm at different timings to bring the DWs back to the three pick-up locations so that they can head home from there.