SBF Foundation inks MOU to spearhead migrant initiative

THE SBF Foundation, the social impact arm of the Singapore Business Federation (SBF), signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Monday (Nov 29) with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Estate of Khoo Teck Puat, Estate of Ng Teng Fong and St Andrew's Mission Hospital to launch a new initiative, Project MigrantWell.

The initiative, which aims to support the health and wellbeing of migrant workers, will see the establishment of a charity, MigrantWell Singapore, a MigrantWell Welfare Fund and a medical centre at Penjuru.

The fund will support niche care programmes for the migrant workforce, and the medical centre will serve about 57,000 workers.

MigrantWell Singapore will partner community agencies to identify care gaps, and develop the criteria and guidelines for the usage of the fund.

Lim Ming Yan, chairman of SBF, said: "The Covid-19 pandemic has accentuated the important role migrant workers play in our business ecosystem. As an essential part of our workforce, businesses can do their part to take care of the well-being of migrant workers."

Hsieh Fu Hua, chairman of the SBF Foundation, said: "People are at the heart of any organisation and also whatever we do. As business organisations, we can contribute to alleviate social issues of those in our employ and of the community at large. In this spirit, Project MigrantWell is SBF Foundation's latest initiative to encourage a compassionate business community."

The MOU was signed by Hsieh, Chia Der Jiun, Second Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Manpower, Arthur Chern, group CEO, St Andrew's Mission Hospital (SAMH) and Singapore Anglican Community Services (SACS), Edward Ng from the Estate of Ng Teng Fong, and James Khoo from the Estate of Khoo Teck Puat.

The exchange was witnessed by Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng and Senior Minister of State for Health and Manpower, Koh Poh Koon.

Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, was the guest-of-honour of the event.