UPDATE (29 April 2022): We're almost at our target of $55,000!! With 3 days of Ramadan left, we've increased our target to $60,000 to help even more workers like Arif to replace their defective mobile phones. See the “Updates” tab for Arif's story and his request for help getting a mobile phone. Thank you everyone for their generosity in sharing and donating so far!! 

UPDATE (22 April 2022): We've raised the $25,000 for R and have asked LaunchGood to disburse this sum to him! All donations now will be channelled to TWC2's fund for replacement mobile phones for destitute migrant brothers and sisters. See the “Updates” tab for more details and see below for more on the Mobile Phone Replacement Fund. 

(Scroll to the bottom for Malay translation of the campaign / Tatal ke bawah untuk terjemahan bahasa Melayu kempen ini.)

THE 5TH YEAR OF #SGMUSLIMS4MIGRANTWORKERS!

In Ramadan 2021, you once again raised funds for a Standing Medical Fund for Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2). The $35,000 you donated enabled approximately 50 migrant workers to receive medical treatment, with the biggest bill being that of M, a worker with Stage 4 bladder cancer. You also raised $25,000 for the treatment of ‘R’, a Bangladeshi worker with multiple myeloma, as well as $3000 for the relief of another Bangladeshi worker, ‘S’, who was in debt due to agency fees. 

This year, we aim to raise $55,000:

1. $25,000 - to support R in the next stage of his cancer treatment, i.e. to receive a potentially life-prolonging bone marrow transplant.
2. At least $30,000 – to enable TWC2 to distribute replacement mobile phones to destitute Muslim migrant workers: both male construction workers and female domestic workers.

Especially since COVID-19, fully functioning mobile phones are indispensable for regulatory compliance, daily communication, approval to leave dormitories for work and recreation, and even mental health and medical needs. But many migrant workers, given poverty and low wages, can only afford poor quality mobile phones insufficient for these purposes.

As R’s treatment is time-sensitive (see details below), the first $25,000 raised will be disbursed to him immediately. The remaining funds raised will go towards TWC2’s mobile phone replacement programme. 

LaunchGood has 0% platform fees (you can make a voluntary tip to the platform if you wish). Credit card processing fees are 2.9% + 30 cents/transaction. Other than this, EVERY CENT you donate will go to workers in need. 

MOBILE PHONE REPLACEMENT FUND FOR MIGRANT WORKERS

Mobile phones are no longer a luxury item for migrant workers. Ever since COVID-19, the Ministry of Manpower has made it compulsory for all migrant workers to download and heavily use several government apps – be it to log their compulsory regular health checks, to apply for exit passes to leave their dormitories, or to view their employment status. TraceTogether (and other contact tracing technology) is also legally compulsory for migrant workers, even if not compulsory for anyone else. 

During the ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown, mobile phones were the only means of communication with the outside world. Telemedicine apps were used for workers who needed basic medical attention like topping up of medication. WhatsApp and internet banking apps were the only means to remit money home to families. During this time, TWC2 spent $1 million topping up the data plans for 90,000 migrant workers to ensure they could meet these needs. 

Even though the lockdown is over, migrant workers still remain relatively confined to their dormitories, and mobile phones are necessary to meet many of the same needs. Also, mental health initiatives and self-improvement programmes require migrant workers to sign into a Zoom session with their phones. 

Therefore, whether it is for regulatory compliance, daily communication, work, or leisure, all migrant workers need to have a fully functioning mobile phone.

The problem is that many of these workers, given their poverty and low wages, can only afford poor quality phones – phones with cracked screens, poor battery life, and outdated operating systems that may not be able to install the latest apps.

TWC2 has been working with external donors to obtain second-hand mobile phones for migrant workers. However, the supply of these phones is unpredictable and demand always outstrips supply. Other than male construction workers, TWC2 has also been helping and giving phones to female domestic workers. COVID-19 has exacerbated the vulnerabilities of domestic workers in many ways, with a documented rise in domestic workers needing emergency assistance. TWC2 recently had to help an Indonesian domestic worker mistreated by her employer, who had to run away without any of her belongings. TWC2 supplied her with a phone in order for her to remain contactable, including with the authorities investigating her case. 

With funds raised through #SGMuslims4MigrantWorkers, TWC2 plans to set up a fund that will purchase mobile phones for distribution to Muslim migrant workers in need. The priority will be workers who are on Special Passes. These are typically workers whose work permits have been cancelled because of their claims for workplace injury compensation and/or unpaid salaries. They are permitted to remain in Singapore to assist authorities in investigations or pursue their claims, but are not allowed to work. With no source of income, they depend heavily on TWC2 and other sources of help for basic needs like shelter and food – what more functioning mobile phones. The more funds raised, the more workers TWC2 can expand its mobile phone programme towards, including other Muslim construction workers as well as domestic workers. 

This fund would complement a programme TWC2 has recently started, to pay for workers' monthly mobile / data charges. 

SUPPORT FOR ‘R’

R (anonymised to protect his identity) was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2020 in Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Multiple myeloma is a bone marrow cancer that prevents the bone marrow from making enough healthy blood cells. By the time of his diagnosis, his cancer had already metastasized to his bones, including his skull. As is common, his company insurance did not cover chemotherapy or a bone marrow transplant. His company terminated his contract once they learned about his diagnosis. He was not able to afford treatment in Singapore and decided to go home to Bangladesh for treatment. He left Singapore in 2020 with a total of SGD 2,000 (including personal contributions from the doctors who treated him at the hospital, medical social workers, and a small contribution from his ex-employers) - not enough for his cancer treatment. 

#SGMuslims4MigrantWorkers raised $25,000 last Ramadan for R’s treatment, i.e. chemotherapy and a potential bone marrow transplant (BMT). Unfortunately, as R’s cancer is aggressive, his white blood cell count was still too high by the time he was about to receive his BMT. As this created a high risk of BMT rejection by his immune system, doctors advised further chemotherapy.

R is currently undergoing a new round of more expensive chemotherapy to sufficiently suppress his immunity. He will complete the final round by the end of April. We are raising money for his second attempt at a BMT that is scheduled for early May. At this point, he will need to have the funds at hand in order to secure the BMT; otherwise, he risks having his white blood cell count go up again, which would require yet more rounds of expensive chemotherapy before he can potentially be eligible for a third try at BMT. This is why our fundraiser for R is time-sensitive. 

The bone marrow transplant is estimated to cost SGD 23,600 in total, converted from Bangladesh taka. We are seeking to raise SGD 25,000: this amount would enable R to receive this potentially life-prolonging treatment and cover supplementary costs (e.g. transport, post-surgery food and medicine, etc), as well as to provide some relief for his family in light of the loss of R’s income and his medical needs. In the event that R is ultimately unable to undergo a bone marrow transplant or otherwise has a poor prognosis, the funds will help him to settle his last affairs and leave some provision for his family, which includes a 2.5 year old daughter (whom he previously had not met until these events brought him back to Bangladesh). 

Below is R’s doctor’s memo (personal identifiable information is redacted) that indicates the estimated cost of the BMT in Bangladeshi Taka:

FOR MUSLIM DONORS: WHY THEY DESERVE YOUR ZAKAT

ABOUT #SGMUSLIMS4MIGRANTWORKERS

#SGMuslims4MigrantWorkers is a movement started in 2018 to promote and operationalise the principle that migrant workers are deserving recipients of zakat and other regular donations from the Muslim community. Support from the Muslim community and our non-Muslim friends/allies in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 has allowed more than nearly 100 injured or ill workers to promptly access medical treatment, where they otherwise would not have been able to do so. During the height of the COVID-19 crisis in 2020 and 2021, the funds raised also afforded financial relief to migrant workers whose employers had not paid their salaries either in part of in full. 

Join our Facebook community (bit.ly/sgmuslims4migrantworkers) and Instagram page (instagram.com/sgmuslims4migrantworkers/) for more details and updates.

See our previous campaigns here!

ABOUT MIGRANT MUTUAL AID

You can see R’s previous listing on Migrant Mutual Aid SG’s website here. Migrant Mutual Aid was set up in late 2020 to facilitate the redistribution of resources from Singaporeans to the migrant community. Migrant Mutual Aid sees migrant workers as an integral part of the Singaporean community, to whom we owe our solidarity rather than charity. In this spirit, Migrant Mutual Aid acts as a conduit between migrant workers with specific needs and persons who wish to extend solidarity by redirecting resources to such workers. When a worker requests help, Migrant Mutual Aid conducts a verification of their identity and needs (e.g. hospital documentation in the case of medical needs). They then list this need and allow  members of the community to decide if they would like to  contribute. Case coordinators transfer these contributions directly to the worker in question, a process further verified (and records kept) by Migrant Mutual Aid SG. 

In relation to R, Migrant Mutual Aid has shared the verification records with #SGMuslims4MigrantWorkers and will, following the conclusion of this fundraiser, share  documentation verifying R’s receipt of the funds raised. This was also done in relation to funds raised last Ramadan.

_____

#SGMUSLIMS4MIGRANTWORKERS MENYAMBUT ULANG TAHUN KELIMA!

Kami amat terhutang budi kepada anda yang sekali lagi menolong #SGMuslims4MigrantWorkers untuk mengumpul dana bagi ‘Standing Medical Fund for Transient Workers Count too’ (TWC2) pada Ramadan 2021. Sebanyak $35,000 yang dikumpulkan telah membenarkan pekerja-pekerja asing untuk menerima rawatan serta perubatan. Saudara kita, ’M’ yang menghidapi penyakit barah pundi kencing peringkat 4, ialah antara mereka yang menerima dana ini akibat kos rawatannya yang tertinggi berbanding yang lain. $25,000 juga berjaya dikumpulkan tahun lepas untuk menolong saudara kita, ‘R’, seorang pekerja yang menghidapi penyakit ‘Multiple Myeloma’, dan juga $3000 juga dapat disalurkan kepada saudara kita, ‘S’, yang mempunyai masalah hutang disebabkan yuran ejen. Kedua-duanya berasal dari Bangladesh.

Tahun ini pula, kami berazam untuk mengumpulkan sebanyak $55,000:

1. $25,000- Ini untuk meringankan beban ‘R’ dalam rawatan barahnya, yakni menjalani pembedahan pemindahan sum sum tulang yang berisiko tinggi.
    
2. Sekurang-kurangnya $30,000 – Ini pula untuk membenarkan TWC2 menghadiahkan telefon bimbit baharu kepada para pekerja asing Muslim yang tidak berkemampuan tinggi. Kita harus akur bahawa pada zaman teknologi sebegini, pentingnya untuk seseorang memiliki sebuah telefon bimbit yang dapat meringankan beban pentadbiran seperti meminta keizinan bercuti, membuat tempahan-tempahan penting atau sekadar komunikasi harian biasa sekalipun. Justeru, dengan adanya telefon bimbit baharu atau telefon bijak ini, ia dapat sedikit sebanyak membantu para pekerja menjalani tugasan seharian mereka serta memberikan alternatif rekreasi bagi mereka dalam bentuk telefon bimbit tersebut. Ini memandangkan tidak ramai pekerja yang mampu membeli telefon bimbit yang ada fungsi-fungsi sebegini. Ramai hanya mempunyai telefon bimbit asas sahaja.

Memandangkan rawatan ‘R’ lebih diutamakan (sila lihat butiran lanjut dalam artikel seterusnya), $25,000 pertama yang kami dapat akan terus disalurkan kepadanya. Dana yang berlebihan barulah akan disalurkan kepada program mengganti telefon bimbit TWC2.

Launchgood menawarkan yuran platform 0% (anda boleh memberikan ‘tip’ kepada platform ini secara sukarela, jika mahu). Yuran pentadbiran kad kredit adalah 2.9% + 30sen bagi setiap transaksi. Selain itu, SEMUA yang kamu derma akan disalurkan kepada para pekerja yang memerlukan.

DANA BAGI PENGGANTIAN TELEFON BIMBIT UNTUK PEKERJA ASING 

Telefon bimbit bukan lagi merupakan barangan mewah bagi pekerja asing. Semenjak COVID-19 berlaku, Kementerian Tenaga Kerja (MOM) telah mewajibkan semua para pekerja asing untuk memuat turunkan dan banyak menggunakan aplikasi-aplikasi kerajaan - sama ada untuk menandakan pemeriksaan kesihatan lazim, untuk memohon pas keluar dari asrama-asrama mereka atau untuk meninjau status pekerjaan mereka. TraceTogether (dan teknologi pengesanan kontak rapat yang lain) juga wajib di sisi undang-undang untuk pekerja asing, walaupun ia tidak wajib lagi untuk orang lain. 

Sewaktu sekatan 'pemutus litar', telefon bimbit merupakan satu-satunya cara berkomunikasi dengan dunia luar. Aplikasi perubatan dalam talian telah digunakan untuk para pekerja asing yang memerlukan perhatian perubatan asas seperti menambahkan ubat-ubatan yang diperlukan. WhatsApp dan aplikasi perbankan dalam talian merupakan satu-satunya cara mereka menghantar wang kepada keluarga-keluarga mereka. Pada waktu itu TWC2 telah mengeluarkan belanja sebanyak satu juta dolar untuk menambah nilai pelan data internet untuk 90 ribu pekerja asing, bagi memastikan yang mereka dapat memenuhi keperluan-keperluan itu. 

Walaupun jangka sekatan telah berlalu, secara umumnya, pergerakan para pekerja asing masih terhad kepada asrama-asrama mereka dan telefon bimbit amat diperlukan untuk memenuhi keperluan-keperluan mereka yang sama. 

Pada masa yang sama, inisiatif kesihatan mental dan program-program peningkatan diri memerlukan para pekerja asing untuk menyertai sesi-sesi Zoom menerusi telefon bimbit mereka. 

Oleh itu, sama ada untuk keperluan mematuhi peraturan, komunikasi harian, pekerjaan, ataupun kegunaan masa lapang, semua para pekerja asing amat memerlukan telefon bimbit yang berfungsi sepenuhnya. 

Masalah yang dihadapi kebanyakan pekerja-pekerja asing memandangkan keadaan ekonomi dan gaji rendah mereka, adalah mereka hanya mampu mendapatkan telefon bimbit yang berkualiti rendah - telefon-telefon bimbit yang mempunyai skrin retak, daya tahan bateri yang lemah, dan sistem pengendalian yang tidak dikemas kini, menyebabkan mereka tidak dapat memuat turunkan aplikasi-aplikasi yang terkini. 

TWC2 telah bekerjasama dengan penderma-penderma luar untuk mendapatkan telefon-telefon bimbit terpakai untuk kegunaan para pekerja asing. Namun, bekalan telefon-telefon bimbit ini susah untuk diramalkan dan permintaan akan sentiasa melebihi stok yang ada. 

Dengan dana yang dikumpul melalui #SGMuslims4MigrantWorkers, TWC2 merancang untuk menyediakan dana bagi membeli dan mengagihkan telefon-telefon bimbit kepada para pekerja asing Muslim yang memerlukan. Keutamaan akan diberikan kepada pekerja-pekerja di bawah skim Pass Istimewa. Golongan pekerja-pekerja ini lazimnya merupakan mereka yang permit pekerjaannya dibatalkan, disebabkan tuntutan untuk kecederaan di tempat kerja mereka dan/atau gaji yang tidak dibayar. Mereka dibenarkan untuk berada di Singapura, untuk membantu pihak-pihak yang berkuasa dalam siasatan-siasatan atau terikat dengan tuntutan-tuntutan mereka, tetapi tidak dibenarkan bekerja. Oleh kerana golongan ini tiada sumber pendapatan, mereka sangat bergantung kepada TWC2 dan sumber-sumber lain untuk bantuan keperluan harian seperti tempat tinggal dan makanan - apatah lagi telefon bimbit yang berfungsi. 

Dana ini akan melengkapi program yang baru juga diusahakan TWC2, iaitu untuk membayar caj bulanan data internet/telefon bimbit para pekerja asing ini.

BANTUAN UNTUK ‘R’

R (nama dirahasiakan demi melindungi identiti) telah disahkan menghidapi mieloma berbilang di Hospital Tan Tock Seng pada tahun 2020. Mieloma berbilang adalah sejenis kanser sumsum tulang yang menghalang sumsum tulang dari menjana  Sel-sel darah sihat yang mencukupi. Ketika R dapat tahu akan diagnosis penyakit yang dialaminya,  kanser telah merebak kepada tulang-tulang serta tempurung kepala. Seperti lazimnya, insurans pekerjaan R tidak mencakupi rawatan kemoterapi atau pemindahan sumsum tulang. Majikannya telah menggugurkan kontrak pekerjaan R setelah mendapat tahu tentang keadaanya. Memandangkan R tidak mampu mendapatkan rawatan di Singapura, dia memutuskan untuk pulang dan dirawat di Bangladesh. R meninggalkan Singapura dengan hanya SGD 2,000 (termasuk sumbangan peribadi  doktor-doktor  yang merawatinya di hospital, pekerja sosial perubatan dan sumbangan kecil daripada bekas majikannya) - yang tidak cukup untuk rawatan kansernya. 

#SGMuslims4MigrantWorkers telah mengumpul $25,000 pada Ramadan lalu untuk rawatan R iatu kemoterapi dan  pemindahan sumsum tulang (BMT). Malangnya, kanser R jenis yang agresif dan mengakibatkan kiraan sel darah putih terlalu tinggi sewaktu dia hampir mendapatkan  BMT. Oleh kerana ini meninggikan risiko daya tahan tubuh menolak BMT, doktor-doktor menyarankan agar kemoterapi diteruskan.

R kini menjalani pusingan baharu kemoterapi yang lebih mahal untuk melemahkan daya tahan tubuhnya ke tahap yang sesuai. R akan selesai menjalani pusingan akhir pada hujung April. Kami sedang mengumpul dana untuk percubaan kedua BMT dijadualkan pada awal Mei.  Pada masa itu,  R harus ada  wang dalam tangan yang mencukupi agar dapat menjamin BMT itu. Jika tidak, risiko kiraan sel darah putih melonjak naik akan bertambah dan akan memerlukan lebih lagi pusingan kemoterapi sebelum dia berkemungkinan layak untuk percubaan ketiga BMT. Inilah sebabnya pengumpulan Dana untuk R genting dan harus dipercepatkan.

Pemindahan sumsum tulang dianggarkan sekitar SGD 23,600 kesemuanya selepas ditukarkan dari mata wang Taka Bangladesh. Kami ingin mengumpul sebanyak SGD 25,000: jumlah ini akan membantu R untuk mendapatkan  rawatan yang mungkin dapat memanjangkan jangka hayatnya, biayaan susulan(kos pengangkutan, makanan selepas pembedahan dan ubat-ubatan dan lain-lain lagi) serta membantu meringankan beban keluarga akibat kehilangan sumber pendapatan R dan keperluan rawatannya. Sekiranya R akhirnya tidak dapat menjalani pemindahan sumsum tulang ataupun dia mendapat prognosis tidak baik, dana yang dikumpulkan itu akan membantu R selesaikan urusan-urusan terakhirnya dan menampung keperluan keluarga R. Di antaranya, seorang anak perempuan kecil yang berusia 2.5 tahun (yang R tidak pernah jumpa sebelum keadaan membawa R pulang ke Bangladesh).

Di bawah adalah surat pengesahan doktor (maklumat pengenalan peribadi telah ditiadakan) yang menunjukkan anggaran kos BMT dalam mata wang Taka Bangladesh.

BAGI PENDERMA MUSLIM: MENGAPA MEREKA LAYAK MENERIMA ZAKAT ANDA

Pekerja Muslim asing boleh digolongkan bukan hanya kepada satu malah beberapa asnaf. Mereka boleh dianggap sebagai:
• al-fuqarâ (fakir)
• al-masâkîn (miskin) (bergantung pada keadaan masing-masing)
• al-gharimin (dibelenggu hutang)
• ibnussabil (musafir)

TENTANG #SGMUSLIMS4MIGRANTWORKERS

#SGMuslims4MigrantWorkers merupakan gerakan yang dimulakan pada 2018 untuk memperjuang prinsip bahawa pekerja asing layak menerima zakat dan derma daripada masyarakat Islam setempat. Sokongan yang dihulurkan masyarakat Islam dan bukan Islam setempat pada 2018 dan 2019 telah membolehkan mereka membantu lebih 40 pekerja asing yang tercedera atau berpenyakit mendapatkan rawatan secepat mungkin. Ikuti masyarakat Facebook dan akaun Instagram kami untuk mendapatkan maklumat lanjut. 

Hayati kempen yang telah dijalankan sebelum ini dengan melayari pautan berikut: https://linktr.ee/sgmuslims4migrantworkers