#Salt&Light » Who is serving our foreign workers? Comments Feed Call Me By Name stories give voice to those with special needs Ask Salt&Light: How do I discern God’s will in making a career switch? alternate -- News Who is serving our foreign workers? Audrey Hau // August 24, 2018, 12:00 pm -- These are just some of the seemingly disparate individuals brought together by a common conviction to serve the low-waged foreign worker in Singapore. Together they have written of the heartache, surprises and poignancy of working with migrant communities in a book, The Servant at the Fringes. The book was launched yesterday (August 23) at the Singapore Bible -- The book cover shows individuals in a crowd who are quietly working among migrant communities. Photo by Audrey Hau. Apart from lending insight to conditions that migrant workers face, the book looks at the work of Christians who have been quietly serving different groups of migrant workers – from female domestic workers (FDWs) and male migrant workers, to trafficked women. Serving at the fringes -- Dr Calvin Chong, Associate Professor of Practical Theology at Singapore Bible College and editor of The Servant at the Fringes, was inspired to weave these narratives together after working alongside migrant workers and the volunteers who served them. -- Dr Calvin Chong conceived of The Servant at the Fringes after hearing inspiring stories of individuals working with low-waged foreign workers. Photo courtesy of Dr Calvin Chong. “The stories of men and women across the generations who are leading -- Seemingly disparate individuals have been brought together by a common conviction to serve the low-waged foreign worker in Singapore. He hopes that this collection of stories will inspire other Christians to consider volunteering their time and services to the migrant community. Although the number of foreign workers in Singapore has been on the decline, it is still very much at the forefront of our societal consciousness. Though often lumped together under the umbrella term “foreign worker”, the workers who are most at risk of ill treatment tend to be work permit holders. -- “It is ‘big work’ – more than any one organisation can handle,” said Dr Chong, referring to the multitude of changes the current landscape must undergo to alleviate the challenging conditions many migrant workers face. -- The atmosphere in the Singapore Bible College lecture theatre was heavy as panellists at the book launch described the exploitation and poor conditions suffered by low-waged foreign workers. The editorial team took two years to put together the book. Top row -- who had run away from their employers. What confused the foreign workers was when their abusive employers would hang crosses on their walls and go to church every Sunday. -- Lawyer and book contributor Ronald Wong shared his experiences with defending male migrant workers involved in workplace disputes. Many are in the construction sector. Wong concluded that the problem lies, not with the law, but with human nature. The situation is not all bleak, though. With a glint of hope in his voice, he said that society can evolve into one that “looks at migrant workers as human beings and not just as commodities”. HealthServe Executive director, Michael Cheah shared an anecdote relating to two foreign workers, one from India and the other from China. The panel at the book launch, recounting stories of working with migrant workers. From left to right: Dr Calvin Chong, James Quek, Executive Director of MyHelper, Lydia Bowen, Mercy and Justice Leader at Redemption Hill Church, Michael Cheah, Executive Director of -- by Audrey Hau. The two workers met while they were injured, and from there developed an unlikely but enduring friendship. The workers, who have returned to their respective home countries, remain in contact over WhatsApp till today. “We form communities for the migrant workers so that these authentic communities can provide support for one another,” said Cheah. -- So it is not unexpected that the Bible features several verses instructing believers to fulfil their duty to foreigners. Dr Chong pointed to Exodus 23:9 and Deuteronomy 10:19 as reminders to love the foreigner in our lands. Yet it is not solely a shared history of movement and migration that compels the Christian to care for the migrant workers in our midst. Several New Testament scriptures also call for believers to love the -- When asked what further tangible steps could be taken, Dr Chong suggested more active participation and contact with migrant worker communities through events and initiatives, perhaps organised by churches or with established migrant-serving organisations. For those who are not sure where to start, the final segment of the book provides three lists compiled by Dr Chong’s students from his “Ministry to Migrants” course. The students were challenged with coming up with activities geared towards making a positive difference in the lives of migrants. The activities could be used as inspiration for those seeking to start engaging more actively with foreign workers, said Dr Chong. Ultimately, our efforts to befriend and aid the “invisible” within our