The Office of Labour Affairs in Singapore together with the Thai Red Cross, Chulalongkorn Hospital, held a health promotion event for Thai workers in Singapore during Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 August 2011 at the 3rd floor, Golden My Complex building. The objective of this program is to promote among Thai workers in Singapore to have healthy body and strong mental state, ready to work effectively and happily. There were also first-aid training to supervisors and security staff of employers of Thai workers and tips on prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. Thai workers are encouraged to cut back on and quit using drugs and alcohol, gambling, and other bad influences, so that they could use their time for other purposes to better their lives. Also this event is aimed to show and give moral support to Thai workers in Singapore that the government cares about them.
The program’s activities consisted of:
1. Medical check-up for Thai workers by a group of 9 doctors of the Thai Red Cross and 14 nurses, totaling 23 persons. There were 1,328 Thai workers receiving check-ups, among these 1,215 are male, accounting 91.49%, and 113 are female, 8.51% of all workers getting check-ups. In overall Thai workers are healthy and can work normally. There is a list of persons who received medical check-up and test.
The doctors also advised workers who have muscle problems and fatigue from work on physical therapy techniques by themselves and on stress reduction without relying on drugs. After check-up, the workers received their test results and advise on taking care of their health, as well as a set of household remedy each.
2. “First aid, life saving techniques, and knowledge on disease prevention and how to take care of your health” training provided by the Thai Red Cross to Thai supervisors and representatives from various businesses hiring a substantial number of Thai workers, volunteers, and 46 students from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University. This training is aimed to provide knowledge and how-to in helping coworkers in case of work accidents or sickness before they reach medical practitioners. Knowledge on prevention of sexually transmitted diseases was also given. Training attendants were expected to help spread this knowledge on to their coworkers.
3. Consulate mobile service by the Thai Royal Embassy of Singapore. Services provided include registration for the right to vote outside the Kingdom of Thailand. Thai workers paid attention to this activity a lot and there were 201 workers who registered and asked for other advice.
4. Advice on labour issues by the Office of Labour Affairs in Singapore. Advice provided is in relation to employment and working in Singapore. Grievance and complaints were also accepted from workers, as well as certain cases referred to by the Thai Red Cross doctors regarding Thai workers with serious health problems e.g. heart disease. There was coordination and consultation with 7 employers in regard to working hour adjustment to suit the workers’ health conditions.
Additionally the Office of Labour Affairs in Singapore conducted a survey on Thai workers’ satisfaction of the event. There were 1,288 workers participating in the survey, 96.08% of the number of workers receiving medical check-up. It is found that most Thai workers learned about the event from the sign posted at the Golden My Complex building, others knew about the event from coworkers, the Office of Labour Affairs in Singapore, Thai Friends Association in Singapore, workers’ dorms, employers, and PR text messages via SingTel, respectively. It is also found that 642 workers who received medical check-up this year also joined in the medical check-up program last year and they express high and highest levels of satisfaction to the program. Approximately 99% of the survey respondents wants this program to be held every year and sees this event as being very useful for Thai workers in Singapore.
