When a Transient Workers Count Too volunteer met domestic workers of the Filipino Family Network and the Indonesian Family Network in June and said, ‘We were thinking about what we should do for International Migrants’ Day this year…’, there was no discussion. Immediately, the workers said that they’d like to have a sports day. So a sports day it is.

International Migrants’ Day (IMD) is on18 December, but TWC2 always holds its main IMD event on the nearest Sunday, which gives the best opportunity to migrant workers to attend: if they have any day off, it is likely to be then. So this year, TWC2 will hold it Sunday, 16 December 2012.

This IMD is the first after the government decided to introduce a mandatory weekly day off for domestic workers as of 1 January 2013. Though TWC2 thinks the measure leaves routes out for employers who are determined not to give their domestic workers time off, it was still an important step in the right direction, so we wanted to give first say on this years event to domestic workers: there is something to celebrate.

We held sports days in 2005 and 2007. This year’s will be held at United World College’s East Campus, from 9am to 5pm. There will be leagues of men’s and women’s teams playing volleyball and futsal.

Worker volunteers have been busy recruiting teams; the first ten had been registered by 1 November, and we hope to have full leagues by the deadline of 23 November (to allow time for the players to be insured).

A group of students from the National Institute of Education are working on publicity and sponsorship for the event: a promotional video will appear shortly. They are writing to potential contributors for goodie bags for the 300 workers we expect to take part.

We need to get donors to support the sports day, which will cost $7000 altogether: it is slow going at the moment.

During the sports day, certificates will be presented to domestic workers who have been employed in Singapore for over ten years.

We need:

1. Any migrant workers interested in forming teams and taking part should contact us as soon as they can, since the leagues may fill up quickly: we need to have the names of team members (six for futsal, eight for volleyball, including one reserve in each case), with their IC numbers before 23 November.

2. Nomination of domestic workers who have been in Singapore for over ten years: names, ICs and details of start of employment before 30 November.

3. Donations to cover the cost of the sports day (Please make out any cheques to ‘Transient Workers Count Too’ and write ‘IMD’ on the back)

4. Goodie bag contents.

To help with any of the above, please contact Christine at: <[email protected]> or at 62477001 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during office hours.

It should be an enjoyable day for everyone taking part, or just attending to watch. If you wish to attend (but not play in the games), please register (so we can plan ahead) at http://www.eventbrite.com/event/3846093770#. If you wish to participate in a game, please register AND email Christine as stated above.