Discounted movie tickets, learning and recreation options for migrant workers

Members of the Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC) will now be able to access exclusive courses through an online learning platform and enjoy discounted movie tickets, with these additional opportunities for learning and recreation launched on June 23.

- Natasha Ann Zachariah

Two memorandums of understanding (MOUs) for the enhanced membership offerings were signed at the main National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) May Day Migrant Workers’ Celebration held at the MWC Recreation Club in Soon Lee Road. A satellite event took place at Tuas View Dormitory in Tuas South Avenue 1.

The annual event, organised by NTUC and MWC, was attended by about 26,000 migrant workers, union leaders and other guests across both locations.

A new retail area opened at the MWC Recreation Club on June 23, with shops such as a barber and a travel agency. To further support the welfare of migrant workers, the area also has an Ambassadors’ Club and a gym.

To promote learning on the go, MWC teamed up with Grow Education to host courses on its Grow Studio platform, which offers customised lesson plans, courses and quizzes for all migrant workers. Grow Education is an online learning platform dedicated to equipping migrant workers through accessible educational resources.

Exclusive courses on learning English will be made available only to MWC members through a “members-only” community feature on the platform.

Meanwhile, the MOU with Carnival Cinemas offers MWC members half off movie tickets, from Monday to Thursday. Members will pay $8 instead of the regular $16 ticket price to watch a movie at its cinema in Beach Road.

MWC has 147,000 members who will benefit from these new initiatives. According to foreign workforce numbers from the Ministry of Manpower, there are 441,100 work permit holders in construction, marine shipyard and process sectors as at December 2023.

NTUC deputy secretary-general Desmond Tan, who was guest of honour at the event, said that the trade union has been seeking feedback from migrant workers about their needs.