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</TD></TR><TR><TD><!-- headline one : end --></TD></TR><TR><TD>Several religious groups provide free meals to foreign workers </TD></TR><TR><TD><!-- Author --></TD></TR><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Yen Feng
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The Singapore Buddhist Lodge in Kim Yan Road provides free vegetarian lunches daily, attracting thousands of foreign workers, many of whom are Chinese nationals. -- TNP FILE PHOTO
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->CLOSE to 8,000 foreign workers will go to church next weekend for a 'Banquet of Honour'.
The event, organised by a group of Protestant churches called Together In Transformation, will serve them free meals from Thursday to Sunday at six venues, including Tampines and Jurong.
The effort is the latest among religious groups to feed Singapore's transient workers - mostly domestic and blue-collar workers from China, India and the Philippines - a growing group here.
In fact, a population report released in September puts the number of non-resident workers at more than one million - 10 times more compared to 30 years ago.
A spokesman for the group said the effort was long overdue: 'These workers are a silent major group of our workforce. We want to honour them and let them know that they are appreciated.'
The increase has encouraged religious groups to see to their practical needs.
The workers already face problems such as not getting enough rest days, poor housing and unfair remuneration.
Many save money by going for free meals as a big chunk of their monthly salaries - between $300 and $700 - is either sent home to families or used to pay off debt.
Some workers say the free meals are of better quality than those at hostels, and that buffet lunches are more filling.
Visibly, this swell in numbers is most evident at the Singapore Buddhist Lodge in Kim Yan Road. Its daily vegetarian lunches attract thousands each week.
Since January, the lodge has increased its volume of weekday meals from 1,000 to 1,600; while on weekends, as many as 6,000 throng its kitchens.
Many are Chinese nationals.
Mr Huang Xing, 35, a labourer from Hubei, who eats there two or three times a week, said the free food comes with an extra perk: The lodge's meal of stewed cabbage, rice and thick herbal tea reminds him of home.
The Archdiocesan Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (ACMI) also notes a rise in workers seeking help.
The Catholic outfit in Highland Road, which provides free welfare services for foreign workers, offers daily packed lunches to Chinese and Indian labourers in the area.
Its executive director, Mr Patrick Neo, said that he now packs about 800 meals every week, compared to 300 meals a week last year.
He has increased his budget for next year to pack about 1,000 meals a week.
Other religious organisations provide meals to coincide with services or welcome foreign workers to existing free-food programmes.
The Lutheran King of Glory Church in Norris Road, for example, serves free meals every Sunday to Indian workers during its Tamil services, while Sengkang's Tian Tao Temple invites foreign workers to its Sunday breakfast buffet.
Geylang's Hindu Sri Krishna Mandir and Jalan Bukit Merah's Central Sikh Temple report a growing number of foreign workers going for their free lunches.
Mr Sundar Gopal Das, head of the Sri Krishna Mandir, said: 'Times are tough. As long as they are hungry, we will feed them.'
Some mosques even go beyond food donations.
The Mohd Salleh Mosque in Geylang conducts religious classes in the Bengali language for Bangladeshi construction workers; and the Sultan Mosque in Kampung Glam, on two Sundays monthly, holds workshops for Indonesian maids in sewing, computer literacy and other life skills.
At the heart of religious bodies' efforts is the message to their own believers: to treat others as they themselves wish to be treated.
'We want to reinforce to our members these principles, to always respect and treat the foreigners in their country the same they would any other citizen,' said a spokesman for hosts of next week's event, Together In Transformation.
[email protected]
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</TD></TR><TR><TD><!-- headline one : end --></TD></TR><TR><TD>Several religious groups provide free meals to foreign workers </TD></TR><TR><TD><!-- Author --></TD></TR><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Yen Feng
</TD></TR><TR><TD><!-- show image if available --></TD></TR><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
The Singapore Buddhist Lodge in Kim Yan Road provides free vegetarian lunches daily, attracting thousands of foreign workers, many of whom are Chinese nationals. -- TNP FILE PHOTO
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->CLOSE to 8,000 foreign workers will go to church next weekend for a 'Banquet of Honour'.
The event, organised by a group of Protestant churches called Together In Transformation, will serve them free meals from Thursday to Sunday at six venues, including Tampines and Jurong.
The effort is the latest among religious groups to feed Singapore's transient workers - mostly domestic and blue-collar workers from China, India and the Philippines - a growing group here.
In fact, a population report released in September puts the number of non-resident workers at more than one million - 10 times more compared to 30 years ago.
A spokesman for the group said the effort was long overdue: 'These workers are a silent major group of our workforce. We want to honour them and let them know that they are appreciated.'
The increase has encouraged religious groups to see to their practical needs.
The workers already face problems such as not getting enough rest days, poor housing and unfair remuneration.
Many save money by going for free meals as a big chunk of their monthly salaries - between $300 and $700 - is either sent home to families or used to pay off debt.
Some workers say the free meals are of better quality than those at hostels, and that buffet lunches are more filling.
Visibly, this swell in numbers is most evident at the Singapore Buddhist Lodge in Kim Yan Road. Its daily vegetarian lunches attract thousands each week.
Since January, the lodge has increased its volume of weekday meals from 1,000 to 1,600; while on weekends, as many as 6,000 throng its kitchens.
Many are Chinese nationals.
Mr Huang Xing, 35, a labourer from Hubei, who eats there two or three times a week, said the free food comes with an extra perk: The lodge's meal of stewed cabbage, rice and thick herbal tea reminds him of home.
The Archdiocesan Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (ACMI) also notes a rise in workers seeking help.
The Catholic outfit in Highland Road, which provides free welfare services for foreign workers, offers daily packed lunches to Chinese and Indian labourers in the area.
Its executive director, Mr Patrick Neo, said that he now packs about 800 meals every week, compared to 300 meals a week last year.
He has increased his budget for next year to pack about 1,000 meals a week.
Other religious organisations provide meals to coincide with services or welcome foreign workers to existing free-food programmes.
The Lutheran King of Glory Church in Norris Road, for example, serves free meals every Sunday to Indian workers during its Tamil services, while Sengkang's Tian Tao Temple invites foreign workers to its Sunday breakfast buffet.
Geylang's Hindu Sri Krishna Mandir and Jalan Bukit Merah's Central Sikh Temple report a growing number of foreign workers going for their free lunches.
Mr Sundar Gopal Das, head of the Sri Krishna Mandir, said: 'Times are tough. As long as they are hungry, we will feed them.'
Some mosques even go beyond food donations.
The Mohd Salleh Mosque in Geylang conducts religious classes in the Bengali language for Bangladeshi construction workers; and the Sultan Mosque in Kampung Glam, on two Sundays monthly, holds workshops for Indonesian maids in sewing, computer literacy and other life skills.
At the heart of religious bodies' efforts is the message to their own believers: to treat others as they themselves wish to be treated.
'We want to reinforce to our members these principles, to always respect and treat the foreigners in their country the same they would any other citizen,' said a spokesman for hosts of next week's event, Together In Transformation.
[email protected]
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