Events

This lecture is brought to you by Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore, with funding from the Singapore Ministry of Education Academic Research Fund Tier 1, and the Migrating Out of Proverty Research Programme Consortium. 

Here Today and Tomorrow: Transnational Domestic Workers and the Decent Work Agenda in Asia
Speaker              :  Dr Maruja M.B. Asis, Scalabrini Migration Center, Philippines
Commentators     :  Dr Noorashikin Abdul Rahman, Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), Singapore
:  Mr Anthony Chen, Fisheye Pictures, Singapore
Chairperson         :  Professor Brenda Yeoh, National University of Singapore

The International Labor Organization estimates that, excluding children, there are some 53 million domestic workers worldwide, with women (83 percent) comprising the overwhelming majority. By region, the Asia-Pacific has the largest share of domestic workers, 41 percent, which translates to a 21.5 million-strong workforce. Since the 1970s, domestic work has gone transnational in Asia, initiated by the demand for foreign domestic workers by the more developed countries, which was met by the developing countries in the region.  Female labor migration in Asia, thus, was and remains largely the migration of transnational domestic workers. The presentation will discuss trends in transnational domestic worker migration, notable developments in the multi-level governance of this specific category of migrant workers, the significance of ILO Convention 189 (Domestic Workers Convention), and concludes with reflections on future trends, challenges, and possibilities to realize decent work for domestic workers, include migrant workers.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Maruja M.B. Asis is Director of Research and Publications at the Scalabrini Migration Center, Manilla, Philippines. She is a sociologist who has long been working on international migration and social change in Asia. Her areas of interest and research experience include gender, family and migration; migration and development; and migration governance. She recently completed work on youth, employment and migration in the Philippines; assessment of pre-departure information progams for migrants in Indonesia, the Philippines and Nepal; and the displacement of Filipino workers in Libya and Syria. She is co-editor of the Asian and Pacific Migration Journal. She has authored various publications and has participated in many international conferences.

Noorashikin Abdul Rahman has been a board member of Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) since it was first registered as a society in 2004. She is currently holding the position of treasurer at the organisation. At TWC2 she has organised projects in diverse areas such as direct services, capacity building, research and advocacy. Currently, she specialises on research and advocacy. Two recent research reports that Noor completed for TWC2 were “Justice Delayed, Justice Denied” and “Made to Work: Attitudes towards granting regular days off to migrant domestic workers”. Noor has a doctorate in Social Sciences and has published several book chapters on migration and migrant domestic workers in Singapore.

Anthony Chen graduated from film school with his graduation film, G-23, which screened at multiple festivals worldwide and won awards in Europe and Asia. His second short film, Ah Ma (Grandma), was nominated for the Palme d’Or for Short Film at the 60th Cannes Film Festival, and secured a Special Mention, the first time a Singapore filmmaker was awarded in Cannes. Haze marks his third short film effort and was nominated for the Golden Bear for Short Film at the 58th Berlin International Film Festival. Collectively, his films have screened at numerous prestigious film festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Rotterdam, Pusan, London, Sao Paulo, Stockholm, Sydney, Montreal, Melbourne, Chicago, Hawaii, etc. In 2009, he was accorded the Young Artist Award by the National Arts Council of Singapore, one of the most prestigious accolades for the arts in Singapore. He recently completed his MA in Film Directing at the National Film and Television School, UK with a scholarship from the Media Development Authority of Singapore. Anthony believes in making films that reveal, reflect and explore universal truths about the human condition. Anthony’s debut feature film Ilo Ilo had its world premiere in the Directors’ Fortnight section of this year’s Cannes Film Festival, garnering tremendous critical acclaim and subsequently winning the prestigious Camera d’Or. Set during the period of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, Ilo Ilo explores the relationship between a young boy and his maid.

The lecture event includes a short film screening (15mins) and photo exhibition from “Reading Across Worlds”. 

READING ACROSS WORLDS is a project that aims to provide visibility to inspiring stories of migrant women working as domestic workers in Singapore. In the upcoming short film and photo exhibition, we feature the story of Ristanti Ningrum, an Indonesian domestic worker who has just returned home to her village in Dolopo, Madiun, East Java, after 10 years in Singapore to set up a children’s library in her village community. The film chronicles her experiences of journey and return, highlighting intersections of family and relationships across borders, and how dreams are realised through small actions of people coming together.

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION CREW

Bernice Wong has been described as a free spirit. She lives her life from her bag pack as she travels around Asia documenting about the human condition. (http://bernicewsf.com)

Ng Yiqin used to read English Literature in school and that has helped her frame the way she uses the camera as a pen to converse and engage with the world around her. (http://lightsaucepictures.com)

REGISTRATION

Admission is free, however, registration is required. Kindly register early as seats are available on a first come, first served basis. We would greatly appreciate if you write to Sharon via email at arios@nus.edu.sg your name, email, organisation/affiliation and contact number.

PROGRAMME

6:30pm   Registration & Photo Exhibition (light refreshments will be provided)
7:00pm   Welcome Remarks
7:05pm   Film Screening
7:20pm   Public Lecture by Dr Maruja M.B. Asis
7:50pm   Commentary by Dr Noorashikin Abdul Rahman
8:00pm   Commentary by Mr Anthony Chen
8:10pm   Question & Answer Session
8:30pm   End of Event

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ARI ASIA TRENDS 2013 SERIES

ASIA TRENDS is an ARI flagship public outreach event. This annual series of public lectures is an opportunity for ARI to connect with the local Singapore community through informing and interacting with various public sectors (citizenry, government), civil society organizations, businesses, universities and colleges, by presenting cutting edge research on major trends in Asia. Some trends examined in the past include “Women and Religion in Asia,” “Green Urbanism: How does Singapore compare?” “From Adolescent to Young Adulthood,” “Families, Children, and Domestic Workers in Contemporary Asia,” “Waxing Korean Wave in East Asia.” Each ARI research cluster hosts an evening seminar, during which an overseas speaker, who is a prominent researcher or scholar, is invited to examine an emerging trend in that research field; a Singapore-based researcher then provides comments on local development with regard to the relevant trend. Past seminars have witnessed some interesting interaction between speakers and commentators; some have also seen lively audience participation in the discussions. ASIA TRENDS showcase the work of ARI’s research clusters, highlights the relevance of ARI’s research to Singapore, and relates Singapore to the rest of Asia from the perspective of significant trends in the region.