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Speech at Conversational Hokkien Class Graduation Ceremony for Migrant Domestic Workers

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower Mr Shawn Huang, Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Cultural Academy

Foreign manpower

President of Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan, Mr Thomas Chua,

Director of Migrant Workers Segment Brother Michael,

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

 

A very good afternoon.

 

  1. First of all, thank you Mr Chua for the warm welcome. It is my pleasure to join all of you today at the MDW Conversational Hokkien Class Graduation Ceremony.

     

  2. This year, Singapore is expected to become a super-aged society, where more than one in five of our population will be aged 65 and above. By 2030, 1 in 4 citizens will be aged 65 and above. Catering to the needs of our seniors would therefore be one of our foremost priorities.

     

  3. Today’s event is an excellent example of a ground-up, needs-based initiative by our community partners to help our migrant domestic helpers enhance their language skills. This would help them better communicate with family members in the household and care for our seniors. Many seniors feel most comfortable when they hear familiar phrases, like ‘jiak ba buay’, have you eaten and ‘ho boh’, how are you. These phrases help to create feelings of endearment and go a long way to help the seniors feel more connected to their caregivers.

     

  4. I am encouraged by how this programme supports both our seniors and migrant domestic workers. Our seniors continue to stay active and engaged through meaningful interaction, while our migrant domestic helpers gain valuable language skills and a deeper understanding of local culture and daily life in Singapore. Take Thiri, for example, who is caring for an 88-year-old with dementia. She faced challenges initially due to language barriers. After enrolling in this programme, she gained practical skills that helped her better understand and interact with the elderly family member she cares for. Thanks to the support and dedication of the course instructors, she can now communicate more effectively and has significantly improved her caregiving skills. Both Thiri and her employer’s family are deeply grateful to CDE and SHHKCA’s teachers for providing the course.

     

  5. By improving communications skills, we foster better understanding and empathy between migrant domestic workers and household members. This learning exchange builds harmonious relationships, creates mutual respect and a sense of belonging for everyone involved. When we create spaces for learning and sharing, we strengthen the bonds that make Singapore a caring and inclusive society.

     

  6. I would like to commend Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Cultural Academy (SHHKCA) and the Centre for Domestic Employees (CDE) for demonstrating how effective partnerships can address real challenges in our community. This collaboration brings together SHHKCA’s cultural expertise with CDE’s deep understanding of migrant domestic workers’ needs. When organisations combine their unique strengths, they create meaningful solutions that benefit everyone involved. I urge more community organisations to come forward with more impactful initiatives and programmes.

     

  7. To all the graduates here today, congratulations on completing the course. You sacrificed your off-days to attend classes – your spirit of learning is truly commendable. I hope you had fun while getting to know more about Singapore and our culture, and I encourage you to continue bringing your committed service and joy to the families you work with. Your efforts today reflect the Singapore story and our values – where we support one another across different cultures and backgrounds.

     

  8. Let me say a few words in Mandarin.

     

  9. 蔡其生会长，各位年长居民、各位来宾，首先，非常感谢大家对“帮佣福建会话班”这个项目的支持和参与。

     

  10. 新加坡即将在今年步入超老龄化社会，因此如何满足乐龄人士对看护以及各项基本服务的需求，是我们的首要考量。我们希望未来有更多的社区伙伴加入，大家各尽所能，和我们一起打造“幼有所养、老有所依”的温馨社区。

     

  11. 再过两个星期就是农历新年了，我在此先向大家拜个早年，也让我用福建话向大家送上祝福：

    (Hokkien) “jiok guan dai geh, sin nih ban shu ru yih, peng an kian kong, nih nih ho!” （祝愿大家，新年万事如意，平安健康，年年好！！”）

    预祝大家在马年：马到功成、阖家平安健康，过个顺风顺水的马年！

     

  12. Let us continue to support one another, learn from one another, and grow together as one community. Here’s wishing everyone a very happy, healthy and prosperous Year of the Horse!

     

  13. Thank you.