Firms, charities and donors have come together to donate 1.3 million reusable cloth masks to Singapore’s migrant workers under a community initiative called MaskForce.
The masks, which have a filter pocket, also come with 650,000 surgical masks that can be inserted as filters.
Temasek Foundation, one of the effort’s organisers, said in a statement on 19 April that contributions from 21 donors and sponsors helped in getting the masks.
The masks will be distributed to 400,000 workers living mostly in dormitories and 250,000 domestic helpers here.
Senior Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth Sim Ann, who led the MaskForce initiative, said partners stepped forward to help “without any hesitation”.
“MaskForce is now prepared to look beyond masks to equip migrant workers with even more items that are practical and helpful,” she said.
She added that the initiative, which also involves the Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC), Centre for Domestic Employees and the Textiles and Fashion Federation, will be kept going as long as there is public support. Most of the reusable masks were produced by local garment manufacturers, with other Singapore firms contributing fabric and sewing machines.
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Source: The Straits Times, 20 April 2020