Helper seeking injury compensation feared seeing a lawyer, till she went to pro bono law centre

In 2025, a domestic worker who had been hit by a car hobbled into the Migrant Workers’ Law Centre @ MWC (MWLC) on crutches, accompanied by her employers.

The Indonesian woman, who was due to return home in two weeks’ time, hoped to reach a private settlement with the driver, but was unsure what would be a reasonable compensation amount.

After receiving legal advice from pro bono lawyer Nur Shukrina Salam, her employers were able to negotiate a settlement on her behalf.

“I couldn’t sleep last night. It’s my first time seeing a lawyer,” said the domestic worker during the consultation.

In an interview with The Straits Times at MWLC in February, Ms Shukrina said migrant workers often feel apprehensive about meeting lawyers, as they associate legal help with being in trouble or losing their jobs.

Changing such misconceptions has been one of the centre’s goals in its first year of operation as Singapore’s only legal clinic that opens five days a week for the migrant worker community. Other similar legal clinics typically serve the general public.

Located in Serangoon Road in Little India, the centre provides free consultations for migrant workers facing employment problems, criminal matters or other legal issues.

Jointly set up by the Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC) and law charity Pro Bono SG, it has served more than 500 workers since it opened in April 2025, far exceeding its initial target of 120 workers within a year, said MWC director Michael Lim.

Before MWLC opened, Pro Bono SG’s former chairman Gregory Vijayendran told ST in December 2024 that there was high demand for services at the charity’s legal clinic for migrant workers in Angullia Mosque, which runs two Sundays a month.

There were 40 per cent more migrant workers seeking legal assistance there in 2024 compared with 2023, said Mr Vijayendran, adding that MWLC was set up to expand capacity in this area.

Mr Lim said migrant workers often face cost and language barriers when seeking legal help.

Noting that legal woes can be daunting even for locals, he added: “Just imagine that in the case of a migrant worker who is new to our country. That kind of anxiety is essentially amplified.”

More volunteer lawyers needed

Nestled along a row of shophouses lined with mini-marts and music lounges, the centre is a modest set-up, with a signboard emblazoned in four languages: English, Chinese, Tamil and Bengali.

Mr Lim said MWC promotes the law centre through its social media platforms and website, as well as via word of mouth through its network of about 6,000 migrant worker ambassadors.

Ms Shukrina said: “The first step is to get rid of the fear and the perception (of seeing lawyers), to get them in the door.”

She added that consultations are fully confidential.

MWC officers first speak with the workers and determine what help they need. Common inquiries include over unpaid salaries, employment issues such as unfair contractual terms, and legal representation for criminal cases.

If the issue can be resolved without legal assistance, such as employment matters, MWC officers offer guidance and may refer the workers to the authorities for further help.

Cases requiring legal advice are handled by Ms Shukrina, who also represents workers in court if needed.

One of them was a Malaysian worker charged with riding a motorcycle without a valid licence and insurance. He had a rider’s licence but not for that specific class of motorcycle.

Prosecutors asked for him to be fined above $10,000. The worker claimed that based on his employer’s policy, this meant he would lose his job, said Ms Shukrina, who was unable to reveal his employment.

She eventually secured a $6,000 fine after mitigating on his behalf, and the man got to keep his job.

Ms Shukrina said: “He was really very grateful after that and offered to pay (legal fees), but I said ‘No, we are pro bono, actually, so you don’t have to pay us anything.’”

Of the cases MWLC has handled, 72 were referred for civil or criminal legal representation.

These cases are either represented by Ms Shukrina or sent to the centre’s network of volunteer lawyers.

So far, though, it has found a lawyer for less than 50 per cent of the 72 cases. Pro Bono SG hopes to encourage more volunteer lawyers to join the cause.

While Mr Lim is glad the centre has helped many workers, he wants to do more upstream work such as educating workers on employment rights, so issues can be resolved before they reach MWLC.

He said: “If every employer were to play their part, and essentially were to be at least a responsible employer, the need of having to seek legal help or even employment help shouldn’t exist.

“Hopefully, I should see small numbers (of consultations), then at least we can say the ecosystem itself is not broken.”

Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

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