Many low wage workers cannot benefit from government policies, due to their poor literacy and an inability to navigate or the lack of user friendliness of websites providing these information.
In employment-related disputes, they are ill-equipped to handle the tedious legal processes, associated with raising the issue to the employment tribunal.
How can we ensure low wage workers fully benefit from their workplace rights?
Populus Advocatus aims to empower low wage workers to have a better working experience. The team hopes to develop a mobile application to give low wage workers easy access to information and provide them with appropriate contact points (lawyers, unions and law clinics).
The app will use language simplified for their better understanding, with different language options included. They will also be directed to relevant government resources and important articles that will help address their issues.
In response to "Do you think that this application would better help low wage workers receive the help they need, as opposed to existing resources? Why?"
Yes. It is a All in One App which helps them to sieve through language barriers, relevant websites to the right channels.
In response to "What modifications do you think can help us achieve our aim?"
Providing a telephone advice line to clarify doubts of low wage workers
In response to "In general, how else can we help low wage workers solve their work-related grievances?"
can have a channel to find ways to resolve the problems that they are facing through FAQ, employees rights.
In response to "Do you think that this application would better help low wage workers receive the help they need, as opposed to existing resources? Why?"
yes, one stop station
In response to "What modifications do you think can help us achieve our aim?"
Summarise all existing information in one place,Providing a telephone advice line to clarify doubts of low wage workers
In response to "In general, how else can we help low wage workers solve their work-related grievances?"
couple with media campaigns e.g. Facebook and tv
In response to "Do you think that this application would better help low wage workers receive the help they need, as opposed to existing resources? Why?"
It may be difficult because (1) multiple sources of duplicated information can create confusion (2) there will be a need to constantly update your app to reflect new changes
In response to "What modifications do you think can help us achieve our aim?"
Summarise all existing information in one place,Providing a telephone advice line to clarify doubts of low wage workers
In response to "In general, how else can we help low wage workers solve their work-related grievances?"
Increase outreach
In response to "Do you think that this application would better help low wage workers receive the help they need, as opposed to existing resources? Why?"
Providing a one-stop resource base would be helpful if the application is well integrated with the existing platforms they are familiar with/if they are made aware of the app & how to use it. Providing them with these contact points are especially important for those who may not know who to turn to for such help, but it is also dependent on how techsavvy/whether these low wage workers have access to mobile devices etc. to access the app.
In response to "What modifications do you think can help us achieve our aim?"
Providing a telephone advice line to clarify doubts of low wage workers
In response to "In general, how else can we help low wage workers solve their work-related grievances?"
Connecting them to community (can be done through the app)
In response to "Do you think that this application would better help low wage workers receive the help they need, as opposed to existing resources? Why?"
Yes as they might not know the correct POC to find for their issued
In response to "What modifications do you think can help us achieve our aim?"
Summarise all existing information in one place
In response to "In general, how else can we help low wage workers solve their work-related grievances?"
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In response to "Do you think that this application would better help low wage workers receive the help they need, as opposed to existing resources? Why?"
Have you spoken to the low wage workers on how they are resolving this issue? Who do they look for?
In response to "What modifications do you think can help us achieve our aim?"
Others
In response to "In general, how else can we help low wage workers solve their work-related grievances?"
I don\'t think i can comment on this. Best to speak to the low wage workers.
In response to "Do you think that this application would better help low wage workers receive the help they need, as opposed to existing resources? Why?"
Yes as information are all over the place currently and this platform will allow for a consolidated resource hub for low wage workers to receive the help they deserve.
In response to "What modifications do you think can help us achieve our aim?"
Summarise all existing information in one place,Providing a telephone advice line to clarify doubts of low wage workers
In response to "In general, how else can we help low wage workers solve their work-related grievances?"
Having links to FAQs as well as having dedicated lawyers who are willing to do this pro bono.
In response to "Do you think that this application would better help low wage workers receive the help they need, as opposed to existing resources? Why?"
Yes if you guys manage to rephrase some long and complicated terms to laymen terms
In response to "What modifications do you think can help us achieve our aim?"
Summarise all existing information in one place,Providing a telephone advice line to clarify doubts of low wage workers,Conduct mass seminars(physical/online) to educate low wage workers on their rights
In response to "In general, how else can we help low wage workers solve their work-related grievances?"
Conducting mass lectures seems like a great idea!
In response to "Do you think that this application would better help low wage workers receive the help they need, as opposed to existing resources? Why?"
Yes, if the content of the application comes from an unbiased third party
In response to "What modifications do you think can help us achieve our aim?"
Summarise all existing information in one place,Providing a telephone advice line to clarify doubts of low wage workers
In response to "In general, how else can we help low wage workers solve their work-related grievances?"
Educate their employers
In response to "Do you think that this application would better help low wage workers receive the help they need, as opposed to existing resources? Why?"
Yes. However, not all of them owns a smartphone.
In response to "What modifications do you think can help us achieve our aim?"
Summarise all existing information in one place,Providing a telephone advice line to clarify doubts of low wage workers,Conduct mass seminars(physical/online) to educate low wage workers on their rights
In response to "In general, how else can we help low wage workers solve their work-related grievances?"
could provide a hotline or a place for them to relax after work with activities.
In response to "Do you think that this application would better help low wage workers receive the help they need, as opposed to existing resources? Why?"
Yes, I think is is more convenient for them.
In response to "What modifications do you think can help us achieve our aim?"
Summarise all existing information in one place,Providing a telephone advice line to clarify doubts of low wage workers,Conduct mass seminars(physical/online) to educate low wage workers on their rights
In response to "In general, how else can we help low wage workers solve their work-related grievances?"
By solving the grievance before it gets created - educating the employers
In response to "How Can We Improve?"
Can have a chatbot system to help them find the solution to their problems.
In response to "How Can We Improve?"
not sure how you guys going to engage the employers.. employers might block the use of the app.. need to engage NTUC
In response to "How Can We Improve?"
Would it be useful to increase outreach to low wage workers to inform them of their right? This can partner efforts from MOM e.g. WorkRight campaign. Apps can be useful as a summary but may be harder to maintain and if there is low traction. Nevertheless, it is a worthwhile idea to explore and see where it takes us. Best of luck!!
In response to "How Can We Improve?"
Having peer advocates (finding members of the low wage worker community who might be willing to learn and then teach others about the app) might be helpful, as the companies may not necessarily prioritise such resources/facilitate their access for various reasons.
In response to "How Can We Improve?"
Based on what I know is that when low wage workers are in doubt of their rights, they tend to approach MOM, the social service agency they are familiar with or the social worker who is tending to their family. So, you may just wish to find out how unstatistied are the workers the current way they are getting the information from these people? Then you can have a better solution.
In response to "How Can We Improve?"
Can improve by sorting out the information on the platform as well having having dedicated sections for different pressing issues that could plague low income workers and having links to where the information can be found as well helpdesk.
In response to "How Can We Improve?"
While thinking about mass lectures i would like to suggest that you guys look into recruiting volunteers, training them by professionals and then making them conduct the seminars. this way , you guys could keep your project sustainable as well.
In response to "How Can We Improve?"
Not being able to receive government benefit may not be due to poor literacy (if you are referring to foreign workers) . It’s sometime the duty of their employer or there’s simply no benefit given by the government to foreign workers. It’s worth finding out the root-cause of the problem
In response to "How Can We Improve?"
I think educating the employers are as important as well.
In response to "How Can We Improve?"
I think the the idea is amazing already!! Perhaps you can consider having a page for employers too and allow employers to be aware of common problems/grievances of their workers.
