Spending time in public spaces is something many of us take for granted, from meeting friends for a picnic at the park to kicking a soccer ball down at the local playing fields. However, for migrant domestic workers in Singapore, these simple pleasures are far from guaranteed.
The stories of these workers have been laid bare in a multimedia project called On Sundays, We Play, led by Dr Kristine Aquino in the UTS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Since 2017, Dr Aquino and her collaborators have been working with a group of Filipina domestic workers in Singapore to understand more about their rights and experiences.
These women, who gather in public spaces for a weekly social volleyball game, have only precarious access to public spaces in their adopted home. They’re frequently moved on by local authorities, and the land they play on is routinely allotted for development, leaving them with few opportunities to congregate and socialise.
Singapore’s migrant domestic workers occupy a marginal place in Singaporean society – they must live in the homes of their employers, which makes them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse; their salaries are limited to $600 a month; and their bodies are heavily regulated by the state through monthly health and pregnancy checks. – Dr Aquino, a migration researcher with a particular interest in Filipino migration.
They usually only have one day off a week or, in many cases, only one a month, depending on the discretion of their employers.
Their self-organised volleyball games on public space are an avenue to engage in self-care and generate informal networks of social and economic support. It’s a way to negotiate their precarious status in Singapore.
When a game of volleyball becomes an act of community
On Sundays, We Play draws together the firsthand stories of these women in a book, a short film and a photographic exhibition. The project also reveals the flow-on impact of Singapore’s visa system, which determines the rights and privileges of migrants. Migrant domestic workers, for example, are entitled by law to a minimum of 1 day off a month, yet employers can set curfew hours that curb the amount of free time they can spend outside the home.
That day off – often a Sunday – becomes the sole opportunity for many of these workers to congregate, socialise and support one another. For these Filipina women, their weekly volleyball matches are more than just the game.
The games are a site for them to gather as a community and raise funds for anyone in financial hardship among their group or their families back home.
They’re low wage workers and so they're already stretched financially, but they really pull together to try to help each other out. – Dr Aquino
Making a vital workforce visible
On Sundays, We Play is supported by a number of Singaporean NGOs who work with and for migrant workers. This includes the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (HOME) Singapore, a leading advocate for improving the rest day conditions these workers are entitled to.
For the women themselves, contributing to the project has been a process of both education and empowerment. To capture their experiences, Dr Aquino ran a writing competition among the volleyballers, asking them to submit their stories for inclusion in the book. The 6 competition winners were then invited to attend a writing workshop with Migrant Writers of Singapore where they received both advocacy and communication training to explore creative ways to make their voices heard.
‘I learnt a lot of things [at the workshop], to share your feelings. I learnt about storytelling techniques. It is so exciting ... I am so proud of this book,’ says Rexsyl, a volleyballer who contributed a piece called Life of an Overseas Filipino Worker.
In addition to submitting their stories, these women also sat for photographic portraits and video interviews. Their contributions formed the foundation of the multimedia work that comprise On Sundays, We Play.
The book has now been published by Gantala Press, with all sales supporting the women’s informal volleyball leagues. The short film was previewed at the Macquarie University Arts Precinct in Sydney last September, and a book launch and one-day pop-up exhibition took place at Singapore’s UltraSuperNew Gallery as part of HOME Singapore’s celebrations for International Migrants Day.
And the work is already resonating with locals. Says one exhibition attendee:
I was raised by a Filipina helper. Without them helping in our homes, Singapore wouldn’t survive. More people need to be aware of the struggles they face and how locals can help.
On Sundays, We Play will be exhibited at the UTS Tower Building Foyer from September 3 to 17 as part of UTS Global Goals Month and National Social Science Week. Register to attend the exhibition reception on September 12, 5.00–7.30pm (free event), which will feature a special short film screening and a panel Q&A with the project team.
The problem
Migrant domestic workers in Singapore face significant marginalisation, living under employer supervision with restricted wages and strict state regulations. Filipina domestic workers use public spaces for self-care and building support networks through activities like volleyball. However, their access to these spaces is unstable, often disrupted by noise complaints or redevelopment plans, highlighting broader issues of exclusion in Singaporean society, especially on their one day off, Sundays.
The response
This project aimed to empower Filipina migrant domestic helpers in Singapore to access public spaces for leisure and advocacy. Through a photo story book and short film documenting their volleyball activities, based on ongoing ethnographic research, it aimed to highlight the importance of these activities for their wellbeing and advocate for their right to public space. The project included collaboration on written works by the women themselves to enhance their advocacy skills. Sales from the book support their volleyball leagues to sustain these activities.
What helped accomplish this?
The project's success was bolstered by a public exhibition and book launch that raised awareness among Singaporeans about the importance of leisure for migrant domestic workers. Integration into HOME Singapore’s Rest Day campaign emphasised the link between leisure and wellbeing. Media engagement extended the project's reach, while the collaborative book and film production boosted the confidence of migrant worker volleyballers in sharing their stories.
What has changed as a result?
The project brought significant changes to migrant worker volleyballers. Initially surprised by the attention, they began challenging societal invisibility. The exhibition and book launch raised public awareness about their leisure struggles and spurred advocacy for their rights. Creating the book boosted their confidence and pride in sharing their stories. Moving forward, the project aims to influence policy with HOME Singapore's Rest Day campaign, sustain visibility through media coverage, build community leadership, attract local sponsorship and raise global awareness about migrant workers' challenges worldwide.
Team members
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Dr Kristine AquinoSenior LecturerInternational Studies and Global Societies