IWD 2024: Jacqueline Loh of Aidha on the importance of empowering migrant domestic workers

What does inclusion mean? This International Women's Day, we feature incredible individuals leading social enterprises that are championing the underrepresented and underserved. Their mission? To shatter societal stigmas and create pathways to equal opportunities for all.

Having been at the helm of Aidha as its CEO since 2016, Jacqueline Loh believes in empowering women through financial literacy. Her previous experience spans the private, public and non-profit sectors, at companies such as the World Bank and Ford Foundation, with roles in strategy, research, and programme development.

Aidha’s mission revolves around transforming lives through financial education, asset-building, and skills development. The organisation’s commitment to empowering women aligns with its focus on migrant domestic workers (MDWs), a vital workforce in Singapore with one in five households employing them.

Despite their crucial role, MDWs often face blurred lines between work and rest, leaving their families behind to support others in pursuit of a better future. Aidha’s initiatives aim to bridge this gap and motivate participants towards further education and empowerment.

What motivated you to take on a leadership role in this sector?

What really set me on my path towards working for underprivileged communities was the year and a half I spent in India shortly after completing my graduate degree.

I was doing research on poverty, and what struck me most during my time there was the commonality I shared with people from such different life circumstances, and the realisation that what truly differentiates people is neither capability nor culture, but opportunity.

What aspects of Aidha’s mission resonate with you?

Having a background in economics, I’ve always felt that one of the best ways to sustainably improve the lives of low-income populations is to equip them to participate more effectively in markets, which is exactly what Aidha does – it helps our students maximise what they have control of within the current economic environment.

While I left the board after a few years, I did keep in touch with how Aidha was doing, and when the opportunity to take on the CEO role came up in 2016, I visited Aidha’s campus and was so impressed with how far it had come.

I was also very impressed with the impact Aidha had on its students, and the wonderful respect and warmth that was palpable on campus. It was the right time in my career to take on the role, and I have loved being here ever since.

What are the challenges faced by MDWs and lower-income Singapore women?

Singapore is home to over 270,000 MDWs, many of whom have made the difficult decision to leave behind their children and families in the hope of creating a better future. Yet, most of these women are often financially excluded and in debt.

Furthermore, they often find themselves in difficult financial situations due to lack of education and knowledge. Falling victim to scams is a prime example; in 2022, over 3,500 migrant workers and MDWs in Singapore fell prey to scams, losing more than $25 million – a potentially life- changing impact on those affected.

These circumstances result in a vicious circle of financial struggles. Arming these groups with financial knowledge and access will strongly help to address the financial struggles they face, and help employers who enrol their helpers at Aidha prevent difficult situations.

How does Aidha help create a more inclusive environment for MDWs and lower-income Singapore women?

Since 2006, Aidha has positively benefited over 6,000 women through our deep impact long course programme. Our programmes demonstrate exceptional impact. After completing only our first module, students are already able to increase their average monthly savings by 40 per cent.

Alumnae who have graduated from our most advanced module on entrepreneurship increased their average monthly savings by nearly 80 per cent, and are able to double the number of productive assets they own. Business ownership increased from 6 per cent to over 40 per cent, with many running businesses in their home countries with family members. Also, 90 per cent of our students either remained debt-free or reduced their debt during their time at Aidha.

Beyond our educational initiatives, we also strive to create a community, where women MDWs can befriend, learn, and share among those who have similar experiences and backgrounds.

PHOTOGRAPHY ATHIRAH ANNISSA
ART DIRECTION ADELINE ENG
HAIR MADIHA SHAIKH, USING OLAPLEX & DYSON & SARAH TAN
MAKEUP LASALLE LEE, USING GUCCI BEAUTY & MADIHA SHAIKH, USING SHISEIDO