Migrant workers here can turn to a new help centre in Geylang, which offers emergency shelter, representation in employment issues, referrals to medical and soup kitchen services, and free non-employment legal advice from the Law Society.

The centre by the Migrant Workers' Centre, a tie-up between the National Trades Union Congress and the Singapore National Employers' Federation, was officially opened on Sunday by MWC chairman Yeo Guat Kwang.

Of the 7,000 cases MWC has handled since it was started in 2009, more than 3,000 have involved workers from China, he said, and the Geylang area is where Chinese workers congregate.

Besides the Geylang centre, MWC runs another office at Rangoon Road, which is expected to move to a Serangoon site double the current size by the end of the year.

Both are open from 9am to 7pm from Tuesday to Friday and 11am to 3pm on weekends.