Since 2020, TSMP Law Corporation has supported ItsRainingRaincoats (IRR) with pro bono due diligence and legal expertise, assisting more than 10 migrant workers with their cases and integration. This work reflects our firmwide pledge—each TSMP lawyer contributes 25 pro bono hours a year to serve those who cannot afford legal help.

Our team assists migrant workers with employment-related matters, including salary disputes and wrongful-dismissal claims before the Employment Claims Tribunals, appeals to the High Court where needed, workplace-injury compensation claims, and enforcement of court orders against employers or former employers. We also advise IRR on compliance and regulatory issues, including personal data protection and corporate governance.

At IRR’s 10th-anniversary luncheon at the National Gallery Singapore recently, our efforts were recognised when Manpower Minister Tan See Leng presented TSMP with the Justice Umbrella Award. Our Employment & Labour lead, Ian Lim, accepted the award on the firm’s behalf.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of practising employment law is being able to help people, especially when those people are less privileged members of our society. Justice must always be accessible to all,” said Ian.

IRR was founded by lawyer Dipa Swaminathan more than a decade ago, after she stopped during a thunderstorm to help two workers sheltering under a piece of cardboard. One of them, Murugan, later called her; he had been charged with attempted suicide amid employer mistreatment and debt. Dipa helped secure the withdrawal of his charge and the clearing of his loans — and resolved to keep looking out for migrant workers.

At the event, IRR announced the formation of the Health, Emergency, Aid, Relief and Treatment (HEART) Fund, created to provide immediate financial relief to workers facing accidents or health emergencies. The luncheon—attended by over 200 donors, partners, volunteers and migrant workers—raised about $120,000, with support from a runway show and a live auction of partner-sponsored items and experiences.