Stephanie Chok advocates for migrant workers in Singapore for two decades

From Lifestyle Publishing to Labor Advocacy

Before dedicating her career to migrant worker rights, Chok worked in youth-oriented publishing during her late 20s, writing for magazines such as Lime and i-S. However, she found that interviewing boy bands and covering restaurant openings failed to satisfy her deep-rooted yearning to help others. She returned to Murdoch University in Perth, Australia, in 2006 to pursue a PhD, following a master’s degree in development studies from the same institution. Her doctoral thesis focused on labour justice and political responsibility, using the plight of construction workers building Marina Bay Sands as her central case study. During her fieldwork, she began volunteering with HOME, Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), and Migrant Voices.

Shaped by Family and Early Exposure

Chok, 53, grew up with a prominent architect father, Chok Yan Hoi, who designed iconic Singapore structures such as the Tan Boon Liat Building in Outram and the former Crown Prince Hotel on Orchard Road. Her mother, Judy Chok, worked as a medical social worker at the former Woodbridge Hospital—now known as the Institute of Mental Health—and volunteered at the Singapore Cheshire Home. Chok recalled attending outings with her mother’s patients, an early exposure that she credits with making her attuned to individuals on the fringes of society. In her youth, she volunteered with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and traveled alone to Cambodia in her 20s to volunteer at a children’s home.

High-Profile Legal Support and Everyday Indignities

Chok is widely known for supporting Indonesian domestic worker Parti Liyani throughout a high-profile, four-year legal ordeal involving accusations of theft by her employer, former Changi Airport Group chairman Liew Mun Leong, and his family. In 2017, HOME appointed her as a casework and research manager focused on domestic workers, and she later returned to the organization as executive director in 2023. While major headline cases draw public attention, Chok stated that the day-to-day indignities—including verbal abuse, lack of respect from household members, restrictive food monitoring, and limited job mobility—are what persist and frustrate her the most.

Family Life and Shared Values

Chok’s advocacy is closely tied to her personal life. She met her husband, musician Patrick Chng of the indie rock band The Oddfellows, during a stint at MTV Asia. Chng supported her academic fieldwork by driving her to meet workers, bringing food, and accompanying her to the Ministry of Manpower. Today, Chng works as an adjunct allied educator and busker, a flexible schedule that allows him to care for their two sons, aged 11 and 15. The family’s values are shared by their younger son, who accompanies Chok to HOME events and recently assisted in providing food to a domestic worker in their block who lacked adequate provisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Stephanie Chok’s role at HOME?

Stephanie Chok serves as the executive director of the Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics (HOME), an organization that advocates for the rights of migrant workers in Singapore.

What major legal case did Chok support?

Chok is recognized for supporting Indonesian domestic worker Parti Liyani during a four-year legal ordeal where Parti was accused of theft by her employer’s family.

How did Chok transition from journalism to advocacy?

After writing for youth magazines like Lime and i-S in her late 20s, Chok returned to Murdoch University in 2006 for a PhD in development studies, focusing her research on labour justice and construction workers at Marina Bay Sands before volunteering and working with HOME.

How do personal convictions shape the boundary between professional and private life in community advocacy?