Laurence Lien, chairman of the Asia Philanthropy Circle (APC), was named one of the world’s 100 most influential people in philanthropy by Time magazine in its May 25, 2026 issue; he is the only Singaporean on the list [1, 2, 3]. Lien, 55, co-founded APC and the Asia Community Foundation to connect donors with causes across Asia and to promote collaborative philanthropy [1, 2, 3].
APC runs the Alternative Entry Pathway project, launched in late 2023, which helps Bangladeshi migrant construction workers avoid exploitation by cutting out costly middlemen fees [1, 2, 3]. Typically, workers paid between $12,000 and $15,000 in middlemen fees before securing employment in Singapore. Through the project, these costs are reduced to under $5,000 to cover training, medical screening, flights, and other mandatory processes [1, 2, 3].
Over 150 Bangladeshi workers have secured jobs through this direct pathway since the project began, eliminating burdensome debt traps that handed excessive power to employers, Lien said. "Under a heavy debt, your employer tends to have a lot more power over you. Anything their employer asks them to do, even if it’s unreasonable, they would just do," he explained [1].
Lien emphasized philanthropy should address root causes through collaboration rather than just donations, and he welcomed the recognition from Time as a chance to put Asia in the spotlight on global philanthropy platforms. "It’s nice to get the recognition. I’m not into the recognition for myself, but I recognise the value of putting the spotlight on Asia, where we tend to be under-represented on such platforms," Lien said [1].
The Alternative Entry Pathway project continues to recruit and train Bangladeshi workers to place directly with Singaporean employers, aiming to expand its reach and reduce exploitation in migrant labor recruitment [1, 2, 3].
