Omni Bridgeway, Justice Without Borders launch pro bono funding facility for migrant worker claims

Omni Bridgeway has partnered with Justice Without Borders to create a pro bono disbursement fund designed to help Asian migrant domestic workers pursue claims that might otherwise fail because of litigation costs not covered by pro bono representation.

The facility, provided by Omni Bridgeway, will cover critical case disbursements and court-ordered security for costs in legal proceedings supported by Justice Without Borders, a Hong Kong-based non-profit that helps migrant domestic workers pursue claims across borders. The model is structured as a “recycling” fund, with reimbursements and recoveries returned to the facility so the same capital can support future claims.

The initiative targets a persistent access-to-justice gap in migrant worker litigation. Although many workers can obtain pro bono legal representation, they may still be unable to pay filing fees, expert report costs, translation expenses, courier charges or security for costs deposits. Those out-of-pocket expenses can force workers to abandon otherwise valid claims, particularly after they have returned to their home countries.

Justice Without Borders, founded in 2013, operates across Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia and other jurisdictions. Its work focuses on enabling migrant domestic workers, many of whom are employed as live-in caregivers or housekeepers in Hong Kong and Singapore, to enforce their rights even after leaving the jurisdiction where the alleged abuse or employment violation occurred.

The new fund is intended to remove the upfront cost barrier while creating a sustainable pool of capital for future cases. Unlike a one-time grant, the recycling structure allows reimbursed amounts to be redeployed into additional claims, giving the facility potential to scale over time without requiring each new case to be funded from scratch.

Celine Chan, executive director of Justice Without Borders, said the model addresses a practical barrier that can prevent vulnerable workers from enforcing their rights. “Justice should not stop at a border or depend on whether someone can afford court or courier fees,” Chan said. “With Omni Bridgeway’s ‘recycling’ model, we can support claims that are credible and urgent, while ensuring the same funding can amplify our impact over time.”

For Omni Bridgeway, the partnership represents a public-interest application of legal finance tools more commonly associated with high-value commercial disputes, arbitration and enforcement matters. The ASX-listed funder said the project aligns with its access-to-justice and corporate social responsibility priorities.

Mitchell Dearness, an investment manager at Omni Bridgeway in Singapore, said the initiative also complements the role of law firms already providing pro bono support to Justice Without Borders. “Omni Bridgeway and Justice Without Borders share strong relationships with many of the same law firms,” Dearness said. “A number of firms providing pro bono support to JWB also act for funded parties in matters we finance.”

Dearness said the facility fills a gap that pro bono representation alone cannot address, by covering the case costs that remain payable even when lawyers are acting without charge.