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Foreign workforce numbers 2024
We archive what little public data there is from the Ministry of Manpower regarding the numbers of migrant labour in Singapore for the six years up to 2024
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Seven joyless workers, part 2
Seven workers recruited by the extended family of a husband-and-wife couple based in Singapore paid $9,000 each to get jobs jere. Big salaries promised, then stopped altogether.
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Seven joyless workers, part 1
There's a loophole in the law by which a migrant worker with absolutely no training in basic construction skills can become a construction worker. It's a backdoor via the S-Pass.
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Woolly “fully” – TADM’s 2024 report
TADM's annual report has useful numbers (but not enough of them), but it's frustrating to see them use language that obscures reality
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“Anything talking also send back”
An employer fails to pay salaries in full or on time, ignores the rule that salaries muct be paid through bank, or that payslips must be issued. When challenged by TADM, the boss presents falsified
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A hard trek to a hard-hearted place
A family in Burma fears the army will be knocking on their doors soon. Where can they send their sons to be safe? What does it take to get there?
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Best payslip there is
Every month, without fail, an employer issues his employees a payslip with am exemplary format. All details are clear. But there's one thing missing.
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Learning the lines for showtime
A Bangladeshi welder paid $3,400 to get a shipyard job. No receipts given, he says. Then he had to memorise some lines to say in front of the camera, and to express deep gratitude.
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Glacially slow investigation and the victims it spawns
An Indian worker has been required to remain in Singapore for two years because of an investigation into abuse of the Training Employment Pass by his employer. Why does an investigation take so long?
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Foolish questions
A first-time construction worker from Bangladesh walks us through the months in which he prepared for a working life in Singapore. He spent 15 months in preparation. His working life was 6 months. We haven't
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Without migrant labour, will there be food courts?
Food courts are iconic to Singapore and where many SIngaporeans get their daily meals. A former stall worker tells us about the people behind the counters and cleaning up after us.
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Caught up in a levy-go-round
About 12 workers found their work passes "Invalid". Their employer had not paid the monthly foreign worker levy. We speak to one of them – how does this non-payment of the levy impact you?
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Not good anywhere
A report looking at the laws (and gaps) impacting migrant workers in countries that are popular with Bangladeshi labour migrants. How do they compare with Singapore?
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The rocky road to a transfer
Workers with salary claims would typically be in financial distress; they need to move into new jobs quickly without first having to go home. The COE letter is supposed to help them. Does it?
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