Cabling workers still on the job at 7:22pm
In December 2024 and January 2025, intern Alice conducted qualitative interviews with thirteen migrant workers who had come to TWC2 for assistance over a variety of issues. The thrust of her interviews were not directed at the specific issues they came to TWC2 over. Instead, she sought to explore workers’ awareness of three legal protections enshrined in the Employment Act, and their thinking about these protections.
Specifically, the study looked at workers’ experiences with respect to
- overtime hours – the law states that no worker should work more than 72 overtime hours a month;
- paid annual leave; and
- paid sick leave.
The law extends these protections to virtually all workers, including migrant workers, but are they even aware of them? And if they are, what holds them back from asserting their rights?
Her interviewees reported that they liked working lots of overtime. They needed the extra income because of the huge debts they incurred in recruitment fees. Whilst they understood the intent of the 72-hour limit to protect their health, the extra income superseded such a concern.
As for paid annual leave, awareness of this right was low. Many interviewees reported that their bosses would not grant leave anyway, so it was a theoretical right, not much practised in reality. Even those who were aware of this provision in law seemed to feel conflicted about it, possibly because they came from socio-economic backgrounds of casual day labour. The idea that they should be paid for days they weren’t working was somewhat alien to them.
On the other hand, paid sick leave was a concept well internalised by the study’s interviewees. They knew about this provision in law, but even despite this awareness, many spoke of not asserting their right to it. The reason centred around the fear of antagonising their bosses and losing their jobs as a result.
The full report can be downloaded (PDF, 8 pages) by clicking the icon at right.