All items filed under News

Migrant workers in Singapore “vulnerable to forced labor, including debt bondage”, says US TIP 2017 report

July 14th, 2017|

Transient Workers Count Too is deeply appreciative of the US State Department's efforts at drawing attention to the evil of trafficking in persons, through its annual Trafficking in Persons Report. The 2017 segment relating to Singapore can be found here: https://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/countries/2017/271276.htm  Singapore was classed as Tier 2. TWC2 notes in particular

Today Weekend features our Everglory scam story

July 10th, 2017|

Our earlier story on the Everglory Construction case (The Everglory scam: productivity incentive shot to pieces) caught the attention of the press. Today Weekend (a newspaper) carried a story titled "Efforts to raise quality of construction workforce hamstrung by dishonest firms" on 8 July 2017, based on our exposé. The newspaper article can

Straits Times reports on ‘gaps in Labour Court system’ and the plight of 5 Zach Engineering employees

June 30th, 2017|

Following the launch of TWC2's research report yesterday (see Labour protection for the vulnerable: challenges and recommendations), the Straits Times carried two stories Friday (30 June 2017) almost filling up all of page B4.   Click to enlarge The newspaper noted that our research study found "significant obstacles

Labour protection for the vulnerable: challenges and recommendations

June 29th, 2017|

A new study released by Transient Workers Count Too on 29 June 2017 reveals challenges faced by low-wage migrant workers with unpaid salaries and workplace injuries in obtaining compensation and recourse. The study, conducted by researchers at the Singapore Management University (“SMU”) and Transient Workers Count Too (“TWC2”), reveals that

Today newspaper highlights TWC2’s work fatigue study

May 9th, 2017|

Transient Workers' Count Too's Work Fatigue survey (see here for more about the study) was featured in Today newspaper on 6 May 2017. As often is the case in Singapore, the story leads with a headline ("Firms which don’t give workers enough rest taken to task: MOM") and a response

TWC2 participates in country review of Bangladesh at the United Nations in Geneva

May 7th, 2017|

Transient Workers Count Too was represented at a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, where the Bangladesh government's handling of migrant worker issues came under scrutiny. Specifically, Bangladesh's governance was reviewed against its commitments to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and their Families. Bangladesh

68% of construction workers work illegally long hours

April 25th, 2017|

Over two-thirds (68%) of foreign construction workers work so much overtime that their total monthly overtime hours would breach the legal maximum of 72 overtime hours a month. Of these, one in three (23%) worked twelve and a half hours or more in a single day -- which also violates the

The New Paper: Jobless and unpaid, foreign workers face daunting fate

March 25th, 2017|

The difficulties faced by foreign workers in Singapore seeking alternative jobs -- even when permitted to do so by the Ministry of Manpower -- were highlighted in a story in The New Paper 24 March 2017. The focus was on the men from HBB Engineering and related company C-Plus Engineering,

MOM makes about-turn after saying it can’t much help HBB workers

March 18th, 2017|

The Straits Times reporter met with the men on Thursday 2 March 2017. We thought the story would be out around the weekend, but the newspaper didn't have enough space. Parliament was sitting and debating the budget; space in the Home section was at a premium. The story was the