All items filed under News
Coroner finds suicide as cause of worker’s death
The New Paper, 14 January 2012, reported that the coroner had ruled the death of Bangladeshi worker Md Roni Miya Md Rajaul Karim, 20, was probably one of suicide. His death had been reported in TWC2's earlier story A life cut tragically short, a brother seeks answers (27 December 2011).
Housewife admits hurting and threatening maid
Norhanita Sulaiman, 43, pleaded guilty, February 21, 2012, to criminal intimidation against her domestic worker from Indonesia. The employer had threatened Siti Musyarofah, 44, with a 12cm-long knife, and branded on her face with a hot iron. The abuses began in February 2010. In June that year, unhappy that Siti
27 employers found hiring illegal foreign workers in first half of 2011
Today, the newspaper, carried a story attributed to its sister medium, Channel NewsAsia, reporting that 27 employers were taken to court in the first six months of 2011 for hiring illegal workers. Most were fined, with only two receiving jailtime. The story mentioned the need to raise wages in response
MOM needs to be more proactive than reactive over salary complaints by foreign workers
Statement to the media by Transient Workers Count Too 8 February 2012 For immediate release The recently reported strike by about 200 foreign workers at a worksite in Tampines over unpaid salaries once again highlights the inadequacy of existing systems for preventing such exploitation of labour by employers. (Straits Times,
About 200 workers strike at Tampines construction site
The Online Citizen reported, February 6, 2012, that about 200 mostly Bangladeshi workers downed tools at their worksite in Tampines over unpaid salaries. The key details reported were: At 8 am, instead of starting work, the workers went on strike because they have not been paid since October 2011. TOC
Man fined $16k for false MOM declaration of workers’ salaries
Andy Nelson Ng Mui Shee (right) was fined $16,000 on Monday, January 30, 2012, for four counts of false declaration of foreign workers' salaries. This is an offence under the Employment of Foriegn Workers Act. The assistant sales manager at an employment agency had been asked by two client companies
Building firms look farther afield for workers
As economic growth in India and China roars ahead, lifting wages, companies in Singapore addicted to cheap labour are scouring other countries as potential sources. A story in the Straits Times, January 20, 2012, reported that where they used to turn to China, India and Bangladesh, they are now recruiting
Man charged with dumping worker’s body
Indian national Chelladurai Lenin, 42, reportedly fell at a construction site, but did not want to be sent to hospital because he was working here illegally and was afraid of being deported. He later died of a fractured skull and bleeding in the head, reported the Straits Times, January 20,
16-year-old maid has murder charge reduced
Originally charged with murder, which carries a mandatory death penalty, Indonesian domestic worker Fitriah, also known as Vitria Depsi Wahyuni, has had her charge reduced to culpable homicide, reported the Straits Times on January 20, 2012. She is accused of killing her elderly employer, Madam Sng Gek Wah, 87, at
Lorry safety offences fall 49% with stiffer penalties
On February 1, 2011, new rules came into effect for lorries transporting workers. There were also increased penalties. In the eight months following (Feb to Sep 2011), the number of employers caught flouting safety rules was 1,329, said Minister of State for Transport Josephine Teo, in a statement to Parliament,