All Articles
Training centres in Bangladesh have become money-minting machines
It started as a way to ensure that migrant workers coming to Singapore had some basic skills, but the raison d'etre has since become something else: to extract as much money as possible from the poor. "It" is the tangled business of providing training, testing and recruitment in Bangladesh. The
I told my kids: ‘Mummy is going to buy you lots of toys’
By Ghie Ghie Mosquera Harking back to those years when I was still in the Philippines and living with my family, those were the happiest days of my life. Living a simple life with special people around me is all I ever dreamed of. But, there were days where I
Direct Services Report for 2012
Periodically, Transient Workers Count Too produces a Direct Services Report, summarising the help we render to migrant workers. Help takes various forms, including advice through a toll-free helpline, intervention and case management and a free meals programme. The 26-page report for the year 2012 can be downloaded by clicking the
Having to write off $6,500, worker feels ‘heart pain’
By Keith W "Now I get less," says Prashath Ranthulan (not his real name). "Other worker, they take $3,000 and go back [home]. Agent give, but tell worker [if] take money, cannot go MOM." He was the only one to turn down the hush money. Why? "I want to complain
Plasterer will not get satisfaction
By Fuxiong Looking downcast, Jeyaraj (not his real name) recalls a recent meeting with his case officer at the Ministry of Manpower: "MOM officer also say, 'I understand boss alibaba, but cannot prove. If you want prove, I can help, but waiting long time.'" Alibaba is a commonly-used term among
Homeless Salauddin meets true generosity
By Max Ang Since an unfortunate incident at work injured his right middle finger, Mohammad Salauddin Abdul Awal has been unable to work. Without income, where will he find accommodation? Salauddin suffered the accident turning a bolt while fitting pipes at a shipyard. He informed his supervisor of his injury
Maid used as ‘runner’ now can’t go anywhere
In the story Crime victim detained for months, we covered the case of Muthunayagam Saju who was robbed. After reporting the matter to the police, he has been kept in Singapore for months and months because he may be needed as a witness when the robber goes to court. He
Employer ducks payment, worker frustrated for a year and a half
By Gabriel Liong Masum’s story is one that is fraught with much frustration. He needs treatment for his workplace injury, but his boss is trying to avoid paying for it despite the law [1]. And he is owed thousands of dollars in unpaid medical leave wages (MC pay) too. On 15
Survey uncovers exorbitant agent fees suffered by Bangladeshi workers
By YC Loh For Bangladeshis in their first job here, about half paid more than S$7,000 to their agent. More than 70 percent paid over $5,000. By contrast, the majority (over 60%) of Indians paid less than $5,000 to their agent for their first job. These figures emerged from a survey recently
Movie treat: Ilo Ilo
Happy voices in Bahasa Indonesia and Filipino filled the lobby of Golden Village Tiong Bahru cinemas on Sunday, 25 Aug 2013, as members of the TWC2 family came together for a screening of Ilo Ilo. This first feature film by Singapore director Anthony Chen won the Camera d'Or at Cannes