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Did the police even know they were visiting a private prison?
By Sabrina Tay Cowering in severe pain, Shafiqul lay on the floor of his cell and dialled ‘999’. The police and the ambulance arrived shortly. At the same time, the doors to Shafiqul’s cell unlocked as if by themselves and the guards assigned to watch over him miraculously vanished. Shafiqul
No pay unless you work, go back to India if you don’t — worker with arm in cast is told
By Ranjana Raghunathan Vadivelan asks me nervously, “Can I trust these [TWC2 volunteers] people? They asked if I was willing to tell you my story, and I just shared everything with you. But I do not know what will happen. Will I get into more trouble if I share my
Wages low, partly unpaid, now Sabuj must pay for medical treatment too
By Polly Perdereau “Working very good, accident no good”. This, in his own words, is Sabuj’s sad realisation about life after an injury. Sikder Sabuj started working in Singapore three years ago. He is from Bangladesh. According to him, he had to shell out $9,000 in "agent money" to be
He can’t see clearly through his injured eye, must he go back to work?
By Sabrina Tay Amid the buzz of TWC2's free meals programme, Kamrol Sarker lays out his documents asking what they mean. There are papers showing medical leave and his work injury claim. TWC2 treasurer Alex Au patiently explains to him what each is for and what it says. His explanation
Bees want to kill me
Sadhin worked for a small roofing company. He was, in fact, the only worker and he and his boss were often the only two on the job. On 17 October 2013 Sadhin was working on the roof of a private home, tasked with cleaning the roof before the repairs
Worker offers to pay for own medication, yet employer refuses assistance
By Lim Shaomin "Four days how to tahan?" says Selim, using a local colloquialism meaning 'withstand'. "Hospital follow boss instructions." I am speaking to Selim Mahmud Babu regarding his most recent injury -- several broken bones in the fourth fingers of his left hand. West Point Hospital gave him four
Whose interests should doctors look out for?
By Sabrina Tay He held his index finger out next to mine and the difference was stark. Rubel’s finger was deformed, the nail shorter than what it should have been and the flesh at his fingertip warped. “Can you feel anything?” I asked as I gently touched his finger. “Cannot
Safety goes into dumpster along with workers’ rights
By William Chin The boss wasn't happy to see his employee presenting a medical leave certificate. "Why you go see doctor? No (limb) drop off, no broken," was his reaction. As Humayun Mohammad Enu tells it, he had to get his own medical treatment, and until now has not been
Guess what’s under the bra
By Maya Nguyen Three of us from TWC2 were in a ward of a major hospital. The hospital's medical social worker had asked us to come speak with a domestic worker who had been warded; she might have employment problems that medical social workers could not help with. The domestic
A dormitory is not a home: a place of threat, not security
By Chang Ya Lan Even in good health, a migrant worker does not enjoy the pleasure of a home in Singapore. Dormitory space is far from equivalent to what we take for granted: a place of rest and relaxation after a long, tiring day at work; a shell of privacy