Seven joyless workers, part 1
There's a loophole in the law by which a migrant worker with absolutely no training in basic construction skills can become a construction worker. It's a backdoor via the S-Pass.
25
10, 2025
20
10, 2025
Woolly “fully” – TADM’s 2024 report
TADM's annual report has useful numbers (but not enough of them), but it's frustrating to see them use language that obscures reality
15
10, 2025
“Anything talking also send back”
An employer fails to pay salaries in full or on time, ignores the rule that salaries muct be paid through bank, or that payslips must be issued. When challenged by TADM, the boss presents falsified documents.
11
10, 2025
A hard trek to a hard-hearted place
A family in Burma fears the army will be knocking on their doors soon. Where can they send their sons to be safe? What does it take to get there?
5
10, 2025
Best payslip there is
Every month, without fail, an employer issues his employees a payslip with am exemplary format. All details are clear. But there's one thing missing.
29
09, 2025
Learning the lines for showtime
A Bangladeshi welder paid $3,400 to get a shipyard job. No receipts given, he says. Then he had to memorise some lines to say in front of the camera, and to express deep gratitude.
24
09, 2025
Glacially slow investigation and the victims it spawns
An Indian worker has been required to remain in Singapore for two years because of an investigation into abuse of the Training Employment Pass by his employer. Why does an investigation take so long?
19
09, 2025
Foolish questions
A first-time construction worker from Bangladesh walks us through the months in which he prepared for a working life in Singapore. He spent 15 months in preparation. His working life was 6 months. We haven't even mentioned money!
14
09, 2025
Without migrant labour, will there be food courts?
Food courts are iconic to Singapore and where many SIngaporeans get their daily meals. A former stall worker tells us about the people behind the counters and cleaning up after us.
10
09, 2025
Caught up in a levy-go-round
About 12 workers found their work passes "Invalid". Their employer had not paid the monthly foreign worker levy. We speak to one of them – how does this non-payment of the levy impact you?