Beneath the veneer of workers saying they come to Singapore to get better pay and a chance of a better life, are there other factors that influence the decision to migrate for work? How much volition is there?
Rafiqul's doctor says surgery is needed or the eye would be lost. Employer says no and refuses to pay. Rafiqul feels he needs a lawyer. But says lawyer is doing nothing to resolve the problem. Here's another worker immobilised by system and culture.
Just because he felt ill on day at work Akanda was summarily fired. Is he optimistic about finding another job?
Long delays by MOM in deciding whether an injury was work-related was a feature of the way the old WICA worked. Will the new WICA be any better? Or worse?
Anwar is eight months into his injury compensation claim. He is desperate for his medical leave wages to help his family. He is bounced between his 'lawyer' and MOM. Who should rightly be taking action?
During the job interview, the boss described his company as a large main contractor. Then why did Nurunobi get work on only 9 days out of the first 24?
Work pass and Special pass holders made up about 40% of overstayers arrested in 2018, with tourists forming an even larger number. But they hadn't managed to evade the authorities for long.
Dating from 2014, this featured article is a review of the inequalities inherent in the employer-employee relationship with respect to migrant workers in Singapore. Citing cases Meera Rajah came across while volunteering with TWC2, she shows how these imbalances manifest in workers' lived experiences.
The kindest route to take in helping men with virtually no hope of recovering unpaid salaries may be to just give them some money and move on. But the argument can be made that this does not serve the public interest. Weigh the pros and cons.
Salim arrived in Singapore with an IPA letter saying the job would pay him $950 per month. Within 36 hours, his boss told him the salary would be around $520 a month. Take it or leave it.
