Four people died in a relatively small fire that broke out in a shophouse used as a dormitory for workers from China, India, Bangladesh and Malaysia. The fire was reported at about 1:40am on Saturday, 6 December 2014, and put out within 30 minutes. The Straits Times and The New Paper carried the news in
Here's is an op-ed by TWC2's John Gee that was published in the Straits Times on Wednesday 3 December 2014: A win-win way to help injured foreign workers By John Gee. Straits Times, 3 December 2014 The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is considering outsourcing the inspection of workplaces to counter the illegal employment of foreign
At a symposium organised by the Asia Research Institute, TWC2 head of research John Gee said that whilst globally, there had never been better protection in law for migrants' rights, yet in many respects, their actual position was going backwards. Even in Singapore, he felt there has been progress, but placement costs represent one area in which
A mere two days after the Straits Times featured with some praise two workers' dormitories converted from industrial premises (see Dorms converted from industrial premises said to be 'adequate'), the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) banned new conversions within twelve areas. In a circular dated 14 November, the URA said no new workers'dormitories will be allowed
A visit to the Asea Trading International Singapore Skills Centre in Tangail District of Bangladesh began with a conversation with the managing director Mr. Md Anisur Rahman. He proudly boasted that his centre hosts about 100 men at a time offering training in such skills as welding, electrical wiring, waterproofing, pipefitting and installing acoustical ceilings.
In a lecture delivered at the Institute of Policy Studies, National University of Singapore, on 12 November 2014, Ho Kwon Ping, executive chairman of Banyan Tree Holdings and IPS-Nathan Fellow for the Study of Singapore, made a few proposals with respect to migrant workers in Singapore. The relevant part is here: First, we can perhaps
The Straits Times reported 12 Nov 2014 that the Ministry of Manpower found "adequate conditions" in two workers' dormitories they recently inspected. These two were converted from industrial premises located in the Joo Koon area. Inspectors found "clean bedrooms and bathrooms, and facilities such as a gym and TV sets" in these premises. One of
The Facebook post by Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan 11 November 2014 (click thumbnail at right) titled 'Joint exercise with Police, SCDF & foreign worker ambassadors' accompanied by eight photographs does a great disservice to migrant workers who have played such an important role in building Singapore, especially those of South Asian origin
This paper by Meera Rajah, a young volunteer helping out with case documentation and follow-up, provides a good summary of the issues that migrant workers commonly face. It is however, not just a descriptive summary, but delves into the reasons why things are as they are, putting the finger on the inequality of bargaining power.
TWC2 has received two research reports from the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit which is based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. They make for sober reading. In one of them, titled Labour migration from Bangladesh 2013 report, some interesting statistics are provided. Singapore was the second most popular destination country in 2013, with 60,057 work migrants
