Continued from part 1. This the second of three parts: In theory the Special Pass is a good idea – workers get to stay in Singapore until their disputes are settled and possibly to retrieve compensation from employers, but the extended period of uncertainty is draining on a guy's spirits – each day that passes
Straits Times reader Alex Tang, in a letter published by the newspaper in its print Forum (16 August 2012) asked a number of questions about workers placed on Special Passes because of "cheating" by employers. Queries on special-pass foreigners There are many foreigners who are holding special passes because they were cheated by their employers
Continued from part 5. This is the last of six parts: Their return to Cotonou was greeted with more despair when the others saw that Boomi had flown nowhere. They appreciated that Rajeesh had truly believed that the plan would be realized and saw no point in heaping more pain on his anguish, all sharing
In carefully couched language, the Sunday Times told the government that it's all very well to enhance penalties and add new offences to the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, but unless there is enforcement, what difference will it make? Passing it will be the easy part. But the gap between principle and practice is wide.
The Straits Times' editorial of Saturday 18 August 2012 spoke up for the amendments to the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act. Noting that when employers get away with circumventing the rules and thus pay less than the true cost of hiring foreign workers, it is "at the expense of Singaporean job-seekers." The new laws, it
Part one of three: “I’ll suicide tomorrow,” Masum says from behind his doleful eyes. “I can’t go home, I have no money... family very, very poor.” Ever since he arrived in Singapore Masum’s life has been something of a soap opera filled with characters who have walk-on parts that include accusing him of homosexuality, exploiting
Amendments to the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA) were tabled before Parliament on Monday, 13 August 2012 by Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-jin. It is likely that debate and passage will take place about a month later. Transient Workers Count Too welcomes most of the proposed amendments; they represent important steps in the right
Continued from part 4. This is the fifth of six parts: The Angolan passport ready, Boomi, Rajeesh, and Emil made the long trip by car from Cotonou, Benin, through Togo all the way to Accra, Ghana where Boomi would fly out of Kotoka International Airport. Still in charge of all the arrangements, Emil's smooth talk
A full-page feature in the Sunday Times, 12 August 2012, on the plight of foreign workers was timed to precede the first reading of amendments to the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act in Parliament the Monday after. Much of the feature revolved around a study conducted by Transient Workers Count Too on payments and returns
By John Gee A majority of Bangladeshi workers in the construction industry may be made to pay their employers for the renewal of their contracts. Typically, they need to be employed in Singapore for at least 17 ½ months if they are to earn enough to pay off their placement costs. For most of the
