Articles

9 06, 2014

Memorandum on required training for construction sector workers

webmaster2019-08-30T16:33:31+08:00June 9th, 2014|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, News, Our Stand|

By John Gee In 2011, when looking into the costs Bangladeshis face in coming to work in Singapore’s construction industry, one of the expenses about which the research team asked workers was that of training. They quickly discovered that, though the workers had to pay significant amounts to training centres to gain skills that would qualify them to

6 06, 2014

As painful as the accident, breaking the news to family

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:33:31+08:00June 6th, 2014|Articles, Stories|

By Nguyen Minh Quan “Mother must die”, says Muthu Chetty Murugesan when he shows me his injured left eye. What he means is his mother will be devastated when she learns that her son has lost an eye. He hasn't yet told anyone back home about the injury. "My country no one know," he says,

31 05, 2014

“In Bangladesh, we don’t live like this”

alex2019-08-30T16:33:31+08:00May 31st, 2014|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, Stories|

"Don't tell people address," says Kamal (not his real name). "I promise I won't," your writer assures him, honoured to be trusted enough by him and his room-mates to be shown the hovel where they live. We both know that this is illegal accommodation for foreign workers. But when workers are injured and in conflict

29 05, 2014

We’ve served half a million meals

webmaster2019-08-30T16:33:31+08:00May 29th, 2014|Articles, Happenings|

Transient Workers Count Too has served half a million meals since our Cuff Road Project began in 2008. The milestone was celebrated on Monday 28 April 2014 with a boisterous lucky draw and contest. Nonetheless, reflecting on its significance, TWC2 president Russell Heng suggests the event deserves mixed feelings: "Half a million -- while we

21 05, 2014

Went to lawyer in November, injury claim not filed till April, says worker

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:33:31+08:00May 21st, 2014|Articles, Stories|

By Pan Chuen His livelihood depended on him being physically fit and able to shoulder heavy materials, but a worksite injury dashed those hopes. The only break in the dark clouds above him is a compensation pay-out from his employer. But what if the lawyer doesn't act promptly? Like many other Bangladeshi workers in Singapore,

17 05, 2014

Where the nose leads

alex2019-08-30T16:33:32+08:00May 17th, 2014|Articles, Stories|

With additional reporting by Chris Lee Eventually, the case ended in a rather unsatisfactory way. We can hardly fault Jalil Shaikh Bala Miah Shaikh, 27, for being frustrated with the outcome. His case shows how Singapore's work injury compensation system is stacked against migrant workers. Whenever an employer flatly denies to the authorities that an

14 05, 2014

Even with his good eye, Atikur can’t see what his ‘lawyer’ is doing

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:33:32+08:00May 14th, 2014|Articles, Stories|

By Peter Looker "Lawyer say you wait, you wait, you wait MC money" Atikur (not his real name) tells me, "but money no give". For four whole months now, Atikur, a worker from Bangladesh, has been waiting for "MC pay" accruing from the medical leave he was given for a serious and ongoing problem with

11 05, 2014

First advice from lawyer’s assistant: quit company dorm

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:33:32+08:00May 11th, 2014|Articles, Stories|

Several law firms specialising in work injury claims have offices in Little India By Nguyen Minh Quan To the question "How much do you have to pay your lawyer, how much is he going to charge you?" Gowri (not his real name) replies: "Charging, no talking." It is phrased in a way migrant workers

6 05, 2014

Salary problems two jobs in a row

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:33:32+08:00May 6th, 2014|Articles, Stories|

By Peter Looker Polash has no passport. He can't go home. "My boss, he say passport lost." His previous boss at Timberlux International Pte Ltd claimed not to have the passport. “Boss alibaba,” Polash alleges, using the shorthand term widely understood among migrant workers to mean 'untruthful'. What led up to this dispute has been written in

3 05, 2014

With a broken foot, Siva climbs three floors to sleep

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:33:32+08:00May 3rd, 2014|Articles, Stories|

By Eitan He's been hobbling around with that boot and a crutch for four months already. Every day he goes up and down three floors to get his free meals provided by Transient Workers Count Too, each step presenting a risk of tumbling down. Unable to put weight on his broken right foot, he largely