Articles

27 12, 2013

“Play play accident,” says foreman to doctor

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:34:11+08:00December 27th, 2013|Articles, Stories|

By Emily Benjamin At National University Hospital (NUH) where Khan Momen was brought to after his accident, the orthopaedic surgeon only spoke "little bit to me", said the injured worker. The surgeon spoke mostly to the company foreman and safety officer, and at some distance from the patient too. While Khan Momen could not hear the entire

24 12, 2013

Informed consent, wages, kickbacks, termination and transfers

webmaster2019-08-30T16:34:11+08:00December 24th, 2013|Articles, Facts, research, analysis|

Four first-year law students were attached to Transient Workers Count Too for three weeks in December 2013. The project we designed for them involved interviewing as many workers as they could on themes of their choice. However, these themes had to be drawn from the submission that TWC2 made to the Ministry of Manpower on

24 12, 2013

“We allow legal exploitation,” says TWC2 president at forum

webmaster2019-08-30T16:34:12+08:00December 24th, 2013|Articles, Happenings, News, Our Stand|

The panel comprised (L-R) Braema Mathi (Maruah), Russell Heng (TWC2), Siew Kum Hong (Maruah/moderator), Jolovan Wham (Workfair) and Vincent Law (Healthserve) TWC2 president Russell Heng spoke for the organisation at a public forum 'Foreign workers, justice and fairness', organised by human rights group Maruah on 23 December 2013. To the 100-strong audience, in

24 12, 2013

Woolim, part 1: how low can a salary go?

alex2019-08-30T16:34:12+08:00December 24th, 2013|Articles, Stories|

Hossain Iqbel's IPA states a basic monthly salary of $800, but for a year, he's been paid a basic of only $1.50 an hour (equivalent to $286 a month). The 'IPA' is the In-principle Approval for a Work Permit, a letter issued by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to employer and employee prior to the

22 12, 2013

We ask three Bangladeshis what they think of Singapore

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:34:12+08:00December 22nd, 2013|Articles, Stories|

By Davina Tham Ever since recent events in Little India (see Riot in Little India after bus knocks down pedestrian), the tendency to depict migrant labourers as a matter of statistics, a numbered but faceless crowd, has only worsened: 28 charged, 53 deported and another 200 "issued a formal police advisory" (Today newspaper, 18 Dec

18 12, 2013

Escaping from repatriation toughs, Neelakandan left all his belongings behind

alex2019-08-30T16:34:12+08:00December 18th, 2013|Articles, Stories|

"Meeting time, they speak all very nicely," recalls Neelakandan of a meeting at his company office on Tuesday, 22 October 2013. Present were "boss wife", a Chinese Singaporean, a manager and an engineer, both Sri Lankans. They -- Neelakandan's superiors -- asked him for details about the incident on Sunday morning, when his supervisors got

16 12, 2013

TWC2 celebrates International Migrants Day 2013 with ‘Lunch with Heart’

webmaster2019-08-30T16:34:12+08:00December 16th, 2013|Articles, Happenings|

TWC2's 2013 benefit event Lunch with Heart, coinciding with International Migrants Day, began a minute's silence in remembrance of Sakthivel Kumaravelu, the man who was killed in a bus accident last Sunday night (8 Dec 2013). Coincidentally, the event (at Apollo Banana Leaf Restaurant) was held but a stone's throw from where the incident took

15 12, 2013

Talk at European Union Human Rights Day seminar

webmaster2019-08-30T16:34:12+08:00December 15th, 2013|Articles, Happenings, News, Our Stand|

Below is the short talk TWC2 vice-president Alex Au (above, 2nd from left) gave at the Human Rights Day seminar organised by the Delegation of the European Union delegation to Singapore, 10 December 2013. The theme of the seminar was 'Contemporary perspectives on economic & social rights'. --- In the matter of employment, we would

13 12, 2013

Menton diary, Part 5

webmaster2019-08-30T16:34:13+08:00December 13th, 2013|Articles, Stories|

GO TO PART 2 December 2013, Monday Two designated contact persons from the Toh Guan group of ex-Menton staff come to the office to update and discuss the case with social workers Kenneth and Karno. Quite a few things have happened over the weekend. Twenty workers have been paid $1,500 to $2,000 each, received air

13 12, 2013

Seen but unheard

GuestContributor2019-08-30T16:34:13+08:00December 13th, 2013|Articles, Stories|

By Wajihah Hamid Watching what happened on Sunday in Singapore’s Little India made my heart sink. At one end of the line of fire were fellow Singaporeans while at the other end were Indian migrant workers – a group whom I followed closely for about 3 months, going to Little India every other day, doing