Dulal did not want to work for the current employer anymore. He would find a new job. The employer's reaction was to shackle him. The manpower ministry provided the metaphorical shackle.
A worker who came to Singapore in September 2021 gives us details of the pre-departure and post-arrival quarantines he had to serve.
It began when a worker said a company had gotten a Work Permit for him, except that he did not apply for a job there.
MOM's "adjustment" of the no-consent period makes it contingent upon employers giving consent. Circular logic?
Migrant workers report being shouted and screamed at quite regularly. Occasionally, a worker has a recording of the abuse. Listen to the short audio.
Omar asked for a raise at Work Permit renewal. The employer refused. With the permit expiring, he thought he could use MOM's no-consent period to get a new job.
Singapore's migrant labour management flow along lines that look like ethnic discrimination. Workers in certain sectors are treated differently from those in other sectors, but sectors are only open to certain nationalities.
In July and August 2021, TWC2 struggled against an unresponsive system to get vaccinations for a special group of migrant workers. The details of our experience speak volumes about Singapore's "efficiency".
MOM announced a temporary retention scheme to keep laid-off construction workers in Singapore. Six workers kept us informed of their experience while waiting for new jobs.
A busload of migrant workers are given a half day out from confinement from their dorms. They tell us what they feel. Video by Wee Kim Wee School students.
