Articles

19 10, 2018

Short of information, Forhad worries while Mondal thinks everything’s going fine

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:30:46+08:00October 19th, 2018|Articles, Stories|

By Ng Zu Xiang, based on interviews in July 2018 Workplace injuries are not an uncommon occurrence in construction, especially with the number of projects burgeoning across Singapore. As such, the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA) is crucial and it has been used in regularly, but not all cases transpire the same way. Here are

15 10, 2018

Policy brief 2018, no. 4: Free up labour mobility, do more to retain skills and experience

GuestContributor2019-08-30T16:30:47+08:00October 15th, 2018|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, News, Our Stand|

In the fourth of our policy briefs for 2018, Transient Workers Count Too recommends that foreign workers should be free to change employer without needing to get the permission of the existing employer. There should also be a clearer time frame for workers to get new jobs should their existing employers terminate their Work Permits

11 10, 2018

Robin’s story shows how corruption takes root in Singapore

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:30:47+08:00October 11th, 2018|Articles, Stories|

By Joell Tee, based on an interview in July 2018 The fan whirs quietly overhead and the workers file in in an orderly manner to collect their tokens for dinner. Scattered laughter and chatter make for a warm and homely atmosphere. It is my second time at TWC2's DaySpace and yet I do not feel

8 10, 2018

Arrivals and change in vocation of Bangladeshi workers

webmaster2019-08-30T16:30:47+08:00October 8th, 2018|Articles, Facts, research, analysis|

After 2015, new arrivals of first-time Bangladeshi workers appear to have fallen off quite dramatically -- this was the main finding of a study done in August and September 2018. Interviews were conducted with 106 Bangladeshi workers and each was asked the year of his first arrival in Singapore. We found unusually few who first

4 10, 2018

Black and white: How do workers know the importance of the IPA?

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:30:47+08:00October 4th, 2018|Articles, Stories|

By Nicholas Lee, based on interviews in July 2018 Today’s article takes a little step back to explore how variances in culture and social experience affect the way foreign workers understand and handle paper documentation, processes and rules in Singapore. As locals know all too well, Singapore is famous for its strict adherence to “Black

30 09, 2018

Lack of functioning transfer market makes skills retention elusive

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:30:47+08:00September 30th, 2018|Articles, Stories|

By Alston Ng, based on interviews in June 2018 About a month ago when Rifat (not his real name) showed up at TWC2, he was evidently distressed by the prospect of repatriation. Having resolved a salary dispute with his former employer, Rifat was left to his own devices as he embarked on a so-far unsuccessful

26 09, 2018

Toes are cheap

webmaster2019-08-30T16:30:47+08:00September 26th, 2018|Articles, Stories|

Polash is well-dressed and carries himself with self-assurance. He's been a responsible son for ten years, working in Singapore supporting his parents, brother and sister in Bangladesh. But now he's in limbo, waiting for his injury compensation claim to conclude. Your writer looks at him more closely, but cannot tell where he's been injured. "Three

21 09, 2018

Government made Rony stay in Singapore, his marriage destroyed

webmaster2019-08-30T16:30:47+08:00September 21st, 2018|Articles, Stories|

In the second half of 2017, Sikdar Rony lodged two complaints with the Ministry of Manpower. One was over unpaid salary and the other was about having been made to pay a kickback in order to get a job transfer. His unpaid salary case eventually went against him. His evidence was rather incomplete and he

18 09, 2018

Hired as scaffolder, safety-trained as painter, made to work as grinder

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:30:47+08:00September 18th, 2018|Articles, Stories|

By Koh Jie Min, based on an interview in June 2018 Balal comes across as soft spoken when I meet him for this interview. He gives me a wry smile as he points to two long, white scars on his fingers, and recounts his tale. It’s a not unheard-of story: Leaving his wife and two

15 09, 2018

For men from a poor country, choice is a mirage

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:30:47+08:00September 15th, 2018|Articles, Stories|

In June 2018, TWC2 volunteer Alston Ng went around asking Bangladeshi workers, "Why did you choose to come to Singapore to work?" The words “neoliberal capitalism” are rarely heard in Singapore, but its message has nonetheless found a faithful following among Singaporeans. Markets are best optimised when left to run by itself, because the exercise