Articles

25 07, 2018

False hope, hesitant trust and bureaucratic complexities

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:03+08:00July 25th, 2018|Articles, Stories|

By Liang Lei, based on an interview in May 2018 Received unexpectedly dismal scores for an assessment? Appeal. Although this “survival tactic” for examinations seems to transcend cultures, the consequences can vary drastically from one situation to another. In the case of a foreign worker’s Permanent Incapacity Compensation score, a hasty decision to appeal may

21 07, 2018

Surgery not covered by insurance, says boss. Go back to India instead

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:03+08:00July 21st, 2018|Articles, Stories|

By Nicholas Lee based on an interview in May 2018 The crowd at TWC2's food programme grows as the hour for the breaking of the Ramadan fast approaches. Among the non-Muslims is Paranthaman Arulvendan, registering himself with TWC2 for the first time. But he's not new to Singapore. Arul has been working here since the

18 07, 2018

Bangladeshi workers’ perception of Singapore, choice of Singapore as work destination and journey here

GuestContributor2019-08-30T16:31:03+08:00July 18th, 2018|Articles, Facts, research, analysis|

Intern Roy Lim was with TWC2 from late April to early June 2018. Among his tasks were to complete a research project, a smallish one in view of the limited time and that fact that it had to be done single-handedly. The attached paper is his report. In his paper, he found that Bangladeshi workers

15 07, 2018

More frauds committed using ministry letterhead

webmaster2019-08-30T16:31:03+08:00July 15th, 2018|Articles, Stories|

In October 2017, we carried a story Fraud committed using ministry letterhead [link] about how a worker was misled about the salary he would be getting before he signed on for a job in Singapore. While, as we explained in that article, we did not know who exactly was the culprit, the fact that a scam

13 07, 2018

One million free meals served — a bittersweet moment for TWC2

webmaster2019-08-30T16:31:03+08:00July 13th, 2018|Articles, Happenings, News, Press Releases|

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu poses with TWC2's one million meals placard. Bittersweet - that's the exact sentiment here at TWC2 as we commemorate having served one million free meals to needy migrant workers. We give ourselves a pat on the back and celebrate this accomplishment. But we then hunker down

9 07, 2018

Life and happiness for some, downward spiral for Alam

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:03+08:00July 9th, 2018|Articles, Stories|

By Sun Hanchen, based on an interview in March 2018 Money is not important, they say. Chase your own happiness, they say. Live for yourself, for life is meant to be enjoyed. As a middle class, soon-to-be-university educated, Chinese (read: majority) person, I often hear this advice from my more carefree friends – who are,

9 07, 2018

On emotional health

GuestContributor2019-08-30T16:31:03+08:00July 9th, 2018|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, News, Our Stand|

By Debbie Fordyce In trying to help injured and out-of-work migrant workers, we at TWC2 find ourselves dealing with a multitude of issues piling onto the same man at the same time. Some of them, such as injuries, are easier to see than others. Others, such as non-payment of salaries, are straightforward enough to grasp.

9 07, 2018

MOM accuses us of “inaccurate or false information” — here’s our response

webmaster2019-08-30T16:31:03+08:00July 9th, 2018|Articles, News, Our Stand, Stories|

This is TWC2's response to a statement by the Ministry of Manpower over "inaccurate or false information" in our recent stories. The statement was dated 6 July 2018 and carried on the government's "Factually" website. From time to time, differences will occur between what TWC2 records workers to be saying in our interviews, and what MOM

5 07, 2018

$55 a day and the bright side of things

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:03+08:00July 5th, 2018|Articles, Stories|

By Philomène Franssen based on an interview in April 2018 It is quite an unusual story that I got to hear at TWC2's Cuff Road Project food programme, one Monday evening. Indeed, as a volunteer member of the Communications team, when I sign up to interview one of the migrant workers that TWC2 assists, I

1 07, 2018

Policy brief 2018, no. 1: Electronic payment of salary should be mandatory

GuestContributor2019-08-30T16:31:04+08:00July 1st, 2018|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, News, Our Stand|

In the first for four policy briefs for 2018, Transient Workers Count Too sets out the case for electronic payment of salaries for Work Permit holders. The paper points out that "Electronic payment of salaries through bank transfer provides a 'paper trail' to demonstrate compliance with payment requirements and reduce wage disputes," and notes that