Articles

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

29 06, 2018

TWC2 welcomed fellow NGOs to Migrant Forum in Asia meeting in Singapore

webmaster2019-08-30T16:31:04+08:00June 29th, 2018|Articles, Happenings|

Earlier this month, TWC2 welcomed 14 foreign delegates to a meeting in Singapore on issues related to work migration. The meeting was co-organised between TWC2 and Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA), of which TWC2 is a member. MFA is an Asia-wide alliance of over 20 NGOs working in the migration sector, with members from Japan

26 06, 2018

Mithun’s first 20 minutes with TWC2

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:04+08:00June 26th, 2018|Articles, Stories|

By Zhan Nanxin, from an evening in March 2018 Like many other first timers, Sheikh Mohammad Mithun comes to Transient Workers Count Too's Dayspace in Little India unsure of what to expect, hoping for advice and help. What catches our eye is the large bag of medication in his left hand. That's quite unusual. He

23 06, 2018

Rashadul goes home with only pocket change

webmaster2019-08-30T16:31:04+08:00June 23rd, 2018|Articles, Our Stand, Stories|

Based on an interview in April 2018 Despite giving us a broad smile, Rashadul's life has changed for the worse. For example, his broken knee means he will never be able to squat again. The best he can do now is to kneel on his one good knee, which at least is good enough to

17 06, 2018

When court orders are worthless: the Zach Engineering case

GuestContributor2019-08-30T16:31:04+08:00June 17th, 2018|Articles, Our Stand, Stories|

Longform by Gautam Joseph with contribution by Choo Wai Hong Timeline Dec 2014 Two workers at Zach Engineering summarily dismissed after employer has disagreement with Ministry of Manpower (MOM). Mar – Jun 2015 Two workers rehired by Zach Engineering, three other Bangladeshi workers join. Oct 2015 Fifteen workers paid only food allowance. Indian workers fight

12 06, 2018

Jaynal lost his case at ECT; was the tribunal’s decision sound?

webmaster2019-08-30T16:31:04+08:00June 12th, 2018|Articles, Our Stand, Stories|

On 19 October 2017, Abedin Md Jaynal spent virtually the whole day in the Employment Claims Tribunal (ECT) arguing his case. By the close of the day, it was over, and he had lost. The magistrate dismissed his salary claim. Jaynal told TWC2 that the magistrate was actually sympathetic to his side of the case,