Articles

2 02, 2018

Anowar’s plight shows need for vibrant transfer-job market

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:07+08:00February 2nd, 2018|Articles, Stories|

Isaac (L) and Anowar (R) By Isaac Ong, based on an interview in November 2017 Anowar arrived in Singapore for his current job with Akilas Enterprise in late 2016, working for several months without issues. In June this year, however, life changed drastically. He tells us that he was not called to work,

29 01, 2018

TWC2 president speaks at Singapore UN Association’s UNASMUN

webmaster2019-08-30T16:31:07+08:00January 29th, 2018|Articles, Happenings, News, Our Stand|

TWC2 was invited to speak at the 2017 United Nations Association of Singapore Model United Nations (UNASMUN) preparatory conference which took place at the Singapore Institute of Management from 19-22 December 2017. At the conference, TWC2 President, Dr Noorashikin Abdul Rahman, presented an overview of the working and living conditions of migrant workers in Singapore

25 01, 2018

The man in the ministry’s locked drawer

alex2019-08-30T16:31:07+08:00January 25th, 2018|Articles, Stories|

By Alex, based on an interview in November 2017 "Why are you still in Singapore?" I ask Sarkar Debabrata. He is showing me a Special Pass dated 19 January 2017 -- ten months old -- which allows him to remain in Singapore until his case at the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is concluded. Yet, in his

24 01, 2018

Asean consensus on migrant labour: gaps between reality and Singapore’s commitments

webmaster2019-08-30T16:31:08+08:00January 24th, 2018|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, News, Our Stand|

In November 2017, Asean heads of government signed an 'Asean Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers'. The terms of the document were not binding, and every article within was made subject to national laws. Despite such inauspicious beginnings, Transient Workers Count Too has taken a microscope to the document.

17 01, 2018

Rafa and the line between white and black

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:08+08:00January 17th, 2018|Articles, Our Stand, Stories|

By Isaac Ong, based on an interview in November 2017 "This is my wrong but I don't want pay [you] money. Even if I go jail, [even if] I no company, but I still don't want pay money", Rafa (not his real name) was told by his boss. 49-year-old Rafa is practically a veteran of

13 01, 2018

Paying over $3,000 in recruitment cost for a $477-per-month job? That’s the way it is

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:08+08:00January 13th, 2018|Articles, Stories|

By Aaron Chua, based on an interview in November 2017 "Hello," says Bhimol* to TWC2 volunteer Alex Au, just as Alex is arriving at The Cuff Road Project's meal station. "I come back," adds Bhimol. "Huh? Come back from where?" asks Alex. "[Last] Friday, I come back. New job." "Ah," says Alex, but before he

9 01, 2018

No hook for safety harness. Go up anyway, orders supervisor

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

By Jiang Zhi Feng, based on an interview in November 2017 “Fall down how?” a concerned Miah asked his company’s supervisor about precariousness of mending a pipe two metres above ground without a safety hook. His supervisor replied, “Nothing one. No problem. Can do,” directing him to carry out orders. On 22 September 2017, Miah

2 01, 2018

Singapore laws take care of our foreign workers, or do they?

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:08+08:00January 2nd, 2018|Articles, Stories|

Saiful shows us the wrist which has a steel implant By Tan Yen Seow, based on an interview in November 2017 Islam Saiful, 32, is my first interviewee at TWC2. He is a Bangladeshi national who has been working in Singapore on a Work Permit for the past ten years. Judging from his

26 12, 2017

The friendly man in the coffee shop

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:08+08:00December 26th, 2017|Articles, Stories|

Shamim (above) recounts a meeting he had at another coffee shop By Troy Lee, based on two interviews in October 2017 Shamim paints a picture of how he got his latest job. In the second half of 2016, while he was happily in his previous job, "I meet his man, Basir, at a

20 12, 2017

Experienced plumber lost, who cares about productivity?

webmaster2019-08-30T16:31:08+08:00December 20th, 2017|Articles, Stories|

FOREWORD: For years, Transient Workers Count Too has been speaking out against the revolving door practices behind Singapore's foreign labour. At the slightest unhappiness, employers are quick to send workers home and recruit fresh new faces. Why do they do this? Because they can. Singapore law gives employers total discretion when to terminate employees, there's