Articles

14 02, 2018

By law, boss has to pay MC wages, so why is Hasan still asking for them?

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:07+08:00February 14th, 2018|Articles, Stories|

By Tristan Powell-Odden, based on an interview in December 2017 Hasan Tamim has been seven months without work as a result of an accident. Not only was he not fully paid his salary before the incident, he has not received proper financial support from his employer since -- despite the law requiring the employer to

10 02, 2018

Victims of unpaid salaries have hard time getting transfer jobs

webmaster2019-08-30T16:31:07+08:00February 10th, 2018|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, News, Our Stand|

One of the more encouraging things that Transient Workers Count Too has noticed in the past few years is that now, nearly all victims of unpaid salary are given a chance by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to look for new jobs in Singapore without first having to return home. The significance of the above may be

7 02, 2018

“Sometimes $50 … na, take and go” is what passes for salary

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:07+08:00February 7th, 2018|Articles, Stories|

By Alston Ng, based on an interview in December 2017 Pressing against the table and straining to be heard, Majumder Dilip Kumar (above left) recounts how he came to live off the goodwill of friends for the past two months. A note of morose resignation is unmistakable; he does not see the proverbial light at

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