Articles

27 08, 2017

A profile: Amin stays positive despite setbacks

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:31+08:00August 27th, 2017|Articles, Stories|

By Jonah Foong, based on an interview in June 2017 Across the world, foreign labour is often cheap, and their working conditions abysmal. Tales of starving, overworked, and unpaid workers are not unheard of – a simple google search will turn up stories of ‘modern slavery’ in places like Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Over here

25 08, 2017

Going cashless? Over half of work permit holders don’t have bank accounts

webmaster2019-08-30T16:31:31+08:00August 25th, 2017|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, News, News Flash, Our Stand|

Header of Yahoo News' article In early August 2017, it was reported in various media that public transport will be going cashless by 2020. By 2020, commuters travelling on Singapore’s transport system will no longer need to use cash or top up stored-value cards to pay for rides, said the Land Transport Authority

23 08, 2017

Alam’s one angry, kicking rooster

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:31+08:00August 23rd, 2017|Articles, Stories|

By Beh Jing Yi, based on an interview in June 2017 It has been five months since Alam Md Khorshed received any medical leave wages from his employer. He estimates he is owed about $3,900. He has approached the Ministry of Manpower for help over this, he says, and meetings with his employer have been organised.

18 08, 2017

After ten days in hospital, company tries to rush Mazharul onto a plane

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:31+08:00August 18th, 2017|Articles, Stories|

By Janson Chang, based on an interview in June 2017 Throughout most of our conversation Islam Mazharul does not sit easy. The two friends who accompany him do more than half the telling, during which Mazahrul does not seem to be tuning in to it himself. It seems like he is miles away. His nervous

15 08, 2017

Contract substitution made easier by ministry?

alex2019-08-30T16:31:31+08:00August 15th, 2017|Articles, Stories|

Over the years, Transient Workers Count Too has seen many cases where, after arriving in Singapore to start on their jobs, migrant workers are told by their bosses that the salary stated on the In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter will not be honoured. Instead they are given the choice of accepting a lower salary, or be sent

11 08, 2017

Noor worked nine months; never paid his proper salary

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:32+08:00August 11th, 2017|Articles, Stories|

By Marcus Chee, based on an interview in June 2017 Through nine months, Noor Mohammod was only given a meagre amount of $130 monthly by his employer, and the entirety of that money had to be allocated to pay a catering company so that he could get his daily meals. $130. That's all? I sit

6 08, 2017

“Short pants, T-shirt, like this airport how to go?”

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:32+08:00August 6th, 2017|Articles, Stories|

On the boarding pass is handwritten "Handcarry 6 kg". That's all he was allowed with him as he was taken to the airport. By Sun Hanchen; based on an interview in May 2017 The TWC2 volunteer was only following TWC2's registration protocol, as he requested Shahjahan Mahamud to pose for a simple photo

2 08, 2017

Worker had to pay $80 to get his own payslips

webmaster2019-08-30T16:31:32+08:00August 2nd, 2017|Articles, Stories|

We shall call the worker Towhid. He was paid less than promised through several months of work. After lodging a complaint at the Ministry of Manpower, his case went before the Labour Court, which strictly speaking is an administrative tribunal within the ministry, not a judicial court. Nonetheless, one would expect the tribunal to have

30 07, 2017

Injury compensation law vanishes on the way to the toilet

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:32+08:00July 30th, 2017|Articles, Stories|

Google Earth view of Bedok Industrial Park C. Bedok North MRT station is under construction at lower part of image. By Wahid Al Mamun, based on an interview in May 2017 What constitutes a workplace injury? This seems like an easy question to answer as I sit with Rana Md Sohel at TWC2’s

25 07, 2017

Employers owe hospitals money; workers’ treatment at risk

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:32+08:00July 25th, 2017|Articles, Stories|

By Liang Lei, based on an interview in May 2017 Undoubtedly, Singapore can boast of a world-leading healthcare system that offers high quality medical treatment for a wide range of injuries, diseases and emergencies. Unfortunately, timely and trouble-free access to such services is frequently lacking for our foreign labor, when injuries occur at work. I speak to