Articles

27 11, 2016

Reflections: Wica and Labour Court processes

GuestContributor2019-08-30T16:31:58+08:00November 27th, 2016|Articles, Facts, research, analysis|

Most interns who spend 6 - 9 weeks with TWC2 are asked to wrap up their internship with an essay on a specific topic. Law student Pranay Arvind Suryavanshi spent his mid-year vacation 2016 with us assisting with casework and the Labour Court Research Project. In the process, he came across many foreign workers who

23 11, 2016

Sent to work illegally and caught by police

alex2019-08-30T16:31:58+08:00November 23rd, 2016|Articles, Stories|

"The police was at the gate of the shipyard that day, checking all workers arriving at work," Nagelli Mahendar Reddy tells TWC2. "I think someone had informed them that there were illegal workers." Unfortunately, Nagelli was one of the 'illegals'. He did not have a work permit. He and a few others from the same

18 11, 2016

Employer hired out his worker, then disclaimed responsibility for accident

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:58+08:00November 18th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Sarah Tong Kashem was employed by one company but was sent to work for another, a scaffolding company. When he was injured, his employer took the position that the accident happened ‘off-site’, and so refused to pay for treatment. This is incorrect, but perhaps the boss didn't know the law. “Yah, he don’t know!”

14 11, 2016

Reflections: Salary issues faced by migrant workers

GuestContributor2019-08-30T16:31:58+08:00November 14th, 2016|Articles, Facts, research, analysis|

Most interns who spend 6 - 9 weeks with TWC2 are asked to wrap up their internship with an essay on a specific topic. Rebecca spent her mid-year vacation 2016 with us assisting with casework and the Labour Court Research Project. In the process, she came across many foreign workers who had suffered salary non-payment or

11 11, 2016

Heart at the movie – TWC2s fundraising event

webmaster2019-08-30T16:31:58+08:00November 11th, 2016|Articles, Happenings|

TWC2s annual fundraising drive is on again. Treat a worker or two to a movie (complete with boxed lunch and games) at Movie with Heart, by buying tickets. The surplus will go towards the cost of providing services such as food and medical care to out-of-job workers who need help. The event is held in

9 11, 2016

Pay is many times better than in Bangladesh, but living conditions worse

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:58+08:00November 9th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Poh De Sheng Farid is a Bangladeshi national who has had the uncommon experience of having worked at shipyards in both Bangladesh and Singapore. He was able to offer a comparison of the conditions workers face in Singapore vis-à-vis Bangladesh. Back in Bangladesh, Farid shared a house with six co-workers in the city of

5 11, 2016

Injured worker abandoned without food for two days

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:58+08:00November 5th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

Islam Saiful speaks with a volunteer while he takes his dinner at TWC2's Cuff Road Project By Yi Ning On 18 March 2016, Islam Saiful fell about three metres at his worksite, landing on his back and leaving him with agonizing pain. This was just the start of his problems. He was told that

31 10, 2016

Employer and agents quick to extract money, slow to provide injury compensation

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:58+08:00October 31st, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Poh De Sheng Moorthy, an Indian national, is the sole breadwinner for his family, which consists of his wife, young daughter and parents. He came to Singapore a year and a half ago after being promised a basic salary of $429 per month by a local recruiter in India. However, what seemed like a

31 10, 2016

The price of a job

webmaster2019-08-30T16:31:59+08:00October 31st, 2016|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, News, Our Stand|

TWC2's latest research takes a detailed look at recruitment costs borne by female domestic workers in Singapore. Based on a survey of 232 workers conducted in early 2016, the study reveals how much they paid, to whom, and how many months' of salary deductions these payments represented. It also gathered their opinions as to

28 10, 2016

Muthamilselvan thought he’d be taken to hospital. Fat chance.

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:59+08:00October 28th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Vivek R It was a rainy day in Jurong Shipyard on Chinese New Year’s eve 2016. The worksite was particularly slippery as rain water coalesced with sand to turn the working grounds into slurry. But with the company falling behind on contract schedule, the work must go on. The day looked ominous but Muthamilselvan