Articles

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

24 10, 2016

Ataus loses his job after only nine days – and after he paid $3,800 for it

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:59+08:00October 24th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Kan Ren Jie On 23 June 2016, Ataus Samad Rifat, 28, was suddenly fired from his job. "Go back home. Your work permit has been cancelled. We have already bought ticket." The ‘madam’ (the female administrative staff) at his office then proceeded to take his work permit from him. That was how Ataus described

21 10, 2016

Diluted Justice: Protection and redress for trafficked fishermen in Asia

webmaster2019-08-30T16:31:59+08:00October 21st, 2016|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, News, Press Releases|

A joint research by Dr Sallie Yea and Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) reveals that trafficked fishermen face insurmountable barriers to access legal and economic justice and protection. These barriers are caused by the following factors: significant gaps in measures for victim identification, a lack of coordinated support for the psycho-social needs and well-being of

20 10, 2016

Some workers get to cook, others have to put up with bad catered food

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:59+08:00October 20th, 2016|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, Stories|

Not your typical worker's meal By Seah Bei Ying Most of us have seen some Bangladeshi workers having their packed lunches in void decks in heartland areas. Where the lunch come from? Did they buy curry and rice from the nearby coffee shop for their everyday meals? If yes, then how much did their costs

16 10, 2016

Foreign workers chained by debt, governments have a moral duty to act

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:59+08:00October 16th, 2016|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, Stories|

By Kimberley Ng In recent years, Singapore’s slowing economy has meant fewer construction and marine sector jobs for migrant workers. What few might realise is that recruitment costs have risen prohibitively through the same period. The two are not unrelated: it is a matter of demand for work outstripping supply of jobs. Unfortunately neither the

11 10, 2016

Reflections: Access to medical care

GuestContributor2019-08-30T16:31:59+08:00October 11th, 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. Nikie spent May to July 2016 with us assisting with casework and the Labour Court Research Project. In the process, she came across many foreign workers who had difficulty getting the medical