Articles

14 05, 2016

Over 80% of male foreign workers want to be paid through bank giro

webmaster2019-08-30T16:32:02+08:00May 14th, 2016|Articles, Facts, research, analysis|

Introduction In March 2016, Minister of State for Manpower Sam Tan told Parliament that the government was not prepared to make bank payment of foreign worker salaries mandatory. He gave a few reasons which the section 'Discussion' below will address. TWC2 felt it would be worthwhile to do a simple survey to check what male work

12 05, 2016

Chicken pox: how TWC2 stopped it spreading

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:02+08:00May 12th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Eugene Teo On the evening of 19 October 2015, Huq Md Mynul showed up at our free meals programme. He was running a fever and had all the signs of chicken pox over his face and body. But he was also homeless. Transient Workers Count Too immediately put him into our emergency shelter. This

8 05, 2016

$16,400 – The price of the Singapore dream

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:02+08:00May 8th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Keani Vonge "Nine lakh fifty thousand," is what Hassan Raqibul says when we at TWC2 ask him how much he paid for the job in Singapore. That converts to S$16,400. About half of Hassan's total fee went to a training centre -- construction workers must acquire a skills certificate before they can get a

3 05, 2016

Ahmmad’s life turned upside down after accident

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:02+08:00May 3rd, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Lee Zi Xin “I have nothing to do every day”, says Ahmmad, as he speaks to me about the long wait for closure of his injury compensation claim. It's been four months since the accident, and he has been out of work since. His relationship with his boss has deteriorated and his former workmates appear

29 04, 2016

Kamal climbs out of window, 12 floors up, to get help

alex2019-08-30T16:32:02+08:00April 29th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

Kamal gingerly opened a window, hoping it wouldn't make a noise. Heart pounding, he stepped out, trying not to look down. He was twelve floors up Block 601 Jurong West. With certain death should he miss a step, he made his way to the ground, never before so careful in his life. Hailing a taxi,

28 04, 2016

TWC2 social work team invited by employer to give a talk to staff

webmaster2019-08-30T16:32:03+08:00April 28th, 2016|Articles, Happenings|

Bright Vision Hospital requested Transient Workers Count Too to give a talk to the work permit holders on their payroll. As any model employer would, Bright Vision wanted their employees informed of their rights and responsibilities. TWCS'2 social work associate Jason Lee (black shirt, centre right) delivered the talk on Thursday 28 April. We had

25 04, 2016

Two years after accident, Lutfor Rahman still waiting for case conclusion

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:03+08:00April 25th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Kan Ren Jie I ask Lutfor Rahman how he is, and I am struck by his frank answer: ‘I now very bad. Now no job, makan got problem.’ While Rahman initially appears cheerful when I sit down and talk with him at TWC2's free meals programme, laughing at some of our jokes about girlfriends,

20 04, 2016

Four years after the accident, Abdus still waiting for injury compensation

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:03+08:00April 20th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Shona Mac It is a busy Monday evening at Transient Workers Count Too's Cuff Road Project and there is a throng of men queuing to receive a meal and milling around chatting to the team of volunteers. Abdus Salam is patiently waiting to speak to his TWC2 case worker who is currently busy with

16 04, 2016

Hand nearly severed, no ambulance, no paramedics called

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:03+08:00April 16th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Jiang Haolie There was so much blood that even the bath towel wrapped around Mahbubul’s half-severed wrist was soaked. His ulnar vein was crudely ripped by a metal sheet as Mahbubul lost his footing and fell. “I cannot even talk”, Mahbubul says, recounting the immense pain he experienced, and gesturing to indicate how tears streamed

12 04, 2016

Bureaucrats close eyes, fold arms as worker’s salary slashed

alex2019-08-30T16:32:03+08:00April 12th, 2016|Articles, News, Our Stand, Stories|

Prabhu was unhappy about his boss' tactics that reduced his earnings, and came to us in March 2016 seeking advice. For over a year, the construction company that employed him didn't have enough work to keep all its employees occupied. Management (sort of) rostered the workers, such that in each month, there would be several