Articles

17 10, 2015

Broken bone in foot but no surgical intervention

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:24+08:00October 17th, 2015|Articles, Stories|

By Samantha Ege “This leg, very big already,” Ali tells me, gesturing towards his noticeably swollen foot. On 23 February 2015, Ali was working as he would normally do, at a shipyard. He was dressed in the necessary protective gear, complete with brand new safety footwear. However, this was not enough to save his foot

13 10, 2015

Accident went unreported for 13 months, worker may not get compensation

alex2019-08-30T16:32:24+08:00October 13th, 2015|Articles, Stories|

Ramasamy Ayyasamy's left hand is now virtually useless for work. Three fingers are stiff and there is still a metal splinter inside his ring finger. It's not clear how he is going to continue earning an adequate income to feed his family. Yet, he is at risk of not receiving any compensation for the disability. His

8 10, 2015

Adjusting to bureaucratic Singapore: “All must evidence. One thing wrong also cannot.”

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:24+08:00October 8th, 2015|Articles, Stories|

By Kok Rabin Have you ever been annoyed when others spell your name wrongly? What if their mistake could cost you $16,000? Sitting in front of me at Alankar restaurant this hazy evening is Pandurangan Madhurakavi, a tall man with broad shoulders and a broader smile. 37-year-old Kavi (as his friends call him) was in

4 10, 2015

Workplace injuries rise 2010 to 2014

webmaster2019-08-30T16:32:24+08:00October 4th, 2015|Articles, Facts, research, analysis|

With the 2014 statistics now out on the Ministry of Manpower's website, a steady rise in workplace injuries can be seen through the five-year period 2010 to 2014. Here are the key numbers: These figures are shown in the bar chart below: It is not clear how "major injuries" are determined and differentiated from "minor

30 09, 2015

Ankle broken, Nagarajan’s future bleak as a hired farm-hand

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:24+08:00September 30th, 2015|Articles, Stories|

By Ranjana Raghunathan Adaikkalam Nagarajan, 32, was given a “special shoe” to wear for a month. “No other treatment! I was in pain for a month, even with painkillers. I was given light-duty for a month, no medical leave.” TWC2 has noted that many doctors don't issue full medical leave certificates, but only light duty

26 09, 2015

Failure to report accident complicates Harun’s access to treatment

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:25+08:00September 26th, 2015|Articles, Stories|

By Hong Ying Harun Rashid Or has not had the treatment doctors recommended since his accident on 25 August 2015. While trying to understand why, the Ministry of Manpower's own processes come into the picture. As much as he is being victimised by a callous employer, he may also be disadvantaged by a bureaucracy too lax

18 09, 2015

Injured workers hit face-on with doctor and housing issues

alex2019-08-30T16:32:25+08:00September 18th, 2015|Articles, Stories|

Medical treatment and housing -- two issues that workers, after an injury, find themselves grappling with. They shouldn't have to, and it is troubling to any outside observer that soon after an injury, perhaps still in pain with mobility difficulties, anyone should find himself with these additional complications. For a little insight as to how and why these

12 09, 2015

The ‘stupid boy’ with an ipad

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:25+08:00September 12th, 2015|Articles, Stories|

By Elizabeth Zhou Sagor Mohammad and Abu Bakar (pictured above) are Bangladeshi nationals working as construction workers in Singapore. Not their first time here, both work permit holders are seasoned and familiar non-citizens[1] of Singapore with a close and allied network of friends and “family” -- relationships they have forged and accrued over the years.

8 09, 2015

The day an employer came to us for help

alex2019-08-30T16:32:25+08:00September 8th, 2015|Articles, Facts, research, analysis|

By Alex Au One afternoon late March 2015, an employer came to Transient Workers Count Too to see if we could help him. "He was almost in tears," said my colleague Russell Heng who devoted more than half an hour lending him a sympathetic ear. He was a contractor with over a hundred workers, but he

4 09, 2015

Surviving on borrowed money and three shirts

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:25+08:00September 4th, 2015|Articles, Stories|

By Daniel Ling “Driver put all my baju (clothes) in bag, tell me, ‘Boss say, tomorrow go Bangladesh for two month. [If] you no go, boss work permit cutting’”. Hossen Murad, 26, was still recovering from a serious workplace injury. Amid mounting medical bills here, his employer had sought to pressure him into returning to