Articles

9 05, 2015

Wages low, partly unpaid, now Sabuj must pay for medical treatment too

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:32+08:00May 9th, 2015|Articles, Stories|

By Polly Perdereau “Working very good, accident no good”. This, in his own words, is Sabuj’s sad realisation about life after an injury. Sikder Sabuj started working in Singapore three years ago. He is from Bangladesh. According to him, he had to shell out $9,000 in "agent money" to be able to come here to

5 05, 2015

He can’t see clearly through his injured eye, must he go back to work?

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:32+08:00May 5th, 2015|Articles, Stories|

By Sabrina Tay Amid the buzz of TWC2's free meals programme, Kamrol Sarker lays out his documents asking what they mean. There are papers showing medical leave and his work injury claim. TWC2 treasurer Alex Au patiently explains to him what each is for and what it says. His explanation sort of confirms what Kamrol

1 05, 2015

Bees want to kill me

webmaster2019-09-25T13:14:02+08:00May 1st, 2015|Articles, Stories|

Sadhin worked for a small roofing company. He was, in fact, the only worker and he and his boss were often the only two on the job. On 17 October 2013 Sadhin was working on the roof of a private home, tasked with cleaning the roof before the repairs could begin. In the process

29 04, 2015

100 women who care about TWC2

webmaster2019-08-30T16:32:32+08:00April 29th, 2015|Articles, Happenings|

By Russell Heng On an afternoon in March 2015, Vanessa Hardinge spoke passionately to a room of colleagues and friends about how tough life can be for many foreign workers in Singapore. At the end of her speech, Transient Workers Count Too was richer by $7,600. Meanwhile TWC2 was totally unaware of what was happening.

26 04, 2015

Worker offers to pay for own medication, yet employer refuses assistance

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

By Lim Shaomin "Four days how to tahan?" says Selim, using a local colloquialism meaning 'withstand'. "Hospital follow boss instructions." I am speaking to Selim Mahmud Babu regarding his most recent injury -- several broken bones in the fourth fingers of his left hand. West Point Hospital gave him four days of medical leave. He

23 04, 2015

TWC2 partners with Ogilvy & Mather to call on employers to give domestic workers their due day off

webmaster2019-08-30T16:32:32+08:00April 23rd, 2015|Articles, Happenings, News, Press Releases|

Press Release 23 April 2015 In the run up to International Workers’ Day, or Labour Day, on May 1, TWC2 has partnered with Ogilvy & Mather (O&M) to launch a campaign urging employers to grant a weekly day off to their domestic workers. As part of the campaign, O&M has created a short film

19 04, 2015

Whose interests should doctors look out for?

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:51+08:00April 19th, 2015|Articles, Stories|

By Sabrina Tay He held his index finger out next to mine and the difference was stark. Rubel’s finger was deformed, the nail shorter than what it should have been and the flesh at his fingertip warped. “Can you feel anything?” I asked as I gently touched his finger. “Cannot feel, no pain, no feeling”

15 04, 2015

Safety goes into dumpster along with workers’ rights

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:51+08:00April 15th, 2015|Articles, Stories|

By William Chin The boss wasn't happy to see his employee presenting a medical leave certificate. "Why you go see doctor? No (limb) drop off, no broken," was his reaction. As Humayun Mohammad Enu tells it, he had to get his own medical treatment, and until now has not been reimbursed despite medical care being

11 04, 2015

Guess what’s under the bra

GuestContributor2019-08-30T16:32:52+08:00April 11th, 2015|Articles, Stories|

By Maya Nguyen Three of us from TWC2 were in a ward of a major hospital. The hospital's medical social worker had asked us to come speak with a domestic worker who had been warded; she might have employment problems that medical social workers could not help with. The domestic worker -- let's call her

7 04, 2015

A dormitory is not a home: a place of threat, not security

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:52+08:00April 7th, 2015|Articles, Stories|

By Chang Ya Lan Even in good health, a migrant worker does not enjoy the pleasure of a home in Singapore. Dormitory space is far from equivalent to what we take for granted: a place of rest and relaxation after a long, tiring day at work; a shell of privacy where rude and menacing people