Facts, research, analysis

27 05, 2019

More of here, less of there: Increase in repeat workers and fat profits for the underground job broker in Singapore

webmaster2019-08-30T16:30:43+08:00May 27th, 2019|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, Media Coverage, News, Our Stand|

In this research study, TWC2 found that about 80% of South Asian workers were "repeat workers", a huge change from a few years ago. We also found that about half of them used a Singapore-based job broker to find a job. Typically, these are foreign workers themselves, not licensed employment agents. It's illicit but profitable.

2 05, 2019

Foreign construction workers continue to reduce, no improvement in productivity

webmaster2019-08-30T16:30:43+08:00May 2nd, 2019|Articles, Facts, research, analysis|

Construction workers tidying up at the end of the day The number of Work Permit holders in the construction industry has gradually declined since a peak in 2015. Last December (2018), there were 280,500 Work Permit holders in this sector, fourteen percent below the 2015 figure of 326,000. To a

12 04, 2019

27% fewer foreign worker claims at ECT in 2018 compared to 2017, why?

webmaster2019-08-30T16:30:44+08:00April 12th, 2019|Articles, Facts, research, analysis|

On 6 March 2019, Nominated Member of Parliament Anthea Ong asked the Minister of Manpower to supply figures for 2017 and 2018 respectively regarding ... (a) how many salary claims were filed by (i) local employees and (ii) foreign workers at the Employment Claims Tribunal; (b) how many court orders were issued to errant employers

8 04, 2019

Rights don’t mean squat without accessible avenues of redress

webmaster2019-08-30T16:30:44+08:00April 8th, 2019|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, Stories|

The photo is of an illuminated billboard along Bukit Batok West Avenue 3. It seeks to inform workers of their employment rights, and is sponsored by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) the Central Provident Fund and TAFEP (Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices). The smaller words in the poster say: Get paid for

31 03, 2019

Global Compact for Migration: how far off its standards is Singapore?

webmaster2019-08-30T16:30:44+08:00March 31st, 2019|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, News, Our Stand|

The United Nations' Global Compact for Migration (GCM) was adopted by a great majority of UN members on 10 December 2018 at a conference in Marrakech, Morocco. It was endorsed by the General Assembly on 19 December 2018, where 152 countries voted in favour. Five countries voted against -- the Czech Republic, Hungary,

11 03, 2019

The Cuff Road Project 2018

webmaster2019-08-30T16:30:44+08:00March 11th, 2019|Articles, Facts, research, analysis|

TWC2's Cuff Road Project (TCRP) serves the immediate needs of South Asian male migrant workers. Specifically, these are workers who are awaiting resolution of claims, complaints or investigations they've lodged with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), and have no access to paid work from their employers due to injury or salary problems or

27 02, 2019

Average ECT order on employers to pay salaries in 2017 estimated to be around $3,500

webmaster2019-08-30T16:30:44+08:00February 27th, 2019|Articles, Facts, research, analysis|

At a Parliamentary sitting on 12 February 2019, Nominated member of Parliament Anthea Ong asked the Minister for Manpower this question: What was the value of unpaid salaries in 2016, 2017 and 2018 respectively, according to the orders made by the Employment Claims Tribunal on employers to pay owed salaries. Mrs Josephine Teo, Manpower

22 02, 2019

TWC2 comments on proposed amendments to WICA

webmaster2019-08-30T16:30:45+08:00February 22nd, 2019|Facts, research, analysis, Our Stand|

In January 2019, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) sought public feedback on some proposed amendments to the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA). As TWC2 sees over a thousand cases a year of work injury among foreign workers, this matter is germane to our work. MOM's proposals centre chiefly around these themes: 1. Medical leave

16 02, 2019

Are foreign workers abusing WIC claims?

webmaster2019-08-30T16:30:45+08:00February 16th, 2019|Articles, Facts, research, analysis|

By Debbie Fordyce The first graph (below) suggests that a disproportionate number of Indian and Bangladeshi migrant workers lodge injury claims within the first six months of starting a job. Moreover, TWC2's observation is that many of these injuries are minor and result in little compensation or will heal completely, thus meriting no disability compensation

15 12, 2018

In-Principle Approval: uses and abuses 2011 – 2018, introduction

webmaster2019-08-30T16:30:45+08:00December 15th, 2018|Articles, Facts, research, analysis|

Introduction Accompanying this introduction is a six-part series of articles that spotlights the In-Principle Approval for a Work Permit (“IPA”), a key document in the import of foreign labour into Singapore. Behind the document is a process that, over time, has shown several weaknesses. What began as a document and process with a laudable aim