Facts, research, analysis

1 11, 2014

Construction workers will be able to switch to new jobs at end of work permit period

alex2019-08-30T16:32:59+08:00November 1st, 2014|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, News, News Flash, Our Stand|

Buried within an announcement about a new minimum percentage of higher-skilled workers in construction firms, the Ministry of Manpower also announced that work permit construction workers will be able to move to new jobs at the end of their work permit periods without first having to go home. This new policy will take effect from

25 10, 2014

How the migrant worker system is regulated counts for a lot

webmaster2019-08-30T16:33:00+08:00October 25th, 2014|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, Happenings, News, Our Stand|

This is the talk TWC2 vice-president Alex Au gave at the National University of Singapore to a large class (about 300 - 400) of students from various faculties on 15 October 2014. The text here is a somewhat fuller version of the talk itself, which wasn't entirely read from script, and which was constrained by

16 10, 2014

Are workers’ troubles due to ignorance or to harsh realities that leave them vulnerable?

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:33:00+08:00October 16th, 2014|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, Stories|

By Elizabeth Zhou The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) recently printed colourful flyers in four languages – English, Chinese, Bengali and Tamil. Meant to reassure and educate the migrant worker community of the procedures and processes in place to take care of their rights, these flyers paint an image of a benign and helpful ministry, one

29 09, 2014

980,000 work permit holders as at June 2014

webmaster2019-08-30T16:33:01+08:00September 29th, 2014|Articles, Facts, research, analysis|

New data released by the Ministry of Manpower (source) show increases across all categories of foreign work passes during the first six months of 2014. The data period has also changed; where MOM used to report workforce numbers as at December each year, this time MOM reported for the mid-year point. This is consistent with

15 09, 2014

Overhauling Singapore’s migrant labour system – an alternative plan

alex2019-08-30T16:33:02+08:00September 15th, 2014|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, News, Our Stand|

By Alex Au Many stories on the website of Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) tell of the abuses inflicted on migrant workers in Singapore. TWC2 holds the view that the regulatory system governing the recruitment and control of foreign labour lies at the root of these abuses. Fortunately, many employers refrain from taking full advantage

10 09, 2014

About 70,000 workers live on construction sites

webmaster2019-08-30T16:33:03+08:00September 10th, 2014|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, News, News Flash, Our Stand|

Manpower minister Tan Chuan-jin told parliament through a written reply that about 70,000 workers (presumably male construction workers) live in temporary housing located at construction sites. Most foreign workers live in purpose-built dormitories but around 20 per cent - or 70,000 - live on construction sites. The figures were released on Tuesday in a written

10 09, 2014

26 to 40 percent of male workers suffer illegal ‘savings money’ deduction

webmaster2019-08-30T16:33:03+08:00September 10th, 2014|Articles, Facts, research, analysis|

A new survey of nearly three hundred male migrant workers found that 26 to 40 percent of them suffered a pay deduction commonly known as 'savings money' -- roughly one in three workers. The deduction averaged $50 a month. An earlier survey (see: One third of male migrant workers aren't paid what they are due)

7 09, 2014

Lebanese court rules that employer must return domestic worker’s passport

webmaster2019-08-30T16:33:03+08:00September 7th, 2014|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, Media Coverage, News|

With permission from The Legal Agenda, TWC2 is pleased to reproduce an article from their English website discussing an important court ruling, recently announced in Beirut, Lebanon. The ruling discusses major issues: challenging the widespread practice of withholding passports the problematic nature of the sponsorship system violation of fundamental right to freedom of movement debunk the

29 08, 2014

The challenge of labour trafficking

webmaster2019-08-30T16:33:04+08:00August 29th, 2014|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, Media Coverage, News, Our Stand|

On 27 August 2014, The Straits Times published an opinion article by John Gee, immediate past president of TWC2, which the paper titled 'Ensuring better protection for migrant workers'. Here, John has revised the article slightly, elaborating on some points at the same time. By John Gee At the end of this year, Singapore seems

20 08, 2014

Cost implications of government policies crucial to question of foreign worker accommodation

alex2019-08-30T16:33:05+08:00August 20th, 2014|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, Media Coverage, News, News Flash, Our Stand|

The Straits Times recently carried a story about foreign worker accommodation. Unfortunately, it didn't get to the heart of the matter: the way government policies affect cost and affordability considerations. The newspaper's 19 August 2014 story spoke about the rising number of vacancies at purpose-built dormitories. There are about 5,000 vacancies, said the story, though