Stories

23 03, 2018

Two injured workers provide detailed accounts of a law firm’s practices

GuestContributor2019-08-30T16:31:06+08:00March 23rd, 2018|Articles, Stories|

This is a long record (approximately 2,800 words) of what two foreign workers told TWC2 about their experiences with the same law firm. They had engaged the law firm following worksite accidents, but were soon unhappy with the relationship. Both workers either experienced or heard that representatives of the law firm made unsolicited and unwelcome contact

18 03, 2018

Mohan feels more secure having a lawyer for his injury claim

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:06+08:00March 18th, 2018|Articles, Stories|

By Liang Lei, based on an interview in December 2017 What is the role of a lawyer? While we struggle to form an encompassing definition of the profession, our foreign workers seem to have a fixed perception of them as their all-knowing protector. At TWC2, the vast majority of injured workers would already have engaged

14 03, 2018

Eager to go home after 15 jobless months

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:06+08:00March 14th, 2018|Articles, Stories|

By Aaron Chua, based on an interview in December 2017 Just look at this!”, Alex exclaims, holding up one of the meal cards that are issued by TWC2 to workers in need. The surprise: The date of injury — 20 September 2016. It has been 15 months since. The card belongs to Hossain Muhammad Arif,

7 03, 2018

Crash! Bang! Boss hears windfall from the heavens

alex2019-08-30T16:31:07+08:00March 7th, 2018|Articles, Stories|

Martin* was on his second day at his new job. He was employed as a construction worker, but he had let his boss know that he held a Singapore driving licence. His boss asked him to drive a lorry. Martin hit another car; the lorry suffered scratches. Thankfully, no one was injured. Some days later,

3 03, 2018

Shariful’s case shows how injury leads to poorer housing

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:07+08:00March 3rd, 2018|Articles, Stories|

By Tristan Powell-Odden, based on an interview in December 2017 Despite being in pain from an injury, Shariful had to look for new accommodation and worry about how to pay for it. Housing issues shouldn't have to complicate an injured worker's life, but they do. Shariful's job was to blast paint from steel surfaces of

21 02, 2018

Ratan waited three years before filing a salary complaint – why so long?

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:07+08:00February 21st, 2018|Articles, Stories|

By Nicholas Lee, based on an interview in October 2017 The promise of a higher salary and a better life -- this is the main reason why most foreign workers leave their families and the familiarity of their home come to Singapore to work. But what if after taking on debts to pay agent fees

14 02, 2018

By law, boss has to pay MC wages, so why is Hasan still asking for them?

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:07+08:00February 14th, 2018|Articles, Stories|

By Tristan Powell-Odden, based on an interview in December 2017 Hasan Tamim has been seven months without work as a result of an accident. Not only was he not fully paid his salary before the incident, he has not received proper financial support from his employer since -- despite the law requiring the employer to

7 02, 2018

“Sometimes $50 … na, take and go” is what passes for salary

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:07+08:00February 7th, 2018|Articles, Stories|

By Alston Ng, based on an interview in December 2017 Pressing against the table and straining to be heard, Majumder Dilip Kumar (above left) recounts how he came to live off the goodwill of friends for the past two months. A note of morose resignation is unmistakable; he does not see the proverbial light at

2 02, 2018

Anowar’s plight shows need for vibrant transfer-job market

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:07+08:00February 2nd, 2018|Articles, Stories|

Isaac (L) and Anowar (R) By Isaac Ong, based on an interview in November 2017 Anowar arrived in Singapore for his current job with Akilas Enterprise in late 2016, working for several months without issues. In June this year, however, life changed drastically. He tells us that he was not called to work,

25 01, 2018

The man in the ministry’s locked drawer

alex2019-08-30T16:31:07+08:00January 25th, 2018|Articles, Stories|

By Alex, based on an interview in November 2017 "Why are you still in Singapore?" I ask Sarkar Debabrata. He is showing me a Special Pass dated 19 January 2017 -- ten months old -- which allows him to remain in Singapore until his case at the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is concluded. Yet, in his