Stories

20 12, 2017

Experienced plumber lost, who cares about productivity?

webmaster2019-08-30T16:31:08+08:00December 20th, 2017|Articles, Stories|

FOREWORD: For years, Transient Workers Count Too has been speaking out against the revolving door practices behind Singapore's foreign labour. At the slightest unhappiness, employers are quick to send workers home and recruit fresh new faces. Why do they do this? Because they can. Singapore law gives employers total discretion when to terminate employees, there's

15 12, 2017

At TWC2, we ask injured workers about their salary. Why?

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:08+08:00December 15th, 2017|Articles, Stories|

By Liang Lei, based on an interview in October 2017 Running into unexpected trouble overseas is often inconvenient and frustrating – even seasoned travellers among us would readily testify to this. Language barriers, differences in culture and unfamiliarity with foreign administration often confuse us and increase the chances of making mistakes. It must be incomparably

11 12, 2017

Despite injury, despite longing for home, a need to stay and work abroad

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:08+08:00December 11th, 2017|Articles, Stories|

By Jiang Zhi Feng, based on an interview in October 2017 For ten years as a Bangladeshi migrant worker in Singapore, Hossain Awlad has only been back home three times. He misses home. He misses his wife, his mother, and his relatives. The last time he saw them was in 2013. He calls his wife

8 12, 2017

Greedy, unlicenced job brokers: one down, many more to go

webmaster2019-08-30T16:31:08+08:00December 8th, 2017|Articles, News, News Flash, Stories|

TWC2 volunteer discussing the news story with Bangladeshi workers at the Cuff Road Project In a promising development, the Ministry of Manpower has successfully prosecuted a Bangladeshi worker who acted as a job broker and who had pocketed some $30,900 in illicit profit. Roy Tapon Kumar pleaded guilty and was fined $30,000. This

5 12, 2017

Injury compensation case goes well, then all fouled up by lawyer and lover

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:09+08:00December 5th, 2017|Articles, Stories|

By Janson Chang, based on an interview in September 2017 Remo (not his real name) is one man among many as he sidles forward in the queue to have his meal card stamped. He doesn’t say much, and is about to head off after receiving the stamp – till a closer look at his Special

26 11, 2017

MOM gives Ashiqur and Anisur two weeks to find new jobs

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:09+08:00November 26th, 2017|Articles, Stories|

By Daryl Loh, based on an interview in October 2017 Ashiqur and Anisur are desperate. Time is running out. The Ministry of Manpower has told them their Special Passes will not be renewed after another two weeks if they cannot find new jobs. But how are they to find new jobs? They have no contacts, and

15 11, 2017

Escaping from ruthless employer, Amzad gets help at every turn

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:09+08:00November 15th, 2017|Articles, Stories|

By Chow Shunqi, based on an interview in September 2017 (27 Sept) He stayed as quiet as he could so others would think he was asleep. When it was 3am, he tiptoed out of the room, walked as far as he could with an injured ankle and found a hiding spot among the bushes. There was

8 11, 2017

Hosen Khalilur has had to fork out $3,500 in rent

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:09+08:00November 8th, 2017|Articles, Stories|

Video by Jonathan Ang, August 2017 Hosen Khalilur's experience is typical of the cases that come to Transient Workers Count Too. After sustaining a back injury at work and being placed on medical leave, company officials make it difficult for him to stay on in company accommodation. In Hosen's case, he tells us in the

8 11, 2017

What are the rules for housing injured workers?

webmaster2019-08-30T16:31:09+08:00November 8th, 2017|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, Stories|

Many injured workers, after leaving their dorms, find bunk space in Little India The law as to who is responsible for workers' accommodation is a dustball of words. The exact meaning is fuzzy and can be squeezed every which way. In practice however, the words are largely rendered moot. Employers have their own requirements

4 11, 2017

When being unreasonable pays off

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:09+08:00November 4th, 2017|Articles, Stories|

By Jiang Zhi Feng, based on an interview in October 2017 After Rana Masum approached a lawyer to lodge an injury compensation claim, he found his Work Permit cancelled by his employer. Not long after, his boss wanted him to move out of his current dormitory, Westlite Dormitory at Toh Guan in Jurong East and