Stories

16 10, 2016

Foreign workers chained by debt, governments have a moral duty to act

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:59+08:00October 16th, 2016|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, Stories|

By Kimberley Ng In recent years, Singapore’s slowing economy has meant fewer construction and marine sector jobs for migrant workers. What few might realise is that recruitment costs have risen prohibitively through the same period. The two are not unrelated: it is a matter of demand for work outstripping supply of jobs. Unfortunately neither the

7 10, 2016

Boss cancels worker’s surgery, worker loses flexibility and feeling in thumb

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:59+08:00October 7th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Audrey Tan He took on a new job with high hopes, but now finds himself at the lowest point of his life. Ragunathan Kaliyarasan, 28, is jobless and struggling to recover after a workplace injury in March 2016. His predicament tells the story of a dismissive employer. “I want(ed) to land one job perfectly,”

30 09, 2016

If “boss say carry more, I also cannot say no,” — Imran injures his back despite ministry’s safe load limit

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:59+08:00September 30th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Teo Yi Ning It was only his third month working at a concrete casting company when Sheikh Mohammad Imran hurt his back. The concrete slab that he was carrying landed on his back when he lost his footing on a slippery floor at his worksite, leaving him with intolerable pain. He estimates that the

26 09, 2016

Islam Mahabub, injured, unable to work, fears for his children

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:59+08:00September 26th, 2016|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, Stories|

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmuX0UUq5Jk Video by Nicole Ng, text by Colin Ng, with contributions by Alex Au For most construction workers like Islam Mahabub, a job here comes at a hefty price. Based on casual reports collected by TWC2 from among the thousands of workers we see each year, the cost of a job can range from $2,000

22 09, 2016

Why did you choose to work in Singapore? We ask Jakir

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:59+08:00September 22nd, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Gek Han Family was the only consideration when Jakir decided to work overseas. Jakir was fifteen when his father died, and Jakir’s elder brother was not earning enough to support his family of six. But Singapore wasn’t Jakir’s first choice of destination. Jakir had wanted to go to the Middle East, because he thought

18 09, 2016

Workers who find their doctors and lawyers adding to their problems

GuestContributor2019-08-30T16:31:59+08:00September 18th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Pat Meyer At TWC2, we expect to be helping workers with employer-related problems. But at least as often, we find ourselves dealing with problems created by doctors and lawyers. It was raining hard Tuesday night as TWC2’s meal programme in Little India was about to begin. One of the first men we met that

13 09, 2016

No lorry means no doctor

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:00+08:00September 13th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By J Wen In a recession, should a company prioritise cutting costs over the health of its employees? One engineering firm in Aljunied seems to think so, after leaving one of their injured workers with a twisted, bloodied finger for more than five hours before he was sent to the hospital for treatment. All in

9 09, 2016

Razib’s simple foot injury grows into a struggle for treatment, housing and money

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:00+08:00September 9th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Seah Bei Ying A heavy steel rod smashed into Razibozzaman's right foot Saturday night, fracturing a bone within. Pain shot up, and would stay with him for over a week till he made his way, against his boss' wishes, to a proper hospital. This was the same boss who told him that he would

1 09, 2016

Ayyan anxious and lost in his first hours after quitting

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:00+08:00September 1st, 2016|Articles, Stories|

Not often do we get to interview a worker who has only walked out of his company the same day. Ranjana got this chance, and she takes us into his moment of anxiety and bewilderment. In the process, she explains why we need Little India as Little India. By Ranjana Raghunathan I meet Ayyan Chinnasamy

28 08, 2016

Bleeding badly from injured hand, Juyel ferried from doctor to doctor

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:00+08:00August 28th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By De Sheng Poh “So many pain, so many blood.” remarked Juyel as he recounted his harrowing experience immediately following a serious injury sustained in the line of work. Earning an average of $1,200 a month, Md Juyel Hossain Md Abdul Hai, a Bangladeshi national, is the sole breadwinner of his extended family, which consists of