Stories

24 06, 2016

Arm in sling, denied medical treatment for a year

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:01+08:00June 24th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

https://youtu.be/M4VrPkuDZWg Video by Nicole Ng, text by Colin Ng The above video was produced in June 2016, sixteen months after Anowar suffered his injury. Throughout the months following the injury, Anowar did not get much-needed surgery for his shoulder. Some injury cases, like Farid’s, go smoothly and the worker receives the treatment and compensation

18 06, 2016

“Boss say: if asking [salary], then you go back Bangladesh.”

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:01+08:00June 18th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Anthony Chua When I first spot Barai Dipok at TWC2’s Dayspace, he is seated in front of a volunteer case helper, clutching some important looking documents and appearing visibly frustrated. As I approach to shake his hand, he utters a weak ‘hi’ and turns his attention right back to the case helper, who is

14 06, 2016

How we walked Muslem Motalb, with broken knee, home

alex2019-08-30T16:32:02+08:00June 14th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

Muslem Motalb will always remember Transient Workers Count Too fondly. "I [will] never forget TWC2," he told us in the days before he went home. "Many people in TWC2 help me so much." We'll tell the story here of what we did to help bring his case to a successful conclusion. It took almost a

10 06, 2016

There are laws about salary payment and work permits, no?

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:02+08:00June 10th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Kan Ren Jie For many Singaporean employees, it would be unthinkable for our employers to stop paying our monthly salaries. Many of us are accustomed (and excited!) to see our bank balance increase every month like clockwork. However, this basic confidence is denied to many foreign workers. My conversations with two men, Ali Abbas

6 06, 2016

How dare you ask about injury compensation!

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:02+08:00June 6th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Gek Han In sixteen years of working in Singapore, Islam Aminur has been diligent and careful, working without an accident. But luck turned against him in December 2015. A heavy, 20kg block of metal fell on his thumb, necessitating surgery at the National University Hospital (NUH). Aminur was given 25 days medical leave ("MC"). Following procedure, he

29 05, 2016

Delay in being given treatment complicates Arjunan’s recovery

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:02+08:00May 29th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

“God’s grace is with me”, says Arjunan with a smile, as he awaits an arduous legal procedure for injury compensation By Ranjana Raghunathan Arjunan has worked in Singapore since 2008. After four years in a company, he joined the current company in November 2014. His job involved plastering and painting of ship parts, but the

24 05, 2016

Monir falls from scaffolding into downsizing and debt

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:02+08:00May 24th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Katia Barthelemy Things were going fine for Mia Monir, 25, from Bangladesh: he tells me he has been working for Kim Heng Marine for four years already with no major complaints from his side. But Monir’s story took a dramatic turn on 10 March 2016, showing that life can take unexpected, nasty slips, even if one

20 05, 2016

Uddin Mohi worked eight months, not paid for six

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:02+08:00May 20th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Eugene Teo Many migrant workers see working in Singapore as a breadwinning opportunity, but is it really? Uddin Mohi, 23, will probably tell you there are huge risks. Uddin worked at a painting and plastering company, S.A.E. & C (S) Pte Ltd, from April 2015 till November 2015. Of the eight months that he spent

15 05, 2016

Do I stay and press my case, or give up and go?

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:02+08:00May 15th, 2016|Articles, Happenings, Stories|

By Mark Lamb Thursday, 5 May 2016. "An emergency" whisks through the room where we're convening to discuss communication plans for Transient Workers Count Too. My barometer perks up but it is no time for self-interest as this appears to be a serious matter and one of immediate urgency. In a calm but pressing voice,

12 05, 2016

Chicken pox: how TWC2 stopped it spreading

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:02+08:00May 12th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Eugene Teo On the evening of 19 October 2015, Huq Md Mynul showed up at our free meals programme. He was running a fever and had all the signs of chicken pox over his face and body. But he was also homeless. Transient Workers Count Too immediately put him into our emergency shelter. This