TWC2’s work and migrant worker issues as covered by the media
Every year, three public hospitals see more than 15 cases of foreign workers whose hand injuries have not been treated properly, reported the Sunday Times, January 1, 2012, in a full-page spread. The hospitals were Singapore General Hospital, National University Hospital and Tan Tock Seng Hospital -- these are the three with dedicated hand surgery
Singaporeans should show our appreciation to migrant workers as they are an integral part of society and play an important role at that, said Minister of State for Manpower Tan Chuan-jin in a blogpost marking International Migrants Day. "They are the workers that build the infrastructure that we enjoy every day and the very homes
Carried on page 2 of the Home section, the Straits Times (Monday, December 19, 2011) featured various non-profit organisations' messages and activities marking International Migrants' Day, including TWC2's. Leading the story was the call by Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics' (HOME) for a specialised anti-human trafficking law. "We urge the state to make our laws
The above was the headline for a feature story carried in the Sunday Times, 4 December 2011, about romantic relationships between foreign workers in Singapore. The newspaper's reporters trawled Lucky Plaza and Little India over two Sundays and reported that "foreign men and women holding hands were a common sight." Taking up a full page,
In a commentary published by socio-political website The Online Citizen (TOC), Jolovan Wham criticised the Ministry of Manpower's (MOM) ineffectual moves with respect to abuses committed by repatriation companies. Link to article. It is not clear however, whether Wham was writing in his personal capacity or as Executive Director of HOME (Humanitarian Organisation for Migration
The Straits Times carried an editorial on November 29, 2011, following the Court of Appeal's decision in the case of Lee Chiang Theng vs Public Prosecutor, as reported here (Judge: Bosses who ill-treat workers will go to jail).. This is the editorial in full: Hit these labour abusers hard MIGRANT workers performing hard labour in
Today newspaper carried the gist of TWC2's press release, pointing out that giving employers total freedom to terminate and repatriate migrant workers is the source of much exploitation. The newspaper's edition of November 15, 2011, also carried additional comments by TWC2 immediate past president John Gee, suggesting that employers wanting to effect early termination be
In a blogpost dated November 17, 2011, Minister of State for Manpower Tan Chuan-jin, mentioned his recent visit to TWC2's frontline operations at Cuff Road. He wrote: Early this month (1 Nov), I visited the Migrant Workers Centre (MWC), a bipartite NGO set up by employers and unions, as well as the Cuff Road Project
In a follow-up story to that of November 4, the Straits Times reported Monday, November 7, 2011, that employers and recruitment agents are encouraging their foreign workers to apply for voluntary exclusion from the casinos before they arrive in Singapore, or as soon as they set foot here. Some employers are even making it a
In a special report on November 4, 2011, the Straits Times put the spotlight on a disturbing development: bosses who use their foreign workers to gamble vicariously at casinos. Employers typically provide each worker with $500 as seed money for the day. Winnings go back to the employer, except for 10 percent which is the
