Our Stand

1 07, 2018

Policy brief 2018, no. 1: Electronic payment of salary should be mandatory

GuestContributor2019-08-30T16:31:04+08:00July 1st, 2018|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, News, Our Stand|

In the first for four policy briefs for 2018, Transient Workers Count Too sets out the case for electronic payment of salaries for Work Permit holders. The paper points out that "Electronic payment of salaries through bank transfer provides a 'paper trail' to demonstrate compliance with payment requirements and reduce wage disputes," and notes that

23 06, 2018

Rashadul goes home with only pocket change

webmaster2019-08-30T16:31:04+08:00June 23rd, 2018|Articles, Our Stand, Stories|

Based on an interview in April 2018 Despite giving us a broad smile, Rashadul's life has changed for the worse. For example, his broken knee means he will never be able to squat again. The best he can do now is to kneel on his one good knee, which at least is good enough to

17 06, 2018

When court orders are worthless: the Zach Engineering case

GuestContributor2019-08-30T16:31:04+08:00June 17th, 2018|Articles, Our Stand, Stories|

Longform by Gautam Joseph with contribution by Choo Wai Hong Timeline Dec 2014 Two workers at Zach Engineering summarily dismissed after employer has disagreement with Ministry of Manpower (MOM). Mar – Jun 2015 Two workers rehired by Zach Engineering, three other Bangladeshi workers join. Oct 2015 Fifteen workers paid only food allowance. Indian workers fight

12 06, 2018

Jaynal lost his case at ECT; was the tribunal’s decision sound?

webmaster2019-08-30T16:31:04+08:00June 12th, 2018|Articles, Our Stand, Stories|

On 19 October 2017, Abedin Md Jaynal spent virtually the whole day in the Employment Claims Tribunal (ECT) arguing his case. By the close of the day, it was over, and he had lost. The magistrate dismissed his salary claim. Jaynal told TWC2 that the magistrate was actually sympathetic to his side of the case,

15 05, 2018

MOM says Singapore’s workplace injury reporting criteria are “aligned to international practices”

webmaster2019-08-30T16:31:04+08:00May 15th, 2018|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, News, News Flash, Our Stand|

Member of Parliament Louis Ng put in an oral question for oral answer on 19 February 2018, on the topic of injury reporting. Sam Tan, the Minister of State for Manpower replied on behalf of the minister. Nominated Member of Parliament K Thanaletchimi also contributed a supplementary question during the debate. See too TWC2's comment

19 04, 2018

On average, injured workers with TWC2 wait eleven months for compensation

webmaster2019-08-30T16:31:05+08:00April 19th, 2018|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, News, Our Stand|

The typical worker who is with TWC2's Cuff Road Project has waited nearly six months since his workplace accident. Yet he is still some distance from the conclusion of his Work Injury Compensation (Wica) claim. Typically, this worker is still in the first of four phases: getting medical treatment or simply waiting for an assessment

2 04, 2018

Exploitative law firms: systemic solutions needed from MOM

webmaster2019-08-30T16:31:06+08:00April 2nd, 2018|News, Our Stand|

In late March 2018, a short while after this article Two injured workers provide detailed accounts of a law firm's practices was published, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) asked for the names of the workers and law firms involved. Transient Workers Count Too declined to provide this information. As the details of that story indicated, the

16 03, 2018

TWC2 submits proposals for improving Singapore’s Employment Act

webmaster2019-08-30T16:31:06+08:00March 16th, 2018|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, News, Our Stand|

The Singapore government invited submissions for proposed amendments to the Employment Act. TWC2 made a proposal centred on five areas which will benefit the most number of workers. As our submission makes clear, TWC2’s proposed amendments are envisioned to support all employees in Singapore. Even if some of our ideas are of particular importance to

28 02, 2018

Employer sent to jail, worker’s compensation still unpaid. Is this good enough?

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:07+08:00February 28th, 2018|Media Coverage, News, Our Stand|

Suriakumar Ridgeway Ramaiah, will be serving jailtime for failing to pay injury compensation to a worker. Strictly speaking, the sole proprietor of Ridgeway Marine and Construction, was fined $21,000 on 16 November 2016 for failing to buy work injury insurance for his workers, and for not paying compensation when so ordered, but having defaulted on these, he was

25 02, 2018

A look back at job mobility policies 2011 – 2017

alex2019-08-30T16:31:07+08:00February 25th, 2018|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, News, Our Stand|

There has been a gradual liberalisation over the last few years allowing construction workers to transfer to new jobs. This paper takes stock of evolving government policy in this area. Transient Workers Count Too has argued for a long time that retaining workers with experience in Singapore will be good for our much-hoped-for improvement in productivity.