Our Stand

21 04, 2015

Kickbacks in the news: MWC urges workers to complain; reader retorts: “unlikely to work”

webmaster2019-08-30T16:32:33+08:00April 21st, 2015|Media Coverage, News, Our Stand|

In the wake of the sentencing of a construction company boss for demanding kickbacks from his employees (see news story in Today newspaper, thumbnail at right), the Straits Times had a story about his unsavoury practice on 13 April 2015. The Straits Times noted that extortionate demands are typically made when the worker is most

21 04, 2015

Letter to Straits Times: Lower debt, raise job security

webmaster2019-08-30T16:32:33+08:00April 21st, 2015|Media Coverage, News, Our Stand|

Following the deaths of two Bangladeshi workers in a fire , and a commentary article by Straits Times journalist Toh Yong Chuan (7 April 2015), TWC2 president Noorashikin Abdul Rahman wrote to the editor to better focus the root causes of poor housing. The letter was published on 17 April 2015. Lower debt, raise job

28 12, 2014

Genius Engineering, part 3: nearly 100 skilled electricians lost

alex2019-08-30T16:32:54+08:00December 28th, 2014|Articles, News, Our Stand, Stories|

Four months after employees of Genius Engineering and related companies lodged salary complaints with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Mouazzam Hossin (pictured above) is still in Singapore, struggling to get something out of what he is owed. Mouazzam is among the last of the workers still here. Nearly all the rest -- there were altogether

15 12, 2014

John Gee in Straits Times: A win-win way to help injured foreign workers

webmaster2019-08-30T16:32:55+08:00December 15th, 2014|Media Coverage, News, Our Stand|

This is the opinion piece by John Gee of Transient Workers Count Too, published in the Straits Times, 3 December 2014. ---- A win-win way to help injured foreign workers The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is considering outsourcing the inspection of workplaces to counter the illegal employment of foreign workers, a task that currently involves

4 12, 2014

Allow injured workers waiting for compensation to work, e.g. in services sector

webmaster2019-08-30T16:32:56+08:00December 4th, 2014|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, Media Coverage, News, Our Stand|

Here's is an op-ed by TWC2's John Gee that was published in the Straits Times on Wednesday 3 December 2014: A win-win way to help injured foreign workers By John Gee. Straits Times, 3 December 2014 The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is considering outsourcing the inspection of workplaces to counter the illegal employment of foreign

1 12, 2014

Over the years, migrant workers have faced ‘deteriorating conditions’ — John Gee

webmaster2019-08-30T16:32:56+08:00December 1st, 2014|Articles, Happenings, News, Our Stand|

At a symposium organised by the Asia Research Institute, TWC2 head of research John Gee said that whilst globally, there had never been better protection in law for migrants' rights, yet in many respects, their actual position was going backwards. Even in Singapore, he felt there has been progress, but placement costs represent one area in which

14 11, 2014

Convert levy into workers’ deferred savings, suggests Ho Kwon Ping

webmaster2019-08-30T16:32:58+08:00November 14th, 2014|News, Our Stand|

In a lecture delivered at the Institute of Policy Studies, National University of Singapore, on 12 November 2014, Ho Kwon Ping, executive chairman of Banyan Tree Holdings and IPS-Nathan Fellow for the Study of Singapore, made a few proposals with respect to migrant workers in Singapore. The relevant part is here: First, we can perhaps

12 11, 2014

Exercise using foreign workers as ‘rioters’ exact opposite of sensitivity training

webmaster2019-08-30T16:32:58+08:00November 12th, 2014|News, News Flash, Our Stand|

The Facebook post by Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan 11 November 2014 (click thumbnail at right) titled 'Joint exercise with Police, SCDF & foreign worker ambassadors' accompanied by eight photographs does a great disservice to migrant workers who have played such an important role in building Singapore, especially those of South Asian origin

5 11, 2014

Bhuiyan and friends defeated, part 4

alex2019-08-30T16:32:59+08:00November 5th, 2014|Articles, News, Our Stand, Stories|

Continued from part 3. TWC2 stayed in contact off and on with the four men from JS Metal Pte Ltd through the months following the lodging of their claims at the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). For a while they had some work, all at temporary jobs "make furniture" with Delco Art Interior Decoration, located at Kallang

1 11, 2014

Construction workers will be able to switch to new jobs at end of work permit period

alex2019-08-30T16:32:59+08:00November 1st, 2014|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, News, News Flash, Our Stand|

Buried within an announcement about a new minimum percentage of higher-skilled workers in construction firms, the Ministry of Manpower also announced that work permit construction workers will be able to move to new jobs at the end of their work permit periods without first having to go home. This new policy will take effect from