News and opinions in the public domain and TWC2’s response

9 06, 2014

Memorandum on required training for construction sector workers

2019-08-30T16:33:31+08:00June 9th, 2014|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, News, Our Stand|

By John Gee In 2011, when looking into the costs Bangladeshis face in coming to work in Singapore’s construction industry, one of the expenses about which the research team asked workers was that of training. They quickly discovered that, though the workers had to pay significant amounts to training centres to gain skills that would qualify them to

6 06, 2014

Construction companies and bosses in court for kickbacks and other employment offences

2019-08-30T16:33:31+08:00June 6th, 2014|News, News Flash|

A director of a construction company was fined $20,000 for taking money from his foreign workers. Demanding and accepting such kickbacks is illegal. Lin Pinghe 54, took the money from twenty workers from China in 2011, reported the Straits Times in its story on 3 June 2014 (pictured above). He pleaded guilty at the hearing.

30 05, 2014

Civil society statement on racism and xenophobia

2019-08-30T16:33:31+08:00May 30th, 2014|News, Our Stand|

We, the undersigned, are alarmed by the recent surge of racism and xenophobia in Singapore. They threaten the human rights of all (especially migrants) and the health of our political conversation. The key to addressing the economic frustrations felt by many Singaporeans is to amend the economic policies and structures that cause worsening economic inequality

21 04, 2014

TWC2 calls for comprehensive bill on labour trafficking

2019-08-30T16:33:32+08:00April 21st, 2014|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, News, Our Stand|

TWC2 calls for practices of labour trafficking suffered by low wage migrant workers in all sectors of employment and foreign fishermen who dock in Singapore or on transit in the country to be addressed in the “Prevention of Human Trafficking Bill”. In a 17-page document submitted via email on 18 April 2014 to the address

2 04, 2014

Why the right to seek another job is important

2019-08-30T16:33:33+08:00April 2nd, 2014|News, Our Stand|

A key plank in Transient Workers Count Too's advocacy is that of untying a work permit holder from his employer, and allowing him (or her) job mobility. Naturally, even as he seeks alternative employment, only employers who have the requisite work permit quota will be able to employ him. We recognise that the quota (known

30 03, 2014

Our accounts reflect our frugality

2019-08-30T16:33:33+08:00March 30th, 2014|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, News, News Flash|

In 2013, over 90 percent of TWC2's spending went towards charitable activities, benefitting our clients in a relatively direct way. We spend little on overheads, reflecting a philosophy of frugality we are proud of. Total expenditure in the year was $481,139, leaving us with a surplus of $254,755 from the year's income of $735,894. About

27 03, 2014

How ‘law’ fails migrant workers

2019-08-30T16:33:34+08:00March 27th, 2014|Articles, Happenings, News, Our Stand|

At the Migrant Awareness Week organised by students in the law school of National University of Singapore, 3 - 7 March 2014, a whole host of activities were on the calendar. For the forum of 3 March, TWC2 vice-president Alex Au (pictured above with HOME's Celine Dermine on his left) gave a presentation. Below is

26 03, 2014

MOM does not abandon workers, says ministry director

2019-08-30T16:33:34+08:00March 26th, 2014|News, News Flash|

The director of the Foreign Manpower Management Division, Kevin Teoh, told the commission of inquiry looking into the Little India riots that his ministry does not abandon workers. This was after TWC2 president Russell Heng had hold the committee in earlier testimony that workers "basically have to resort to charity to survive in Singapore" as they

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