Discussion: economics of labour migration
16
10, 2019
Akanda eaten by the cancer of circular migration
Just because he felt ill on day at work Akanda was summarily fired. Is he optimistic about finding another job?
5
10, 2019
Cheated of $6,000, Nurunobi is angry
During the job interview, the boss described his company as a large main contractor. Then why did Nurunobi get work on only 9 days out of the first 24?
1
10, 2019
What plagues migrant workers?
Dating from 2014, this featured article is a review of the inequalities inherent in the employer-employee relationship with respect to migrant workers in Singapore. Citing cases Meera Rajah came across while volunteering with TWC2, she shows how these imbalances manifest in workers' lived experiences.
25
09, 2019
Remittance highways and byways
Many low-wage workers from Bangladesh continue to use an informal remittance system to send money back home despite it being an unregulated system. Why do they choose that?
31
08, 2019
$8,000 for the underground agent
Foreign workers are increasingly becoming illegal job agents, preying on fellow countrymen like Alamin wanting to come to Singapore. This underground activity puts Singapore's law and order reputation at risk.
22
08, 2019
How do workers raise money to pay agents?
TWC2 volunteer Stefan dives deep into issues of loans, pawning, interest rates and repayment installments. Compared to the meagre salaries foreign workers in low-skill jobs earn, the numbers are disturbing.
27
05, 2019
More of here, less of there: Increase in repeat workers and fat profits for the underground job broker in Singapore
In this research study, TWC2 found that about 80% of South Asian workers were "repeat workers", a huge change from a few years ago. We also found that about half of them used a Singapore-based job broker to find a job. Typically, these are foreign workers themselves, not licensed employment agents. It's illicit but profitable.
10
05, 2019
Transfer was a sham, settlement agreement was dubious, only the paddyfield was real
By Yasha S based on an interview in January 2019 For 47-year old labourer Motaleb Abdul, seeking justice for what he is owed seems like a never-ending game of disappointment. Despite having a salary settlement agreement drawn by Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM), he has yet to be paid by his Singaporean boss
1
04, 2019
MOM claims great effectiveness in a case when the facts point otherwise
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) responded to our 20 Feb 2019 article 'Rahman and employer agree to settle salary claim... then nothing happens' with a statement on their website. That statement amplifies their ability to help, and implicitly accuses the worker of not seeking help when help was (said to be) available. The worker's misery
1
03, 2019
“Money finish,” and “everything selling” while waiting for a new job opportunity
Most foreign workers in the construction industry are in their twenties. Volunteer Jeremy Xiao met a older man in January 2019, who spoke to him about the weight of his family responsibility and the struggle to land a job. Yet, some experiences are all the same whether for younger workers or older ones --