Job mobility

27 05, 2019

More of here, less of there: Increase in repeat workers and fat profits for the underground job broker in Singapore

webmaster2019-08-30T16:30:43+08:00May 27th, 2019|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, Media Coverage, News, Our Stand|

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.

22 02, 2019

TWC2 comments on proposed amendments to WICA

webmaster2019-08-30T16:30:45+08:00February 22nd, 2019|Facts, research, analysis, Our Stand|

In January 2019, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) sought public feedback on some proposed amendments to the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA). As TWC2 sees over a thousand cases a year of work injury among foreign workers, this matter is germane to our work. MOM's proposals centre chiefly around these themes: 1. Medical leave

16 02, 2019

Are foreign workers abusing WIC claims?

webmaster2019-08-30T16:30:45+08:00February 16th, 2019|Articles, Facts, research, analysis|

By Debbie Fordyce The first graph (below) suggests that a disproportionate number of Indian and Bangladeshi migrant workers lodge injury claims within the first six months of starting a job. Moreover, TWC2's observation is that many of these injuries are minor and result in little compensation or will heal completely, thus meriting no disability compensation

15 10, 2018

Policy brief 2018, no. 4: Free up labour mobility, do more to retain skills and experience

GuestContributor2019-08-30T16:30:47+08:00October 15th, 2018|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, News, Our Stand|

In the fourth of our policy briefs for 2018, Transient Workers Count Too recommends that foreign workers should be free to change employer without needing to get the permission of the existing employer. There should also be a clearer time frame for workers to get new jobs should their existing employers terminate their Work Permits

30 09, 2018

Lack of functioning transfer market makes skills retention elusive

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:30:47+08:00September 30th, 2018|Articles, Stories|

By Alston Ng, based on interviews in June 2018 About a month ago when Rifat (not his real name) showed up at TWC2, he was evidently distressed by the prospect of repatriation. Having resolved a salary dispute with his former employer, Rifat was left to his own devices as he embarked on a so-far unsuccessful

21 09, 2018

Government made Rony stay in Singapore, his marriage destroyed

webmaster2019-08-30T16:30:47+08:00September 21st, 2018|Articles, Stories|

In the second half of 2017, Sikdar Rony lodged two complaints with the Ministry of Manpower. One was over unpaid salary and the other was about having been made to pay a kickback in order to get a job transfer. His unpaid salary case eventually went against him. His evidence was rather incomplete and he

14 08, 2018

Where the silver lining ends: Safiar’s hopes of avoiding further indebtedness thwarted by bureaucratic opacity

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:02+08:00August 14th, 2018|Articles, Stories|

By Alston Ng based on an interview in June 2018 According to a Bloomberg article (footnote 1) dated to Jan 2017, Singaporeans face the shortest unemployment period in the world, spending a median duration of merely two months before finding new jobs. No doubt, such a short transition period indicates market resilience and points to

27 07, 2018

MOM jealously guards their non-transparency, yet slams us for not knowing why they do what they do

webmaster2019-08-30T16:31:03+08:00July 27th, 2018|News, Our Stand|

On 20 July 2018, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) posted a note on Facebook (Link) saying they wished to refute two claims that we made in the article Jaynal lost hs case at ECT; was the tribunal’s decision sound? which can be found at this link. This is our response to MOM’s statement ("refutations") First of

11 07, 2018

TWC2 supports disallowing reduction of salary from IPA

webmaster2019-08-30T16:31:03+08:00July 11th, 2018|News, News Flash, Our Stand|

In the 9 July 2018 parliamentary sitting Minister for Manpower Josephine Teo floated the following idea: MOM is considering the possibility of disallowing downward salary revisions altogether. While this will provide workers with more certainty of their wage for the entire duration of their stay in Singapore, it could also lead to possible early termination

5 07, 2018

$55 a day and the bright side of things

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:03+08:00July 5th, 2018|Articles, Stories|

By Philomène Franssen based on an interview in April 2018 It is quite an unusual story that I got to hear at TWC2's Cuff Road Project food programme, one Monday evening. Indeed, as a volunteer member of the Communications team, when I sign up to interview one of the migrant workers that TWC2 assists, I