Type of issue: kickbacks and upfront monies
30
06, 2026
Boss took $12,000 from cook in monthly kickbacks
Not only was Ridouan not paid for his excessive overtime and working on rest days, he had to give money back to the boss.
4
06, 2026
Straits Times: Singapore’s building boom is forcing a reckoning on migrant labour
A longish commentary on migrant workers appeared in the Straits Times on 19 May 2026. TWC2 responded with a letter to the editor.
27
02, 2026
How to make a million dollars and get away with it
Over a hundred men working for three inter-connected companies filed salary complaints. All were owed thousands of dollars; but all had also paid around $10,000 to get their jobs. Do the math: 100 men x $10,000 each.
15
01, 2026
Despite kickbacks and salary non-payment, worker fears that getting justice is too costly
It first began with the employer cutting out the agent (to the worker's advantage), but it actually was a sign that the employer couldn't be trusted to honour the contract.
2
12, 2025
Parliamentary questions, September 2025, part 1
Many questions from MPs: about primary healthcare, kickbacks, working without work passes and the Household Services Scheme.
22
05, 2025
Entrusting children’s lives to sleepless lifeguards
Two lifeguards hired from Kerala, India were tasked to work 14-hour days, seven days a week. And paid only half of what had been documented as the agreed salary. Wouldn't fatigue affect their alertness?
15
03, 2025
Salary disputes often spring from breaches of law, why aren’t employers automatically investigated?
A story about kickbacks, a bad faith S-Pass application and a host of other breaches, all crying out for investigation, but was there any?
4
01, 2025
Worker resists boss’ demand for kickbacks. “Don’t play with me,” warns boss
A boss demands more than half a worker's salary back, for a reason that shifts from time to time, including levy.
5
12, 2024
Operations manager who took kickbacks from workers jailed 24 months
A manager goes to prison for taking kickbacks from migrant workers. The impact on workers who had to pay was terrible. As positive a step this is, a far bigger issue contines to need attention.
26
03, 2023
Covid is over, let’s extract money from migrant workers again, part 2
Border closures during Covid-19 disrupted the supply-demand equation for migrant workers. A year after borders re-opened, we speak with three re-migrating workers: how much did you pay to get your jobs?