Laws & regulations

12 09, 2016

The name of the devil is process: how regulatory process creates and sustains the disempowerment and injustices faced by migrant labour

webmaster2019-08-30T16:32:00+08:00September 12th, 2016|Articles, Happenings, News, Our Stand|

For a few years now, Transient Workers Count Too has been asked to give a talk to journalists gathered at the annual Asia Journalism Fellowship. The following videos are adapted from the talk that Alex Au gave on 8 September 2016. There were about 20 journalists in TWC2's Dayspace, from various Asian countries, Pakistan to

24 08, 2016

Employer ordered to pay salaries, but MOM has no practical enforcement mechanism

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:00+08:00August 24th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Saw Suhui Though armed with a set of court papers that ruled in their favour, Debnath Prantush and Islam Mohammed Shafiqul still could not see the light at the end of the tunnel, and had to approach TWC2 for help. They were colleagues a few months ago but together they left the company because they

16 08, 2016

One in three foreign workers still not getting itemised payslips

webmaster2019-08-30T16:32:00+08:00August 16th, 2016|Articles, Facts, research, analysis|

Of over 500 Indian and Bangladeshi workers surveyed recently by Transient Workers Count Too, one in three reported that they were not getting itemised payslips from their employers. This represents quite a high degree of non-compliance with the Ministry of Manpower's new rule that took effect 1 April 2016. The survey reached a total of

11 08, 2016

Ceiling worker wants out of his miserable job, but how?

GuestContributor2019-08-30T16:32:01+08:00August 11th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Nadia Irwanto Ask Singaporeans what they love and food is bound to come up. Singapore is known for its diversity of not just race and heritage, but also cuisine, and Singaporeans will brave any kind of weather to travel and queue for their food. From hawker fare to high-end restaurant dishes, food in Singapore

10 07, 2016

Monir says he liked the dorm where his company put him up, so we ask him to describe it

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:01+08:00July 10th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Gek Han It doesn't occur to me to ask Hussain Monir if his bed came with a mattress until a senior volunteer does (beds and mattresses go together, right?). Nothing, Monir says. Not quite believing my ears, I tap the table to ask if his bed was as hard, and he says yes. To

6 07, 2016

Foreign domestic workers’ living conditions survey – full results

webmaster2019-08-30T16:32:01+08:00July 6th, 2016|Articles, Facts, research, analysis|

Transient Workers Count Too found that 5% of foreign domestic workers had to share their sleeping space with a male teenager or adult. This is against written law, with a possible fine of up to $10,000. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) confirmed this when the ministry responded to a query by the Straits Times.

1 06, 2016

Research series: Recruitment costs

webmaster2020-01-30T19:17:14+08:00June 1st, 2016|Articles, Facts, research, analysis|

The great majority of transnational migrant workers pay money in order to obtain jobs in other countries. The charges are often exorbitant. Most of the money goes to middlemen: agents in their own country or in destination countries, local recruiters and training centres (which often function as middlemen institutions). Some money may also be paid

21 05, 2016

Illegal employer dumps dying worker in back alley

webmaster2019-08-30T16:32:02+08:00May 21st, 2016|News, News Flash|

The Straits Times reported from court that Muhammad Hidayat Abdul Rahman, 41, was sentenced to six months in jail for dumping Myo Min Aung, 28, in a back alley, after the latter fell from a height of 11.7m. Myo and another Burmese national Min Aung Myat Min were working illegally for Hidayat. The accident occurred around midnight

16 05, 2016

Forced repatriation can lead to death, needs to be addressed

alex2019-08-30T16:32:02+08:00May 16th, 2016|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, News, Our Stand|

Three recent posts here at this site demonstrate that employers continue to try to forcibly repatriate foreign workers, despite workers having unresolved salary claims or untreated injuries. This practice inflicts a great injustice on them. The failure of the authorities to stop it can only lead to speculation about conscious neglect. Mark Lamb has an eye-witness account of

14 05, 2016

Over 80% of male foreign workers want to be paid through bank giro

webmaster2019-08-30T16:32:02+08:00May 14th, 2016|Articles, Facts, research, analysis|

Introduction In March 2016, Minister of State for Manpower Sam Tan told Parliament that the government was not prepared to make bank payment of foreign worker salaries mandatory. He gave a few reasons which the section 'Discussion' below will address. TWC2 felt it would be worthwhile to do a simple survey to check what male work