Medical treatment

13 12, 2016

By being obstructive over initial treatment, Hosen’s employer may end up paying more medical costs

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:36+08:00December 13th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Nadira Mohd Iesham Except for the first day, Hosen Mobarak has had to fight to get medical treatment. He has not always succeeded. What began as a broken fingernail ended up requiring surgery -- which, from the sequence of events narrated to me, appears to be a consequence of the employer's obstructive tactics. As

5 12, 2016

Cornered, Ahammed was told to “go back home”

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:57+08:00December 5th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By James Mah “Go back home”. Such remarks can be heard infrequently in Singapore, uttered by locals frustrated at the sight of migrant workers on public transport when buses and trains are jam-packed. Most of the time, these comments would be said from the stress of the moment, without any malicious intent. This was not the

27 11, 2016

Reflections: Wica and Labour Court processes

GuestContributor2019-08-30T16:31:58+08:00November 27th, 2016|Articles, Facts, research, analysis|

Most interns who spend 6 - 9 weeks with TWC2 are asked to wrap up their internship with an essay on a specific topic. Law student Pranay Arvind Suryavanshi spent his mid-year vacation 2016 with us assisting with casework and the Labour Court Research Project. In the process, he came across many foreign workers who

18 11, 2016

Employer hired out his worker, then disclaimed responsibility for accident

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:58+08:00November 18th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Sarah Tong Kashem was employed by one company but was sent to work for another, a scaffolding company. When he was injured, his employer took the position that the accident happened ‘off-site’, and so refused to pay for treatment. This is incorrect, but perhaps the boss didn't know the law. “Yah, he don’t know!”

5 11, 2016

Injured worker abandoned without food for two days

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:58+08:00November 5th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

Islam Saiful speaks with a volunteer while he takes his dinner at TWC2's Cuff Road Project By Yi Ning On 18 March 2016, Islam Saiful fell about three metres at his worksite, landing on his back and leaving him with agonizing pain. This was just the start of his problems. He was told that

28 10, 2016

Muthamilselvan thought he’d be taken to hospital. Fat chance.

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:59+08:00October 28th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Vivek R It was a rainy day in Jurong Shipyard on Chinese New Year’s eve 2016. The worksite was particularly slippery as rain water coalesced with sand to turn the working grounds into slurry. But with the company falling behind on contract schedule, the work must go on. The day looked ominous but Muthamilselvan

21 10, 2016

Diluted Justice: Protection and redress for trafficked fishermen in Asia

webmaster2019-08-30T16:31:59+08:00October 21st, 2016|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, News, Press Releases|

A joint research by Dr Sallie Yea and Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) reveals that trafficked fishermen face insurmountable barriers to access legal and economic justice and protection. These barriers are caused by the following factors: significant gaps in measures for victim identification, a lack of coordinated support for the psycho-social needs and well-being of

11 10, 2016

Reflections: Access to medical care

GuestContributor2019-08-30T16:31:59+08:00October 11th, 2016|Articles, Facts, research, analysis|

Most interns who spend 6 - 9 weeks with TWC2 are asked to wrap up their internship with an essay on a specific topic. Nikie spent May to July 2016 with us assisting with casework and the Labour Court Research Project. In the process, she came across many foreign workers who had difficulty getting the medical

7 10, 2016

Boss cancels worker’s surgery, worker loses flexibility and feeling in thumb

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:59+08:00October 7th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Audrey Tan He took on a new job with high hopes, but now finds himself at the lowest point of his life. Ragunathan Kaliyarasan, 28, is jobless and struggling to recover after a workplace injury in March 2016. His predicament tells the story of a dismissive employer. “I want(ed) to land one job perfectly,”

30 09, 2016

If “boss say carry more, I also cannot say no,” — Imran injures his back despite ministry’s safe load limit

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:59+08:00September 30th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Teo Yi Ning It was only his third month working at a concrete casting company when Sheikh Mohammad Imran hurt his back. The concrete slab that he was carrying landed on his back when he lost his footing on a slippery floor at his worksite, leaving him with intolerable pain. He estimates that the