Employment agents, agent fees

15 09, 2018

For men from a poor country, choice is a mirage

2019-08-30T16:30:47+08:00September 15th, 2018|Articles, Stories|

In June 2018, TWC2 volunteer Alston Ng went around asking Bangladeshi workers, "Why did you choose to come to Singapore to work?" The words “neoliberal capitalism” are rarely heard in Singapore, but its message has nonetheless found a faithful following among Singaporeans. Markets are best optimised when left to run by itself, because the exercise

18 07, 2018

Bangladeshi workers’ perception of Singapore, choice of Singapore as work destination and journey here

2019-08-30T16:31:03+08:00July 18th, 2018|Articles, Facts, research, analysis|

Intern Roy Lim was with TWC2 from late April to early June 2018. Among his tasks were to complete a research project, a smallish one in view of the limited time and that fact that it had to be done single-handedly. The attached paper is his report. In his paper, he found that Bangladeshi workers

5 07, 2018

$55 a day and the bright side of things

2019-08-30T16:31:03+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

6 04, 2018

Hossain Sabuj tells us who got rich from his working in Singapore

2019-08-30T16:31:06+08:00April 6th, 2018|Articles, Stories|

By Tristan Powell-Odden, based on an interview in January 2018 Hossain Sabuj, like many other migrant workers, had a dream: To open a clothing store that re-sold American brands in Bangladesh, his home country. To raise the needed capital, he would work for a few years overseas. However, because of the exorbitant amounts of money

25 02, 2018

A look back at job mobility policies 2011 – 2017

2019-08-30T16:31:07+08:00February 25th, 2018|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, News, Our Stand|

There has been a gradual liberalisation over the last few years allowing construction workers to transfer to new jobs. This paper takes stock of evolving government policy in this area. Transient Workers Count Too has argued for a long time that retaining workers with experience in Singapore will be good for our much-hoped-for improvement in productivity.

10 02, 2018

Victims of unpaid salaries have hard time getting transfer jobs

2019-08-30T16:31:07+08:00February 10th, 2018|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, News, Our Stand|

One of the more encouraging things that Transient Workers Count Too has noticed in the past few years is that now, nearly all victims of unpaid salary are given a chance by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to look for new jobs in Singapore without first having to return home. The significance of the above may be

13 01, 2018

Paying over $3,000 in recruitment cost for a $477-per-month job? That’s the way it is

2019-08-30T16:31:08+08:00January 13th, 2018|Articles, Stories|

By Aaron Chua, based on an interview in November 2017 "Hello," says Bhimol* to TWC2 volunteer Alex Au, just as Alex is arriving at The Cuff Road Project's meal station. "I come back," adds Bhimol. "Huh? Come back from where?" asks Alex. "[Last] Friday, I come back. New job." "Ah," says Alex, but before he

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