Recruitment

15 01, 2017

TWC2 survey: starting salaries for migrant workers flatlined for the last 10 years

webmaster2019-08-30T16:31:35+08:00January 15th, 2017|Articles, Facts, research, analysis|

Starting basic salaries for first-time workers from India and Bangladesh have remained more or less static since 2006, averaging slightly under Singapore dollars 600 per month. However, when adjusted for inflation, a downward trend is seen, and thus, in terms of Singapore purchasing power, average basic salaries have declined about 20% since 2006. The above

31 10, 2016

The price of a job

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

TWC2's latest research takes a detailed look at recruitment costs borne by female domestic workers in Singapore. Based on a survey of 232 workers conducted in early 2016, the study reveals how much they paid, to whom, and how many months' of salary deductions these payments represented. It also gathered their opinions as to

24 10, 2016

Ataus loses his job after only nine days – and after he paid $3,800 for it

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:31:59+08:00October 24th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Kan Ren Jie On 23 June 2016, Ataus Samad Rifat, 28, was suddenly fired from his job. "Go back home. Your work permit has been cancelled. We have already bought ticket." The ‘madam’ (the female administrative staff) at his office then proceeded to take his work permit from him. That was how Ataus described

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

15 07, 2016

Boss brazenly asked Hasan to pay for job

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:01+08:00July 15th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Aruj Shukla It has long been a well-known fact that migrant workers in Singapore need to pay an exorbitant amount of money as agent fees to the middlemen based in their respective home countries. Stories about the possibility of the employers colluding with the agent and taking a sizeable cut from the agent fees

8 04, 2016

Phantom job sucks Ali’s savings dry

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:03+08:00April 8th, 2016|Articles, News, Our Stand, Stories|

By Gek Han On paper, Ali Noman, 40, was employed for about five months. His work permit was issued by construction company Sun Demolition Pte Ltd last July. In reality, Ali was given neither work not wages. “Friend say no work. Company say no work,” Ali says not with anger, but helplessness. He had been

17 03, 2016

Four workers allege employer made them pay for their jobs, MOM investigating

Volunteer Writing Team2023-10-03T10:43:01+08:00March 17th, 2016|Articles, Stories|

By Ranjana Raghunathan At TWC2's Cuff Road Project, a group of five workers, three Indian and two Bangladeshi, catch my attention. They seem to know each other, and have come to enroll themselves in the free meal program together. Upon questioning a little, I learn that they, along with four other workers, faced issues

24 07, 2015

Elayaraja’s hopeful beginning… and bitter end

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:26+08:00July 24th, 2015|Articles, Stories|

By Ranjana Raghunathan “Oh you share your name with the wonderful Tamil music director,” I try to break the ice as he nods, unimpressed at my remark. Elayaraja is from Killaipichavaram, a village near Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu, India. He was earning about 10,000 Rupees per month (around $200) in India, from fishing. I ask

5 07, 2015

“Cannot sleep… I remember my wife’s crying.”

Volunteer Writing Team2019-08-30T16:32:27+08:00July 5th, 2015|Articles, Stories|

By Kimberley Cham Four days. That is how long Humaun has before he goes back to Bangladesh. Back to his family, his wife, 9-month old son Tanjime, father, mother and 22-year old brother. Yet when Humaun reaches home, he does not return from a fruitful time in Singapore. Instead, he brings back heartbreak and gloom.

5 07, 2015

Section 22B of EFMA: a deficient law

alex2019-08-30T16:32:28+08:00July 5th, 2015|Articles, Facts, research, analysis, News, Our Stand|

The story "Cannot sleep.... I remember my wife's crying" described the injustice done to Bangladeshi worker Humaun. He came to Singapore for a promised job only to be told there was none for him. The job offer had been properly documented through an In-principle Approval for a Work Permit (IPA) from the Ministry of Manpower,