Qatar abolishes its kafala system, when will Singapore do so?
In a historic move, Qatar abolished its kafala system in August 2020. Workers can now change jobs without having to get permission from current employers.
16
10, 2020
19
08, 2020
Two jobs in succession, both end with salary non-payment… and there’s more
Akash had a salary problem in one job. He then found a new job. Eight months later, non-payment again. We learn of worse as the interview progresses.
26
03, 2020
Johirul’s salary case at the nine-month point
After months of stagnation, Johirul's case is finally moving again, but after nine long months, he's looking at getting less than a quarter of his owed salary.
24
02, 2020
Letter in Straits Times: Maid agencies abusing their powers
TWC2 echoes a call for the government to do more to rein in employment agents who charge unreasonable and illegal fees for transfer workers.
6
01, 2020
Within one year, Moggi had to pay three times to get and keep his job
MOM ruled that Shamim's injury was not work-related. A co-worker's testimony might have played a part. Then the co-worker phoned Shamim and an interesting conversation ensured.
16
10, 2019
Akanda eaten by the cancer of circular migration
Just because he felt ill on day at work Akanda was summarily fired. Is he optimistic about finding another job?
28
04, 2019
Employer unafraid of workers taking salary claims to the authorities
By L. Narasimhan based on an interview in March 2019 "I wander around the city, going from place to place trying to find a new job," says Sukhwinder Singh, when I ask him what he has been doing for the past three months. "I wake up in my apartment, eat at Gurudwara [temple], and then go
24
04, 2019
Rubel started work with Feiteng1x without knowing his salary — how did that happen?
By Liang lei based on an interview in February 2019 When a foreign worker arrives in Singapore, he would have a letter titled In-Principle Approval for a Work Permit (IPA) from Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM), stating his personal details, employer and salary, amongst other details. The IPA letter has proven invaluable in guarding foreign
15
12, 2018
In-Principle Approval: uses and abuses 2011 – 2018, part 6
Part 6: where we are now And that’s where we are at this moment. The In-Principle Approval for a Work permit ("IPA" -- explained in footnote) has travelled a long way, beginning life as a simple document that merely informed prospective migrant workers that a legitimate Work Permit awaited them in Singapore, together with basic
5
11, 2018
Transfer jobs for salary claimants and a minister’s bureaucratese
For several months in late 2017 and early 2018, we puzzled over a statement by the then-Minister for Manpower Lim Swee Say that in the first half of 2017, only about 600 of foreign workers with salary claims indicated that they wished to find new employment (see footnote 1). We felt that 600 was an