Who We Are

Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2)

Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) is a non-profit organisation in Singapore dedicated to improving conditions for low-wage migrant workers, who number about 1.2 million (end 2025), or about 30% of our total workforce of 4.1 million. In short, one in three workers in Singapore is a foreigner on a Work Permit.

Founded in 2003, and formally registered in 2004, we are led by an Executive Committee comprised mainly of Singapore citizens. We operate with a small number of regular staff and a larger number of unpaid volunteers.

Other pages in this website describe the work we do.

In a country where the 2025 median gross monthly income from employment for the residents (citizens and permanent residents) was $5,775, and the government through administrative measures is beginning to set a floor of about $1,800 for citizen employees, to have Work Permit holders earn basic salaries around $600 a month inevitably leads to a lot of issues. We even seen salaries as low as $280. Their low salaries create all sorts of dependencies on employers, since they cannot fend for themselves in a high-cost city, dependencies which employers may exploit.

At TWC2, we are motivated to help workers facing injustice, as well was advocate for better policies.

In the years since we began, we can count several policy changes, e.g. a weekly day off for domestic workers, greater legal recognition of the importance of the In-Principle Approval for salary issues, and moves towards salary payment through bank accounts, that followed our sustained advocacy.

We welcome anyone who shares our core objectives to join as a member and/or volunteer with us. Our members and volunteers span the demographic spectrum from top academics and professionals to eager young Singaporeans, retirees wanting to contribute to society, and hardworking migrant workers themselves.

We would also appreciate a donation. None of this is possible without your support.