'Un-Accounted For'
TWC2 held a forum while the September 2006 World Bank-IMF meeting was taking place in Singapore. It issued two statements to the press. This was when the TWC2 report, 'Debt, Delays, Deductions: Wage Issues faced by Foreign Domestic Workers in Singapore', was released.
Unfair Debts for Foreign Workers in Singapore
Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) presents a forum on migration issues, “Un-Accounted For: Unfair Debts for Foreign Workers in Singapore”:
Date: Monday, 18 Sept 2006
Time: 12.30pm – 2pm
Venue: Guinness Theatre, The Substation
Address: 45 Armenian Street, Singapore 179936
The Forum will present findings and recommendations from TWC2’s research findings on wage issues that foreign domestic workers face during their employment here in Singapore. Discussions will include heavy debt burdens due to increasing placement and agency fees as well as arbitrary salary deductions. The report that will be presented to the public will show that domestic workers on the street who were surveyed as well as those in focus group discussions do say that on top of heavy loan repayments they incur to come here to work, they also face arbitrary salary deductions. This is of particular concern as there is a lack of clarity and understanding on the issue of what are ‘legitimate’ deductions. In light of the diminished bargaining power of foreign domestic workers, this situation lends itself to further exploitation of workers who already struggle with low wages and unfavorable contract terms.
Other issues to be discussed include the role of employment agencies in influencing debt burdens for foreign workers and the problem of limited access to justice in instances of clear infringements of contract terms.
President of TWC2, Ms Braema Mathi, and Executive Committee Member Stephanie Chok will present the findings and share recommendations during the discussion.
The second part of this forum will cover issues related to IMF policies in terms of debt relief and crisis management that do impact on migrant worker issues. We will also highlight the research done by the World Bank on remittances that today has valued the contributions of the migrant worker.
We invite members of the press to cover this event and raise awareness to the findings through this research.
TWC2 was set up officially as a society in August 2004 and its primary aim is to promote the well-being of migrant workers in Singapore while also improving the relationship between employers and workers. TWC2 is a non-governmental organization run by volunteers and one permanent staff which carries out research and advocacy through many initiatives and dialogues while also running a helpline for migrant workers.
Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) presents a forum on migration issues, “Un-Accounted For: Unfair Debts for Foreign Workers in Singapore”:
Date: Monday, 18 Sept 2006
Time: 12.30pm – 2pm
Venue: Guinness Theatre, The Substation
Address: 45 Armenian Street, Singapore 179936
The Forum will present findings and recommendations from TWC2’s research findings on wage issues that foreign domestic workers face during their employment here in Singapore. Discussions will include heavy debt burdens due to increasing placement and agency fees as well as arbitrary salary deductions. The report that will be presented to the public will show that domestic workers on the street who were surveyed as well as those in focus group discussions do say that on top of heavy loan repayments they incur to come here to work, they also face arbitrary salary deductions. This is of particular concern as there is a lack of clarity and understanding on the issue of what are ‘legitimate’ deductions. In light of the diminished bargaining power of foreign domestic workers, this situation lends itself to further exploitation of workers who already struggle with low wages and unfavorable contract terms.
Other issues to be discussed include the role of employment agencies in influencing debt burdens for foreign workers and the problem of limited access to justice in instances of clear infringements of contract terms.
President of TWC2, Ms Braema Mathi, and Executive Committee Member Stephanie Chok will present the findings and share recommendations during the discussion.
The second part of this forum will cover issues related to IMF policies in terms of debt relief and crisis management that do impact on migrant worker issues. We will also highlight the research done by the World Bank on remittances that today has valued the contributions of the migrant worker.
We invite members of the press to cover this event and raise awareness to the findings through this research.
TWC2 was set up officially as a society in August 2004 and its primary aim is to promote the well-being of migrant workers in Singapore while also improving the relationship between employers and workers. TWC2 is a non-governmental organization run by volunteers and one permanent staff which carries out research and advocacy through many initiatives and dialogues while also running a helpline for migrant workers.