MOM and TADM's Response to Inaccurate and Misleading Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) Articles on Salary Claims and Food Provisions

In February 2024, Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) published two articles with inaccuracies and misinformation on the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Tripartite Alliance of Dispute Management (TADM). TWC2’s claims have cast aspersions on the professionalism of MOM and TADM officers. Although MOM has dedicated channels for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to clarify case facts with us, TWC2 did not take steps to verify the accuracy of information before publishing the misleading articles.  We are clarifying the facts for the articles below

Article #1: From Rajasthan to the Ministry of Manpower, Part 1” (18 February 2024)

According to TWC2, “Hulash” (not his real name), a migrant worker, had asked MOM for help to obtain his face scan metadata (Hulash had to do a face scan at the start and end of each workday) so that he could properly calculate the salary that he was owed. The employer did not produce the face scan metadata, and TWC2 alleged that MOM allowed the employer get away with it, jeopardising the worker’s claim.

This is not true. MOM and TADM officers did not receive any request from Hulash to assist with obtaining his face scan metadata from his employer. Hulash requested help with employment records like timesheets and payslips, but did not respond after MOM officers asked for more details to assist him.

We would like to clarify that a worker’s ability to recover salaries is not compromised even if his employer does not issue itemised pay slips. The onus is always on the employer to prove that salaries have been paid.

Article #2: From Rajasthan to the Ministry of Manpower, Part 2” (20 February 2024)

TWC2 claimed that MOM was not doing enough to ensure that Hulash’s employer provided suitable meal options when Hulash had said that the vegetarian option provided by the employer was culturally incompatible. TWC2 added that Hulash had received no food support at all. 

This is not true. MOM will assist any migrant worker who reports such issues to us to the best extent that we can. 

MOM had been engaging with both Hulash and his employer since October 2023 on Hulash’s dietary needs. The employer had provided vegetarian food for Hulash, and was willing to provide additional vegetables for him to cook his own meals, but Hulash rejected the offer. 

MOM had also referred Hulash to the Migrant Workers’ Centre, who reached out to Hulash to provide food support. Hulash similarly declined the offer. 

While the employer provided food for Hulash, it was not accepted due to Hulash’s personal preferences.