Selected films in this collection explores the plight of migrant workers. These migrants leave their hometowns for a totally foreign land, in search of a better living, only to suffer in the name of hope. Exposing various atrocities that these workers are subjected to - being denied of food and drinks, medical attention and many other violations against human rights. Being exploited under the capitalist system of today’s society, we see how the poor struggles to make a living, just to put food on the table, just to survive.


Total Duration: 85 minutes

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About The Films:

(1) Journey Through Hell
For the first time ever, this journalist managed to get inside a boat trafficking Africans to Yemen, the first stage of their journey to the West. Over 100 people were crammed in with him on the 30 foot boat. Denied food or water for the three day journey and without even room to move, they became ill and dehydrated. The traffickers kept them under control by regularly beatings and throw anyone overboard who complains. When they approach the shore, the refugees are forced to jump into the sea and swim to shore. Many can't swim or are so exhausted they drown. It's estimated that 40% of those who attempt the journey never make it. This is their story.

Director: Daniel Grandclement
Genre: Documentary
Running time: 52 mins
Year: 2007
Country: Africa (Yamen)
Language: English with English subtitles

(2) Bound by Promises
Never has there been a more accurate reflection on the topic of debt bondage. Migrant workers are enslaved by their employers under the illusion of paid employment, only to discover that they will be serving debt bondage that they had never incurred. Kept in the unsanitary conditions without any contact with the outside world, these men are forced into gruelling labour without an end in sight.

Directors: Beatriz Affonso, Tamaryn Nelson
Genre: Documentary
Running time: 17 mins
Year: 2007
Country: Brazil
Language: Portuguese with English subtitles

(3) Migrant Workers Left in the Lurch
The film is raw but carries a strong message. It shows the lives of migrant workers in Singapore, with emphasis on their living conditions and the lack of welfare. Though a series of interviews conducted with the migrant workers, other issues such as lack of meals and unpaid labour is also highlighted. The employer gets confronted in the film and his reaction is...

Director: Shelley Thio
Genre: Documentary
Running time: 8 mins
Year: 2009
Country: Singapore
Language: Bengali, English and Malay with English subtitles


(4) Plight of the Migrant Workers
This film supplements "Migrant Workers Left in the Lurch", furthering the issue of migrant workers in Singapore being subjected to substandard living conditions. "Plight of the Migrant Workers" takes us into the workers' dormitories, where living standards are being compromised. Workers are not paid for their labour and are not taken care of. The negligence on the part of the employers led to the death of one migrant worker. His life could have been saved if...

Director: Shelley Thio
Genre: Documentary
Running time: 8 mins
Year: 2009
Country: Singapore
Language: Hindi with English subtitles