What happened to Hossainur?

29-year-old Hossainur, a migrant worker from Bangladesh, arrived in Singapore in August 2022 as a Shipyard Worker. He was primarily tasked with grinding and lifting materials. His basic salary was a mere $380 per month, with overtime bringing his average monthly income to $570. His workday stretched from 7:30 a.m. to as late as 8 p.m.

On 18th October 2022, tragedy struck. While carrying a heavy 35 kg cylinder alone, Hossainur felt a sudden, excruciating pain in his back. Unknown to him, the task required two workers for safety, and he lacked supervision, so he bore the brunt of the consequences. Despite reporting his pain, initial treatment was minimal, with just rest and painkillers prescribed. However, when the pain persisted, he was allowed to consult a GP the next day. This led to a referral to the hospital.

Medical investigations revealed significant loss of lumbar lordosis. This was severe enough to impede his ability to stand straight for more than an hour, and mild degenerative changes indicated joint damage. Despite the severity, his employer failed to provide him with the entitled medical leave wages, compounding his distress.

How can you support Hossainur?

To alleviate Hossainur’s burden and ensure he can sustain himself during his WICA compensation, Ray of Hope aims to raise $1,900 ($380 x 5 months). Your donation provides vital support for Hossainur’s living expenses until his WICA case is resolved. 

Find out more about Hossainur’s situation:

Currently, Hossainur is in a precarious position. He is not allowed to work amidst the ongoing WICA investigation. Further, his prognosis for recovery is uncertain. While it may take up to four months for his body to mend, there is no telling how long his pain and numbness will persist, impacting his mobility and daily life.

Despite the challenges, Hossainur remains resilient, seeking assistance from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and a pro-bono lawyer to secure his rights and fair treatment.

Hossainur’s income is no longer sufficient to support his parents and school-going brother; the responsibility has fallen on his older brother’s shoulders. The family’s financial strain was exacerbated when their father, in need of heart surgery following a recent heart attack, couldn’t afford the procedure due to financial constraints. Now, they rely solely on his brother’s income of $300 as a farmer and fish seller to make ends meet. However, this amount is insufficient to meet the family’s needs.

 “I just want to go back to be with my family as soon as possible”, expressed a deeply worried Hossainur. 

Support young Hossainur’s basic needs to allow him to stay positive and focused on recovery to have the best possible chance to rebuild his life.