What happened to Naser?

39-year-old Naser started working in Singapore as a General Construction Worker in 2016 to provide for his family of six back in Bangladesh. However, in February 2023, things took a drastic turn. During a welding task that required him to climb a 4-meter ladder, Naser slipped and fell from a height of two meters, with the ladder subsequently falling on him, leaving him unconscious for 13 hours. 

Following this accident, Naser spent five days in the hospital with his upper body in a cast and was discharged with six months of medical leave. Despite this, he didn’t receive his full wages, and even after over a year of rest and painkillers, he still experiences debilitating pain when trying to lift his left arm, making it impossible for him to continue working as a migrant worker.

How can you help?

Naser has filed a Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA) claim with the Ministry of Manpower to receive compensation for his injury and the unpaid medical leave wages. While he awaits the conclusion of the WICA assessment, which could take 2-3 months, Naser remains in Singapore on a Special Pass that prohibits him from taking on employment. 

Ray of Hope is raising funds to support Naser’s living expenses for five months ($215 x 5 months) while he waits in limbo for proper compensation. Your donations will ease Naser’s financial burden and allow him to focus on his recovery so that he can once again be the sole provider for his family. 

More about Naser

“My family is waiting for me to give them money, but I have nothing to give.”

Naser is the primary breadwinner for his family of six, including two elderly parents, a wife who takes care of the home, and a brother and two children currently in school. Before his accident, Naser worked tirelessly for 10 to 13 hours a day, six days a week, earning around $1000 a month, of which he remitted $600 to his family in Bangladesh.

Even after his accident, his family depends on his savings to survive. Recently, his mother and brother were in a motorbike accident, resulting in injuries to his brother’s eye and his mother’s arm. To cover the medical bills, his family had to borrow SGD$2,700 from relatives.

Naser feels a deep sense of distress and helplessness as he struggles to fulfil his role as the provider for his family, especially during emergencies such as the recent motorbike accident. As long as the WICA assessment remains pending, he is stuck in limbo, isolated from his family and unable to share his challenges with them for fear of causing worry. 

Your generosity can support Naser’s living expenses and give him the peace of mind to focus on his recovery, allowing him to return to work in Bangladesh and rebuild his family’s financial stability.