ONE hundred and eighty foreign workers living in Tagore Lane have been left jobless, unpaid and now, hungry as well, as meal deliveries stopped abruptly on Wednesday.

For the time being foreign worker advocacy group Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) has stepped in to provide two meals, but it is unclear whether the workers' other problems will be resolved.

The worker's employers, marine company Tipper Corporation, claims that two subcontractors were responsible for the workers and they had abandoned them.

Tipper says they did this because it had taken them to court last month for $3.5 million owed in project fees.

But the Manpower Ministry (MOM) said Tipper Corporation remains responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the workers.

This is not the first group of abandoned workers connected to Tipper Corporation to be discovered.

Twice, over the last 10 days, Tipper Corporation's director Mr Loke Siew Fai came home to busloads of workers waiting for him outside his Tanah Merah home.

The company said it had managed to find new accommodation for these workers.

As for this latest group, its been a harrowing six days at Tagore lane, workers told The Straits Times.

First, the subcontractors told them there would be no more work and they would not receive their salary. That was Friday. Then on Monday, the subcontractor cleared out his office at Tagore Lane, leaving bunk beds and 180 abandoned workers.

The workers live in a large hall about the size of three badminton courts. They share fourteen toilets, some of which are sometimes locked.

According to the workers, the subcontractor told them he would no longer be responsible for them, and left the premises.

On Wednesday, meal deliveries stopped, while water and electricity was shut off by the landlord.

The two subcontractors could not be reached by The Straits Times.

Read the full story in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.