Mali wears glasses every single day.
Without them, everything in his right eye splits into two. Even with them on, strong wind or cigarette smoke nearby can trigger sharp pain, making his eye water uncontrollably.
“Just thinking that my eye will be like this for the rest of my life… it hurts.”
Two years ago, Mali was working at a metal factory, just like any other day. He was gripping a pair of heavy pliers, cutting through thick steel wire used to tie rebar. The moment the wire snapped, it recoiled violently—shooting straight into his right eye.
“All I remember is the pain—it was unbearable. I couldn’t stop crying, and there was so much blood…”
Even now, his voice still carries fear when he recalls the moment.After the accident, Mali was rushed to a nearby hospital. Due to the severity of his injury, he was quickly transferred to Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital for emergency surgery.
Doctors diagnosed him with a ruptured and lacerated right eye, complicated by endophthalmitis.Over the past two years, Mali has had to travel back and forth to the hospital every month for follow-ups. He has undergone three major eye surgeries, including a vitrectomy and an intraocular lens implant.
Each time he entered the operating room, he held on to hope that his vision might recover. But after every surgery, there was little improvement.
Now, it’s almost certain: the damage to his right eye is permanent.
The factory covered the cost of each surgery.But when it comes to the long-term impact on his vision and his future, they have offered no compensation at all.The broker who was supposed to assist him has also been largely unresponsive.Even after everything he’s been through—and despite the time that has passed—Mali has decided to seek help from the SPA shelter.
We will stand with him as he fights for the compensation and justice he deserves.
For migrant workers, workplace injuries are not just about the trauma of surgery.What comes after is often even harder—the unanswered questions, the fear, the frustration.Because of language barriers and lack of access to information, many cases like this simply fade away without resolution.
We can’t promise that every worker will receive full compensation.But by providing translation, legal education, and support—helping workers understand their rights and stand up against injustice—
That's what SPA continues to fight for.