MOM issues warnings after checks uncover unapproved dormitories
By Melissa Sim 26 March 2009
Nearly 2,600 workers - the largest number on record - were found housed in 16 unapproved dormitories during joint swoops carried out by several government agencies recently.
The checks, part of an ongoing effort, were conducted over two days this month in Woodlands, Tuas and the Tagore area by officers from the National Environment Agency, the Singapore Civil Defence Force and the Urban Redevelopment Authority.
Some of the workers were found living in residential properties, while others called factories which had been converted into living quarters home.
In addition, many of the locations were cramped and unhygienic, and had poor ventilation, when The Straits Times followed the officers on Tuesday.
For example, at one location at Tech Park Crescent in Tuas, close to 50 men were shoe-horned into a room no bigger than a basketball court.
The checks were carried out on two days, the first on March 10 and the second on Tuesday.
During the first swoop, inspectors found more than 1,900 workers who were illegally housed.
Another group of 660 workers surfaced during the second round of checks.
MOM has issued warnings to the 147 companies involved, telling them to relocate the workers to acceptable accommodation. If they fail to do so, their workers’ permits would be cancelled.
The companies were also provided information on purpose-built dormitories.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said half the workers from the first round of checks have already been moved, and the rest will follow next week.
By law, employers are responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of their foreign workers, including the provision of acceptable accommodation.
Those who do not comply face a maximum penalty of six months’ jail and a $5,000 fine. In addition, they may be prevented from applying for work permits in the future.
There have been numerous media reports recently about illegal and unhygienic foreign worker quarters, especially in the Tagore area, where chicken pox outbreaks had occurred late last year, possibly claiming the life of one Bangladeshi worker.
Ms Sha Najak, outreach manager at foreign worker advocacy group Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), said that in the last few months, the group has seen an increase in the number of workers who have approached it for help because they had been poorly housed.
‘I think it’s because employers want to cut costs in these times, so even basic needs are not met.
‘For example, some workers are housed in places which are too cramped - sometimes, 20 people have to share one toilet.’
Warning against such practices in a statement yesterday, the director of MOM’s foreign manpower management division, Mr. Aw Kum Cheong, said: ‘Despite the economic downturn, it is unacceptable that employers house their foreign workers in illegal or unapproved housing to save costs.
‘Housing foreign workers in extremely overcrowded and unhygienic conditions poses a danger to the safety and health of the workers, as well as to public health in general.’
The ministry added that more such operations will be conducted in the future.
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2,600 workers housed poorly
MOM issues warnings after checks uncover unapproved dormitories
By Melissa Sim
26 March 2009
Nearly 2,600 workers - the largest number on record - were found housed in 16 unapproved dormitories during joint swoops carried out by several government agencies recently.
The checks, part of an ongoing effort, were conducted over two days this month in Woodlands, Tuas and the Tagore area by officers from the National Environment Agency, the Singapore Civil Defence Force and the Urban Redevelopment Authority.
Some of the workers were found living in residential properties, while others called factories which had been converted into living quarters home.
In addition, many of the locations were cramped and unhygienic, and had poor ventilation, when The Straits Times followed the officers on Tuesday.
For example, at one location at Tech Park Crescent in Tuas, close to 50 men were shoe-horned into a room no bigger than a basketball court.
The checks were carried out on two days, the first on March 10 and the second on Tuesday.
During the first swoop, inspectors found more than 1,900 workers who were illegally housed.
Another group of 660 workers surfaced during the second round of checks.
MOM has issued warnings to the 147 companies involved, telling them to relocate the workers to acceptable accommodation. If they fail to do so, their workers’ permits would be cancelled.
The companies were also provided information on purpose-built dormitories.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said half the workers from the first round of checks have already been moved, and the rest will follow next week.
By law, employers are responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of their foreign workers, including the provision of acceptable accommodation.
Those who do not comply face a maximum penalty of six months’ jail and a $5,000 fine. In addition, they may be prevented from applying for work permits in the future.
There have been numerous media reports recently about illegal and unhygienic foreign worker quarters, especially in the Tagore area, where chicken pox outbreaks had occurred late last year, possibly claiming the life of one Bangladeshi worker.
Ms Sha Najak, outreach manager at foreign worker advocacy group Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), said that in the last few months, the group has seen an increase in the number of workers who have approached it for help because they had been poorly housed.
‘I think it’s because employers want to cut costs in these times, so even basic needs are not met.
‘For example, some workers are housed in places which are too cramped - sometimes, 20 people have to share one toilet.’
Warning against such practices in a statement yesterday, the director of MOM’s foreign manpower management division, Mr. Aw Kum Cheong, said: ‘Despite the economic downturn, it is unacceptable that employers house their foreign workers in illegal or unapproved housing to save costs.
‘Housing foreign workers in extremely overcrowded and unhygienic conditions poses a danger to the safety and health of the workers, as well as to public health in general.’
The ministry added that more such operations will be conducted in the future.
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