Unsatisfactory Foreign Workers' Living Conditions

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Manpower whether the Ministry will provide an update on the plans to relocate foreign workers who are living in unhygienic and unsatisfactory conditions in the residential areas in Geylang.

Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam: The Government takes a serious view of foreign workers who are not housed in acceptable accommodation. Under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, employers may be fined up to $5,000, or jailed up to six months or both, for each worker found to be housed in unacceptable accommodation. In addition, errant employers are also barred from hiring foreign workers for a period of time.

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MOM, together with Government agencies such as NEA, SCDF and URA, frequently conducts joint inspections on premises suspected to be used as unacceptable foreign worker housing. If breaches are detected, Government agencies will take action against the various parties involved in such infringements. This includes the employers of foreign workers as well as the owners and operators of premises where workers are housed in illegal, overcrowded, unsafe or unsanitary conditions.

MOM coordinated a major multi-agency enforcement operation on private residential premises in Geylang in December 2011. Of the 71 premises inspected, 36 were found to be unacceptable for use as foreign worker accommodation. Enforcement action was taken against more than 200 employers for housing over 430 workers in these premises. These employers were required to relocate their workers to acceptable accommodation within six weeks, or face even stiffer penalties. They are in the process of relocating their workers. To prevent further illegal use of these premises, the authorities will be putting up posters around the area to inform the public, premises owners and occupiers that the premises are unsuitable for housing foreign workers. Spot checks will also be carried out where needed.

The Government will continue to press on with our enforcement efforts to ensure that foreign workers are housed acceptably. We will continue to launch new sites for dormitory developments in tandem with demand.