Transport for Foreign Workers as a Compulsory Tender Requisite

Mr Alex Yam asked the Minister for National Development if his Ministry would consider requiring operators of foreign worker dormitories to provide transport for workers to their workplace on a compulsory basis before awarding tenders for the operation of these dormitories.

The Minister of State for National Development (BG [NS] Tan Chuan-Jin) (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, workers staying in foreign workers' dormitories come from many different employers. They are currently transported to and from their workplaces by their employers or by private transport operators. The modes of transportation include chartered buses, mini-buses and lorries. These are private arrangements made between employers, private transport operators and the foreign workers.

Our preference is for employers to have flexibility in deciding how best to safely and efficiently transport workers between the dormitories and the workplaces, instead of the Government mandating a single approach for all employers to adopt. This is because employers' requirements could differ significantly, depending on the number of workers they have, as well as the nature of work, location and working hours of their workers.

2.17 pm

Mr Speaker: Order. End of Question Time.

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