SUPPLY OF HOUSING FOR FOREIGN WORKERS

SUPPLY OF HOUSING FOR FOREIGN WORKERS

9.

Assoc. Prof. Fatimah Lateef asked the Minister for Manpower (a) if he will provide an update on the placement of foreign workers into proper dormitories proposed to be built around Singapore; and (b) whether his Ministry will enforce a stricter adherence to guidelines and surveillance of workers renting and staying in private apartments and landed property/residential areas so as to cut down social disamenities.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) works with the Ministry of National Development, Jurong Town Corporation (JTC) and the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) on the supply of housing for foreign workers (FWs). MOM also works with the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), and the National Environment Agency (NEA) to conduct housing inspections and take joint enforcement action against parties responsible for the illegal housing of FWs.

Since 2009, MOM has taken enforcement action against more than 1,800 employers, and decanted more than 21,000 FWs from unacceptable housing. This includes workers who were housed in private apartments and landed housing premises.

MOM had also put up posters at private residential premises that have been used repeatedly as illegal workers' quarters to notify the public and prospective tenants that the sites cannot be used as workers' quarters. This initiative has been successful, as majority of such premises have not been reactivated as FW housing. MOM's targeted enforcement approach against areas with clusters of illegal FW housing has also resulted in the reduction of FWs being housed illegally.

Foreign workers were educated on Singapore laws and social norms through guidebooks, training courses and regular road shows, to minimise potential social

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disamenities. In addition, uniformed Auxiliary Police Officers (APOs) and Security Officers (SOs) have been deployed in locations with high concentrations of FWs, since early 2009. This has been well-received by residents and the number of FW-related complaints have been reduced.

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