FOREIGN WORKER HOUSING

FOREIGN WORKER HOUSING

10.

Mr Yeo Guat Kwang asked the Minister for Manpower (a) whether he can provide an update on the Ministry's plans to coordinate with other Government agencies on enforcement efforts pertaining to migrant worker housing; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider the introduction of a unified code of rules to govern this area.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: The requirements governing foreign worker housing are stated clearly on the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) website, for the easy reference of employers as well as owners and operators of foreign worker housing. There is therefore no need for a unified code.

The Foreign Worker Housing Coordinating Committee, co-chaired by MOM and the Ministry of National Development (MND), coordinates proactive enforcement efforts by government agencies with respect to foreign worker housing.

Since 2009, over 20,000 foreign workers have been re-located to acceptable housing. Over the same period, enforcement action was taken against over 2,000 employers for breach of work permit conditions to provide acceptable housing and over 700 owners and operators of illegal dormitories for breach of land use rules. More than 1,000 fines were issued for fire safety and environmental health violations. These were the result of inspections by MOM and agencies such as the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), and the National Environment Agency (NEA).

These efforts have produced positive outcomes. MOM received 22% fewer complaints about unacceptable foreign worker housing in the second half of 2009, compared to the first half of 2009. The number of these complaints further decreased by another 28% in the first half of 2010.

The relevant Government agencies will continue to coordinate efforts to proactively detect and act against parties who breach the foreign worker housing requirements.

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