BUILDING OF FOREIGN WORKER DORMITORIES

BUILDING OF FOREIGN WORKER DORMITORIES

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(Review): **

1.

Mr Seah Kian Peng asked the Minister for National Development in view of the worsening economic outlook and expected reduction in numbers of foreign workers, whether his Ministry will review the number of foreign worker dormitories required to be built in the coming year and, if a reduction is possible, whether priority will be given to those located in close proximity to densely populated areas.

Mr Mah Bow Tan: While demand for foreign workers is expected to fall during the current economic downturn, the number of foreign workers required in Singapore will still be high in the next few years. For instance, workers will be needed for the many committed construction projects, including various critical public housing and infrastructure projects.

Currently, many foreign workers already in Singapore are living in overcrowded conditions due to insufficient proper accommodation. Our agencies have seen an increase in the number of complaints related to the illegal housing and overcrowding of foreign workers. We have thus stepped up enforcement efforts against such illegal housing and overcrowding.

At the same time, we need to ensure that there is sufficient proper accommodation for the foreign workers. In December 2008, MND announced 10 temporary dormitory sites. Based on the inputs of advisors and grassroots leaders whom MND had consulted, several measures will be put in place to minimize disamenities that may arise when the dormitories are in operation. These include requiring the dormitories to have adequate facilities for workers, requiring the dormitories to appoint a liaison officer as a point of contact for the grassroots organisations and conducting educational programmes within the dormitories to inform workers of the social norms and laws in Singapore. We will release the 10 sites in tandem with demand.

MND will continue to monitor the economic situation closely and adjust the supply of dormitories according to any changes in demand.

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