SAFETY IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY (Measures to enhance awareness)

Dr Toh Keng Kiat asked the Minister for Labour whether, in anticipation of the increase in foreign construction workers, appropriate measures have been taken to enhance the awareness of safety in the construction industry and to reduce the possibility of social, health and security problems.

The Minister for Labour (Dr Lee Boon Yang): Mr Speaker, Sir, my Ministry conducts safety orientation courses for foreign construction workers. These courses are conducted in the foreign workers' own languages to ensure that they understand the importance of work safety. The Ministry has sufficient training capacity to cope with the expected increase in foreign construction workers. In November 1992, the Ministry announced the intention to make attendance of the safety orientation course a condition for the issue and renewal of work permits for foreign construction workers. We hope to see greater safety awareness among work permit holders with the implementation of this scheme from 1st April this year.

Sir, any increase in foreign workers will pose an additional strain on our social infrastructure. Hence, we have been very cautious in allowing more foreign workers to enter Singapore. The recent relaxation for the construction industry is the result of high growth and demand in this industry. We will run the risk of stifling the construction industry if we do not allow more foreign workers for the time being. By restricting the period of employment and charging a realistic foreign workers levy, we will encourage employers to repatriate their workers as soon as they are not needed. This will help to minimise the social problems caused by the foreign workers.

Sir, foreign construction workers, like all work permit applicants, must undergo medical examination by Singapore-registered doctors before the issue of work permit.Those who have signs or a history of contagious diseases or drug addiction are not given work permits. Our medical practitioners are able to cope with the increase in the number of foreign construction workers.

Before work permits are issued, Sir, the Ministry checks applicants against the Police's database to sieve out foreigners with known criminal records. This procedure has helped to minimise the risk of admitting criminals into Singapore. Furthermore, the Ministry revokes the work permits of those who commit criminal offences and rejects future applications.

Dr Toh Keng Kiat (Nominated Member): Sir, there were recent instances of drug-related misdemeanours occurring at construction work sites involving foreign workers. Does his Ministry feel that it is timely now for the Government to consider providing dormitory or hostel-type accommodation for guest workers as this will serve two purposes? Firstly, it will solve the recurring problem of adequate housing for foreign workers and, secondly, it will allow closer surveillance for anti-social activities.

Dr Lee Boon Yang: Mr Speaker, Sir, my Ministry is aware of the difficulty of some employers with a large number of foreign workers face in providing them with proper accommodation. In fact, my Ministry has been in discussion with the Ministry of National Development for some time and we are looking for a solution to this problem. In due course, we will be reporting on the progress made on how to provide adequate accommodation for this large number of foreign workers. But the problem is not one of surveillance or control on the foreign workers or lack of such control. If you have such a large number of foreign workers in Singapore, whether they are living in their own accommodation on the work site or in any accommodation provided through any Ministry or department, there will always be the possiblity of criminal elements or drug traffickers getting involved. What is required is continuous surveillance by the CNB to ensure that the problem does not arise, and if it does appear, it should be nipped in the bud immediately.

Dr Toh Keng Kiat: Sir, not too long ago, there were press reports locally that the employment of illegal workers was still rampant. And one report quoted a foreign labour official as saying that "of 12,000 workers from his country in Singapore, 50% were doing so without legal work permits". Sir, is this still a prevalent problem? Would the Minister be able to tell this House how many, if any, illegal immigrant workers have been prosecuted under the amended Immigration Act, 1989?

Dr Lee Boon Yang: Mr Speaker, I am afraid I am not able to comment on the anonymous reports of large numbers of illegal foreign workers in Singapore. Let me assure the Member that my Ministry is monitoring closely this problem of illegal workers in Singapore. We do from time to time come across cases of employers employing foreigners without work permits and, in all cases, they are dealt with according to the law, either by prosecution in court for some of the offences or a heavy compound fine is levied against the employer. We do not think the situation is out of control. The numbers, I believe, are not as large as had been suggested by this anonymous source quoted by the Member.

As to how many people have been prosecuted under the amended Immigration Act, may I suggest that the Member direct a question on this detail to the Minister for Home Affairs.