ACCOMMODATION OF FOREIGN WORKERS (Safety and minimum standards)

Mr Hawazi Daipi asked the Minister for National Development, in light of the recent fire of some workers' quarters in Jurong which killed three foreign workers, whether the Ministry has set out guidelines on the safety and minimum standards for the accommodation of workers in the various industries.

Dr John Chen Seow Phun (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker Sir, temporary buildings intended for occupation, including workers' quarters, have to be erected in compliance with the various statutory safety and health requirements. Under the Building Control (Temporary Building) Regulations, such temporary buildings have to be designed by a professional engineer and constructed under his supervision to ensure structural safety. The Regulations also stipulate requirements on structural safety, room height, ventilation, staircase width and lightning protection for such buildings. In addition, the Fire Safety Bureau (FSB) under the Ministry of Home Affairs imposes requirements to ensure fire safety. The Ministry of the Environment also has requirements to ensure environmental health.

Mr Goh Choon Kang (Marine Parade): Sir, can I ask the Minister whether he has any clue on how the recent spate of fires happened?

Dr John Chen Seow Phun: Sir, the Police and the Fire Safety Bureau are investigating. So it is premature to say anything about this.

Mr R. Ravindran (Bukit Timah): Sir, could I ask the Minister of State to reveal the number of actions that has been taken against employers who have provided unsafe and unhygienic accommodation over the last one year?

Dr John Chen Seow Phun: Sir, on average, we receive about 30 complaints on unauthorised workers' quarters each month. Currently, we have about 200 cases on hand. They have either been served with enforcement notice with grace period granted or they are under surveillance. In the last 15 months, we have charged 15 cases in court. Let me clarify that these are mostly cases that involve shophouses, residential apartments and even landed housing where they house these workers illegally.

Mr Goh Choon Kang: Sir, can I ask the Minister of State, in view of the prolonged recession in the construction industry, whether the Ministry will consider regularising the operation of these workers' quarters, so that they will continue to provide low-cost accommodation for foreign workers?

Dr John Chen Seow Phun: Sir, let me inform the Member that the Government allows workers' quarters to be built on construction sites, provided they get a professional engineer or a QP to design, plan and to do all the necessary calculations and supervision of the construction of these workers' quarters. This is one area where construction companies can minimise their cost. The Government has also allocated sites for construction of workers' dormitories. All these measures will perhaps help allay the concern expressed by the Member.

Mr Goh Choon Kang: What about big pieces of unused private land? Are they allowed to provide such facilities?

Dr John Chen Seow Phun: Sir, it depends on the location of that piece of land. URA has to take land use and also the impact on the surroundings into consideration before planning approval can be given.

Mr Ravindran: Sir, can I ask the Minister of State, in the light of the fact that many of these fires and unsafe incidents happened at illegal workers' quarters, whether the Ministry could work with the Ministry of Manpower to get the addresses, especially where these workers are housed, and see whether they are housed in proper quarters and whether they are housed in vacant land, so that the Ministry will have an idea where these workers are actually staying, and it will enhance enforcement action?

Dr John Chen Seow Phun: Sir, I will take up with the Ministry of Manpower and see whether the suggestion can be adopted. Let me also say that at the moment, the Ministry of Manpower requires employers to provide proper accommodation to the workers. In fact, they have to furnish a $5,000 security bond. And if they fail to provide proper accommodation, the bond can be forfeited.

As for his suggestion, I will ask the relevant Ministry to look into it.

Mr Hawazi Daipi: Sir, for enforcement purposes, would it be possible for one single agency to look into hygiene, fire safety and living condition standards? I know that when an application is made in the first instance, many departments are involved. But for enforcement purposes, can one single agency do the job to ensure that the standards are maintained strictly?

Dr John Chen Seow Phun: Sir, under the current arrangement, the different agencies enforce the regulations separately. First of all, if we are talking about land use, the land use approval must be given by URA. And if we are talking about building plans, then BCA will have to approve, and the normal procedure is to include fire safety and health requirements

The Member suggests that we have one single agency to look into the problem of providing accommodation to foreign workers. I think we can look into the feasibility of his suggestion. Maybe we can form a ZIP team to look into this problem.