TA-CHING MARINE TECHNOLOGY (Improper accommodation and non-payment of wages for foreign workers)

Column: 29

TA-CHING MARINE TECHNOLOGY:

(Improper accommodation and non-payment of wages for foreign workers): 13.

Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Minister for Manpower (a) what action will be taken against Ta-Ching Marine Technology for the poor and unsanitary living quarters provided to its foreign workers and non-payment of their wages; and (b) whether there are sufficient safeguards to ensure that employers provide proper accommodation for their foreign workers.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Manpower (Mr Hawazi Daipi) (for the Minister for Manpower): Sir, the Ministry has conducted a joint inspection with the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) on Goldstrong Dormitory, where the foreign workers employed by Ta-Ching Marine Technology were staying.

The inspection revealed that they were industrial premises that were illegally converted into a commercial dormitory. SCDF has fined the dormitory operator $1,000 for breaching fire safety regulations and given it two weeks, expiring today, 18th April, to cease operation. NEA has warned the dormitory operator about the poor sanitary conditions.

MOM has also warned all the employers involved, including Ta-Ching Marine Technology, of their responsibility as part of work permit conditions to provide acceptable housing for their foreign workers. They have been told to take immediate steps to regularise the housing of their foreign workers and inform the Ministry of the alternative housing arrangements made before the dormitory ceases operation. If they fail to do so, they are liable for prosecution under the Employment of Foreign Workers

Column: 30

Act and the maximum penalty for each breach of work permit condition is a fine of $5,000 and six months' imprisonment. Additionally, they may be barred from hiring foreign workers in the future. As at 17th April 2005, 37 out of 44 employers housing workers at Goldstrong Dormitory have found alternative housing arrangements for their workers.

Mdm Halimah has asked if there are sufficient safeguards to ensure that employers provide proper accommodation for the workers. Last year, the Ministry required employers to register and update the residential addresses of all foreign workers under their employment. The database of addresses has enabled the Ministry to be more targeted in our enforcement actions to ensure that employers provide adequate housing for the workers. Over the past year, MOM has taken action against 105 employers who did not meet acceptable housing requirements for their foreign workers. These cases involved about 1,000 workers. Offenders can be fined or prosecuted under the Employment of Foreign Workers Act. Additionally, MOM is working in conjunction with other agencies to provide more land parcels to build proper housing for foreign workers in Singapore.

Mdm Halimah Yacob: Sir, in the case of the Ta-Ching incident, one of the things surfaced was that the addresses of the foreign workers were submitted and they were under the impression that it was already approved by the Ministry. The question is: is there a list of approved addresses against which employers can check so that they do not run foul of the law?

The second question is that there seems to be an insufficiency of dormitories to house foreign workers. Are there plans to assist employers by expanding the availability of such

Column: 31

facilities? The third question is: are there rules to regulate the commercial companies when they operate dormitories for foreign workers? Will there be a one-stop service centre because it seems to involve multiple agencies - SCDF, JTC and MOM? It can be very confusing for employers. Are there plans to have a one-stop centre for them on this?

Mr Hawazi Daipi: Sir, let me answer the second question first on the lack of housing facilities in Singapore. Currently, we have facilities for about 50% of workers who need proper housing. MOM, as I have said in my earlier reply, is working with the other agencies to provide more land parcels so that more dormitories can be built for foreign workers.

As for Ta-Ching in particular, in fact, all the 44 employers of foreign workers who used Goldstrong Dormitory, MOM has given a list of approved housing for foreign workers for the employers to consider. In a nutshell, we have a list of approved housing which can be used by the employers.

On rules, yes, there are minimum standards that employers and accommodation operators must abide. These are rules set out by agencies like URA, HDB, BCA, NEA and the Singapore Civil Defence Force. There are two main conditions for the standards. One is that off-site accommodation must comply with the approved land use. In the case of off-site housing of foreign construction workers, contractors must house them in either purpose-built dormitories or in quarters constructed on land that is approved by URA or other relevant authorities. The second condition is that it must comply with the environmental health requirements by NEA, safety requirements by the SCDF, and building structural requirements by BCA.

Column: 32

I am not sure whether it is possible to have a one-stop centre for dormitory operators or housing operators for foreign workers so that the needs of their workers can be met quickly. But, as it is now, the various agencies are already working together to ensure that we have proper housing and we have already accommodated 50% of the foreign workers who need housing. And we are working closely now to ensure that more land and more facilities are provided for proper housing.

Mr Yeo Guat Kwang (Aljunied): Sir, the Senior Parliamentary Secretary said that only 50% of the demand is met. Could I ask whether the Ministry has a masterplan to ensure that the other 50% of the demand would also be met soon? If there is no masterplan, how long would the workers have to wait for proper accommodation?

Mr Hawazi Daipi: Sir, we are committed to providing a minimum standard of housing for foreign workers in Singapore. They are workers who have contributed to our well-being. We are already working more closely together with other agencies - URA, HDB, BCA and SCDF - to ensure that more facilities could be provided for these foreign workers. MOM is already looking into ways to speed up the construction of more dormitories and, as I said, work has already started with the various agencies.