By Ramesh Subbaraman
While the new Foreign Employee Dormitories Bill has passed through in Parliament to be a licensing framework for dormitories with at least 1,000 beds, Labour Members of Parliament have also urged authorities to ramp up controls over smaller dormitories.
Bulk of Abuses
NTUC Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) and Chairman of the Migrant Workers’ Centre Yeo Guat Kwang said complaints received by the centre’s 24- hour Distress Line almost all concerned smaller factory-converted, temporary or even makeshift accommodation arrangements housing less than 1,000 workers.
“While the Government strives to implement a viable long-term solution for high-standard, purpose-built migrant worker housing, we cannot ignore, and should in fact double our enforcement efforts against errant housing operators, especially among the smaller, less formal housing operations, plainly because, that is where the bulk of the abuses have and continue to occur,”said ASG Yeo.
He hoped the new Bill could cover all dormitories in Singapore, regardless of size, type or management mode.
Threshold Number
Also urging the authorities not to let their guard down on the smaller dorms was NTUC Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) Patrick Tay.
“I am glad to note that the Bill provides for the “threshold number” of 1000 to be replaced with a lower number by the Minister publishing a gazette notification if and when needed.
“I am also encouraged in that this Bill will also mean dormitories can be required to provide dedicated recreational facilities within these dorms to provide the workers with a breathing space and also ease the load off neighbourhood community facilities,” said ASG Tay.
Source: NTUC This Week
