There were almost 2,600 workers discovered staying in 16 unauthorised dormitories during the combined swoops executed by various agencies of the government.
The checks, as part of a progressing effort, were carried out in Tuas, Woodlands, and the Tagore area for two days this month by officials of the National Environment Agency, the Singapore Civil Defence Force and the Urban Redevelopment Authority.
Several workers were living in housing properties, while others were staying in factories, which were transformed into residences.
Additionally, some of the locations were unhygienic and cramped, and had inadequate ventilation. At Tech Park Crescent located in Tuas, nearly 50 individuals were adapted into one room not larger than a basketball court.
The checks were conducted only for two days; the first was last March 10 and the second last Tuesday. During the first check, officials discovered over 1,900 workers were illegally housed. Another set of 660 workers were found out in the second swoop.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has warned 147 companies that are involved in this illegal housing of workers, advising them to transfer these workers to a more acceptable and humane accommodations. However, if they fail to comply, their permit to operate will be made invalid.
These companies were also provided with the information about purpose-made dormitories.
MOM said that half of the workers swooped from the first check have been relocated, and the rest of them will also be transferred next week.
In accordance with the law, employers are held responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of their workers from other countries, as well as providing acceptable accommodations.
These companies that do not abide by the rules will be penalised, such as six months imprisonment and will be fined with $5,000. Additionally, they will not be granted with work permits in the near future.
Recently, there have been several media reports regarding illegal and insanitary quarters for foreign workers, particularly in the Tagore area, where an outbreak (chicken pox) occurred last year, perhaps ending the life of a Bangladeshi worker.
Sha Najak, outreach manager of Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), said the group has perceived an increase in terms of the number of employees who have asked for help because of experiencing poor housing accommodation in the last few months. “I think it’s because employers want to cut costs in these times, so even basic needs are not met. For example, some workers are housed in places which are too cramped – sometimes, 20 people have to share one toilet“.
Mr. Aw Kum Cheong, director of The Ministry of Manpower’s foreign management division, warned about such. ”Despite the economic downturn, it is unacceptable that employers house their foreign workers in illegal or unapproved housing to save costs. Housing foreign workers in extremely overcrowded and unhygienic conditions pose a danger to the safety and health of the workers, as well as to public health in general”.
The ministry stated that additional operations and efforts will be carried out in the near future.