<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>'Foreign workers aren't modern-day slaves'
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Foreign workers playing cricket at the ExxonMobil dormitories on Jurong Island. It is not possible to totally segregate foreign workers from the local community, says Mr Mah. -- PHOTO: EXXONMOBIL
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->SINGAPORE has a responsibility to provide decent housing for foreign workers, the same way that Singaporeans enjoy decent living conditions.
That is why the authorities have resorted to various measures to ensure there is adequate housing for the growing number of foreign workers here, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said.
<TABLE width=200 align=left valign="top"><TBODY><TR><TD class=padr8><!-- Vodcast --><!-- Background Story --><STYLE type=text/css> #related .quote {background-color:#E7F7FF; padding:8px;margin:0px 0px 5px 0px;} #related .quote .headline {font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:10px;font-weight:bold; border-bottom:3px double #007BFF; color:#036; text-transform:uppercase; padding-bottom:5px;} #related .quote .text {font-size:11px;color:#036;padding:5px 0px;} </STYLE>'There is a responsibility for us to make sure that foreign workers and indeed all workers, just like all Singaporeans, are housed in decent conditions.'
Mr Mah Bow Tan
'Floating dorms, Mr Minister?'
THE issue of where to house foreign workers had some MPs thinking out of the box.
Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Hong Kah GRC) asked if dormitories could be built on offshore islands, like Jurong Island; while Madam Ho Geok Choo (West Coast GRC) asked about 'floating' dormitories offshore or housing in Johor.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>He was responding to Ms Irene Ng (Tampines GRC), who said: 'Can I ask the minister whether he agrees that as a decent society, it is our duty to provide the foreign workers in our midst with decent and humane housing so they can come here and earn an honest wage and not feel like modern-day slaves in Singapore?'
He agreed, saying it was Singapore's responsibility to ensure that foreign workers, indeed all workers, just like Singaporeans, were housed in decent conditions.
That was why several approaches are taken. These include allowing workers to rent houses or flats, converting factories into dormitories, building dormitories on site especially for construction workers, and building permanent dormitories.
But temporary dormitories - such as the former school at Serangoon Gardens - are needed as there is still a shortage of accommodation. This is due to an exceptional surge in worker numbers sparked by strong economic growth in the last few years.
The situation may remain that way for a while, Mr Mah told Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Hong Kah GRC), who asked if an economic slowdown would see a dip in numbers.
The reason? Construction demand remains high.
Mr Mah said construction demand this year is expected to reach $30 billion, up from $17 billion in 2006. This was a key factor behind the spike in the number of foreign workers, which went up by 102,000 last year to 577,000.
'I can say that at this moment and in fact for the next year - because the demand, especially for construction workers, is still going to be there and projects are still ongoing - I don't foresee there will be a drastic drop in demand for foreign workers,' Mr Mah said.
One challenge in housing foreign workers is the constraints posed by a land-scarce Singapore, he added.
While the authorities have tried to locate dormitories away from residential areas, it was not possible to totally segregate foreign workers from the local community. 'Singaporeans don't want to see foreign workers near their residential areas or using common facilities.
'This would set a physical limit on the number of foreign workers we can accommodate, which will limit economic growth, raise costs of doing business and costs of living in general.'
This could also lead to more illegal housing or overcrowded living conditions that could pose health and safety risks for foreign workers and Singaporeans alike.
Acting Minister for Manpower Gan Kim Yong also weighed in on the issue, saying he believes Singaporeans can develop a more inclusive mentality: 'We can work together to improve the overall environment to make Singapore more inclusive, and at the same time understand the stress and the tension that exists and find solutions to address these issues.'
Mr Mah also gave an insight into how his ministry chooses a potential dormitory site.
It looks at available sites and takes into account factors such as competing uses for the vacant state land or property. A technical feasibility study is also carried out which includes liaising with agencies on issues such as traffic, sewers, health and safety buffers.
If a site is suitable, the constituency adviser and grassroots leaders are consulted. Concerns they raise will be looked into and ways found to minimise them.
KOR KIAN BENG
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Foreign workers playing cricket at the ExxonMobil dormitories on Jurong Island. It is not possible to totally segregate foreign workers from the local community, says Mr Mah. -- PHOTO: EXXONMOBIL
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->SINGAPORE has a responsibility to provide decent housing for foreign workers, the same way that Singaporeans enjoy decent living conditions.
That is why the authorities have resorted to various measures to ensure there is adequate housing for the growing number of foreign workers here, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said.
<TABLE width=200 align=left valign="top"><TBODY><TR><TD class=padr8><!-- Vodcast --><!-- Background Story --><STYLE type=text/css> #related .quote {background-color:#E7F7FF; padding:8px;margin:0px 0px 5px 0px;} #related .quote .headline {font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:10px;font-weight:bold; border-bottom:3px double #007BFF; color:#036; text-transform:uppercase; padding-bottom:5px;} #related .quote .text {font-size:11px;color:#036;padding:5px 0px;} </STYLE>'There is a responsibility for us to make sure that foreign workers and indeed all workers, just like all Singaporeans, are housed in decent conditions.'
Mr Mah Bow Tan
'Floating dorms, Mr Minister?'
THE issue of where to house foreign workers had some MPs thinking out of the box.
Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Hong Kah GRC) asked if dormitories could be built on offshore islands, like Jurong Island; while Madam Ho Geok Choo (West Coast GRC) asked about 'floating' dormitories offshore or housing in Johor.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>He was responding to Ms Irene Ng (Tampines GRC), who said: 'Can I ask the minister whether he agrees that as a decent society, it is our duty to provide the foreign workers in our midst with decent and humane housing so they can come here and earn an honest wage and not feel like modern-day slaves in Singapore?'
He agreed, saying it was Singapore's responsibility to ensure that foreign workers, indeed all workers, just like Singaporeans, were housed in decent conditions.
That was why several approaches are taken. These include allowing workers to rent houses or flats, converting factories into dormitories, building dormitories on site especially for construction workers, and building permanent dormitories.
But temporary dormitories - such as the former school at Serangoon Gardens - are needed as there is still a shortage of accommodation. This is due to an exceptional surge in worker numbers sparked by strong economic growth in the last few years.
The situation may remain that way for a while, Mr Mah told Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Hong Kah GRC), who asked if an economic slowdown would see a dip in numbers.
The reason? Construction demand remains high.
Mr Mah said construction demand this year is expected to reach $30 billion, up from $17 billion in 2006. This was a key factor behind the spike in the number of foreign workers, which went up by 102,000 last year to 577,000.
'I can say that at this moment and in fact for the next year - because the demand, especially for construction workers, is still going to be there and projects are still ongoing - I don't foresee there will be a drastic drop in demand for foreign workers,' Mr Mah said.
One challenge in housing foreign workers is the constraints posed by a land-scarce Singapore, he added.
While the authorities have tried to locate dormitories away from residential areas, it was not possible to totally segregate foreign workers from the local community. 'Singaporeans don't want to see foreign workers near their residential areas or using common facilities.
'This would set a physical limit on the number of foreign workers we can accommodate, which will limit economic growth, raise costs of doing business and costs of living in general.'
This could also lead to more illegal housing or overcrowded living conditions that could pose health and safety risks for foreign workers and Singaporeans alike.
Acting Minister for Manpower Gan Kim Yong also weighed in on the issue, saying he believes Singaporeans can develop a more inclusive mentality: 'We can work together to improve the overall environment to make Singapore more inclusive, and at the same time understand the stress and the tension that exists and find solutions to address these issues.'
Mr Mah also gave an insight into how his ministry chooses a potential dormitory site.
It looks at available sites and takes into account factors such as competing uses for the vacant state land or property. A technical feasibility study is also carried out which includes liaising with agencies on issues such as traffic, sewers, health and safety buffers.
If a site is suitable, the constituency adviser and grassroots leaders are consulted. Concerns they raise will be looked into and ways found to minimise them.
KOR KIAN BENG
