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Foreign workers in Singapore know they are currently safer in the city state than elsewhere, including their own countries, a minister said on Sunday, even as a massive coronavirus outbreak among that community shines a spotlight on cramped and often unsanitary lodging provided for the low-wage employees.
The workers from overseas are “appreciative” of efforts that range from relieving overcrowding in current facilities, and measures to provide them with medical attention, food and remittance services, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said in a Facebook post. Singapore is speeding up construction of additional dormitories, he said.
“Accommodation for foreign workers, especially construction workers, is getting top attention,” Khaw said. Lodgings which are being accelerated were originally meant for workers at the peak of building Changi Airport’s Terminal 5. “Meanwhile, they can help relieve the crowding in existing foreign workers dorms,” he said.
“I know our foreign workers are appreciative of the efforts,” Khaw said. “They know that they are safer in Singapore now, than elsewhere, even at home.”
Singapore has overtaken Indonesia in coronavirus infections and now has the most cases in Southeast Asia after reporting an additional 596 coronavirus cases as of noon on Sunday, with all but 25 of them being work permit holders.
On Saturday, it saw the largest single-day spike of 942 cases. Infections among foreign workers now account for over 60 per cent of the country’s total of 6,588 cases.
Indonesia has 6,575 cases and the Philippines has 6,259 cases. Malaysian health officials on Sunday reported 84 new coronavirus cases, taking the country’s total to 5,389.
https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/sout...oreign-workers-safer-singapore-elsewhere-says
