Essential Services Disrupted by Isolation Measures at Foreign Worker Dormitories

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for National Development (a) which estates currently remain more disproportionately affected, in terms of essential service provision by foreign workers, by COVID-19-related dormitory shutdowns; and (b) whether there is a plan to assist in the temporary redeployment of workers across different estates to facilitate the clearing of backlogs in the more affected estates.

All foreign worker dormitories have been declared clear of COVID-19 as of 19 August 2020. The majority of foreign workers living in dormitories are now able to resume work.

The Ministry of Development (MND) understands from the Town Councils (TCs) that most of their contractors have resumed the provision of essential services to the TCs at full capacity. While a small number of contractors have yet to fully resume their essential services to the TCs for reasons such as workers being placed on quarantine, or having tested positive for COVID-19, there is currently no TC whose essential services have been significantly compromised by the non-availability of foreign workers.

Generally, if there is a need, TCs should be able to tap on their other contractors to cover the work of the affected contractors, which constitute a minority. Hence, there are currently no plans for the Government to step in to temporarily redeploy essential workers across TCs.