Debated in Parliament on 12 Nov 2012.
Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef asked the Acting Minister for Manpower if he can provide an update on the relocation of foreign workers living in the vicinity of Jalan Bunga Rampai, Pereira Road and Little Road and within the premises of the industries there.
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The Government takes a serious view of foreign workers who are not housed in acceptable accommodation. Under the revised Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA), employers may be fined up to $10,000; and/or jailed up to 12 months per offence. Errant employers are also barred from hiring foreign workers for a period of time.
MOM, together with Government agencies such as NEA, SCDF and URA, frequently conducts inspections on premises suspected to be used as unacceptable foreign worker housing. In July 2012, MOM coordinated a major multi-agency enforcement operation on several factory premises in the MacPherson area, including Pereira Road. More than 250 foreign workers were checked during the operation, out of which 152 were found to be residing in unacceptable accommodation. All these workers have been relocated to alternative approved accommodation like purpose-built and factory-converted dormitories. Appropriate actions are also being taken against these errant employers.
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The Government will continue to press on with our enforcement efforts to ensure that employers shoulder their responsibility to house foreign workers in acceptable housing.
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