Debated in Parliament on 7 Feb 2023.
Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Manpower (a) whether the Popular Places Pass scheme for migrant workers resident in dormitories is still in place; and (b) if so, whether there are plans for the scheme to be wound down and what is the expected timeline for the scheme’s cessation.
Migrant workers are free to exit their dormitories and generally go anywhere in Singapore. For four designated popular locations – Chinatown, Geylang Serai, Jurong East and Little India – on Sundays and Public Holidays, the Popular Places Pass serves as a contingency measure to manage crowding.
Thus far, crowd levels have been manageable and the passes available have been more than adequate. No migrant worker has been prevented from visiting these areas. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has also not taken enforcement action on any worker for not obtaining the pass.
Since the Vaccination-Differentiated Safe Management Measures (VDS) were lifted in October 2022, MOM has kept the Popular Places Pass effectively dormant. MOM will continue to review and ease safe management measures in line with the COVID-19 situation.
PAPERCUTS