Foreign worker dorm operator, employees fined for dirty quarters; cockroaches and faulty toilets found

SINGAPORE — Labourtel Management Corporation, which operates four foreign worker dormitories, was fined S$118,000 on Friday (Sept 18) for overcrowding and failing to upkeep the cleanliness of the premises under their care in 2018 and 2019.

The company, which is part of property and logistics solutions company MES Group, managed Jurong Penjuru Dormitory 1 and 2, as well as Blue Stars Dormitory in Jurong West and The Leo along Kaki Bukit Road 3.

The authorities found that one dormitory housed more tenants than it was allowed to, while three dorms had cockroaches in the rooms. 

All of the toilets, shower and cooking areas were found to be dirty.

Labourtel’s director Parvis Ahmed Mohamed Ghouse, 43, who oversaw operations at three dormitories, was also fined S$59,000. 

Another employee who was in charge of arranging tenancy agreements between the company and employers of the foreign workers, Shaik Mohamed Mohamed Abdul Jaleel, 34, was fined S$22,000.

They are the first to be convicted under the Foreign Employee Dormitories Act 2015, which came into force in January 2016. 

They had pleaded guilty to numerous offences earlier in March.

Under licensing conditions, Labourtel had to comply with fire safety regulations, maintain the cleanliness and housekeeping of the dormitory, and keep the interior and exterior of the buildings in good repair and condition.

However, inspectors from the Ministry of Manpower found several breaches during checks from May 2018 to January 2019. This is even though Labourtel was advised by inspection officers during past inspections to clean up the dorms. 

At Jurong Penjuru Dormitory 1, several rooms had no laundry facilities. The migrant workers, who were S-Pass holders, were not provided with fans in two rooms and there were no doors or curtains at several shower points.

Cockroaches were also found in four rooms while 12 rooms had faulty toilet bowls, damaged partition walls or missing or damaged lights.

In addition, from April to May 2018, the number of contracted tenants living in two parts of the dormitory exceeded the Singapore Civil Defence Force’s occupancy load per level.

For example, there were 268 tenants in one block, exceeding the limit of 252. 

Inspectors also found cockroaches in rooms at The Leo and Blue Stars Dormitory.

Over at Jurong Penjuru Dormitory 2, eight rooms housed dirty and greasy cooking areas as well as dirty toilet and shower areas.