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Group wants better living conditions for migrant workers

SINGAPORE — The Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC) is calling for standards to be set for smaller, factory-converted dormitories (FCDs) — as has been the case for larger institutional housing — as its visits to these FCDs have turned up unpleasant living conditions for workers when compared to purpose-built dormitories.

MWC workers. TODAY file photo.

MWC workers. TODAY file photo.

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SINGAPORE — The Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC) is calling for standards to be set for smaller, factory-converted dormitories (FCDs) — as has been the case for larger institutional housing — as its visits to these FCDs have turned up unpleasant living conditions for workers when compared to purpose-built dormitories.

These included a lack of hygiene in the living quarters and inadequate laundry facilities, the MWC said in a post on its Facebook page on Friday (July 29).

“Conditions bred by lack of hygiene and cleanliness, like bedbug and other insect breeding/infestation, are a common observation in the facilities we have visited.”

Pointing to the lack of personal cupboards or lockers in the FCDs, the MWC said without such facilities, the likelihood of the workers’ belongings being lost or stolen is increased.

Due to the absence of proper laundry facilities, many FCD tenants have had to wash their clothes as they bathe. The lack of clothes racks has also led to “many ingenious makeshift racks and lines constructed around workers’ bed frames to hang-dry wet clothes ... ”, the MWC said.

“These racks pose a hazard to the physical safety of the workers should they collapse or give way and more importantly, threaten the health of the workers by creating damp and unhygienic living quarters.”

It also called on FCD operators to ensure that there are “enough shower and toilet compartments for a good number of residents during high traffic periods in the mornings and 
evenings”.

Pointing to the lack of sufficient electrical points at the FCDs it visited, the MWC said: “We have seen many instances of precariously dangling electrical extensions and wires around workers’ bed spaces, as well as overloaded electrical points with numerous extension sockets and plugs attached. The dangers posed by this practice are worrying in the least.”

Noting that “there appears to be more room for FCDs to improve on workers’ living conditions”, the centre said it has shared its findings with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

In response to TODAY’s queries, a ministry spokesperson said: “MOM is aware of MWC’s call to raise housing standards at factory-converted dormitories, and we are looking into the suggestions.”

Under the Foreign Employee Dormitories Act (FEDA), passed last year (2015), operators of large worker dormitories — housing 1,000 or more workers —are required, among other things, to provide social and recreational facilities, and have quarantine plans in place, in the event of an infectious disease outbreak.

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