Let migrant workers drink in their dormitories, say MPs

SINGAPORE — Several Member of Parliament (MPs) yesterday sought clarity on how the new law against public drinking would affect foreign-worker dormitories, and urged the authorities not to single out migrant labourers and impose restrictions on drinking in their quarters.

Under the Liquor Control (Consumption and Supply) Act which was passed yesterday, these quarters will be designated as public areas for the purposes of enforcing laws on drunken behaviour. This means that within the premises of such dormitories, a person who is drunk and unable to take care of himself would be liable to a fine of up to S$1,000 or a jail term of up to a month, or both.

In response, Second Home Affairs Minister S Iswaran assured that the authorities have “no intention to single out foreign workers”. He explained that the clause was drawn up in relation to the Foreign Employee Dormitories Act, which was passed in Parliament earlier this month.

The dormitories are deemed as “public places” solely for the purpose of the provision relating to drunkenness under section 18 of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act. “It is a technical matter,” Mr Iswaran said.

The MPs felt that foreign workers should be allowed to drink in their dormitories, without the spectre of the laws looming over their heads. Non-Constituency MP Lina Chiam said: “These draconian laws may potentially deprive the workers’ of the source of solace and trample on their dignity. I’ll understand if the dormitories have their own rules and regulations, but to turn it into a law that comes with fines and jail terms, that is very harsh. Most of us have homes to go back to drink, but the dormitories are the foreign workers’ homes.”

Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC Hri Kumar Nair criticised the Act for “unnecessarily” singling out foreign workers. “The concern I believe is that since foreign workers can no longer drink in public, they will go back to their dormitories to drink,” he said. “That may be so, but unless there is good evidence that this will cause problems ... there is no reason to single them out. I think it sends the wrong message and may feed certain perceptions.”

Under the new law, Liquor Control Zones — with stricter controls on public consumption and sale of alcohol — will be designated in parts of Geylang and Little India. Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC MP Zainal Sapari noted that these areas are frequented by foreign workers.

“Perhaps it would be better to let the dormitories operators to decide on their own bylaws to strike a balance in creating an environment conducive for communal living,” he said.

Mr Iswaran reiterated that the new law does not turn dormitories into “public places”. “Neither does it forbid workers from consuming liquor within the foreign worker dormitories. Workers can continue to drink in their private quarters according to whatever rules they have within their dormitories,” he said.

“They can also continue to drink in the beer gardens in their dormitories, until such time as it is allowed under the licence. Whatever licenced areas there are today, those areas will continue to be available to the workers. It will not unduly constrain foreign workers in the dormitories.”