Written Answer by Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, Acting Minister for Manpower & Senior Minister of State, National Development, to Parliamentary Question on Relocation of Foreign Workers
Notice Paper No. 380 Of 2012 For The Sitting On 12 Nov 2012
Question No. 338 For Written Answer.
MP: Dr. Fatimah Lateef
Question:
To ask 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.
Answer:
- 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 dorms. Appropriate actions are also being taken against these errant employers.
- 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.