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Written answer by Mr Lim Swee Say, Minister for Manpower, to Parliamentary Question on raising awareness amongst foreign workers on hygiene and work practices

Foreign manpower

Notice paper no. 237 of 2016 for the sitting on 10 October 2016

Question No. 391 for oral answer

MP: Er Dr Lee Bee Wah

To ask the Minister for Manpower (a) whether the Ministry hands out brochures to foreign workers in their native language to educate them about hygiene and work practices here when they first arrive in Singapore; and (b) whether the Ministry is aware that the littering problem in some dormitories is very serious especially during weekends.

Answer
  1. MOM gives all foreign workers a Handy Guide in their native language when they first arrive to help them adjust to working and living in Singapore. The guide educates them about their employment rights and responsibilities, as well as the consequences of not complying with our laws.  It also provides practical advice to help them settle down, such as good hygiene practices, safe work practices and channels of assistance if they encounter problems. These messages are reinforced in MOM’s newsletters and the roadshows for foreign workers that MOM conducts jointly with other agencies. MOM also appoints Foreign Worker Ambassadors who help provide advice to foreign workers staying in their dormitories.

  2. Member raised the issue of littering in dormitories. Dormitory operators are expected to maintain the cleanliness of their dormitory premises at all times. MOM regularly inspects dormitories, and will ask operators to make improvements if the living conditions are found to be unsatisfactory. Where the well-being of the workers is compromised as a result of poor dormitory conditions, MOM will take enforcement action against the errant operators. We urge anyone with information on specific dormitories that have serious littering issues to report these to MOM.