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1129 Written Answer by Minister for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng to PQ on Requirement and Regulation of Food Caterers for Migrant Workers in Small Dormitories with Less Than 1,000 Beds

Foreign manpower

NOTICE PAPER NO. 1549 OF 2022 FOR THE SITTING ON 29 NOVEMBER 2022
QUESTION NO. 2461 FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

MP: Miss Rachel Ong

To ask the Minister for Manpower (a) whether there is a requirement for pre-packed food catered for migrant workers in smaller dormitories with less than 1,000 beds to be time-stamped to indicate time for safe consumption; (b) if so, how is that monitored and enforced; and (c) whether the Foreign Employee Dormitories Act will incorporate regulation of food caterers for these smaller dormitories starting from 1 April 2023.

Answer:
1. All catered food, including pre-packed meals, from catering establishments licensed under the Environmental Public Health Act are required to be time-stamped to indicate the date and time by which the food should be consumed. All operators of migrant worker dormitories, regardless of size, that provide catered food to migrant workers are required by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to only procure food from licensed catering establishments.

2. With the expansion of the coverage of the Foreign Employee Dormitories Act with effect from 1 April 2023, operators of dormitories with 7 or more beds will also be required to put in place measures to protect catered food from contamination until the food is collected by dormitory residents for consumption.

3. MOM’s Forward Assurance and Support Teams (FAST) regularly conduct inspections and engage migrant workers to identify and resolve issues of concern. If any dormitory resident faces any issue on the hygiene and quality of the catered food provided, he can approach his employer, FAST or report the case via the FWMOMCare mobile application. MOM will assist and follow up with the dormitory operator.