Written Answer to PQ on Rationale behind Single and Double Decker Beds in Dormitories

NOTICE PAPER NO. 1984 OF 2023 FOR THE SITTING ON 3 JULY 2023
QUESTION NO. 4686 FOR ORAL ANSWER

MP: Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang

To ask the Minister for Manpower (a) what is the rationale behind the proposal to allow the use of only single-deck beds in migrant worker dormitories; (b) when has this proposal been revised to allow the use of double-decker beds; and (c) what are the reasons behind the revision.

Answer:

1. The Ministry of Manpower did not promulgate any regulation that only single-deck beds should be used in migrant worker dormitories. In 2020, we trialled the use of single-deck beds in government-built and owned Quick Build Dormitories (QBDs) to reduce risks of disease transmission.

2. The new dormitory standards introduced in September 2021 did not incorporate the use of single beds. While single beds may reduce disease transmission, it is only one factor in managing transmission risks within dormitories, while it reduces the usable space for residents in the room. Instead, the new standards adopted other features such as ensuite toilets, room capacity caps, and self-contained sections on each floor to strengthen public health.