11 new sites to house 65,000 foreign workers

Aug 2, 2008
11 new sites to house 65,000 foreign workers
Workers to live in vacant govt buildings till new dormitories are
ready by 2010
By Diana Othman

ELEVEN new sites have been identified for building dormitories that
will house 65,000 foreign workers, but these facilities will take
till 2010 to complete.

In the meantime, vacant government buildings will be converted into
temporary quarters for these workers, said Acting Manpower Minister
Gan Kim Yong.

Speaking at the opening of ExxonMobil Chemical's dormitory and safety
training and security centre on Jurong Island yesterday, Mr Gan said
demand for housing for foreign workers had gone up in tandem with the
growth of various industry sectors.

Welcoming the offer of temporary accommodation for these workers and
the land set aside for their dormitories, the executive director of
the Singapore Contractors Association Limited, Mr Simon Lee,
said: 'We are keen to have as many housing facilities as possible for
foreign workers, as there is a shortage.

'Basically, there is now not enough land to build these housing
facilities.'

Some existing dormitories fail to meet basic needs. News reports in
the past year have exposed some to be overcrowded, filthy and lacking
in bathing and cooking space.

'If land is available, better facilities can be designed and built
for these workers,' said Mr Lee.

Employers, such as ExxonMobil Asia-Pacific, have opted to build their
own dormitories.

Final touches are being added to ExxonMobil's 9ha facility, which can
take in 9,000 petrochemical workers. About 700 have already moved in.
A year from now, the company expects as many as 12,000 workers at the
site, during the construction of its second chemical plant.

Each worker there will share a 4.1 sq m room with no more than 11
others. The dormitory is also equipped with a basketball court and a
gymnasium, as well as recreational rooms with television sets and
pool tables.

Meals are prepared in three kitchens catering to different dietary
needs, and a laundry service ensures the workers will have clean
clothes.

Mr Georges Grosliere, 58, the project executive overseeing the
construction of the second plant, said: 'We would like to ensure
that, when the workers come here, they have enough time for rest
before starting another busy day.'

Well-rested workers are also safer, more productive ones, he added.

Mr Chakhaml Phutta, 38, a Thai worker who has lived at the dormitory
for about a month, said: 'I like it here. They take care of
everything. They help with the food and the clothes, so I can enjoy
my break and even go to the gym to exercise.'

The company's safety-training and security centre - 10 minutes from
the dormitory - is where workers undergo courses and pass a test
before receiving their work permits.