A construction worker warded for COVID-19 was found lying motionless at a staircase landing at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital on Thursday (April 23) after succumbing to his injuries.
While investigations are still ongoing, the police have ruled out foul play from his death, based on findings from preliminary investigations.
Police said that it was alerted to the case at approximately 7.30 am yesterday.
The 46-year-old man had been working for the same employer since September 2009, according to the Ministry of Manpower in a statement yesterday.
MOM noted that findings from background checks “do not reveal any complaints against the employer”.
The deceased, said MOM, lived in “a factory-converted dormitory operated by the employer” which housed nine workers including him at the time — fewer than the approved capacity for factory-converted dormitories.
“The dormitory was found to be in an acceptable condition, including cleanliness and ventilation,” MOM added.
Expressing its condolences to the family of the deceased, the Ministry said it has informed them and his employer as well as the Indian High Commission in Singapore of his death.
MOM said that it is also “working with the Hindu Endowments Board to undertake the necessary funeral arrangements for the deceased worker”.
“We are also working with the Migrant Workers’ Centre to provide support to the family of the deceased,” the Ministry added.
Manpower Minister Josephine Teo in a Facebook post yesterday said that she was “deeply saddened” by the news of the migrant worker’s death.
Noting that she and Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam had visited the worker’s roommates — who are also his friends — yesterday afternoon, Mrs Teo said that they “were sad but calm”.
“They shared with us that they’re satisfied with their work in Singapore, and that the employer has been taking good care of them,” she wrote.
“I reassured them that their health and medical needs are our uppermost priority.
“If they fall sick, the Government will make sure they are treated and help them recover,” Mrs Teo assured, adding that government officials had given the workers “all the right numbers to call”.
The High Commission of India in Singapore, in a response via email to CNA, said that it is awaiting “further information about the circumstances surrounding the death from the police after coroner’s (inquiry) is complete”.
