The makeshift dormitory at the formerly disused Bedok North Secondary School (BNSS) site in Eunos has started receiving migrant workers who have been cleared for COVID-19 during screenings, said Aljunied GRC Member of Parliament (MP) Pritam Singh.
In an update on Tuesday night (2 June), Mr Singh said that migrant workers who will be housed in the temporary dormitory “would include those who have been medically cleared for discharge from hospitals, community care facilities and community recovery facilities”.
“Arising from resident queries, I can share that all migrant workers who will be housed at the temporary dormitory at the former BNSS site would have undergone COVID-19 screening and do not have symptoms.
“Separately, all migrant workers will be tested for COVID-19 before they resume work in the community and those working in the construction industry will be routinely tested every 2 weeks when they go back to work,” the Workers’ Party chief added.
Mr Singh also said that the migrant workers will be assigned to the temporary dormitory in batches throughout this week.
Previously, Mr Singh assured Eunos residents that strict safety protocols will be enforced at the temporary dormitory on the BNSS site.
Mr Singh said in a Facebook post on 20 May that the residential protocol at this point “requires workers to return to the dormitory immediately after work” and prohibits them from leaving the premises upon their return.
Buses will also be deployed into the school grounds “to pick up and disembark the workers each morning and evening” or depending on their shifts, said Mr Singh.
This is to avoid creating traffic congestion along Jalan Damai, he explained.
Employers, said Mr Singh, will be made responsible for their workers’ upkeep and are expected to make arrangements for their migrant workers to have “access to groceries and sundries as required”.
The makeshift dormitory, said Mr Singh, “has been catered for around 400 workers”.
Mr Singh also noted that part of the Ministry of Education’s Dormitory task force team will be residing with the workers “in shifts”.
The members are from Outward Bound Singapore, which is part of the network of Outward Bound centres worldwide.
“I was heartened to hear of this partnership and spoke to the assigned dormitory manager for the Bedok North Secondary School site, Wilfred from OBS.
“I introduced the dormitory task force members to the Town Council staff in Eunos, including Alan, the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council’s relationship manager in Eunos.
“I felt the introduction was important so the dormitory team could reach out for any support/assistance as required and vice-versa,” he said.
Mr Singh also called upon Eunos residents to extend their “full support to this initiative” during the necessary period and to submit to him any questions regarding the temporary dormitory.
“I understand some of you may have questions on the activation of Bedok North Secondary School as a temporary dormitory.
“Please do not hesitate to reach out to me, and I will do my best to give you as much information as I can on this matter.
“In the event I do not have the information you require, I will seek the same from MOE or the relevant authorities,” said Mr Singh.