Aljunied GRC Member of Parliament (MP) Gerald Giam revealed on Tuesday (11 Aug) that about 40 migrant workers will be housed in temporary living quarters at a construction site in 50 Bedok Reservoir Crescent until the project is completed in the third quarter of next year.
Mr Giam took to his Facebook yesterday noting that he was informed of the project to build a special education school at 50 Bedok Reservoir which will involve about 40 migrant workers.
“I met with the project manager and staff this morning to better understand the arrangements being made to reduce any inconvenience to the community as well as ensure the welfare of the workers,” he wrote.
Mr Giam was told that the workers will be housed in quarters with not more than 10 persons per room, provided with meals and wireless internet access for them to communicate with friends and family.
Additionally, the workers will have to remain on-site until the project is completed next year.
“The workers will be required to remain on-site until the project is completed in 3rd quarter 2021. They are currently living off-site in foreign worker dorms, which requires them to travel to the construction site every day,” he added.
The Workers’ Party (WP) member called on residents to thank the migrant workers for their part in building the special education school.
“Although Bedok Reservoir residents won’t get a chance to meet these foreign workers in person, I hope the community can join me in thanking them for the work that they do for us,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, Mr Giam said he will be visiting some of the blocks nearby to the construction site this week as part of his regular house visits. Residents who have any concerns or suggestions are also encouraged to approach or contact him via Whatsapp.
Netizens appalled to hear migrant workers are required to stay on-site until third quarter of 2021, say it’s “inhumane” to “imprison” the workers
Many netizens were appalled to hear that the 40 migrant workers are required to stay at the construction site until the project is completed next year, with some even described it as “inhumane” to “imprison” the workers.
One netizen asked Mr Giam whether the migrant workers will have to stay at the construction site until the third quarter of 2021 and are they allowed to go out for leisure, to which Mr Giam replied, “Yes. No.”
Migrant worker described being shut in the dormitory as being “in jail” and the situation is “frustrating”
In fact, Singaporean activist Jolovan Wham had previously mentioned that one migrant worker has been “imprisoned” in his room for three months and therefore demanded “answers” from the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
He cited a quote from the migrant worker who was speaking in a video interview with Channel News Asia (CNA) on 6 August.
The migrant worker said in the interview, “It’s very frustrating, you are in jail, you don’t know why you are in jail, that makes it much worse, and you don’t know why you are in quarantine, and how long you have to stay in quarantine…
“When you can go back to the dormitory, when you can go back to work… Everybody just wants to go back to work. If you are alone, people think too much… So many things going on in your head but when you are at work, you will forget your problems.”
Referring to the interview, Mr Wham claimed that the migrant worker has been “imprisoned” in a room for three months despite being tested negative for the COVID-19 “twice”.
“The worker interviewed for this story was tested negative TWICE and yet he was imprisoned in a room, and not allowed to leave it for THREE WHOLE MONTHS. We need answers from MOH and MOM,” he remarked.
