Addressing Bed Bug Issues at Migrant Worker Dormitories

127 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Manpower whether the Ministry will consider addressing the issue of bed bugs at migrant worker dormitories other than advising workers not to use infected mattresses.

Dr Tan See Leng: Under the Foreign Employee Dormitories Act (FEDA), dormitory operators are required to maintain tidiness, cleanliness, sanitation and good housekeeping of the dormitories. In addition, dormitory operators must implement adequate measures to ensure that dormitories are free from all vectors, including bed bugs.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) conducts regular inspections of migrant worker dormitories and has avenues for migrant workers (MWs) and other stakeholders to provide feedback about dormitory living conditions. If bed bugs are found at dormitories during our inspections, dormitory operators are required to immediately remove the infected mattress from the dormitory and engage the services of a vector control operator to detect and eradicate the problem. MOM will take the appropriate enforcement action against the dormitory operator or employer for serious infestation or recalcitrant cases.