Requirement and Regulation of Food Caterers for Migrant Workers in Small Dormitories with Less Than 1,000 Beds
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the regulation and safety standards of catered food provided to migrant workers in dormitories with fewer than 1,000 beds. Miss Rachel Ong asked about time-stamping requirements for pre-packed meals and the inclusion of smaller dormitories under the Foreign Employee Dormitories Act starting 1 April 2023. Minister for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng stated that all licensed caterers must time-stamp food and that operators must procure meals exclusively from these licensed sources. He noted that the expanded Act now requires dormitories with seven or more beds to implement measures preventing food contamination during storage. Enforcement and monitoring are conducted by Forward Assurance and Support Teams through regular inspections and worker reporting via the FWMOMCare application.
Transcript
25 Miss Rachel Ong asked the Minister for Manpower (a) whether there is a requirement for pre-packed food catered for migrant workers in smaller dormitories with less than 1,000 beds to be time-stamped to indicate time for safe consumption; (b) if so, how is that monitored and enforced; and (c) whether the Foreign Employee Dormitories Act will incorporate regulation of food caterers for these smaller dormitories starting from 1 April 2023.
Dr Tan See Leng: All catered food, including pre-packed meals, from catering establishments licensed under the Environmental Public Health Act are required to be time-stamped to indicate the date and time by which the food should be consumed. All operators of migrant worker dormitories, regardless of size, that provide catered food to migrant workers are required by MOM to only procure food from licensed catering establishments.
With the expansion of the coverage of the Foreign Employee Dormitories Act with effect from 1 April 2023, operators of dormitories with seven or more beds will also be required to put in place measures to protect catered food from contamination until the food is collected by dormitory residents for consumption.
MOM's Forward Assurance and Support Teams (FAST) regularly conduct inspections and engage migrant workers to identify and resolve issues of concern. If any dormitory resident faces any issue on the hygiene and quality of the catered food provided, he can approach his employer, FAST or report the case via the FWMOMCare mobile application. MOM will assist and follow up with the dormitory operator.