Studies into Whether Migrant Workers Unable to Go for Meal Breaks Offsite During Working Hours Are Receiving Adequate and Proper Food and Enforcement Actions Taken against Employers for Non-provision
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns whether studies are conducted on food adequacy for migrant workers unable to leave worksites and the enforcement actions taken against non-compliant employers. MP Louis Ng Kok Kwang raised these concerns, prompting Minister for Manpower Josephine Teo to explain that the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) monitors welfare via Forward Assurance and Support Teams, NGOs, and the FWMOMCare app. She noted that while complaints are infrequent, MOM addresses dietary or cultural issues by engaging employers and encourages workers to report well-being concerns. Minister for Manpower Josephine Teo stated that the Ministry addresses all reported issues with employers to ensure workers receive proper nutrition. Finally, she affirmed that MOM will continue to gather feedback from stakeholders and will take appropriate enforcement action in serious cases of non-provision.
Transcript
33 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Manpower (a) whether studies have been or are being done to look into whether migrant workers who are unable to go for meal breaks outside of their worksite during working hours are receiving adequate and proper food; and (b) whether any enforcement actions have been taken against employers who do not provide adequate food for this group of workers.
Mrs Josephine Teo: The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) agrees that it is important that migrant workers receive adequate food. There is a range of practices for migrant workers taking their lunch at worksites; they could cook and bring their meal, purchase cooked meals at the worksite canteen, or be given a catered packed lunch by their employers.
MOM actively puts out its feelers on the ground to look after the welfare of migrant workers. These include (i) deploying Forward Assurance and Support Teams (FAST) to dormitories regularly to engage the migrant workers about their overall welfare; (ii) working with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that engage with migrant workers; and (iii) providing a mobile application "FWMOMCare" for migrant workers to report issues, such as salary disputes and healthcare concerns, to MOM.
MOM has not picked up many complaints about food adequacy. The occasional feedback received about food, such as the food not meeting the workers’ cultural or dietary needs, are quickly resolved when MOM brings the matter to the attention of the employer.
MOM will continue to get feedback from migrant workers and stakeholders. Migrant workers who face issues with access to adequate and proper food or other well-being concerns should report their cases to MOM. MOM will address the issues raised with employers. In serious cases, MOM will take appropriate enforcement action.