Trend of Illegal Foreign Worker Dormitories Discovered over Last Three Years
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the trend of illegal foreign worker dormitories and housing safety as raised by Mr Desmond Choo to the Minister for Manpower Mrs Josephine Teo. Minister for Manpower Mrs Josephine Teo stated that illegal housing cases remained stable over the last three years, with 24 cases identified in HDB flats in 2017. MOM collaborates with HDB, URA, and SCDF to conduct inspections and review housing standards, taking enforcement action against 3,900 employers and dormitory operators from 2015 to 2017. Penalties for culpable parties include financial fines, prosecution, debarment from hiring foreign workers, and the potential revocation of rental approvals for HDB flat owners who breach regulations. Despite a decrease in the proportion of severe infringements, MOM will continue to monitor the situation closely and maintain strict enforcement to ensure worker safety and hygiene.
Transcript
24 Mr Desmond Choo asked the Minister for Manpower over the last three years (a) what is the trend of illegal foreign worker dormitories being discovered; (b) how many instances of illegal housing have occurred in HDB flats; (c) how has the Ministry worked with HDB to tackle illegal housing issues; and (d) what are the plans to ensure proper housing and fire safety in worker housing and dormitories.
Mrs Josephine Teo: The number of housing cases where foreign workers (FW) were housed illegally, in contravention of the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA), has been stable for the last three years. In 2017, 24 of these illegal FW housing cases were found in HDB flats.
MOM and HDB investigate all complaints of HDB flats being used illegally to house foreign workers. If the employer is culpable, appropriate enforcement action will be taken, such as debarment from employing FWs, fines or prosecution. The employer will also be ordered to relocate the FWs. HDB may also take enforcement actions against flat owners who have breached HDB's rental regulations, such as revoking their approval for the flat owners to rent out their flats.
MOM works closely with partner agencies, such as HDB, URA and SCDF, to regularly review FW housing standards including fire safety and hygiene. Inspections are carried out by both MOM and SCDF. Between 2015 and 2017, MOM took 3,900 employers and dormitory operators to task for a range of infringements. The enforcement actions taken included financial penalties and prosecution in egregious cases. Although the proportion of severe infringements has fallen, MOM will continue to adopt a strict enforcement stance and monitor the situation closely.