Amid a shortage of dormitories, Singapore must strike a balance between improving foreign workers' living conditions and keeping costs sustainable for businesses, says NUS Associate Professor Daniel Wong Hwee Boon.
The requirement comes at a time where the number of work permit holders is higher than pre-pandemic levels, resulting in nearly full dormitories and more migrant workers housed in non-dormitory accommodation.
Moreover, companies bidding for new projects have to increase prices under new FEDA requirements. With unreasonably short tendering periods, contractors will estimate higher prices to meet accommodation requirements without knowing if they will win the contract. Likewise, the operation and maintenance of foreign worker accommodation must also change. For instance, government agencies could put preliminaries in their construction contracts that specify the design of accommodation, minimum requirements for audits and an adequate tendering period.
Another workaround for businesses is to wean off their dependence on foreign workers by using technology instead. Unutilised buildings, such as vacant public schools and factories, can be used as temporary housing. Government agencies could consider a change of use or temporary occupation licenses to provide some accommodation relief.
These public perceptions must change. It is also important to find the right balance between improving worker conditions and keeping costs sustainable for employers.During the pandemic, projects and facilities were put on hold across the construction, marine shipyard and process sectors. Now that all three sectors have pressed the start button simultaneously, there is a spike in the work that needs to be done.
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