Foreign workers' dormitories could be accredited
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SINGAPORE: Foreign workers' dormitories in Singapore could be accredited from next year, as the industry rolls out plans to raise dormitory standards and living conditions.
The newly formed Dormitory Association of Singapore is putting the scheme in place after releasing a set of benchmarks for dormitory housing on Monday.
The association represents 11 owners and operators of foreign workers' dormitories, which collectively provide more than 100,000 bed spaces or 70 per cent of dormitory spaces in Singapore.
There are 39 approved commercial dormitories for foreign workers as of November 2012.
The benchmarks aim to improve the living conditions in dormitory housing. They cover general living facilities, sanitation, storage and cooking facilities.
The benchmarks were drawn up by the association, the Migrant Workers' Centre and authorities.
Within the next three to six months, the Dormitory Association of Singapore plans to accredit accommodations which adhere to these standards, with the support of the Manpower Ministry and the Migrant Workers' Centre.
The association's secretary-general Simon Lee said he hopes authorities will consider using the accreditation scheme as a licensing condition for all operators.
"Hotel operators need a hotel licence to operate. Dormitory operators currently don't. They do need to meet all the authorities' regulations, but the management of it is actually up to individuals. So we hope that in time to come, we would have some scheme in place to actually let the industry know that this is the standard," he said.
The association added that those accredited would be able to reap benefits such as the pooling of resources.
Other than the regular monitoring of dormitories, chairman of the Migrant Workers' Centre Yeo Guat Kwang said that it is important the association targets smaller operators as well.
The group also plans to work with the authorities to get more land for housing.
"At the moment, roughly we are able to meet the needs for accommodation for work permit holders. The plan for the future will depend very much on whether the number of foreign workers increases substantially," said Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower Hawazi Daipi.
- CNA/jc -
what?
more KPI?
what the hell is wrong with just using some humanity and some common sense to keep the place clean and liveable or do these business assholes have to stinge on everything to extract every single cent of profit from people?
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$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ rules Sg
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these cheap labor has real good life. make the palce dirty themselves still can have compkains.
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Originally posted by troublemaker2005:
these cheap labor has real good life. make the palce dirty themselves still can have compkains.
Huai no one go ask them if they wan live in HDB, Condo or presidential Suites?Huai no one go ask them whether they wan 3 meals at hawker centre, food court or resturants?
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they too good life already! our army NSF lower pay get tekan all have to serve country also bunk one campany in one room. they cum here get full pay and lodging still wanna go on strike and complain. china dogs!