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Malaysia lockdown: MOM will not extend temporary housing support for Malaysian workers

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The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said it will not extend the temporary housing support it provided to Malaysian workers beyond 31 March, despite Malaysia extending the lockdown to 14 April.

With Malaysia extending its national lockdown until 14 April, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said it will not extend the temporary housing support it provided to Malaysian workers beyond 31 March, reported Today.

Thousands of Malaysians working in Singapore, who commute daily across the border, have been temporarily housed within the city-state following Malaysia’s announcement of a two-week lockdown on 18 March.

But given the increasing COVID-19 cases there, Malaysian Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin decided to extend the national lockdown until 14 April.

Malaysia registered 1,624 COVID-19 infections as at 5pm on 24 March.

“For their own long-term sustainability and business continuity reasons, employers will need to decide on how best to house their affected workers in Singapore, and the sharing of additional costs with their workers,” said MOM.

Over the past week, MOM – together with the Ministry of National Development, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Singapore Tourism Board and the Housing and Development Board – has helped about 2,000 companies house 10,000 affected workers.

To help employers who had to find accommodation for such workers, the ministry also revealed that the government would also provide $50 for each worker per day, capped at 14 days.

MOM shared that it has been “following up with employers to ensure that their affected workers are housed in temporary housing that is safe and appropriate” since then.

It added that the ministry will now “embark on a new phase” to work with employers to facilitate the affected workers’ transfer into more sustainable housing options within Singapore.

Employers requiring more sustainable housing options for their workers can refer to the ministry’s website or contact MOM via email.

Separately, MOM advised foreign workers as well as foreign domestic workers to stay within their residences during rest days, and avoid gathering in big groups.

“If (workers) have important errands to attend to, they are advised to minimise time spent outside,” said MOM.

In case workers meet indoors, they should observe the latest rules, which limit gatherings outside of school and work to 10 persons or fewer.

Workers who do not cooperate may see their work passes revoked.

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Victor Kang, Digital Content Specialist at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact him about this or other stories, email victorkang@propertyguru.com.sg