Migrant workers to remain in dormitories on rest days for initial period of Phase 2: MOM
SINGAPORE — Migrant workers will have to remain in their dormitories on their rest days during the “immediate period entering into Phase 2” of Singapore’s re-opening.
The workers will still be able to access communal facilities within the dormitories, with safe-distancing measures imposed, and employers will have to ensure they are provided food as well as daily necessities, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in a news release on Thursday (18 June).
“When the infection rates in both the community and dormitories are sustained at lower levels for a longer period of time, workers in cleared dormitories and blocks will have the opportunity to leave the dormitories to run personal errands at approved locations such as the recreation centres,” said MOM in the release.
“The gradual restoration of a normal way of life for dormitory residents will give them a better chance of remaining healthy and continuing to earn a livelihood for themselves and their families,” it added.
The ministry noted that, together with the Inter-Agency Task Force (ITF) formed to tackle the spread of COVID-19 in the dormitories, up to 75,000 migrant workers are now residing in cleared premises. Dormitory operators, employers and workers are also collaborating with the ITF to put in place measures that will allow workers to leave these dormitories for work in a safe way.
“With daily movements in and out of the dormitories, we need to be vigilant to make sure that the workers remain COVID-19 free. There will already be some risk that infections are brought from workplaces back to the cleared dormitories,” said MOM.
It added that the movement of workers beyond their workplaces will raise the risk of cross-infections within the general community “in both directions”.
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