WP MPs take up migrant workers’ issues, to ask questions about Westlite Jalan Tukang Dormitory incident

Singapore— “How we treat each and every member of our society reflects who we are as a people,” said Workers’ Party MP He Ting Ru (Sengkang GRC) in a Facebook post on Sunday (Oct 24).

Ms He and her fellow WP MPs – Dennis Tan (Hougang SMC), and Aljunied GRC MPs Gerald Giam, Leon Perera, Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap and WP chief Pritam Singh  – are to pose questions in Parliament on Nov 1 about recent unrest at a migrant workers’ dormitory in  Jurong.

Riot police were called in after the incident arose over allegations of delayed medical assistance and bad food. When riot police were  brought in videos of their deployment circulated on social media on Oct 13. Crowds were also seen gathering outside the Westlite Jalan Tukang dormitory.

Shortly before 1 pm that day, the police received a call for help from the dorm. Afterwards, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said it would investigate complaints about the dorm.

Ms He wrote, “It’s worrying to hear about the reports coming out of Westlite Jalan Tukang dormitory, particularly allegations about deplorable living conditions. It is crucial that we treat the situation with care and compassion, whilst rectifying the errors made.”

She plans to ask whether the situation at the Jalan Tukang Westlite Dormitory on Oct 13 warranted the deployment of the riot police. She will also ask the Manpower Minister about the capacity of and living conditions in migrant workers’ dorms, as well as the sort of access the have to mental health resources.

 For  his part, MP DennisTan will ask the Manpower Minister  what caused the workers’ unhappiness at this dorm and  what measures have been taken since then.

He will also ask the Health Minister if the Government will review its current stay-in requirement for workers who have tested positive for Covid-19.

 MP Gerald Giam noted that armed riot police were called in on Oct 13, although there was no report of violence. 

He will also ask if any action will be be taken against the caterer of the dormitory’s meal service.

“The workers’ grievances included catered meals served to them that allegedly contained insects, worms, hair and bits of newspaper,” Mr Giam noted in an Oct 24 Facebook post.

He will also ask the Minister for Manpower if it has received similar complaints from workers in other dormitories, and whether action has been taken by MOM.

MP Leon Perera likewise filed a question related to the food at Westlite Jalan Tukang dormitory, specifically asking MOM “what is being done to monitor and evaluate the quality of such food (including nutritional value and cultural appropriateness), food hygiene and safety standards”.

Among other questions, Mr Pritam Singh who is also Leader of the Opposition,  will ask the Manpower Minister why “a foreign embassy (was) able to respond more quickly than the dormitory operator or the ministry with the provision of aid and support to foreign workers residing at the Westlite Jalan Tukang Dormitory?”

Video circulated online showed boxes distributed to  dorm residents, which held  masks, bottled water, and tissue paper. They are said to have been provided by the Embassy of China.

Finally, Mr Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap will ask the Minister for Home Affairs which units from the Singapore Police Force were indeed deployed during the incident, as well as “whether any enforcement actions were taken at site by these respective units.”/TISG

Read also: COVID-19 health breaches at Jurong dorm under MOM’s investigation, riot police deployed

COVID-19 health breaches at Jurong dorm under MOM’s investigation, riot police deployed