# Joint MND-MOM Media Release on New Dormitories with Improved Standards for Migrant Workers - **Source:** Ministry of National Development - **Published:** 2020-06-01T11:00:00.000Z - **Author:** Ministry of National Development - **Original:** https://www.mnd.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/view/joint-mnd-mom-media-release-on-new-dormitories-with-improved-standards-for-migrant-workers - **Topics:** HDB & Public Housing, Private Residential, Government & Policy ## Featured rationale The capacity expansion and lower-density standards could increase dormitory development and operating costs while reducing crowding and enabling upgrades to existing facilities. ## AI summary The Government planned space for around 60,000 migrant workers by end-2020 and longer-term purpose-built dormitories for up to 100,000 workers with improved living standards. ## Original article With the COVID-19 situation at the dormitories under control, and more migrant workers recovering or being cleared to resume work, the Inter-agency Taskforce (ITF) is now working with dormitory operators and employers on the housing arrangements for these workers. For the time being, some of these workers have been housed in sites like army camps and sports halls, as well as vacant HDB blocks and private apartments slated for redevelopment. These sites are temporary and will need to be returned to their original uses or redeveloped soon. At the same time, we do not want all the workers to return to their original dormitories, as our aim is to reduce the density of these dormitories. Hence, the Government will be putting in place a major programme to build additional dormitories with higher standards over the coming months and years. Short- to Medium-Term Arrangements By the end of this year, we will be able to create additional space to house around 60,000 workers. This will be achieved through the following: a) New Quick Build Dormitories (QBDs) that will last for around two to three years. These are temporary structures that can be constructed quite quickly in a modular form with a low density, with each QBD housing about 500-1000 workers per hectare, depending on the site conditions. The QBDs will have around 25,000 capacity in total. (Refer to Annex 1 for list of locations) b) Temporary fitting out of currently unused state properties, including former schools and vacant factories. These will have around 25,000 capacity in total. (Refer to Annex 2 for list of locations) c) Additional Construction Temporary Quarters (CTQs) built by contractors to house their workers at the worksite and cut down on transportation needs. We are still discussing with the contractors on the additional CTQs that they will need for their workers. Longer-Term Arrangements Beyond this, we are planning for new purpose-built dormitories (PBDs) to house up to 100,000 workers to replace the short- to medium-term housing. This new building programme will take several years to complete, but we aim to have about 11 such new PBDs ready over the next one to two years[1]. All of these PBDs will have amenities like minimarts, barber services, indoor recreation facilities and will have blocks well spaced out to ensure good ventilation. Workers living in the PBDs will also have ready access to medical care and support. With these additional PBDs in place, we will also have the capacity to decant workers from the existing dormitories, and to undertake major upgrading to these dormitories to ensure that they meet the new standards. Improved standards and dorm operating model to be piloted In addition to expanding capacity to house migrant workers, government agencies are developing a set of specifications for these new dormitories. The specifications will look into the design, facilities, management and regulation of these dormitories, and will factor in social interaction and disease response needs. In land scarce Singapore, dormitories are a practical approach to housing our migrant workers. We aim to make dormitory living and design more resilient to public health risks including pandemics, with improved living standards that are benchmarked both domestically and internationally. We will take on board lessons learnt from the current COVID pandemic, and also seek feedback from relevant stakeholders. As a start, we will pilot an improved set of standards at the new QBDs. Standards Standards Current Current Improved Improved Living space Living space ≥ 4.5sqm per resident, including shared facilities ≥ 4.5sqm per resident, including shared facilities ≥ 6sqm per resident, not including shared facilities ≥ 6sqm per resident, not including shared facilities Occupancy per room Occupancy per room No maximum beds per room. In practice, 12-16 beds per room. Mostly double decker beds No maximum beds per room. In practice, 12-16 beds per room. Mostly double decker beds ≤ 10 beds per room. Use of single deck bed only, with 1m spacing between beds ≤ 10 beds per room. Use of single deck bed only, with 1m spacing between beds Toilets Toilets ≥ 1 set of toilet, bathroom, sink and urinal: 15 beds ≥ 1 set of toilet, bathroom, sink and urinal: 15 beds ≥ 1 set of toilet, bathroom and sink to 5 beds ≥ 1 set of toilet, bathroom and sink to 5 beds Sick bay and isolation facility Sick bay and isolation facility ≥ 1 sick bay bed per 1,000 bed spaces Additional isolation spaces (to be stood if needed) at 19 beds per 1,000 bed spaces ≥ 1 sick bay bed per 1,000 bed spaces Additional isolation spaces (to be stood if needed) at 19 beds per 1,000 bed spaces ≥ 15 sick bay bed per 1,000 bed spaces Additional isolation spaces (to be stood up if needed) at 10 beds per 1,000 bed spaces ≥ 15 sick bay bed per 1,000 bed spaces Additional isolation spaces (to be stood up if needed) at 10 beds per 1,000 bed spaces The Government is also studying the possibility of developing the new PBDs on a different model compared to the present system, where currently land is released for the commercial operators to bid, build or operate. We are studying the options comprehensively and will share our findings in due course. While the physical standards are being improved, it is equally important to uplift the capabilities of dormitory operators and make adjustments to the daily living habits of the dormitory residents. Everyone must do their part to minimise the risk of infection clusters. The pilot will therefore also seek to instil a new level of discipline on safe living within dormitories. We can expect that these additional and improved housing arrangements will come at a cost. But they will keep the workers safe and allow Singaporeans to continue benefitting from their contributions. This is why the specifications and operating model are being piloted. Depending on subsequent assessment of effectiveness, scalability and sustainability, adjustments may be necessary for permanent new dormitories. Given our land constraints, some dormitories will inevitably be located closer to residential areas. Singaporeans must therefore do our part too. We must reject the Not in My Backyard (NIMBY) mindset and instead appreciate these workers who keep Singapore going. [1] The capacity of these 11 new PBDs will account for close to 60,000 workers. (Updated on 10 June 2020) ## Chinese translation > Translation model: grok_cli ### 国家发展部与人力部联合媒体发布：为外籍劳工建设符合更高标准的新宿舍 随着宿舍的新冠疫情已受控，且更多外籍劳工康复或获准复工，跨部门工作组（ITF）目前正与宿舍业者及雇主协作，安排这些工人的住宿。 现阶段，部分工人被安置在军营、体育场馆，以及空置组屋（HDB）大厦和拟重新发展的私人公寓等场所。这些地点属临时性质，不久后需归还原用途或进行重新发展。 与此同时，我们不希望所有工人都返回原有宿舍，因为我们的目标是降低这些宿舍的密度。因此，政府将在未来数月及数年推行一项重大计划，兴建更多符合更高标准的宿舍。 短期至中期安排 到今年年底，我们将能额外提供约可容纳6万名工人的空间。这将通过以下方式实现： a）新的快速建设宿舍（QBD），使用期限约两至三年。这些为可快速以模块化形式建造的临时构筑物，密度较低，视场地条件而定，每公顷约可容纳500至1000名工人。快速建设宿舍总容量约为2.5万人。（地点清单见附件1） b）对目前闲置的国有产业进行临时装修，包括前学校及空置工厂。这些场所总容量约为2.5万人。（地点清单见附件2） c）由承包商额外兴建的工地临时宿舍（CTQ），以便在工地安置工人并减少交通需求。我们仍在与承包商商讨其工人所需的额外工地临时宿舍。 较长期安排 在此之外，我们正规划新建专用宿舍（PBD），以容纳多达10万名工人，取代短期至中期住宿安排。这项新建计划需数年才能完成，但我们目标是在未来一至两年内约有11座此类新专用宿舍就绪[1]。所有这些专用宿舍将设有便利店、理发服务、室内康乐设施等配套，楼宇之间保持充足间距以确保良好通风。居住在专用宿舍的工人亦可便捷获得医疗服务与支援。 随着这些额外专用宿舍投入使用，我们也将有能力将工人从现有宿舍迁出，并对现有宿舍进行大规模提升，以确保其符合新标准。 将试点更高标准及宿舍运营模式 除了扩大外籍劳工住宿容量外，政府机构正在为这些新宿舍制定一套规格。规格将涵盖宿舍的设计、设施、管理与监管，并纳入社交互动及疫情应对需求。 在土地稀缺的新加坡，宿舍是安置外籍劳工的务实方式。我们的目标是使宿舍居住与设计更能抵御包括大流行病在内的公共卫生风险，并以国内及国际基准提升居住标准。我们将汲取本次新冠疫情的经验，并征求相关持份者的意见。 作为起步，我们将在新建快速建设宿舍试点一套经改进的标准。 标准 标准 现行 现行 改进后 改进后 居住空间 居住空间 每名住客≥4.5平方米，包括共用设施 每名住客≥4.5平方米，包括共用设施 每名住客≥6平方米，不包括共用设施 每名住客≥6平方米，不包括共用设施 每间房入住人数 每间房入住人数 每间房床位无上限。 实际多为每间12至16张床，多为双层床 每间房床位无上限。 实际多为每间12至16张床，多为双层床 每间≤10张床。 仅使用单层床，床与床之间间距1米 每间≤10张床。 仅使用单层床，床与床之间间距1米 厕所 厕所 ≥1套厕所、浴室、洗手盆及尿斗：15张床 ≥1套厕所、浴室、洗手盆及尿斗：15张床 ≥1套厕所、浴室及洗手盆对应5张床 ≥1套厕所、浴室及洗手盆对应5张床 医务室与隔离设施 医务室与隔离设施 每1,000个床位≥1张医务室病床 额外隔离空间（必要时启用）为每1,000个床位19张床 每1,000个床位≥1张医务室病床 额外隔离空间（必要时启用）为每1,000个床位19张床 每1,000个床位≥15张医务室病床 额外隔离空间（必要时启用）为每1,000个床位10张床 每1,000个床位≥15张医务室病床 额外隔离空间（必要时启用）为每1,000个床位10张床 政府也在研究以不同于现行制度的模式开发新的专用宿舍；现行制度下，土地以招标方式交由商业业者竞投、兴建或运营。我们正全面研究各项方案，并将在适当时候公布研究结果。 在提升硬件标准的同时，同样重要的是提升宿舍业者的能力，并调整宿舍住客的日常生活习惯。人人都必须尽一分力，尽量降低感染群出现的风险。因此，试点也将力求在宿舍内培养更高水平的安全居住纪律。 可以预期，这些额外且经改进的住宿安排将带来成本。但它们将保障工人安全，并让新加坡人继续受惠于他们的贡献。这也是为何要试点相关规格与运营模式。视其后对成效、可扩展性与可持续性的评估，永久新宿舍或需作出调整。 鉴于我国土地有限，部分宿舍难免会更靠近住宅区。因此，新加坡人也必须尽本分。我们必须摒弃“别在我家后院”（NIMBY）的心态，转而感谢这些让新加坡运转的工人。 [1] 这11座新专用宿舍的容量合计接近6万名工人。（2020年6月10日更新）