AS MANY as 50,000 additional foreign construction workers are expected to arrive in Singapore over the next five years to build massive projects like the integrated resorts (IRs) - and they will all need somewhere to live.
The Government said yesterday that it will be releasing more land - to private developers and contractors - to build dormitories for these workers, and called on Singaporeans to be more tolerant of their presence in the country.
National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said the Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Building and Construction Authority are identifying locations for the dormitories.
In response to The Sunday Times' queries, Mr Mah said: 'We will try to put them in places that are not close to housing estates, but it's not easy to do so. And it's not possible to place them on an island somewhere, as Singapore is already such a small place.'
The Housing Board recently forbade HDB flat owners from renting their flats out to non-Malaysian foreign construction workers - a move believed to be a response to complaints from residents.
Flat owners currently renting their property to non-Malaysian construction workers can continue until the existing sub-letting approval expires, or up to Nov 6 next year, whichever is earlier.
Speaking to the media after launching the first Singapore Hainanese Heritage and Traditional Cultural Festival yesterday, Mr Mah said that foreign construction workers deserve a decent life here and employers should house them in purpose-built dormitories with recreational facilities.
There are currently more than 20 workers' dormitories here, each able to house a few thousand workers.
At the moment, about 420,000 work permit holders live in Singapore, excluding maids. Most foreign construction workers here are from China and India.
The additional 40,000 to 50,000 will help meet labour demands fed by the construction boom, with major projects such as the IRs and new shopping malls in Orchard Road taking shape over the next few years.
The minister said he hopes that Singaporeans would be more understanding towards these workers.
'When they come here, you cannot expect them to live in a slum or some corner somewhere. They also need their leisure time and social life, so from time to time we will have to mingle with them, whether it's in HDB estates, Chinatown, Orchard Road or Little India. They are part and parcel of Singapore,' he said.
Mr Mah also urged Singaporeans not to be suspicious of them, or see them as a nuisance.
'If they commit a crime, the police will look after it, in the same way as when a Singaporean commits a crime. But to automatically assume that they are going to be a nuisance or to commit crime, I think that's not fair,' he said.
MPs interviewed welcomed the move to house foreign construction workers in dormitories.
Said Madam Halimah Yacob (Jurong GRC): 'But Singaporeans still need to accept them, because they will meet them in other public places.'
Mr Charles Chong (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC), who also heads the Government Parliamentary Committee for National Development, said they should not be stereotyped, as the majority are decent people trying to earn a living.
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'There is no evidence so far that there is a (property) bubble. Prices are going up and so far, they are mainly confined to high end properties.
'Even then, the prices seem to commensurate with the strength of the economy and the stock market. There is no cause for concern at this point in time.'
National Development Minister Mah Bow Tancorrect on whether the Government is concerned about a property bubble.
