Latest Stay-Home Notice For Construction Workers Will Make Them More Vulnerable
19 April 2020
We are deeply concerned by the announcement that all Construction sector Work Permit and S Pass holders will be under a blanket Stay-Home Notice (SHN) from 20 April to 4 May. Troubling questions arise about these measures’ impact on the workers’ access to basic and fundamental needs: food and medical care.
This blanket SHN applies to workers who do not live in dormitories covered under the Foreign Employee Dormitories Act. Some of these workers live in converted industrial premises, or on-site in temporary quarters.
But many workers affected by this blanket SHN live in “private accommodation”, renting bed space in partitioned and sublet shophouses or flats. They are offered minimal or no provision of amenities or even food by their employers. In effect, they are on their own.
How will the workers eat?
Workers in private accommodation are seldom catered food by their employers. They usually purchase groceries or ready meals. Unlike Singaporeans under SHN, who usually live with family members who can obtain essentials for them, Construction WP and S Pass holders generally live with other construction workers, who are (from this Monday) all under SHN.
The blanket SHN announcement reiterates previous statements of employers’ responsibilities: mentioning that employers must provide for the affected workers’ wellbeing, including food. But in HOME’s outreach efforts over the past fortnight, we have already encountered several cases where these responsibilities were not complied with. Enforcement has slowed as MOM focuses on addressing contagion in the large dormitories.
Food is a basic and immediate need. It cannot await enforcement or adjudication, if the workers are forced to be completely dependent on their employers. Employers are already financially strapped and overburdened by the current circumstances. Giving them 1 Sunday’s notice to arrange all-meals catering for their workers (who may be residing in different locations) makes the workers highly susceptible to being forced to choose between breaching SHN directives or going hungry.
How will they access medical care?
HOME notes from previous government advisories that Singaporeans, PRs and tourists under SHN are instructed to first notify the authorities via the SHN hotline if they need to leave their residence for medical attention. But work pass holders are instructed to contact their employer. It is unfair that even tourists may reach the authorities for help in accessing medical care under SHN; but workers are told to get help from their employers, who are private entities and not always available. Many of HOME’s construction worker clients have work injuries that require follow up. Missing any appointment leads to delay of several weeks or months, due to the long hospital wait lists.
Enhance existing measures instead
HOME supports decisive measures to protect all who share Singapore, including migrant workers, from further contagion. A blanket SHN for all construction workers makes them even more vulnerable than they already are, exacerbating their total dependence on their employers for even their most basic needs. As we have suggested in previous statements, reducing the density of living quarters, stepping up testing, and increasing the outreach and distribution of resources among workers who are not living in the dormitories, are the critical factors needed to curb the spread.
Involve more community partners
Workers are already scared to speak up for fear of retaliation. The new measures rely on the employers capacity alone for the provision of basic necessities to such a large number of workers who suddenly find themselves under SHN. This is a huge logistical exercise which some employers may not be prepared for. We urge that all NGOs working in the sector be declared as essential services at this difficult time so that more support can be given.
Exercise leniency and compassion
We have already seen instances of migrant workers being punished more severely than Singaporeans for breaching Circuit Breaker directives. Many were penalised unfairly with immediate deportations and permanent bans, whereas Singaporeans were only fined or issued warning letters. In light of migrant workers’ extremely limited access to support for their needs under SHN, HOME urges that this SHN be enforced with leniency and compassion.