惹兰都康宿舍引起轰动，外籍劳工中心今日发出回应

今日，《新加坡眼》收到外籍劳工中心针对本次惹兰都康事件所发出的文告。我们对该文告进行了简单的翻译，供大家参考：111

新加坡外籍劳工中心与海事工程雇员工会的工作人员于2021 年 10 月 15 日（上周五）访问了西雅惹兰都康宿舍。这次访问的主要目的是为了解决客工们于10月13日所提出的问题，并观察客工的身心健康状态是否良好。尽管前两天有大量的客工被转移至别的宿舍，而剩下的客工也有些还未下班，访问组仍与近200位客工进行了交流。

根据我们当天的访问，并没有任何客工向我们反映饭菜变质，或有虫的问题。当局也正在针对此事进行调查。不过，与我们交谈的许多客工都向我们反映，在10月13日之前，宿舍管理方并没有及时为他们提供食物，盒饭的数量有时也存在问题。当局和雇主将采取新的措施，来解决这些问题。

在访问中，有许多客工都向我们表示，希望饭菜能够更符合他们的口味与饮食偏好。尤其是来自中国的客工们。由于中国的客工们都来自不同的省份，有着不同的饮食习惯，因此为他们安排符合口味的饮食可能需要更长一点的时间。我们已向客工们解释了这一点。我们也告诉他们，保证餐食的可口是雇主的责任，他们的雇主已经承诺将在这方面投入更多精力与资源，尽快制定出最佳解决方案。另外，我们也保证将继续关注这方面的进展。

在谈话中，我们也了解了中国客工所面临的另一个问题。他们告诉我们，在10月13日之前，他们可以在网上购买比较符合口味的中国杂货与食品，这些都是在客工宿舍的小超市内无法买到的。由于可以自行购买，他们便往往会购买更符合自己口味的食物。但在一周前，宿舍管理方开始拒绝他们接收快递，导致他们再也无法购买这些食品。为了解决这个问题，我们立刻向雇主与宿舍管理方反映，要求他们恢复这个渠道。

对于所有向西雅惹兰都康宿舍捐赠物资、散发爱心的善心人士与社会企业，外籍劳工中心再次献上我们衷心的感谢。在直接与宿舍住户接触后，我们认为目前的情况已经稳定了下来。工人们的问题都已得到了解决，或是正在解决中。如果大家未来还希望为客工们捐款，可以在这个网址中捐款：https://www.giving.sg/mwaf

虽然目前整个社会都在努力对抗疫情，但外籍劳工中心希望再次重申，这并不代表雇主们可以不顾客工们的身心健康与福祉。所有的雇主都应该尽最大努力满足所有客工的需求，尤其是他们在这个充满挑战的时期，为我们的社会与经济做出了巨大的贡献。

我们将继续与 SMEEU、雇主、宿舍管理方及客工们合作，在未来几天内继续解决西雅惹兰都康宿舍的问题。我们也将继续观察其他客工的情况，及时发现新的问题。另外，我们也会与人力部和任何利益相关者合作，提供及时并迅速的援助。在这方面，我们敦促所有有任何顾虑，或问题，或需要任何形式帮助的客工们不要犹豫，随时通过我们的 24 小时帮助热线 6536 2692 与我们联系。

杨木光

主席

外籍劳工中心

英文原文

A team comprising staff from the MWC andthe Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Employees’ Union (SMEEU) was givenapproval by the authorities to conduct an engagement visit to Westlite JalanTukang Dormitory last Friday 15 Oct 2021. The visit was conducted for the teamto confirm that issues raised by residents on 13 Oct were being addressed, aswell as to check on the their physical and emotional state, and wherenecessary, to assist them to resolve any other lingering or new employment orwell-being related issues that they may have. Despite the fact that a largenumber of residents had been moved from the dormitory during the previous 2days, and many of the remaining residents had not returned from work at thetime of the visit, the team were still able to engage with nearly 200 migrantworkers (MWs) during the visit.

Delays in Transfers of Covid Cases

From our conversations with the MWs wespoke to, we were able to learn that most of their concerns regarding newlyimplemented Safe Management Measures (SMM) and Covid-19 testing and isolationprotocols had been resolved within a day after their plight was covered onlocal media (Oct 14). Up till the day before, we learnt there was some disorderover the rollout of new testing and isolation protocols, and together withlogistics and resource challenges faced with the transfer process to carefacilities, as well as an unexpected spike in infections among residents, therewere delays in moving Covid positive cases to off-site care and recoveryfacilities. The MWs confirmed that the authorities were promptly resolve thesituation by working with the dormitory operator and employers to rectify thedelays and bring order and stability back to the dormitory. They also told usthat since the improvements were made, the transfer process for Covid positivecases had become more timely, and they hoped that the smoother process wouldcontinue.

In our conversations with the workers, wealso detected that some amongst them did not understand the reasons andstrategy behind the new SMM, testing and isolation protocols, which might havecontributed to the confusion and disorder prior to 13 Oct. We have fed thisback to MOM and are working urgently with them to strengthen the communicationsand engagement, push out newly developed educational materials, in video andprint, and translated to the native languages, through our MWC AmbassadorNetwork (made up of senior MWs within the same workplaces and living places)and social media channels. Through the Ambassadors and our variouscommunication channels with MWs, including our 24-hour Helpline, we will alsobe monitoring the situation on the implementation of the new protocols and willsurface any other irregularities or delays immediately for MOM’s attention.111

Quantity, Preference, and Timeliness ofCatered Meals

From our engagement with the MWs during ourvisit, we were unable to meet anyone who claimed that the food was spoilt orcontained insects as circulated online. Nevertheless, we understand that theauthorities are still in the process of investigating into the matter. Whatmany of the MWs we spoke to did reflect to us, was that there were sometimesissues with the timeliness and quantity of the meals provided to them prior to13 Oct, and new controls put in by the authorities and employers ensured thatthese issues were rectified since then.11

In particular, we also heard from the MWswe spoke to that more could be done to suit the food catered to the tastes anddietary preferences of the workers, especially those from PRC China. As MWsfrom China have a wide range of dietary preferences based on where they arefrom, it can sometimes take time to reach the optimal catering arrangements forthem, and while we explained this to the workers, we told them categorically,that it is an endeavour that the employer must do right. We repeated to theChinese MWs that their employer had committed to put more attention andresources into working out the most optimal dietary preference solutions assoon as possible and reassured them that we too would continue to monitor theprogress of this aspect.11

Our conversations also raised an importantrelated aspect to food provision to the Chinese MWs. We were told that up untilthe week before 13 Oct, they had been able make online purchases of morefamiliar Chinese sundries, groceries and rations unobtainable from thedormitory’s on-site minimart, which would be delivered to them in thedormitory. As a result, many of them were able to self-help to supplement theircatered food with more familiar dietary options. The MWs explained that thesedeliveries to the dormitory were stopped a week earlier, ceasing this self-helpoption, and accentuating the less than optimal catering situation. As a meansto providing these MWs with quick and easy relief, we reflected to theemployers and dormitory management to restart the deliveries into thedormitory, and we understand that the dormitory residents appreciate the returnof this additional service111

Additional Concerns Raised

Our engagement also raised certain concernssome MWs had regarding the workplace environment. We recorded these concernsand together with SMEEU, fed them back to the employers so that steps may betaken to create a safer and more conducive work environment for allworkers. We understand that theemployers are implementing some measures in response to our feedback. As withthe other feedback we have given to the various stakeholders, we will alsocontinue to monitor these new measures, as well as the sentiment and conditionof the MWs in response.

Donations from Well-Wishers

MWC would like to thank all welfare andcorporate organisations that have stepped forward to donate sundries andprovisions to the MWs at Jalan Tukang Dormitory through our coordination, aswell as members of the public for their care and concern for this group of MWs.Having visited the dormitory to observe the mood and situation amongst theresidents, as well as engage with them directly, we can update that thesituation has been stabilised, with the key concerns of the workers having alsobeen addressed or in the process of being rectified. Well-wishers who wishstill to contribute towards the supporting needy or distressed migrant workersin general, are invited to continue doing so via the following link onGiving.sg – https://www.giving.sg/mwaf.11

Conclusion

While our entire community continues tocope with the fluid situation in response to the pandemic in our daily routinesand at work, the MWC wishes to reiterate that the care, well-being and dignitywe afford to all MWs should not be allowed to be comprised. We would like toremind all stakeholders that they should give their utmost attention to lookingafter the needs of all MWs, especially since they play a critical role inhelping our community and economy through this challenging period. We willcontinue to work with SMEEU, employers, the dormitory operator and the MWs tocontinue to resolve any lingering issues at Jalan Tukang Dormitory in thecoming days. We will also continue our sensing and monitoring effort on theground for emerging issues amongst other MW communities, and work with MOM andstakeholders to provide prompt and responsive assistance. In this regard, weurge all MWs who have any concerns or issues, or who require any kind ofassistance, to not hesitate, and reach out to us via our 24-hour helpline at6536 2692.1

Yeo Guat Kwang

Chairman

Migrant Workers’ Centre