The Ministry of National Development (MND) has decided to proceed with a dormitory development at the former school site at Serangoon Gardens for manufacturing and services workers. The capacity will be capped at 600 for a start. MND will consider increasing to a maximum of 1,000 in future if there's a need and after further consultations. It adds that various measures to address residents' concerns...
Workers Dormitory
Despite the various mitigating measures being proposed, some residents in Serangoon Gardens did not take too well to news that a foreign workers' dormitory is going to be set up in the area. The dormitory will be at the former Serangoon Garden Technical School school site, just right across the road from the residents. There is going to be additional fencing to keep workers in as well as planters to...
Averic sets out to challenge biggest player in the foreign worker segment TRUST a few good businessmen to sniff out money-spinning opportunities. On the one hand there is Singapore's heavy reliance on foreign workers, and then there is the reluctance of part of the population to share their living environment, as seen with the recent furore in Serangoon Garden estate. But for some this is not so much a...
When two dormitories housing 6000 foreign workers sprung up in the private estate of Jalan Kayu in 2005, it led to a flood of complaints from residents. Manager of Tee Up Dormitory, Kelvin Low, said, “Initially, they hope not to see any foreign workers around the estate. This is unrealistic expectation.” 3 years down the road, not only have foreign workers become a common sight here, they are even...
It is estimated that some 100,000 foreign workers are living in illegal accommodations across Singapore, due to a severe shortage of dormitory space. One particular shophouse, for example, houses about 35 foreign workers. The narrow shophouse is cramped, and there are no windows or ventilation. In one of the rooms, six bunk beds are packed into a tight space measuring 1.5 metres by 6 metres. Despite the...
Minister for National Development Mah Bow Tan has stressed that no decision has been made regarding the building of foreign worker dormitories in Serangoon Gardens. Addressing the issue at a media conference on Wednesday, Mr Mah emphasised that the proposal was still in the initial stages. He said the different ministries would first conduct a technical feasibility study at the location. Should the site...
The idea of a township for foreign workers had taken off in places like the Middle East, where dormitories for foreign workers, which are sustainable and self-contained, are said to house more than 100,000 people. In Singapore, dormitory operators said this idea could take off given the acute shortage of foreign workers' housing. There are 756,000 foreign workers in Singapore in 2006, with a higher...
The National Development Ministry has said the location of temporary dormitories is limited by the available choices of vacant state buildings. It tries to avoid housing foreign workers in residential areas and seeks residents' understanding and support if some dormitories are located near their homes. The ministry said this in response to Channel NewsAsia's query after residents of Serangoon Gardens...
Foreign Minister George Yeo said the temporary dormitory proposal at Burghley Drive, where Serangoon Garden Technical School used to be located, is at a preliminary stage. Mr Yeo, who is also an Aljunied GRC MP, was speaking to Serangoon Garden residents at a dialogue on Wednesday. He said the residents' concerns are legitimate and he will pass their feedback to the Ministry of National Development and...
Residents are used to the food-lovers who invade the area’s eateries on weekends. But of late, there’s been a buzz of consternation, and a petition, going around Serangoon Gardens - following rumours of intrusion of another kind. The talk, which surfaced last week, is about how an empty school compound in the middle of the private estate could be turned into a temporary dormitory to house 1,500...