Where Migrant Workers LIVE. EAT. PLAY.

S ingapore has a total of 1.4 million migrant workers who build homes, offices, hospitals and schools. Housing them is not a simple matter. There are reports of workers living in bin centres and those who end up in cramped, poor conditions. Many others are also housed in dormitories, which are purpose-built to take care of migrant worker needs. We visit one such dormitory and find that it is a little city within the city.

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The smell of curry starts to linger as dinner time is approaching. As soon as it hits 7 p.m., the dormitory’s entrance is packed with workers waiting for their turn to have their face scanned  - a strict security protocol to ensure non-residents don’t get through. Chatter filled the air as they conversed with one another after a long day at work.

“Lai, lai, cheap stuff, cheap fruits, lai!” A guy selling electronics could be heard shouting from the distance. It is mixed with shoutings from the vendors selling fresh fruits. Workers stood in line to wait, after having parked their bicycles or get off the lorry they were on. Occasionally, one or two workers were called up to have their bags checked by security guards stationed beside the dormitory entrance.

This is the daily evening routine for 4100 workers living in Westlite Dormitory in Woodlands which has been in operation for two years.

LIVE

FIVE DOLLAR GROOMING: There are many facilities catered for the workers living there such as the barber shop, where a haircut costs only five dollars. The shop is opened everyday and the public is also welcomed to patron. The barber, Velaichamy, is very friendly and he talks to everyone he meets. (PHOTO: Damien Teo)

KEEPING UPDATED: This is the newspaper room where daily newspapers from India are provided for the Indian migrant workers so that they can keep up and know what is going on in their country.Workers are allowed to read them during their free time but most prefer to read when they are back from work. (PHOTO: Damien Teo)

NECESSARY PROCEDURES: On top of the facilities available, there is a security system placed at the entrance of the dormitory as well as a perimeter anti-climb fence surrounding the dormitory. Every worker will have to scan their faces before entering the dormitory so as to ensure tight safety. (PHOTO: Damien Teo)

LIVING SPACE: Each unit in the dormitory has three rooms with four workers living in each room. Each worker have a locker located by their beds to keep their belongings. The room is spacious, measuring at 55 square metres, as compared to other dormitories where twenty grown men have to share a common space. (PHOTO: Damien Teo)

SPACE-CIOUSNESS: Each unit has a cooking area, which allows the workers to cook their own food at their own time and pace without having to worry about overcrowding. There is also a refrigerator, an air-condition, a television, and a small dining area. (PHOTO: Damien Teo)

There have been efforts to improve the living conditions of migrant workers. From having to live in on-site containers converted into houses and no basic facilities for workers, Ministry of Manpower (MOM), have come up with new regulations to ensure that the migrant workers get the basic needs they deserve. “With MOM’s new regulations, these will soon be removed and license for houses with cramped conditions will not be renewed,” said Mr K.Dave, Manager of Woodlands Westlite Dormitory.

On top of improving the living conditions of migrant workers, the government is also stepping up efforts to prevent riots from happening after the Little India riot in 2013. The workers are not allowed to bring in any contraband cigarettes, alcoholic drinks, drugs or weapons into the dormitory premises. If they do, the workers will be imposed a fine and their employers have to be called in. “Once they drink, they can’t take care of themselves and will start a fight. We maintain a close rapport with residents so they can help us if there is trouble,” said Mr Dave.

EAT

HAPPY HOUR: The migrant workers can choose to get their meals at the canteen which is opened from 6am to 11pm daily. Workers are allowed to drink beer here, as long as it is outside of the room premises. However, actions will be taken if they create trouble and chaos after drinking. (PHOTO: Hazel Yue)

VAST FOOD AVAILABILITY: Other than getting their meals at the canteen, workers can also choose to cook their own meals. They can get their ingredients from the supermart where products are being sold at a cheaper price (PHOTO: Hazel Yue)

WET MARKET: Besides dried ingredients, there is a small wet market in a corner of the supermart where fresh seafoods like fish, crabs and prawns. (PHOTO: Hazel Yue)

WET MARKET: Besides dried ingredients, there is a small wet market in a corner of the supermart where fresh seafoods like fish, crabs and prawns. (PHOTO: Hazel Yue)

Other dormitories have a shared common cooking space with everyone living in the dormitory. More often than not, overcrowding happens and workers are not able to cook their meals or eat in time for work as they are just too many people and they have to resort to buying packet rice with dhal outside. “Last time, there were 20 people. I have to queue for showering and cooking. We all have to share but now is easier,” said 28-year-old Nankumar, a foreign worker who works as a painter and have been staying in Singapore for 10 years.

PLAY

KEEPING IN SHAPE: The gym facility is provided for all workers to visit at their own preference from 6pm to 9.30pm daily. Workers can come here to exercise and take their mind off from work.(PHOTO: Damien Teo)

MORE THAN JUST WORK: Workers are allowed to play table games like Carrom and Pool in the games room. It is usually opened from 6pm to 9pm, the time where they end work. However, workers have to take full responsibility of the equipment.(PHOTO: Damien Teo)

GAME OF VOLLEYBALL: Workers form their own team of players and compete amongst themselves. This allows them bond with one another and unwind themselves from the daily stress faced during work. (Photo courtesy of Westlite Dormitory)

Westlite Dormitory conducts activities such as cricket competitions and Singapore Zoo and Marina Bay Sands. These allow the workers to have fun and relax on their off days after working so hard for the week.

Overseas trips are also available for the migrant workers and these trips are conducted annually. They usually happens over the long Chinese New Year holiday break and they go for short trips over the causeway. “Most of the engagement programs, activities/events with residents are at no cost or minimal charges,” said Mr Dave.

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According to Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), migrant workers in Singapore do not receive proper care and some of them are being mistreated by their employers. These employers do not provide proper living conditions for the workers – cramped dormitory rooms, minimal facilities for recreational purposes, lack of basic daily necessities and etc.

In 2007, it has been reported by The Straits Times that migrant workers lived in cramped quarters and this have been the reason that they make up more than a third of dengue cases. Just last year, 36 out of 41 confirmed cases of the Zika virus are migrant workers. This often leads to a stereotype where locals  think that all migrant workers live in bad living conditions.

Over the years, the ideal living conditions for migrant workers have become a pressing issue for the government. With over 1.4 million workers in Singapore, the government have to house these workers and ensure that the living conditions are humane and at the same time, prevent riots from happening that could destabilise the harmony in Singapore. Westlite Dormitory is one of the first steps from government's efforts to house all 1.4 million and other employers and dormitories should take them as an example to create a better living environment for the workers.