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10 Facts About the Jurong Dorm Alleged Neglect Whereby Residents Confronted the Management

2021-10-15 , 12:18 pm

When the COVID-19 pandemic first started, Singapore was in the limelight for a couple of things.

Having large numbers of cases
Being kiasu
And treating our foreign workers badly

It’s been a while since that happened, and improvements were made.

Unfortunately, this issue came crashing back into the limelight after the recent happenings at the Westlite Jalan Tukang dormitory.

Not sure what we’re talking about? Don’t worry; that’s what this article is for.

Here are 10 facts about the Jurong Dorm alleged neglect that’ll catch you up to speed in no time.

1. How It Started

On 12 Oct 2021, photos and videos of Westlite Jalan Tukang dormitory’s workers expressing their dissatisfaction were uploaded onto multiple platforms.

This included an article being published onto Weixin with several serious allegations.

The allegations include breaches in healthcare protocol, not giving workers access to medical support and the poor quality of food.

Workers claimed that they were given food that has gone bad, or had worms in them.

2. Started Operating Early This Year

The Westlite Jalan Tukang dormitory is a new facility, one which only started operating in the second quarter (Apr to Jun) of this year.

The dormitory was developed by Jurong Town Council (JTC) and was said to be the “new and improved dormitories” for foreign workers toiling away in Singapore.

After the massive COVID-19 outbreak last year, the living conditions of foreign workers were studied carefully, and the new facilities were designed to reduce density at the dormitories.

The 3,240-bed facility is managed by Centurion, reported The Straits Times, and currently houses 2,000 workers.

3. Lack of Medical Support

About a quarter of the 2,000 workers staying at the dorm were reportedly infected with COVID-19.

The photos and videos uploaded showed workers sleeping outside of their rooms, reportedly for self-isolation purposes.

According to the residents of the dormitory, these individuals had tested positive for COVID-19; they had decided to sleep out of their rooms to prevent the spread of infection within their rooms.

A video shared by Straits Times also showed how infected workers were allegedly left to recover on their own with no isolation and no medicine in a room of five.

Residents also alleged that the management does not care about the sick.

“(The dormitory management) does not care about those who are sick – these men had been sick for about seven or eight days.

“Their fever had gotten very high, and we had to make noise about it before anything was done.”

Now, if you’re wondering whether “anything was done” refers to the multiple allegations going viral online, it isn’t.

Or, at least, it wasn’t the only thing that happened.

4. Rioting Police Spotted

On 13 Oct, residents reportedly couldn’t take the treatment anymore and gathered “en masse” in front of the management office.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said that they were alerted to the incident at 12:55pm and riot police were deployed to the dormitory.

Thankfully, while there were raised voices, no violence broke out.

According to CNA, at around 4pm on Wednesday afternoon, there were four Special Operations Command vehicles and a few other armoured police vehicles parked along the road outside the dormitory at Jurong.

There were many police officers donning protective gear, and some of them had red berets on.

Police personnel wearing personal protective equipment were also seen guarding the barricades that have been set up at the dormitory’s entrance. Riot shields leaned against these barricades.

They were spotted leaving at around 5:50pm and other police officers were seen carrying plastic bags of food into the dormitory.

5. Ministry of Manpower’s Response

In reaction to the issue, MOM mobilised their Forward Assistance Support Teams (FAST) and sent officers down to the dormitory the very next day on 13 Oct.

For those who are unaware, FAST was created by the MOM to ensure that foreign workers are well-taken care of at their dormitories.

Some teams even went the extra mile to ensure that workers who are stuck in dorms have access to WiFi services.

An investigation was conducted and some findings were made clear.

6. Preliminary Investigation Findings

According to a MOM statement, there were “some delays” in taking infected residents to the proper facilities.

It is currently working on conveying affected residents to a care or recovery facility.

Roommates of COVID-positive cases can return to work if they produce a negative ART result, it added.

Residents who were unwell and wished to see a doctor were ferried to the regional medical centre on a daily basis.

The residents have also been given access to telemedicine, and the ministry has deployed mobile clinical teams to assist in the situation.

7. Three Meals A Day

As for the food, the residents were given three meals a day.

No details were given about the quality of the food provided, however.

The ministry encourages the workers to communicate with their employer about the quality of their food, among other matters and stated that they’ve highlighted the issue to the employer.

MOM promises to keep an eye on the situation and will keep liaising with stakeholders to ensure that all issues are taken care of.

8. Employer and Dormitory’s Response

According to Westlite Accommodation, the proper protocol has been implemented at the dormitory.

Acknowledging that there was a delay in sending infected workers to the proper facilities, the operator said it was due to a spike in COVID-19 cases amongst the Sembcorp Marine’s workers living in the dormitories.

“Due to the large numbers, there have been delays in conveyance to recovery facilities and healthcare facilities.”

The operator says it is now working with relevant authorities to resolve the various issues highlighted.

Meanwhile, Sembcorp Marine says the workers might not have been clear with the current COVID-19 protocols, according to a spokesperson.

According to the spokesperson, the dormitory has been following “mandatory COVID-19 health testing and movement protocols.”

“The company is mindful that the current protocols in Singapore may not be apparent to the residents in the Tukang dorm, and may differ from Covid-19 management measures from their home country.”

It was added that the company has reminded its caterers to “adhere” to hygiene standards.

The company, however, did not respond to why workers who tested positive are not immediately moved to the proper facilities, as dictated by the protocol.

Well, while the finger-pointing game is going on, you’ll be happy to know this.

9. Things Have Improved For Residents

According to a CNA report, things has improved for the residents of the dormitory after MOM got involved.

A resident who was interviewed said they’ve listed their demands and these were taken action upon.

A COVID-19 positive worker who was interviewed also praised the prompt action; he was glad that at least, they can get their pulse, heart condition and pressure checked out.

10. Aid Pouring In To Help Residents

Other than MOM, several other notable groups and individuals are also chipping in to help affected residents.

SingaporeTong has started a donation drive, collecting and donating over 100,000 masks for the workers.

Other volunteers have also stepped forward, bringing essential items like masks, disinfectants and fresh fruits for the workers.

The Chinese Embassy has also stepped in and said they’re liaising with the authorities to resolve the workers’ demands.

Philip Chan, president of the Hong Kong Singapore Business Association and the Kowloon Club also donated 20,000 masks to the workers.