KUCHING, March 17: The Singapore government is looking into the housing needs of Malaysians who are working in Singapore but have been commuting on a frequent basis.
This follows the Malaysian government announcing the implementation of a restricted movement order last night.
The statement from Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower disclosed that many companies are making efforts to house their workers but these workers are encouraged to stay with their friends, relatives or colleagues.
“In view of Malaysia’s announcement to implement a Movement Control Order, many companies are making efforts to house in Singapore, workers who commute across the Singapore-Malaysia border frequently.
“Companies can encourage affected workers to stay with their relatives, friends or colleagues, who may be willing to accommodate them for a short period. This may be the option most amenable to some workers,” according to the ministry.
For workers who cannot stay with relatives, friends or colleagues, the Singapore government is working with the private and public sectors to make available a range of short-term housing options such as hotels or dormitories.
“We advise employers to assess their manpower needs carefully and make a considered decision as to whether they need their affected workers to remain in Singapore.
“In providing assistance, we will prioritise the needs of firms that provide essential services such as healthcare, security, cleaning, waste management, facilities management, logistics and transport.
“The government is looking into providing financial support for companies that need to urgently accommodate their affected workers, and will release more details shortly.
“The government will also be working with the hotel/dormitory providers on providing lower cost rentals. Our objective is to minimise any impact on the delivery of services for our people,” the ministry emphasised. — DayakDaily
