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SINGAPORE: The former Chancery Court site at 36 Dunearn Road has been designated as an alternative accommodation to house healthy foreign workers in essential services.
In a statement to the CNA, the Singapore Land Authority said the site can hold up to 1,200 workers. Some foreign workers moved in last Friday (May 8).
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The Far East Organization, which owns the Chancery Court site, had offered it for government use to “support its efforts to contain the virus outbreak,” SLA said.
SLA did not confirm how many workers currently reside there.
READ: The Big Read: Solving the problem of Singapore’s foreign workers requires a serious soul search, from top to bottom
In its statement, SLA said Chancery Court will be used to house healthy foreign workers in essential services, with all necessary measures, including on-site amenities and meals provided.
Employers will also provide transportation and workers are expected to observe the circuit breaker measures.
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Singapore has reported 23,787 coronavirus cases to date, most of which are linked to residences of foreign workers. Twenty-one patients have died from complications derived from COVID-19 infection.
National Development Minister Lawrence Wong announced last month that foreign workers who are not ill and who work in essential services will be housed separately from those in dormitories, in a bid to curb the spread of the outbreak.
Military camps, Changi Exhibition Center, HDB vacant flats and floating offshore accommodation have all been identified as potential accommodation.
File photo of the Chancellery. (Photo: Jeremy Long)
READ: Singapore reports 486 new COVID-19 infections, number of discharged cases reaches new daily high of 504
Located on the other side of the Anglo-Chinese School Highway (Barker Road), Chancery Court is nearly 260,000 square feet in area, comprising a 16-story tower and seven duplex blocks.
The privatized property of the Housing and Urban Development Company (HUDC) sold for S $ 401.78 million in a block sale in 2018.
According to the Far East Organization, residents left the site in the middle of last year.
The developer also said that none of its other properties are being used for COVID-19 related accommodation, apart from a company under Far East Hospitality, which offers hotels to provide accommodation.
READ: Employers must pay isolated foreign workers in dormitories, even if work passes are canceled: MOM
A security post at Chancery Court. (Photo: Jeremy Long)
Grassroots adviser to the GRC Tanjong Pagar, Melvin Yong, said residents living around the Chancery Court site were informed of the developments in a letter, which included key background information on the temporary housing facility.
In the letter, dated May 3, Mr. Yong said a dormitory operator will be appointed to operate the site.
Meanwhile, a community working group has been formed to work with relevant stakeholders and a hotline has also been established for residents if they have questions.
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