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SINGAPORE: Singapore authorities found no work pass holders sleeping on the streets when officers conducted routine checks at various locations on the island, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said in a press release Thursday (December 3).
The ministry’s comments come after the Malaysian newspaper New Straits Times (NST) published an article titled Homeless Malaysians in Singapore.
The report, released on November 22, featured an interviewee named Shahruddin Hael Helmy Mohd Noh, who said that more than 100 Malaysian job pass holders in Singapore were homeless because they couldn’t afford to rent a room or bed.
“Following the report, MOM hired Mr. Shahruddin on November 23 and 27 to obtain information regarding his claim so that we can provide the necessary assistance to these workers,” the ministry said.
“However, he was unable to provide the names and contact details of the workers he claimed to have met,” he added.
“He admitted that he never spoke directly to any of these workers and cannot confirm if they were in fact homeless.
“He did not know of any Malaysian worker who did not have a place to stay and he also stated that he did not tell the NST reporter that ‘more than 100 Malaysians had become homeless.’
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On November 26, an interagency task force made up of agents from the MOM, the Ministry of Social and Family Development, and the police carried out inspections at various locations in the country, including locations listed by Shahruddin.
“However, we did not find any work pass holders sleeping on the street,” MOM said.
The inspections were part of the task force’s routine checks, the ministry said, adding that those found sleeping on the streets will be referred to the relevant agencies for assistance.
“People who are sleeping outdoors, including holders of work passes, are assisted,” he said.
“Your employer will be asked to provide accommodation immediately or the Migrant Workers Center (MWC) will accommodate them in the interim if the employer is unable to do so.”
MOM also said it has established ties with non-governmental organizations to refer any cases of job pass holders sleeping outside to the ministry.
“In recent months, MOM has not received referrals from NGOs,” he said.
“MOM reminds all employers of their obligations to their foreign employees and to ensure that they have adequate accommodation during their stay in Singapore,” the ministry said.
He also encouraged members of the public to refer work pass holders facing housing issues to MOM or MWC for further assistance.
