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Seven modern Quick Build Dormitories (QBDs) that have enhanced living standards would house a total of 8,000 migrant employees, with eight more such dorms to be completed by the second half of 2021.
The most recent QBD, based in Kranji, Admiralty and Choa Chu Kang, started operations around a month ago.
QBDs was part of government initiatives to raise living conditions in the accommodation of migrant employees. Any innovative criteria would be piloted by the recently designed dormitories to render dormitory life more responsive to public health threats, such as COVID-19.
Pilot Features
Westlite Kranji Way, a 1,300-bed QBD, has rooms that are more spacious. There are five single beds in each suite, spaced at least 1 m apart. There are 12 to 16 staff staying on double-decker beds in a standard dormitory.
There is also an en suite bathroom, tub and sink in the rooms. Except these sharing services, there is around 6 sq m of room for each worker.
Fifty-year-old Mr. Yang Sheng Li, a Chinese construction worker who moved to Westlite Kranji Way from the Woodlands dormitory three weeks ago, said he enjoyed the extra room.
The bathroom is fantastic, and there is a bathroom per bed. It’s more sanitary. The halls were quite noisy in the past. It’s more spacious and relaxed now,’ said Mr Yang.
It would also be necessary for people to utilize wider communal rooms. Dedicated seating areas and kitchens serve groups of 30 to 40 residents each.
There are many facilities inside the complex, such as a minimart, canteen and gym.
Popular Facilities of Westlite Kranji Way
More single-bed sick bay quarters, at 1.5 per cent of bed space, have now been added. For residents measuring positive for COVID-19, a red zone sick bay region has also been designated.
National Development Minister Desmond Lee, who was witnessing the latest architecture at the facility, stressed the value for migrant staff of growing living spaces.
One of the steps to help hold the building industry on its feet is the Easy Create Dorms and it is the de-densification of living spaces. Our guest workers reside in dormitory-style living.
“These are areas where the possibility of infection (is) high. In reality, de-densification and adequate healthy living steps are therefore very necessary,’ he said.
Residents are divided into smaller bubbles at the dormitory and prohibited from inter-mixing between bubbles. All multiple classes have distinct walking routes, and common pick-up and drop-off locations can be used for travel to function.
Often strictly practiced are temperature scans and sanitisation at the entry to the hospital, as are steps such as daily routine monitoring.
Since the dormitory started operations over a month ago, about 340 employees have moved in. By the end of the year, maximum occupancy is planned.
A TEMPORARY MEASURE: Quick Build Dorms
QBDs, which come in a low-density modular shape, will last for about two to three years.
Tan See Leng, Second Minister for Trade and Industry, said the requirements implemented in these facilities will act as a reference for more lasting solutions.
In the meantime, we also need to build more permanent systems that appeal to more … “Dr Tan said,” The long-lasting style of arrangement helps our migrant guest workers to function and survive out of it.
“We would still aim to collaborate with current dorm owners to see if their buildings can be improved and the de-densification phase will begin.”
By the second half of next year, eight more QBDs will be ready, taking the overall potential to 25,000, according to the National Development Ministry.
