MOM Will Not Provide Temp Lodging For Malaysian Workers After 31 Mar, Despite Extension Of Lockdown

MOM Asks Employers Of M’sian Workers To Find Sustainable Housing For Them After 31 Mar

Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced on Wednesday (25 Mar) that the nationwide Movement Control Order (MCO) was being extended to 14 Apr.

However, it seems Malaysian workers in Singapore their companies are out of luck, as Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) announced on the same that they will no longer provide temporary housing support for Malaysian workers in Singapore after 31 Mar — the initial date that the lockdown was supposed to end.

Instead, the onus will be on employers to find spaces for their workers, a statement released on the MOM website reported.

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MOM has helped to accommodate displaced Malaysians

Although MOM provided accommodation assistance for stranded Malaysian workers immediately after the lockdown, for example in allocating temporary lodging.

In all, the Government has helped around 2,000 companies in finding housing for over 10,000 affected workers, MOM said.

However, on Monday (23 Mar), the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) announced that the relief centre at Jurong East sports hall will no longer be in use, considering the “low number of Malaysian workers who have required use of the facility”.

Employers should manage housing for Malaysian workers

The latest move will mean that employers will have to handle “more sustainable housing options” for their workers.

According to the statement:

…the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) strongly encourages all affected employers to look for more sustainable housing options in Singapore for these workers.

MOM will still assist employers in finding sustainable housing for their workers if they go to their website or email them at mom_qops@mom.gov.sg

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No more $50 a day allowance for workers either

From 18 Mar, MOM has also been giving a $50 allowance per day to employers of displaced workers, for a duration of 14 days.

This will not continue past 31 Mar.

Thus, companies will also have to ensure their workers can deal with daily expenses, said the statement:

For their own long-term sustainability and business continuity reasons, employers will need to decide on how best to house their affected workers in Singapore, and the sharing of additional costs with their workers.

Decision to stop temporary housing makes sense

There’s a good reason why MOM is not providing temporary housing anymore.

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Because the lockdown may be set to continue for several weeks, living in temporary lodging is not going to be ideal.

This uncertainty will eventually wear on the Malaysian workers as well, so employers have to manage their living conditions.

They have to start by giving their workers a more stable living environment here in Singapore, even if that means having to put in more effort.

Hopefully there’ll be an end to Malaysia’s lockdown soon and these workers can return to their homes and families.

Featured image adapted from EdgeProp and Facebook.