A group of 21 workers were confined inside their dormitory room, which was locked from the outside, according to a Facebook post on Apr. 21 by Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), an NGO which focuses on migrant worker issues.
This was made known to TWC2 in "a distress call" to them.
TWC2 said that the workers were locked into the room since Apr. 17, after a worker of Chinese nationality was taken away, as he had tested positive for Covid-19.
However, the manager of the dormitory where this happened spoke to TODAY, disputing some of the claims made by TWC2, and saying that he had no other option.
Situation in the dormitory room
Workers wanting to go to the toilet or to shower had to call security guards to unlock the door, the post said, adding that the guards could take up to 30 minutes to attend to such a request.
The post also contained two screenshots of videos taken by men in the room, showing a man trying unsuccessfully to open the locked door, as well as the conditions in the room.
Dormitory door allegedly locked from outside. Photo via TWC2 on Facebook.
Workers allegedly locked in a dormitory. Photo via TWC2 on Facebook.
TWC2 said that this was "an unacceptable and dangerous way to do things", pointing out the potential danger that the men would be in in the event of a fire.
The post said that the door remained locked as of 12:37pm on Apr. 21, which is 30 minutes before the post was shared at around 1:07pm.
Response from dormitory manager, workers' employer
While TWC2 said that the workers had been locked into the room since Apr. 17, the manager of Joylicious dormitory told TODAY that the workers had been locked in the room for less than 24 hours.
He explained that it had been necessary to lock them in the room without a toilet, while more suitable accommodations were being prepared.
He also clarified that there were 20, and not 21 workers in the room.
TODAY also spoke to the design director of the men’s employer, V Spec Engineering & Supplies, who said that there were two Bangladeshi workers among the group who requested to use the toilet every half hour.
However, the dormitory manager would have needed to ensure that the toilet was cleared of other dormitory occupants before allowing access by workers from this group, as they were close contacts of a confirmed Covid-19 case.
Thus, he told TODAY, the dormitory manager had no other choice but to lock the group of 20 in their room, as it was necessary for the safety of the other workers at the dormitory, where approximately 800 workers were living.
Authorities are called
TWC2's post said that it had contacted "the authorities and their related organisation" on Apr. 20, the day before its first Facebook post about the case on Apr. 21.
The chairman of Migrant Workers' Centre (MWC), Yeo Guat Kwang confirmed this in a statement, saying that MWC, in line with its normal practice, alerted the Enforcement Unit of the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) about the case.
Yeo explained that MWC was unable to access the private property on its own, but said that MOM had indeed carried out an enforcement visit on Apr. 21.
Men being moved to a different room
In a follow-up comment on the post at 2:15pm on Apr. 21, TWC2 said that the men were being moved to a more spacious room, though it was not know whether that room would be similarly locked as well.
Screenshot via TWC2's Facebook page.
A subsequent post by TWC2 purportedly showed a latch on the door to a room where the men had been relocated:
A latch on the door to a room where workers are allegedly locked in a dormitory. Photo via TWC2 on Facebook.
While this larger room had an attached bathroom, TWC2 said that "the door is still locked", and that individual workers in the group were receiving calls from "the boss", who was trying to find out who leaked the information.
"Punishment and retribution is likely to follow," the post said.
It is not clear whether the men were moved to this other room due to action by the authorities.
Door is eventually opened
TWC2 then made a third post on the matter at 8:25pm, which stated:
At last, a positive note from the guys in Joylicious dorm. The police came and the door was opened. Now, the door is left open and they get fresh air. Hope it stays that way.
However, upon arrival at the scene, SPF officers found that the case had already been resolved.
Mothership has reached out to MOM and will update the article with their response.
Workers in a similar situation should reach out to MWC
MWCs statement said that workers in a similar situation should reach out to MWC:
The safety of our migrant workers are our utmost concern and such dangerous acts, what more during this crucial circuit breaker period, will not be condoned. We would like to urge our migrant brothers and sisters, who might be caught in a similar situation or need any assistance, to reach out to the MWC on our 24-hour helpline at 6536 2692.
MWC has previously said that its helpline is operated in all the major migrant worker native languages.
All dormitories to be locked down
On Apr. 21, manpower minister Josephine Teo announced a full lockdown on all foreign workers living in dormitories starting 11:59pm, Apr. 21.
Previously, workers were being quarantined at 19 of the 43 purpose-built dormitories were gazetted as isolation areas.
There are also smaller-scale dormitories, such as factory-converted dormitories, which house about 50 to 500 individuals each.
While none of these dorms are currently gazetted as isolation areas, Teo previously said that "we aim to apply the same safe distancing measures, so that they are effectively also on lockdown," at a press conference on Apr. 14.
Teo said that in these dormitories, close contacts of those who tested positive for Covid-19 are also being isolated, as part of MOM's three-pronged strategy.
The 43 purpose-built dormitories house a total of about 200,000 workers, out of an estimated total of 323,000 dormitory residents in Singapore, according to situation reports by the Ministry of Health (MOH).
Work permit and S Pass holders serving 14-day SHN from Apr. 20
MOM also said on Apr. 18 that all work permit and S Pass holders in the construction sector are required to serve a 14-day stay-home notice (SHN), from Apr 20, 2020.
This is due to the fact that the highest number of infected cases have come from the construction sector, with worksite transmissions contributing to the number.
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Top image via TWC2 on Facebook