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The former site of Bedok North Secondary School will be used to house around 400 foreign workers, according to Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh.

In a Facebook post on May 20, the 43-year-old said that he had been informed by the Ministry of Education (MOE) last week of the decision to use the school as a temporary dormitory for workers who provide essential services.

The school sits on the junction of Jalan Damai and Kaki Bukit Avenue 1, therefore falling under the purview of Pritam's Eunos ward.

Strict entry and exit protocols for the workers

"The MOE Dormitory Task Force kindly arranged an on-site briefing at the disused school for Town Council staff and myself yesterday evening," he wrote.

The site is still being prepared and there is no date confirmed for when the workers will start to move in, though MOE anticipates that it will happen "shortly".

While staying at the school, the workers will be have to abide by strict entry and exit protocols, according to Pritam.

"The residential protocol, as of now, requires workers to return to the dormitory immediately after work. They are not allowed to leave the premises upon return."

He wrote that the plan was for buses to pick up and drop off workers in the morning and evening.

Employers will be responsible for the care of the workers while they stay at the school, providing them with groceries and other items they may need.

"I walked through the completed rooms yesterday," wrote Pritam.

"Apart from beds and cupboards at a safe distance, there is a water dispenser in each room, including a WiFi point."

He added that piping had been installed in the school's toilets to provide showers for the workers.

The Bedok North Secondary School premises had been left unused since the school merged with Damai Secondary School in January 2018.

After the merge, staff and students from the relocated to Damai Secondary's premises on Bedok Reservoir Road.

Extending full support

Pritam said that the MOE Dormitory Task Force team assigned to the temporary dorm at the school had met with members of the Town Council staff in Eunos.

"I felt the introduction was important so the dormitory team could reach out for any support/assistance as required and vice-versa," he wrote on the meeting.

MOE Dormitory Task Force team members will be staying on site to manage the temporary dormitory.

Pritam also called on residents in Eunos to extend their "full support" to the initiative.

"I understand some of you may have questions on the activation of Bedok North Secondary School as a temporary dormitory," he wrote.

"Please do not hesitate to reach out to me, and I will do my best to give you as much information as I can on this matter."

Top image from Pritam Singh's Facebook page