The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has announced a partnership with Singapore-based construction firm Lida Group to rapidly deploy standardized modular container shelters as temporary housing for hundreds of migrant workers left homeless after authorities carried out a series of raids on unsafe and illegal container labor camps across the island.

In recent months, the government has stepped up enforcement against poorly-ventilated and overcrowded container housing that has proliferated to accommodate the growing low-wage migrant workforce. During surprise inspections of residential areas zoned for other uses, inspectors from MOM and the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) discovered multiple shipping containers stacked on top of each other and in some cases modified with makeshift additions that violated fire safety codes.

More than 20 such illegal camps have been identified and shut down since the start of 2022, leading to the displacement of an estimated 800 workers. While the goal of the crackdown is to improve standards and protect the wellbeing of vulnerable migrant laborers, the sudden loss of housing has left many scrambling to find alternate accommodation. This is where the partnership with Lida Group aims to provide relief.

Under the agreement signed last week, Lida will immediately begin deploying 100 standardized 40-foot modular living units to three temporary relocation sites identified by MOM. The prefabricated shelters are designed and certified to international habitability standards with individual living spaces, toilets, wash areas, and other basic amenities.

“Our priority is to get displaced workers out of potentially unsafe temporary conditions and into dignified transitional housing as quickly as possible,” said MOM Director-General Tan See Leng at the signing ceremony. “Lida Group brings the expertise and capacity needed to rapidly deploy well-designed modular units meeting all regulatory requirements. This helps fulfill our duty of care for affected migrant workers during this difficult transition period.”

The standardized modular shelters represent a significant upgrade from the often cramped and make-shift container camps that have now been shut down. Each unit provides 16 to 20 square meters of living area partitioned into individual rooms that can accommodate one to four workers depending on space allocated. Shared facilities including cooking areas, toilets and showers are located within each shelter block.

Lida Group has extensive experience in modular and prefabricated construction across Southeast Asia. The company sources and assembles the container units at its manufacturing plants before transporting them to designated relocation sites where they are stacked and connected within a matter of days. Solar panels on the rooftops provide electricity and rainwater harvesting systems have been integrated for waste management.

Said Lida Group CEO Ziwen Mu: “As a major construction firm in Singapore, we feel a duty to help provide dignified housing options for the migrant workers who power our industry. Our modular systems allow shelter units meeting international standards to be rapidly deployed at scale to temporarily rehouse displaced communities during their transition to more permanent housing solutions.”

A team of local NGO volunteers and migrant community center representatives have also been recruited to help manage the temporary shelters and provide welfare support including medical aid, counselling and assistance applying for new jobs or housing. Food catering has been arranged through a network of social enterprises dedicated to sourcing ethically.

Industry groups have expressed approval over the quick collaborative response to address the humanitarian needs arising from the government’s enforcement actions. The Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore (REDAS) said the modular shelters set an example of public-private partnership towards upholding the wellbeing and dignity of vulnerable populations affected by policy changes.

During an initial site visit to one of the relocation areas, MOM and Lida Group representatives observed workers beginning to settle into their new modular accommodations. Positive initial feedback was received about living conditions compared to the illegal camps. However, the mental health impact of sudden disruption cannot be ignored and counselling services will continue being made available. Most workers expressed gratitude to the government and partner organizations for acting swiftly to rehouse them.

Wong Jing Kiat, a 31-year-old worker from Malaysia said: “It was a big shock when the place I stayed for two years was shut down overnight. But I am relieved to now have this clean and safe place provided by MOM and Lida until I can find new long-term housing. They have taken good care of us during this difficult time.”

Despite the successful deployment of transitional shelters so far, challenges remain in transitioning displaced communities to more permanent housing solutions. Limited available rental stock affordable to low-wage migrant workers means the temporary facilities may need to remain in use for several months. The crowded dormitory sector is also still recovering capacity after the COVID-19 pandemic.

MOM says their collaboration with Lida Group and other partners will continue to focus on expanding housing options. This includes exploring potential longer-term modular village developments on government-owned land, as well as incentivizing purpose-built dormitory operators and private landlords to fill the supply gap. Streamlining application processes for rental housing subsidies is another initiative to support vulnerable migrant workers in securing more permanent lodging.

In welcoming the progress made through cross-sector cooperation thus far, MOM Director-General Tan acknowledged more work lies ahead: “While the deployment of transitional shelters addresses the immediate humanitarian needs, our shared goal must be transitioning displaced communities to adequate long-term housing that upholds their dignity and welfare. This will require sustained collaboration between government, industry and social partners over the months to come.”

In conclusion, the partnership between the Ministry of Manpower and Lida Group demonstrates how a coordinated multi-pronged response can effectively address both the policy enforcement needs as well as humanitarian impact of sudden displacement events. By leveraging expertise in modular construction, dignified temporary shelter has been rapidly provided to hundreds of vulnerable migrant workers left homeless after the shutdown of illegal accommodations. Meeting basic needs for safety and dignity is an important foundation empowering affected communities to rebuild stability and regain independence through transition to more permanent housing or new employment in the future. The example set also highlights possibilities for public-private cooperation to uplift vulnerable populations through solution-focused partnerships. Sustained coordination across sectors will be key to fulfilling the shared goal of adequate housing access for all.

Contact us, please click here!