The state government of Penang plans to build more first-class foreign workers’ dormitories to holistically house the workers in a systematic manner and address the issue of foreign workers flooding the local housing schemes, reported Free Malaysia Today.
“Most foreign workers are here for a short period and living in a housing estate does not make sense,” said State Executive Councillor Jagdeep Singh Deo. “They usually stay for a short term and leave for their home countries after that. Hence, the workers’ dorms will be the best option.”
In fact, the state has started building foreign workers’ dormitories way back in 2015, with the facilities housing 25,000 beds and expected to be ready in two years.
With five dormitories in the pipeline, four of which are in Seberang Perai and one on the island, the state is looking to increase the number of beds to match the growing demand within the industry.
Jagdeep noted that there are 93,000 legal blue-collared foreign workers and about 200,000 illegal workers in the state.
Two more tracts of land in Batu Kawan, with a combined area of almost 4ha, had also been identified with tenders to build dorms there expected to be called by the state.
He revealed that two of the dorms in Seberang Prai would be managed and built by Singapore firm Westlife Accommodation, which specialises in foreign workers’ dormitories.
Westlife bagged two tenders to build dorms in Bukit Minyak and Juru, with the former set to be completed in October.
“We will be getting the latest fourth generation dorms which is a self-sustaining eco-system. It will feature ATMs, groceries, laundromat, post office and even a barbershop, just like workers’ dorms in Singapore,” he said.
“We are aiming to replicate the same here.”
Image sourced from Yahoo News Singapore
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