SINGAPORE: Some foreign healthcare workers who are new to Singapore will be able to stay in hostel-type facilities before they move to other housing options in the market.
Vacant buildings at five sites will be retrofitted to house a total of 1,800 people.
Works are expected to start from the end of this year. The facilities will progressively be ready from the second quarter of 2024, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) and MOH Holdings in a joint media release on Monday (Aug 7).
MOH Holdings is the holding company for Singapore’s public healthcare institutions.
New foreign healthcare workers employed by public healthcare institutions, comprising mainly nurses and allied health professionals, will be eligible for the new accommodation arrangement when they first arrive in Singapore.
Each bedroom is expected to be shared by two people. The facilities will include amenities such as a dining area, pantry, laundry room and common social spaces.
“Such healthcare hostels are one way to better onboard the healthcare workers after they first arrive here,” the media release stated.
MOH Holdings on Monday launched a Request for Proposal to appoint an operator to retrofit and manage the accommodation at five sites, which are:
- 1A Short Street (site of former student hostel)
- 100 Ulu Pandan Road (site of former student hostel)
- 107 Circuit Road (site of former school)
- 36 and 38 Teck Whye Crescent (site of former school)
- 60 Boundary Close (site of former workers’ dormitory)
It is also seeking proposals for another 11 potential sites – one brownfield site and 10 greenfield sites.
MOH and MOH Holdings said they will monitor the use of the facilities at the initial five locations before assessing the need to develop additional sites.