not all foreign workers are like housed in cramped, unhygienic, poorly ventilated conditions like those reported sometime ago in the tagore area. today, while exploring the farming area at murai, after the lim chu kang cemeteries, i came upon this complex which looked like new factories.
there is a specially-built bicycle rack, in an area the size of a car-park, for the workers to park their bicycles. the workers definitely need a bicycle if they want to get to the nearest place to meet the local people - that would be at jurong west, where there is a sheng siong outlet at jalan bahar.
the dormitories have their own gymnasium, reading rooms, outdoor games courts, mini-mart, canteen and even a barber shop.
the dormitories at murai will eventually house about 12 000 workers of all nationalities. the place is managed by the building and construction authority (bca).
aksed about how they feel about living so close to cemeteries, the manager of the dormitories said: 'The workers don't care what is outside as long as the living quarters are comfortable and transportation to work is available.'
