Singapore announces steps to enhance healthcare, housing for migrant workers
Singapore (PTI): Singapore has announced a series of measures to improve healthcare access, housing standards and social support for migrant workers, recognising their contribution to the city-state's multi-billion-dollar development, as it marked International Migrants Day on Monday.
Manpower Minister Tan See Leng said migrant workers, including domestic helps, have played a vital role in building the nation and caring for its people, and deserve greater appreciation and support.
Singapore depends on migrant workers from South Asia, including India; China; and Southeast Asia, over one million of whom are working in labour-intensive construction, marine shipyard and process sectors, according to The Straits Times newspaper.
“All of you - our migrant workers - can look forward to refreshed facilities and more diverse initiatives, from sports to entertainment and cultural performances, as well as training programmes such as English and digital literacy classes,” Tan was quoted as saying by The Straits Times.
Singapore has made significant progress in the areas of housing, healthcare and recreation since 2021, when a road map to build a more resilient migrant workforce was launched by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.
The minister announced that more clinics will be added under the Primary Care Plan (PCP) to reduce travel time and improve access to medical care for migrant workers. A centralised online portal will also be created to help employers enrol workers under the scheme.
These changes will be implemented when new PCP anchor operators are appointed from April 2027.
Launched in 2022, the PCP provides coverage for medical services including consultations for acute and chronic conditions, annual health screenings, telemedicine and medication delivery.
To strengthen social support, Tan said, MOM and the Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC) will merge two existing volunteer schemes into a single unified programme in 2026.
Currently, about 2,000 migrant workers volunteer under MOM’s Friends of ACE programme and as ambassadors at the MWC.
The move will allow better deployment of volunteers and expand outreach to more workers, Tan said, adding that recreational offerings will also be diversified.
On housing, Tan announced that Singapore’s first government-built migrant worker dormitory, NESST Tukang, has begun accommodating residents ahead of its official opening in January 2026.
Located in the Jurong industrial estate, the dormitory can house up to 2,400 workers and features improved ventilation, privacy corners and round-the-clock food access.
“This Tukang dormitory sets a new benchmark for safety, comfort and dignity,” Tan said, expressing hope that it would encourage higher standards across the industry.
The government also plans to build six additional dormitories providing a total of 45,000 beds over the next few years, following lessons learnt during the pandemic.
Tan also highlighted initiatives such as the CritiCare Fund for Migrant Workers, which supports those suffering from critical illnesses and unable to afford life-saving treatment.
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Commercial LPG hike: Delhi restaurant owners warn of higher menu rates, job losses
New Delhi (PTI) A day after a 50 per cent rise in commercial LPG cylinder prices, Delhi's food business, with restaurant owners and street vendors have warned of higher menu rates, financial strain and potential job losses if the trend persists.
The price of commercial LPG was hiked by a steep Rs 993 per 19 kg cylinder, marking the third consecutive monthly hike amid rising global energy prices linked to the West Asia conflict.
For many in the restaurant industry, the spike has been both sudden and steep.
Manpreet Singh, honorary treasurer of the National Restaurant Association of India, said that eateries are already grappling with supply challenges alongside rising costs.
"There is a huge difficulty in getting these cylinders, and black marketing is also increasing in many unregulated sectors," he said, noting that prices that were once around Rs 1,600, often dropping to nearly Rs 1,300 with discounts, have now surged to between Rs 3,000 and Rs 4,000 per cylinder.
He further added that a medium-sized restaurant typically uses between two and five cylinders daily, making the increase particularly burdensome as costs mount.
Singh further said that as costs mount, smaller establishments could struggle to stay afloat. Instead, the association has advised restaurants to shift towards piped natural gas connections through Indraprastha Gas Limited as a more sustainable alternative.
"If this problem continues, PNG is the only long-term solution," he said, adding that temporary measures like coal offer limited relief due to slower cooking times and that it can largely be used only for tandoors.
Echoing similar concerns, Kabir Suri, owner of Mamagoto in Khan Market, said the impact is already visible across the industry. "There has been almost a threefold increase in cylinder prices for restaurants," he said, adding that rising fuel and logistics costs are compounding the pressure.
"If this continues, it will become a significant financial burden, and food prices will inevitably go up. Adding to this burden, higher fuel costs are also affecting logistics and transportation, making a price rise unavoidable. The extent of the impact will vary between small eateries and large chains depending on their scale," he said.
Global oil prices have surged nearly 50 per cent following disruptions in energy supply chains due to the West Asia conflict, pushing up commercial fuel costs and transport expenses.
A West Delhi-based restaurateur said they are trying to manage rising costs while keeping their staff secure. "We are trying to ensure that our staff, from kitchen workers to waiters, are paid on time and do not face immediate hardship," the owner said.
"We are a small restaurant with seating for about 20 to 25 people at a time. But if this continues for long, we will have to take difficult calls. There is only so much we can absorb, and menu prices will have to go up. We hope this does not continue for a longer period," he said.
Another restaurant owner in North Delhi, who did not wish to be named, said operational adjustments alone may not be enough. "We are checking our costs very carefully and trying to cut wherever possible, but if fuel prices remain high, it will eventually affect how we run the business," the owner said.
"Coal helps in tandoor cooking, but it takes more time," the owner further added.
The strain is even more acute among street vendors, many of whom operate on thin margins. A vendor in Saket said he had recently expanded his business, moving from a mobile cart to a rented outlet.
"I have a family to feed and more responsibilities now. Earlier, I managed with a moving cart, but after renting the place, expenses increased," he said. "Whenever cylinders were unavailable, I had to buy them at higher rates in the black market. Now even regular supply is too expensive, and if this continues, we may have to shut down," he added.
In Laxmi Nagar, another vendor said they are struggling to keep the business running. "Sometimes we even used domestic cylinders from home when supply ran out because we had to keep the stall running," he said, adding that rising costs leave little choice but to increase prices or bear losses.
On April 1, the rates of commercial LPG cylinders were hiked by Rs 195.50 per cylinder, followed by a Rs 114.5 hike on March 1, taking the total increase over the past three months to Rs 1,303. With the latest revision, a 19 kg commercial LPG cylinder now costs Rs 3,371.5 in Delhi, up from Rs 2,078.5 earlier.
The prices of domestic LPG cylinders used for household cooking have remained unchanged. They were last increased by Rs 60 per 14.2 kg cylinder on March 7 and currently cost Rs 913 in Delhi.
