Coronavirus: Singapore scrambles to house commuting workers after Malaysia bans overseas travel

Putrajaya’s measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 include a 14-day self-quarantine for returning residents, and take effect on midnight Tuesday

Singapore has offered financial assistance and other aid to local businesses seeking accommodation for Malaysian workers

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Commuters from Johor, Malaysia, head to Singapore on March 17, hours before Malaysia imposes a lockdown on travel due to the coronavirus outbreak. Photo: Reuters

Published: 8:30pm, 17 Mar 2020Updated: 12:35am, 19 Mar 2020

For Tan Hang Kian, executive director of Singapore cleaning company Clean Solutions, Tuesday started with a “logistical nightmare”. Of the 2,000 staff he employs, 800 are Malaysians and 150 of those commute daily into the city state.

Tan had to scramble after Malaysia on Monday night announced an overseas travel ban for its citizens among other measures to curb the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak. “It was not confirmed last night whether those with jobs in Singapore will be allowed to come in, but we started making preparations immediately,” he said.

His line managers called their staff in Malaysia, telling them the company would try to house them in Singapore. Early on Tuesday, they started outfitting an existing dormitory – which can accommodate 400 people but is currently only half full – to hold these workers.

“We had to look for beds, look for towels, tooth brushes, all sorts of things. Now we are fixing more shower heads, adding security staff,” Tan said, estimating that about 80 per cent of the workers have agreed to stay on in Singapore and continue working.

Malaysia’s drastic measures include a 14-day self-quarantine order for residents returning from abroad, restrictions on public gatherings and the closure of most businesses except those selling food and everyday necessities. They start from Wednesday and last till March 31.

Vehicles queue to enter the Woodlands checkpoint in Singapore after Malaysia announced drastic measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Photo: AFP

The total number of cases in Malaysia rose on Tuesday to 673, the highest in Southeast Asia, as it reported its first two deaths from the virus.

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