Andrew gives us an interesting view of the possible repercussions once this policy is implemented, including rising costs of construction and and employers finding ways to skirt the policy. I have my doubts on the possible relocation of these workers to private housing though, since the cost is forbidding. The employers would rather house them in cheap workers dorm or some temporary on-site housing, which are quite shabby. And I don't think it contradicts with the move to integrate foreign talents into Singapore society, since the government doesn't consider these workers to be talents in the first place, and the aim is to let these workers earn their money and go back home. There is a problem if we decide to let them settle here. We are basically expanding the pool of unskilled workers, and are denying our own unskilled citizens jobs. Wages for these unskilled workers are going to be depressed (like the workers themselves), widening the income gap. It's the Polish plumber problem. The supply side of the problem must be handled if we are going to narrow the income gap.
Gayle Goh seems to be saying that these workers don't cause any problems, making "mysterious sounds" that she has never heard. And Singaporeans who complain about them are hypocritical and bigoted. I think that is really not the case for other people. Personally I used to have some foreign construction workers as neighbours and they have never caused any problems. But there are people who have to deal with insecurity and irritations on a daily basis because of the workers.
Listeners of Radio 100.3's Chamber will know of Ming De's story about screeching noises coming from foreign workers living above his mother's flat (or was it his flat?) in the middle of the night. Despite numerous discussions with these workers, the noises persisted. Even interventions by the police did not work. I've watched a Channel 8 current affairs show, which was talking about the problems caused by foreign workers in a particular housing estate. They will crowd around the void deck at night, drinking, singing, and sometimes fight when they are drunk. They leave litter and broken bottles lying around after their little party. I still remember that riot police were mobilized when a group of foreign workers got into fight at a hawker center, an event which occurred this year and I saw it on TV but I can't find it on the Web. Not sure if it's on Youtube though. And I know of people complaining that these workers cooking curry or other strong-smelling foods at night and disturbing their sleep.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When in Singapore, you know....It's not that Singaporeans look down on them. It's a matter of living habits. We'll complain about our neighbours regardless of their nationality if they do things that disturb our living environment. For instance, if your neighbours play mahjong at 3 a.m. or fry belachan at 1 a.m. every night you'll be unhappy too, regardless of nationality or occupation. That said, there are some practices that we generally accept as part of our way of life, like the Malays having weddings or Chinese having funerals at our void decks. Yes some people may not be able to accept that or find it noisy, but Singaporeans as a whole are able to tolerate that and accept it (else they will have to move into private housing). Likewise, the funerals or weddings don't extend into the middle of the night and disturb other people sleeping (if you sleep in the morn or afternoon, there's some problem though).
Gayle has a point that enforcing nuisance laws can help to alleviate the problem, without having to implement this new policy. From what I've seen, there is a problem with enforcing it, and that's why HDB dwellers have to resort to asking their MPs for help. I'm not sure why, but the police may need to look into it or we may need some new legislations regarding nuisance laws.
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