Sembmarine apologises to Jurong dorm residents, in the process of verifying workers' vaccination status

SEMBCORP Marine (Sembmarine) on Friday (Oct 15) apologised to its workers living at Westlite Jalan Tukang Dormitory, following complaints about delays in medical support and poor living conditions.

Dormitory residents had gathered to vent their frustration at the dormitory's management on Wednesday (Oct 13), which saw the arrival of armoured riot police to the vicinity. The 3,400-bed dormitory houses 1,400 Sembmarine workers. They had expressed concern that they were not given proper access to medical support and that they were given food that had turned bad.

The spike in cases detected among workers had led to delays in sending them to recovery facilities and healthcare facilities, which led to great unhappiness among both the Covid-positive workers as well as those who tested negative.

"To resolve the logistical challenge and address the workers sentiment, the company worked with Assurance, Care and Engagement Group (under the Ministry of Manpower) and the dormitory operator to convey the workers to appropriate care or recovery facilities," said Sembmarine.

The company added that as at Thursday (Oct 14), all its workers whose Antigen Rapid Test (ART) results were positive for Covid-19 had been transferred to a care or recovery facility.

"The company remains committed to ensuring that workers receive medical care, when needed," it said, adding that authorities have deployed mobile clinical teams on site and made regional medical centres and telemedicine accessible when required.

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Addressing issues raised about the lack of hygiene in the food served and unsatisfactory food quality, Sembmarine said that it has taken the external caterer that was engaged by them to task and insisted on strict adherence to hygiene standards, as well as timeliness of the food delivery.

The company will continue to monitor this to ensure a high and consistent standard of food hygiene and quality, it said.

In addition, the company had arranged for more engagement sessions with the workers at the dormitory and said that it had received the feedback and concerns of the workers.

"We have also taken the opportunity to share the current testing and health management protocols as defined by the local authorities. Many now have a better understanding of the protocols," said Sembmarine.

In a separate statement on Saturday (Oct 16), Sembmarine disclosed that the vaccination records of about 43 per cent of its 1,400 workers residing at Tukang Dorm had been updated in the National Immunisation Registry (NIR).

The process is ongoing given that these workers had arrived in Singapore recently. While they have all been vaccinated in their home countries, they are required to undergo a verification process of their vaccination status in Singapore after they enter to be considered vaccinated.

Individuals are required to show documentary proof of their overseas vaccination and provide a positive serology test result from an approved medical provider in Singapore. About 56 per cent have undergone serology tests.

The company is working with the Singapore authorities to verify the vaccination status for its remaining workers.

It is also making vaccination available to its workers whose serology tests do not meet the criteria for registration in the NIR. Workers will be allowed their choice of vaccines, including Sinovac and Sinopharm.

The company is actively engaging its workforce to explain to them Singapore's vaccination registration process and public health protocols, said Sembmarine.

Shares of Sembmarine ended Friday flat at S$0.08.