Covid-19 will shake up dorm market for workers: analysts

They add that tougher rules and higher costs may force consolidation among operators and clients, and a further shift towards purpose-built housing

Annabeth Leow

Published Tue, Apr 14, 2020 · 09:50 PM

Foreign workers

Singapore

THE for-profit workers' housing industry is due for a shake-up, as the spread of the deadly new coronavirus could prompt the authorities to tighten standards, watchers believe.

With the virus tearing through workers' quarters, eight dormitories had been declared special isolation areas under the law, by Sunday.

The situation highlights how living conditions pose immediate risks to foreign workers' health and well-being, according to Satya Ramamurthy, head of infrastructure, government and healthcare at KPMG in Singapore.

DBS analyst Ling Lee Keng, who opened coverage of dorm operator Centurion Corp with a "buy" last year, told The Bu…