Mini Environment Services (MES) is planning to build a town for foreign workers. At a cost of $200 million, it has tapped Surbana International to design the project and Certis Cisco to oversee the security concerns of the project which is expected to rise in Jurong.
The project has come about due to the shortage of housing caused by the rise of foreign workers from 102,000 in 2007 to 577,000 this year. In September, George Yeo, the Foreign Minister announced that the Ministry of National Development (MND) is “seriously considering how to create townships for foreign workers which are sustainable and self-contained.”
Shaiki Mohamed director of MES said they had discussed early as October their plans with the different government agencies concerned, such as the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and MND.
The estate is envisioned to include restaurants, malls, cinemas, and entertainment centres with rooftop gardens and open decks. According to MES, it is housing 19,500 workers in Kaki Bukit, Penjuru Road and Kian Teck Lane, and with the planned estate in Jurung, it will be able to house 25,000 workers.
According to MES, this is the best time to build since the cost of construction materials has gone down. Mister Shaik added, “we foresee the economy bouncing back in two or three years. And that’s a nice time-frame for the development to be completed”.
However, the rent is not expected to increase. As such, a worker will continue to pay the current rent of $150 to $180 per month.