On October 11, 2023, Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) announced plans to transition around 1,000 existing dormitories to improved interim standards under the Dormitory Transition Scheme (DTS) by 2030. This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance the resilience and living conditions of migrant workers in the country.

The new Dormitory Standards (NDS) will be fully implemented by 2040 for all existing dormitories, ensuring they meet more stringent regulations. Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State for Manpower, emphasized the significance of the DTS in uplifting existing dormitory standards to create a more positive living environment.

Under the DTS, by 2030, dormitories will have a maximum occupancy of 12 residents per room. While the interim DTS recommends 1-meter spacing between beds, this will become mandatory under the NDS. Currently, there are no restrictions on room occupancy or bed spacing.

The minimum living space per resident will increase from 3.5 square meters to 3.6 sq m under the DTS and further to 4.2 sq m under the NDS. Moreover, the new standards will require one toilet equipped with a shower, sink, and urinal for every six residents, down from the current requirement of one toilet per 15 residents.

The updated standards will also eliminate communal toilets, mandating en-suite facilities instead, although some dormitories may be exempt on a case-by-case basis due to infrastructure constraints.

To address public health risks, the MOM indicated that the vast majority of eligible dormitories will transition to the interim standards between 2027 and 2030, with some high-risk dormitories undergoing earlier transitions. However, dormitories with leases expiring by 2033 will be exempt from the DTS, as retrofitting would not be practical within their remaining lease durations.

The MOM is considering financial support for dormitories transitioning to the improved DTS standards to help offset the costs of retrofitting. Centurion Corporation, one of the largest dormitory operators in Singapore, welcomed the initiative, stating it would retrofit its facilities to comply with the new requirements, thereby enhancing the overall living conditions for migrant workers.