Migrant Workers Center Announces Compensation Payments to Families of Workers Who Died Following Tanjong Pagar Site Tragedy

SINGAPORE — Following the tragic death of a 20-year-old migrant worker at a construction site in Tanjong Pagar, the Migrant Workers Center (MWC) has announced a financial aid plan for workers’ families.

MWC announced on Friday that it will issue a gratuity payment to the next of kin of the deceased workers with the aim of providing interim financial support during this difficult time.

The stipend will be funded by the Migrant Workers Assistance Fund (MWAF) and will fill the financial gap for families while they await compensation under the Workers’ Compensation Act (WICA).

The MWC, a bilateral body of the National Trade Union Congress (NTUC) and the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), did not disclose the amount of the money.

In addition to providing financial support, MWC also expressed its determination to help workers affected by such incidents, and pledged to provide counseling services to colleagues of workers who died during this difficult time. .

On Friday, Radin Mas SMC MP and NTUC Deputy Secretary-General Melvin Yung praised MWC’s response and reiterated the importance of a comprehensive investigation into the incident.

Yong further urged companies to strengthen their safety protocols and establish mechanisms to report safety concerns, reflecting widespread concerns about workers’ welfare.

The incident occurred on Thursday at the construction site of Fuji Xerox Towers. The tower is now being demolished to make way for a new development called Newport Plaza.

After the incident, Ike Sun Demolition and Engineering, the employer of the dead worker, was ordered to cease all work at the site.

Singapore Civil Defense Force (SCDF) they completed the search operation Friday morning confirmed no other people were trapped under the rubble.

The dead worker’s body was recovered late Thursday night, about eight hours after the incident.

The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and the Ministry of Labor (MOM) have jointly ordered a halt to all construction activity while an investigation into the cause of the collapse is ongoing.

Additionally, City Developments Limited, the developer of Newport Plaza, reaffirmed its commitment to workplace safety and pledged to provide necessary assistance to affected workers.