State executive councillor Jagdeep Singh Deo said with 93,000 legal blue-collared foreign workers and an estimated 200,000 illegal workers in the state, there was a high demand for the dormitories.

He said the Penang government has already begun building foreign workers’ dormitories since 2015, with facilities that can take 25,000 beds expected to be ready within two years.

“We need more foreign workers dorms, not only to holistically house them in a systematic manner for their wellbeing and safety, but also to address the issue of foreign workers flooding our local housing schemes,” he said.

Jagdeep said with five dormitory projects in the pipeline — four in Seberang Perai and one on the island — the state wants to increase the number of beds to match the industries’ demands. Each dormitory is able to house up to 5,000 beds.

He said two more tracts of land measuring close to 4ha in Batu Kawan had been identified and open tenders would be called for companies to build dorms there.

Jagdeep said two of the dorms would be built and managed by a Singapore company, Westlite Accommodation, which specialises in workers’ dormitories.

He said Westlite won two tenders to build dormitories in Bukit Minyak and Juru (both in Seberang Prai), with the former expected to be completed this October.

“We will be getting the latest fourth generation dorms which is a self-sustaining eco-system. It will feature ATMs, groceries, laundromat, post office and even a barbershop, just like workers’ dorms in Singapore.

“We are aiming to replicate the same here,” Jagdeep told FMT.

He said the move would allow foreign workers to live in comfortably appointed bedrooms rather than cramped quarters set-up in residential areas.

“Most foreign workers are here for a short period and living in a housing estate does not make sense.

“They usually stay for a short term and leave for their home countries after that. Hence, the workers’ dorms will be the best option.”