Page 487 - MARSIUM'21 COMP OF PAPER

Muhammad Amirul Asraf Bin Sungip (2022)

■ 1.0 INTRODUCTION

Westlite Accommodation is a company owned by Centurion Corporation which is based in Singapore. Centurion
Corporation Limited is listed on the SGX and the SEHK with a market cap of S$294.3 million. Weslite is the largest provider
of purpose-built workers accommodation in Singapore and Malaysia, with 15 assets in both countries. Dewll Student Living
is a purpose-built student accommodation facility with 20 assets in Australia, Singapore, the UK, South Korea, and the US.
Except for a Malaysian dormitory that is still under construction, Westlite Dormitory has 67,064 beds. Westlite
Accommodation is a leading owner-operator of Purpose-Built Worker Accommodation (PBWA) in Malaysia and Singapore.
Centurion Corporation Limited acquired the first worker accommodation asset in Singapore, Westlite Toh Guan, in August
2011. Westlite Accommodation owns and manages approximately 36,744 beds in Malaysia (eight PBWA assets) and 30,320
beds in Singapore (five operating PBWA assets and two Quick Build Dormitories). There are 9 Westlite Dormitory facilities
in Singapore. While there are 8 Westlite dormitories in Malaysia. Bukit Minyak has 6,600 beds and the top 5 nationalities
are Nepal, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Vietnam.
Westlite is a leading private owner-operator of PBWA, Westlite has been serving multinational companies, SMEs,
and human resource agencies across industries since 2011. Westlite Dormitory prides itself on putting residents' needs first
and providing exceptional community living. Westlite Dormitory offers residents a safe and comfortable living environment
with thoughtfully designed social and recreational activities. Its team of accommodation management experts has extensive
experience in developing and managing migrant worker housing. Westlite Accommodations is a self- contained permanent
structure in a secure environment, designed and built for our foreign workers. Rooms with ensuite or shared bathrooms and
kitchenettes. Other onsite amenities include a food court, sickbay, gym, sports courts, and a clinic. A healthy, self-sustaining,
and self-contained living environment is provided by Westlite Accommodation's PBWA portfolio. With amenities like a
gym, a sickbay, WiFi, and a minimart, Westlite Accommodation is designed to help residents spend less time travelling and
more time relaxing within the PBWA and their rooms. The PBWAs also meet JTK and RBA Standards, ensuring every
resident has personal space within legal and ethical boundaries. It is manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and ensures
residents' safety and security, as well as order and minimal disruption to neighbouring communities. All Westlite PBWAs
provide fully-furnished, fully-fitted apartments with electrical points. The rental rates of Westlite PBWAs include sports &
recreational facilities, amenities, events & activities, health screening and fire safety training. Westlite Accommodation also
covers PBWA repairs and maintenance. A dedicated Operations team will be in charge of cleaning and maintaining the
compound, saving tenants time and effort.

The world population has shifted due to massive migration from developing to developed nations. A large number
of migrants have travelled to major cities around the world to join the expanding workforces (Sahimin et al., 2016).
Malaysia's rapid economic growth has resulted in the rapid expansion of low-skilled jobs in plantation, construction,
manufacturing, domestic and food services (Sahimin et al., 2016). These migrants come from over 12 Asian countries, with
Indonesia accounting for the majority. These nations are also major sources of uranium. All observers agree that migrant
workers will continue to play an important role in the Malaysian economy, including manufacturing (Robertson, 2008).
The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that there are currently 175 million foreign workers worldwide.
Malaysia, after Singapore, receives the most foreign workers in Southeast Asia. By 2020, 2 million documented migrants
will make up over 15% of the workforce (Yen Nee Lee, 2020). Malaysia has long been a migration hub. Because of
persistent labour shortages, migration has been happening since the 1970s as a means of economic development (Kaur,
2010). Comparatively richer than Indonesia, the Philippines, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, Malaysia has also been a popular
destination for regional migrants (J. T. Anderson, 2020). Malaysia's inbound migration traffic has increased dramatically
since signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with migrant sending countries.
China was the first country to introduce the Dormitory Labour Regime (DLR) (Smith & Pun, 2006). Because
China continues to attract global Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), not only because its workforce is cheaper, but also
because its system squeezes more of each worker's surplus value. FDI brings a new generation of Chinese workers into the
global economy. Millions of these workers are domestic migrants who move from their homes to industrial areas to live
and socialise (Smith & Pun, 2006). Workers dormitory system or service in Malaysia and Singapore is still a new thing
introduced in 2011. Weslite Dormitory pioneered workers dormitory here. Westlite Toh Guan in Singapore and Westlte
Johor Technology Park in Malaysia were the first dormitories in both countries. The goal of these workers dormitory is to
develop or provide a centralised dormitory service where all companies can house their workers. Having all employees
under one roof makes it easier to manage and track them. The centralised dormitory service has grown in popularity as
many companies prefer the convenience it offers.
On 27 August 2020, Workers' Minimum Standard of Housing and Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446) requires
employers to provide housing for their employees. Non-compliance will result in an RM50,000 fine (Ida Lim, 2020). The
new rule requires employers and centralised employee accommodation providers to provide a single or double-decker bed,
a four-inch-thick mattress with a pillow and a blanket, and a cupboard with a lock. The government prohibits employees
from sharing these three items (Ida Lim, 2020). Despite the fact that the law is already in effect, some employers still do
not comply. From April 1 to 15, 2021, the Labour Department (JTK) found that 73.9 percent of Malaysian employers, or
10,961 employers, did not comply with the Worker's Minimum Standard of Housing and Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446).
(Bernama, 2021). The main issue or problem faced by Westlite Bukit Minyak, Pulau Pinang is low purchase intention by
their target market which is in Pulau Pinang area. One of the main issues is low brand awareness. Westlite Bukit Minyak is
a new facility that started operating in Pulau Pinang in late 2019. So, it lacks a solid customer base. And most manufacturing
companies were unaware of its existence. The company then took the initiative to personally approach each manufacturing
company in Pulau Pinang. This initiative or approach has not worked because it is costly and time consuming.

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