- which was announced in April - to improve the work environment of low-wage workers such as cleaners and security officers.Since April, manpower ministry inspectors visited more than 200 premises including food courts and shopping malls. They found that while most companies provided these workers with access to rest areas, some were unhygienic and had poor ventilation.
Rest areas should also offer workers privacy by being located in the back-of-house or out of public view, the guidelines suggested. If it is not practical, companies can put up signs to indicate that the space is used as a rest area for outsourced workers. IKEA decided to dedicate some space within their parking lot area when they built their first branch in Alexandra in 1995.
There are tables, chairs, lockers, fridges and a microwave in the rest area. These workers are also allowed to purchased subsidised meals - lunches and dinners go for $2 per meal - offered to all IKEA employees.Janet Lee, the HR manager of IKEA Alexandra, said that the rest area is “a basic need” for the workers to “work well in our store”. It is “good for us, and good for them”.