A woman was alarmed when she found a male cleaner inside the female toilet at Alexandra Village Food Centre, sparking safety concerns.
The cleaning supervisor later explained that cleaners always check before entering to ensure the toilet is empty.
The incident happened on the afternoon of August 4. The woman shared on Xiaohongshu that she had gone to use the female toilet and later saw a male cleaner entering with a broom to clean the cubicles.
“When I came out, I saw the male cleaner. I kept watching to make sure he didn’t have a phone. He was cleaning the cubicles and didn’t bother me, but I still felt very uneasy as he was the only one inside,” she wrote.
When reporters from Shin Min Daily News visited the scene, the cleaner said he had been working there for more than three years and usually cleans the toilets in the morning and afternoon.
His supervisor explained that the cleaner always calls out before entering to check if anyone is inside, and only proceeds when there is no response. A notice board is also placed outside during cleaning.
“Our cleaners will not misbehave. The toilets have to be cleaned every few hours,” the supervisor said.
Town Council: Cleaning only done when toilet is empty
Tanjong Pagar Town Council said they have reminded cleaners to ensure the toilets are empty before cleaning, to make sure patrons feel safe and comfortable.
Guess the woman must have been very urgent to chiong into the toilet that she missed the notice pasted outside the toilet bah. Usually, if a male cleaner is on duty, there will be a visible notice stuck outside the female toilet one leh.
