Singapore
By Cindy Co 18 Jun 2021 03:16PM (Updated: 18 Jun 2021 03:25PM )
SINGAPORE: Work-from-home will continue to remain the default, even as Singapore transitions through Phase 3 (Heightened Alert) in the coming weeks, announced the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Friday (Jun 13).
For employees who need to go to the workplace, start times must be staggered and flexible working hours implemented. Workers should not be cross-deployed to multiple worksites.
Workplaces are also not allowed to have social gatherings or serve food and beverages at work-related events, said MOH.
Singapore moved into the first stage of Phase 3 (Heightened Alert) on Monday, after a fall in the number of COVID-19 community cases. More restrictions will be eased in the second stage from Jun 21, when dining-in at F&B outlets can resume in groups of two.
EXTENDED SUPPORT MEASURES
The Government will also extend its current support measures to businesses and workers.
With restrictions on activities like dining-in and indoor mask-off sports and exercise still in place, the Jobs Support Scheme will be extended to July.
Under the scheme, which subsidises local workers' salaries, 30 per cent support will be extended to affected sectors for three weeks from Jun 21. It will then taper down to 10 per cent for the two weeks starting from Jul 12.
The Government previously announced that sectors required to remain closed until Jun 20 as part of the staggered reopening will receive 10 per cent support from Jun 21 to Jun 30.
Activities reopening on Jun 21 include dining-in at F&B outlets, live performances, mask-off sports activities at gyms and fitness studios and in-person tuition and enrichment classes.
“We recognise that some businesses will be impacted and therefore, the Ministry of Finance will continue to extend the support measures,” said co-chair of the multi-ministerial task force Lawrence Wong at a COVID-19 multi-ministry task force press conference on Friday.
“Regrettably, we are unable to proceed with our second stage of reopening in light of the latest outbreaks and big cluster that we have discovered in Bukit Merah, and now we have to adjust our plans,” he said.
Mr Wong, who is also the Finance Minister, announced extended support measures for the F&B industry.
Hawkers who are self-employed will receive rental waivers and subsidies for fees for table cleaning and centralised dishwashing services, he said. This will apply to stallholders in centres managed by the National Environment Agency (NEA) or NEA-appointed operators.
For workers who remain affected by the tighter measures, the COVID-19 recovery temporary grant will be extended to the end of July, he added.
Existing recipients of this grant can apply for a second round of support in July. More details will be announced later, said MOH.
MANDATORY REGULAR TESTING FOR STAFF IN UNMASKED ACTIVITIES
Staff who work in high-risk settings with unmasked customers, or where there is prolonged contact between individuals, will have to undergo a 14-day testing cycle from mid-July.
The Government previously announced that people who work in these high-risk settings will have to go through regular COVID-19 testing, regardless of their vaccination status.
This includes staff of dine-in F&B outlets, personal care and appearance services that require removal of masks such as facials, saunas and make-up services, and gym and fitness studios where clients are unmasked.
“Most of such testing can be done through a system of self-swabs, by the employees themselves and supervised by the employers,” said Mr Wong, adding that the Government will be training employers to do this.
The training will be provided at no cost for the next three months and antigen rapid test kits will be made available for this purpose.
For small businesses unable to organise the supervised self-swabs on their own, their staff can get tested at Quick Test Centres, said the minister. One centre will be set up at Tekka and another in Yishun, and both will begin operating on Jun 21. More centres will be set up later.
The Government will also facilitate earlier vaccination of people who work in these settings to minimise COVID-19 transmission, MOH said.
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Source: CNA/cc(cy)
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Work-from-home to remain as default; Jobs Support Scheme extended to July
Co-chair of the COVID-19 task force Lawrence Wong speaking at a press conference on Apr 30, 2021. (Photo: Ministry of Communications and Information)By Cindy Co 18 Jun 2021 03:16PM (Updated: 18 Jun 2021 03:25PM )
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SINGAPORE: Work-from-home will continue to remain the default, even as Singapore transitions through Phase 3 (Heightened Alert) in the coming weeks, announced the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Friday (Jun 13).
For employees who need to go to the workplace, start times must be staggered and flexible working hours implemented. Workers should not be cross-deployed to multiple worksites.
Workplaces are also not allowed to have social gatherings or serve food and beverages at work-related events, said MOH.
Singapore moved into the first stage of Phase 3 (Heightened Alert) on Monday, after a fall in the number of COVID-19 community cases. More restrictions will be eased in the second stage from Jun 21, when dining-in at F&B outlets can resume in groups of two.
READ: Dining-in to resume from Jun 21, but in groups of two, not five
EXTENDED SUPPORT MEASURES
The Government will also extend its current support measures to businesses and workers.
With restrictions on activities like dining-in and indoor mask-off sports and exercise still in place, the Jobs Support Scheme will be extended to July.
Under the scheme, which subsidises local workers' salaries, 30 per cent support will be extended to affected sectors for three weeks from Jun 21. It will then taper down to 10 per cent for the two weeks starting from Jul 12.
The Government previously announced that sectors required to remain closed until Jun 20 as part of the staggered reopening will receive 10 per cent support from Jun 21 to Jun 30.
Activities reopening on Jun 21 include dining-in at F&B outlets, live performances, mask-off sports activities at gyms and fitness studios and in-person tuition and enrichment classes.
“We recognise that some businesses will be impacted and therefore, the Ministry of Finance will continue to extend the support measures,” said co-chair of the multi-ministerial task force Lawrence Wong at a COVID-19 multi-ministry task force press conference on Friday.
“Regrettably, we are unable to proceed with our second stage of reopening in light of the latest outbreaks and big cluster that we have discovered in Bukit Merah, and now we have to adjust our plans,” he said.
Mr Wong, who is also the Finance Minister, announced extended support measures for the F&B industry.
Hawkers who are self-employed will receive rental waivers and subsidies for fees for table cleaning and centralised dishwashing services, he said. This will apply to stallholders in centres managed by the National Environment Agency (NEA) or NEA-appointed operators.
For workers who remain affected by the tighter measures, the COVID-19 recovery temporary grant will be extended to the end of July, he added.
Existing recipients of this grant can apply for a second round of support in July. More details will be announced later, said MOH.
READ: SafeEntry Gateway check-out boxes to be rolled out at malls, other high footfall venues
MANDATORY REGULAR TESTING FOR STAFF IN UNMASKED ACTIVITIES
Staff who work in high-risk settings with unmasked customers, or where there is prolonged contact between individuals, will have to undergo a 14-day testing cycle from mid-July.
The Government previously announced that people who work in these high-risk settings will have to go through regular COVID-19 testing, regardless of their vaccination status.
This includes staff of dine-in F&B outlets, personal care and appearance services that require removal of masks such as facials, saunas and make-up services, and gym and fitness studios where clients are unmasked.
READ: Visitors to elderly residential care homes must take rapid COVID-19 tests
“Most of such testing can be done through a system of self-swabs, by the employees themselves and supervised by the employers,” said Mr Wong, adding that the Government will be training employers to do this.
The training will be provided at no cost for the next three months and antigen rapid test kits will be made available for this purpose.
For small businesses unable to organise the supervised self-swabs on their own, their staff can get tested at Quick Test Centres, said the minister. One centre will be set up at Tekka and another in Yishun, and both will begin operating on Jun 21. More centres will be set up later.
The Government will also facilitate earlier vaccination of people who work in these settings to minimise COVID-19 transmission, MOH said.
BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic and its developments
Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
Source: CNA/cc(cy)
Continue reading...