Singapore
By Cindy Co 10 Jun 2021 03:43PM (Updated: 10 Jun 2021 03:55PM )
SINGAPORE: Working from home will remain the default arrangement, even as Singapore transitions to Phase 3 (Heightened Alert) in the coming weeks.
“Employers should ensure that employees who are able to work from home continue to do so," said co-chair of the COVID-19 multi-ministry task force press conference Lawrence Wong on Thursday (Jun 10).
“We think that’s still necessary in order to minimise movement and to minimise risk,” he said.
Companies should continue to stagger start times of employees and implement flexible working hours, said Mr Wong, who is also the Finance Minister.
Workers also should not be cross-deployed to multiple worksites, added the Ministry of Health (MOH) in a press release on Thursday.
The Government announced on May 14 that working from home will become the default for workplaces after a spike in COVID-19 community infections. It was part of a slew of measures under Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) aimed at bringing down the number of cases.
JOBS SUPPORT SCHEME EXTENDED
The Jobs Support Scheme (JSS), which subsidies local workers' salaries, will be extended for certain sectors that are required to remain closed until Jun 20, said Mr Wong.
This is part of the staggered reopening under Phase 3 (Heightened Alert), where some sectors will not be allowed to reopen until Jun 21.
They will receive 10 per cent JSS support from Jun 21 to Jun 30.
Activities reopening on Jun 21 include dining-in at F&B establishments, live performances, mask-off sports activities at gyms and fitness studios and in-person tuition and enrichment classes.
For taxi and private-hire drivers, the COVID-19 Driver Relief Fund will be extended for three months at S$300 per month per vehicle for July and August and S$150 for September.
REGULAR TESTING FOR STAFF IN UNMASKED ACTIVITIES
People who work in high-risk settings with unmasked customers will have to undergo 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.
Mandatory tests will be progressively rolled out to larger establishments first and extended to smaller businesses after. For dine-in F&B outlets, testing will be rolled out starting from next month.
The capacity for the Fast and Easy Testing regime will be "aggressively ramped up" in the coming months, MOH said. Tests such as the antigen rapid test will be used.
More details will be announced later, the ministry added.
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)
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Working from home to remain as default; Jobs Support Scheme extended for certain sectors
(Photo: Unsplash/Glenn Carstens-Peters)By Cindy Co 10 Jun 2021 03:43PM (Updated: 10 Jun 2021 03:55PM )
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SINGAPORE: Working from home will remain the default arrangement, even as Singapore transitions to Phase 3 (Heightened Alert) in the coming weeks.
“Employers should ensure that employees who are able to work from home continue to do so," said co-chair of the COVID-19 multi-ministry task force press conference Lawrence Wong on Thursday (Jun 10).
“We think that’s still necessary in order to minimise movement and to minimise risk,” he said.
Companies should continue to stagger start times of employees and implement flexible working hours, said Mr Wong, who is also the Finance Minister.
READ: Cap of 5 people for social gatherings from Jun 14 as COVID-19 cases fall; dining-in may resume on Jun 21
READ: Singaporeans aged 12 to 39 can register for COVID-19 vaccination from Jun 11
Workers also should not be cross-deployed to multiple worksites, added the Ministry of Health (MOH) in a press release on Thursday.
The Government announced on May 14 that working from home will become the default for workplaces after a spike in COVID-19 community infections. It was part of a slew of measures under Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) aimed at bringing down the number of cases.
JOBS SUPPORT SCHEME EXTENDED
The Jobs Support Scheme (JSS), which subsidies local workers' salaries, will be extended for certain sectors that are required to remain closed until Jun 20, said Mr Wong.
This is part of the staggered reopening under Phase 3 (Heightened Alert), where some sectors will not be allowed to reopen until Jun 21.
They will receive 10 per cent JSS support from Jun 21 to Jun 30.
Activities reopening on Jun 21 include dining-in at F&B establishments, live performances, mask-off sports activities at gyms and fitness studios and in-person tuition and enrichment classes.
For taxi and private-hire drivers, the COVID-19 Driver Relief Fund will be extended for three months at S$300 per month per vehicle for July and August and S$150 for September.
READ: Jobs Support Scheme extended to retailers, gyms and arts sector
REGULAR TESTING FOR STAFF IN UNMASKED ACTIVITIES
People who work in high-risk settings with unmasked customers will have to undergo 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: COVID-19 antigen rapid test kits for self-testing to be 'sold by pharmacists' from Jun 16: MOH
Mandatory tests will be progressively rolled out to larger establishments first and extended to smaller businesses after. For dine-in F&B outlets, testing will be rolled out starting from next month.
The capacity for the Fast and Easy Testing regime will be "aggressively ramped up" in the coming months, MOH said. Tests such as the antigen rapid test will be used.
More details will be announced later, the ministry added.
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...