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Key highlights from recent news on Covid-19, MOM, Digital Twin, and Sustainability below
Covid-19
1/1: Workplace vaccination measures from 1 January 2022
While 96% of our workforce has been vaccinated, there remains around 113,000 unvaccinated employees, of which 14,000 are seniors above 60 years old and are at high risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 infection.
To keep the workforce safe, the Multi-Ministry Taskforce (MTF) has decided that only employees who are fully vaccinated, or have recovered from COVID-19 within the past 270 days, can return to the workplace from 1 January 2022.
All unvaccinated individuals will not be allowed to return to the workplace. They can do so only if:
- They have tested negative for COVID-19 with an Antigen Rapid Test (ART) done via a Pre-Event Test at an MOH-approved COVID-19 test provider.
- Test must be valid for the duration that individuals are required to be at the workplace.
The Ministry of Manpower
1/2: ‘Substantial’ rise in resident employment in Q3, fewer retrenchments as labour market continues to improve
Singapore saw fewer retrenchments in the third quarter as well as a “substantial” rise in resident employment as the labour market continued to improve, said the Manpower Ministry (MOM) in advance estimates released on Friday (Oct 29).
However, recovery remains uneven across sectors due to extended COVID-19 restrictions, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary Aubeck Kam noted.
Overall, total employment declined by 3,400 in the third quarter, although the drop was “considerably gentler” than in the second quarter, when it fell by 16,300, said MOM.
2/2: Government to consider PME task force recommendations for workplace fairness
Proposals from the labour movement and employer’s federation to ensure workplace fairness and support for local workers will be considered by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
It noted on Friday (Oct 22): “The recommendations will be taken into consideration in the ongoing review of manpower policies, the workplace fairness framework and employment support initiatives.”
The remarks were in response to nine proposals put out by a PME task force led by the National Trades Union Congress and Singapore National Employers Federation to pinpoint better ways to assist professionals, managers and executives (PMEs).
Digital Twin
1/1: New ‘digital twin’ for national power grid to better manage Singapore’s electricity supply
Singapore is developing a “digital twin”, or a computer replica, of its power grid assets and network, to improve the reliability of its electricity supply and support the deployment of cleaner energy sources.
Created in collaboration with government agencies, industry players and research experts, the large-scale digital twin will give authorities a more comprehensive overview of the country’s power grid assets and network. It comprises two key models that can assess the health of power grid assets and the impact of connecting new energy sources and consumers to the grid.
In a joint release on Wednesday (Oct 27), the Energy Market Authority (EMA) and SP Group said the digital twin is currently in a prototype stage.
Sustainability
1/1: EMA, JTC launch S$6m open call for clean energy innovations on Jurong Island
The Energy Market Authority (EMA) and JTC have jointly launched a Jurong Island Renewable Energy Request for Proposals (RFP) to accelerate the development of clean energy innovations for implementation on the island.
Projects will be funded by a joint commitment of S$6 million from EMA and JTC, with support from Enterprise Singapore (ESG), the 3 agencies said in a joint statement on Monday (Oct 25).
This comes alongside plans for Jurong Island to serve as a living testbed and model for the innovation and adoption of renewable energy, energy storage systems (ESS) and low-carbon technologies.
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