22 Apr 2020
Ref No.: 220420 (1)
UEN: S97SS0046G
Dear Valued ASPRI Members,
Overcoming COVID-19 Together: Strong National Push to Stem Spread of COVID-19
1/5: EXTENSION OF CIRCUIT BREAKER PERIOD
As announced by PM Lee yesterday, the circuit breaker period will be extended by another 4 weeks until 1 June 2020 (inclusive). The Government will continue to monitor the situation closely, and may be able to gradually ease some of the measures if there is a significant decline in our local transmission numbers.
Businesses which had earlier received approvals by the Ministry of Trade and Industry to operate during the original Circuit Breaker period from 7 April 2020 to 4 May 2020 can continue doing so until 1 June 2020.
The Government will continue supporting businesses and workers throughout the extended circuit breaker period.
2/5: TACKLING TRANSMISSIONS IN MIGRANT WORKER CLUSTERS
From 2359 hours, 21 April 2020, the authorities will no longer allow daily movement of workers in and out of all dormitories (i.e. Purpose Built Dormitories, Factory Converted Dormitories, Construction Temporary Quarters and Temporary Occupation Licence quarters. Workers living in the dormitories who had earlier been allowed to commute to work will no longer be allowed to do so.
Employers must continue to work with the dormitory operators to ensure the wellbeing of the workers in the dormitories, including taking care of their food and other daily needs.
For more information, please visit: https://www.moh.gov.sg/news-highlights/details/strong-national-push-to-stem-spread-of-covid-19
3/5: TIGHTENED LIST OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND MEASURES FOR WORKPLACES THAT REMAIN OPEN
The Multi-Ministry Taskforce has also announced that fewer businesses will be permitted to operate during the Circuit Breaker. This will further reduce the number of workers who have to physically go to work, so as to minimise the movement and interaction of people, and curb the spread of COVID-19.
The Government will introduce the following additional measures targeted at workplaces:
• Suspend the operations of less critical consumer services with effect 21 April 2020, 2359hrs;
• Place additional restrictions on selected consumer-facing businesses to further reduce customer interactions with effect 21 April 2020, 2359hrs;
• Reduce the number of businesses allowed to operate at their work premises. Affected businesses will be notified by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and have 24 hours upon notification to wind down their business operations completely.
4/5: ADDITIONAL SAFEGUARDS AGAINST COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION
For workplace premises which remain open, employers must put in place effective measures to avoid transmission of COVID-19 at and across workplace premises:
• Not allowing teams working in different locations to interact physically with one another;
• Implementing safe distancing measures at every workplace premise;
• Ensuring workers wear masks at the workplaces;
• All workplaces will also be required to have a system that logs their workers’ entry into, and exit from, their workplaces. Employers can consider using a digital check-in application called SafeEntry for this purpose
5/5: QUERIES ON THE LATEST MEASURES
For all enquiries on the latest measures, please contact Enterprise Singapore (ESG) at 6898 1800 or email safedistancing@enterprisesg.gov.sg. Their phone lines will be open from 8.00am to 9.00pm on 22 April 2020, and 8.30am to 5.30pm daily thereafter.
Latest information will be up on www.enterprisesg.gov.sg/covid-19 as well.
