Publisher : Lianhe Zaobao
Ref : https://www.zaobao.com.sg/znews/singapore/story20200529-1056903
Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Singapore will end the "circuit breaker" anti-epidemic phase as planned on 1 June 2020, but to avoid the second wave of the epidemic, the SARS-CoV-2 blocking measures will not be lifted in one go, but will be relaxed in three phases. The first phase, which begins on 2 June, is expected to last four to six weeks. At this stage, who can resume business? What mandatory safety management measures must these operators meet?
Why can some companies can resume work in the first stage of the end of the virus blocking measures?
The first stage after the end of the circuit breaker measures is to gradually and safely resume economic and social activities. Therefore, the government will allow employees to return to office to work step by step, and the business premises that can resume work first are those with low risk of spreading the virus. This includes manufacturing and production facilities, as well as companies whose main business is conducted in the office or does not require frequent contact with multiple people.
Before resuming work, the company must abide by the requirements listed in the safety management measures (refer to https://covid.gobusiness.gov.sg/safemanagement/general ("Safe Management Requirements") and the conditions met in different areas.
Employers must adopt the home office model to the greatest extent. Employees who already work from home should continue to do so. Unless there are clearly necessary reasons, such as the need to use special systems and equipment that cannot be accessed remotely from home, or in order to comply with legal requirements, employees must complete transactions in person or on site before employees can return to the company.
How should companies go about staggering work and rest time in the offices?
Staggering work and rest time is essential to reduce the concentration of employees in public spaces, such as entrances, exits, halls, canteens and pantry.
The workplace safety measures management guidelines issued by the Ministry of Manpower require employers to implement a staggered time operation mode when resuming work. The staggered model is divided into at least three working hours, with each hour as a period of time, to ensure that no more than half of employees report within an hour. For example, if the normal working hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., the employer should have every hour from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. (7:30 to 8:30, 8:30 to 9:30, 9:30 to 10:30) Stagger the registration time of employees. The off-hours of these employees should be staggered accordingly. At the same time, lunch and other breaks have to be staggered.
Employers must try to ensure that commuting hours do not encounter peak commuting times, especially when employees need to use public transportation to and from work. Employers should let employees who must return to the office work to understand the various arrangements for staggered working hours before resuming work.
If for operational reasons it is not possible to stagger work and rest time (such as production line processes), employers should use other systematic arrangements to reduce the concentration of employees in public spaces (such as arranging different groups of employees to arrive and leave the office from different entrances and exits).
Will I receive an email or document confirming that the company can resume work on 2 June?
Will not. You will not get additional notice. If you are not sure whether you can resume work, please visit the bizfile.gov.sg website and log in using your commercial electronic government password (CorpPass) to obtain the Singapore Standard Industrial Classification (SSIC) for your basic business Numbering. You can get this number after you have successfully logged in. When you have completed this step, please go to the list of approved resume services on the "COVID GoBusiness" platform and compare the numbers.
My business is one of the services approved to resume work. Do I still need to submit manpower information?
Need. All companies must declare the number of employees returning to work through the "COVID GoBusiness" platform (https://covid.gobusiness.gov.sg) within two weeks of resuming work. Employers can do this on the platform from now on.
Failure to do so would amount to a violation of the Coronavirus Disease 19 (Interim Measures) Act. Those who fail to comply with the safety management measures will face a fine of up to S$10,000, or imprisonment for up to 6 months, or both; a repeat offender may be fined up to S$20,000, or imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both.
What manpower information must I submit?
In addition, companies must record employees 'work schedules, including details of employees' shifts, when they go to and from get off work, when they take breaks, and how they work in groups. Enterprises do not need to submit relevant materials through the "COVID GoBusiness" platform, but if the auditors request to know the situation when they visit, the enterprises must present the relevant materials.
Directory of service industries that can be resumed on 2 June 2020: https://covid.gobusiness.gov.sg/guides/permittedserviceslist.pdf
Safety management measures and industry-specific requirements: https://covid.gobusiness.gov.sg/safemanagement/general (“Safe Management Requirements”)
SafeEntry information: go.gov.sg/safeentry-visitor-management-system
Information on other assistance measures: covid.gobusiness.gov.sg
Ref : https://www.zaobao.com.sg/znews/singapore/story20200529-1056903
Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Singapore will end the "circuit breaker" anti-epidemic phase as planned on 1 June 2020, but to avoid the second wave of the epidemic, the SARS-CoV-2 blocking measures will not be lifted in one go, but will be relaxed in three phases. The first phase, which begins on 2 June, is expected to last four to six weeks. At this stage, who can resume business? What mandatory safety management measures must these operators meet?
Why can some companies can resume work in the first stage of the end of the virus blocking measures?
The first stage after the end of the circuit breaker measures is to gradually and safely resume economic and social activities. Therefore, the government will allow employees to return to office to work step by step, and the business premises that can resume work first are those with low risk of spreading the virus. This includes manufacturing and production facilities, as well as companies whose main business is conducted in the office or does not require frequent contact with multiple people.
Before resuming work, the company must abide by the requirements listed in the safety management measures (refer to https://covid.gobusiness.gov.sg/safemanagement/general ("Safe Management Requirements") and the conditions met in different areas.
Employers must adopt the home office model to the greatest extent. Employees who already work from home should continue to do so. Unless there are clearly necessary reasons, such as the need to use special systems and equipment that cannot be accessed remotely from home, or in order to comply with legal requirements, employees must complete transactions in person or on site before employees can return to the company.
How should companies go about staggering work and rest time in the offices?
Staggering work and rest time is essential to reduce the concentration of employees in public spaces, such as entrances, exits, halls, canteens and pantry.
The workplace safety measures management guidelines issued by the Ministry of Manpower require employers to implement a staggered time operation mode when resuming work. The staggered model is divided into at least three working hours, with each hour as a period of time, to ensure that no more than half of employees report within an hour. For example, if the normal working hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., the employer should have every hour from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. (7:30 to 8:30, 8:30 to 9:30, 9:30 to 10:30) Stagger the registration time of employees. The off-hours of these employees should be staggered accordingly. At the same time, lunch and other breaks have to be staggered.
Employers must try to ensure that commuting hours do not encounter peak commuting times, especially when employees need to use public transportation to and from work. Employers should let employees who must return to the office work to understand the various arrangements for staggered working hours before resuming work.
If for operational reasons it is not possible to stagger work and rest time (such as production line processes), employers should use other systematic arrangements to reduce the concentration of employees in public spaces (such as arranging different groups of employees to arrive and leave the office from different entrances and exits).
Will I receive an email or document confirming that the company can resume work on 2 June?
Will not. You will not get additional notice. If you are not sure whether you can resume work, please visit the bizfile.gov.sg website and log in using your commercial electronic government password (CorpPass) to obtain the Singapore Standard Industrial Classification (SSIC) for your basic business Numbering. You can get this number after you have successfully logged in. When you have completed this step, please go to the list of approved resume services on the "COVID GoBusiness" platform and compare the numbers.
My business is one of the services approved to resume work. Do I still need to submit manpower information?
Need. All companies must declare the number of employees returning to work through the "COVID GoBusiness" platform (https://covid.gobusiness.gov.sg) within two weeks of resuming work. Employers can do this on the platform from now on.
Failure to do so would amount to a violation of the Coronavirus Disease 19 (Interim Measures) Act. Those who fail to comply with the safety management measures will face a fine of up to S$10,000, or imprisonment for up to 6 months, or both; a repeat offender may be fined up to S$20,000, or imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both.
What manpower information must I submit?
In addition, companies must record employees 'work schedules, including details of employees' shifts, when they go to and from get off work, when they take breaks, and how they work in groups. Enterprises do not need to submit relevant materials through the "COVID GoBusiness" platform, but if the auditors request to know the situation when they visit, the enterprises must present the relevant materials.
Directory of service industries that can be resumed on 2 June 2020: https://covid.gobusiness.gov.sg/guides/permittedserviceslist.pdf
Safety management measures and industry-specific requirements: https://covid.gobusiness.gov.sg/safemanagement/general (“Safe Management Requirements”)
SafeEntry information: go.gov.sg/safeentry-visitor-management-system
Information on other assistance measures: covid.gobusiness.gov.sg
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