Employers must agree to 2 conditions to get foreign worker levy waivers, rebates: MOM

EMPLOYERS will have to agree to let the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) move their foreign workers who are cleared of Covid-19 from their existing dormitory to a cleared dormitory, among other measures, in order to receive an extension to their foreign worker levy waivers and rebates as Singapore moves into phase one of reopening its economy.

The extension of these waivers and rebates were announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat during the Fortitude Budget on Tuesday, the government's fourth economic rescue package to support Singaporeans and businesses through the Covid-19 pandemic.

On Saturday, MOM listed two conditions that employers must agree to in order to receive the the rebates.

The first is to allow MOM to move Work Permit holders and S Pass holders who are cleared of Covid-19 from their existing dormitory to a cleared dormitory, to facilitate the workers' return to work. Employers may be required to terminate the leases with their current dormitory operators to recontract with a new dormitory operator, MOM said.

The second is to allow MOM to second or transfer these workers to work at another company that needs workers, but whose workers are in dormitories that have not been cleared.

The ministry said employers must make an online acknowledgement to accept these conditions by June 10.

It added that employers must provide upkeep and salary support to their foreign workers who are unable to work, in view of the government support given. In such cases, employers should work out mutually agreed salary and leave arrangements with the unions and workers.

Foreign workers who are assigned to work full-time should be paid their prevailing salaries, MOM said.