MOM fines 11 companies for failing to ensure WFH as default arrangement

THE Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Monday said it fined 11 companies for breaches of safe-management measures (SMMs) after inspecting over 530 workplaces from May 8 to 21.

All the fines were issued to companies which failed to ensure work-from-home (WFH) as a default arrangement for employees who are able to do so, MOM said in a press statement.

It will be stepping up inspections of workplaces to ensure the latest guidelines are properly implemented. The latest advisory for SMMs at the workplace was issued on May 14, which requires employers to implement WFH as the default work arrangement.

MOM said all employees whose roles can be performed from home must do so and employers must provide the necessary facilities and direct their staff to WFH wherever possible.

Only employees who are unable to WFH due to the nature of the work can continue to work on-site. As such, employers must ensure adequate SMMs are in place at all times. These include staggering start times, allowing flexible workplace hours, no cross-deployment across workplaces or worksite, no social gatherings at the workplace, as well as staggered times for meal breaks, which are to be taken individually.

"Enforcement actions will still be taken against the employer, if workers who are able to WFH are found to be working on-site, even if the total number of workers on-site are at or below the declared number of workers," MOM said.

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"We urge employers and employees to adhere to the latest guidelines, in order to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission at the workplace."

MOM added that breaches of workplace SMMs can be reported through its SnapSAFE app and the identity of whistle-blowers will be kept strictly confidential.

Employers are required to declare their on-site manpower details at covid.gobusiness.gov.sg by May 28 and update the information whenever there are significant changes.