Only work pass holders entering from lower-risk regions via two travel lanes are unaffected by entry rules: MOM

ONLY work pass holders entering Singapore from lower-risk countries or regions under the Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) or Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) will be unaffected by recent changes to entry approvals, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in a revised statement on Wednesday.

In a previous statement, the ministry had incorrectly said that those from lower-risk countries or regions already given or seeking entry approval to enter Singapore under the PCA, RGL and other approved travel lanes were not affected.

It has since clarified that those entering via approved travel lanes other than the PCA and RGL are subject to the changed entry approvals.

Based on the entry requirements, which took effect from May 11, most work pass holders who had earlier gained approval to enter Singapore, except those from lower-risk countries entering the Republic through the PCA or RGL, will no longer be allowed to do so, with some exceptions for workers in the construction, marine shipyard and process (CMP) industries, and migrant domestic workers.

CMP work pass holders cleared to enter the country can come in as planned, except for some CMP workers who were scheduled to arrive in June, whose entries will be rescheduled to later weeks.

Domestic workers will also be allowed to enter as previously approved, barring those with arrivals slated for before June 7, who will also see their entries pushed back to later weeks.

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Other work pass holders with prior approval to arrive in Singapore before July 5 can no longer enter, and MOM will contact employers to re-apply when the situation stabilises, where they will be given priority.

The ministry also announced that it has stopped accepting new entry applications for work pass holders from higher-risk countries or regions with immediate effect, except for workers needed for key strategic projects and infrastructural works.