SHN crunch hobbles scheme to bring in labour for key sectors

Companies also flag high costs under programme to help construction, marine and process sectors

Yong Jun Yuan

Published Fri, Oct 1, 2021 · 05:50 AM

Singapore

THE rise in local Covid-19 infection rates appears to have made it harder for migrant workers to enter Singapore via a pilot programme introduced in July this year.

The programme was introduced for workers coming from India and Malaysia, and was intended to alleviate the manpower crunch faced by the construction, marine and process (CMP) sectors.

It had streamlined the process of overseas training, testing and on-boarding with Singapore's on-arrival testing and stay-home notice (SHN) protocol. Workers entering Singapore would serve the SHN in dedicated facilities.

In a joint response on Thursday, Singapore Contractors Association Ltd (SCAL), the Association of Si…