Stay-home notice for construction sector extended till May 18

Singapore

THE stay-home notice (SHN) period for work permit holders and S Pass holders in the construction industry has been extended from May 4 to May 18.

In a joint statement on Friday, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) said: "The number of infected construction work pass holders living in non-PBD (purpose-built dormitories) premises continues to rise. Their incidence/prevalence remains noticeably higher than the general community. This suggests that transmission at construction worksites among such workers had occurred before the start of the SHN period."

As a result, the cases currently being seen could have been incubated earlier or may have spread among the workers' close contacts and house-mates, they highlighted.

They added: "Based on the public health assessment by MOH, an extension of the SHN by a further 14 days to cover another incubation cycle will help to break the cycle of transmission."

The dependant pass holders of these workers will also be placed on SHN until May 18.

The authorities said that employers will need to continue to look after their workers for the remaining SHN period including making arrangements for delivery of food and other daily essentials, and ensuring that unwell workers see a doctor immediately. They also agreed to start preparations to help the built environment sector begin operations when conditions allow.

The Singapore Contractors Association Limited (SCAL) is setting up a Covid-19 fund to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) save jobs and stay in business. The government will back SCAL's efforts by matching funds raised from the sector. SCAL, which is still pooling funds, estimated the pot to total between S$800,000 and S$1 million, which could help at least 500 SMEs and 5,000 employees.

Meanwhile, it will be status quo for employers who have obtained the go- ahead from BCA for their foreign workers to carry out essential services during the SHN period, unless these approvals have been terminated by BCA. However, foreign workers granted exemption are only allowed to leave their place of residence to carry out essential activities.