Testing of dorm workers to end by Aug 7, most construction work to resume soon: taskforce

THE Covid-19 testing of migrant workers in dormitories will be completed by Aug 7, which means will a vast majority of workers will be able to resume work by mid- to late August, the multi-ministry taskforce managing the Covid-19 outbreak said on Thursday.

This means that most construction projects are expected to resume soon, said taskforce co-chair and Education Minister Lawrence Wong.

Workers in quarantine facilities will be tested when their isolation period ends. The number of cases in dormitories are expected to remain volatile for the next two weeks before tapering, said Mr Wong.

Government agencies are working closely with employers to ensure that safety measures are in place once migrant workers resume work, and testing for Covid-19 will be done every 14 days.

Asked whether the government is looking to extend the temporary relief measure introduced in May for the property sector, Mr Wong said the six-month reprieve is quite generous and takes into account the time needed for the sector to resume activities. The government will continue to monitor the situation and work with various stakeholders, he added.

The relief measure was introduced in response to the disruption of construction timelines and dampened home sales due to the pandemic. It encompasses the grace period given for the completion of residential, commerical and industrial development projects, and the sale of housing units in residential projects relating to Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD) remission for housing developers.

GET BT IN YOUR INBOX DAILY

Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign UpVIEW ALL

Mr Wong said once projects get going, the government will need to help contractors to get used to the "new normal" for construction activities.

"There will be more measures and protocols in place, there will be more testing of the workers. It will be a completely different environment for the entire sector. So we are very mindful that it goes beyond just a resumption of activities," he said. "The entire sector has to transform itself and be more productive, and this is an ongoing long journey that the government agency is committed to working with the private sector to bring this about."

Separately, the taskforce is reviewing work-from-home arrangements following requests from companies for more flexibility. Employers pointed to an impact on productivity, among other factors, he said.

As such arrangements are being reviewed, the taskforce still hopes to see a high degree of people working from home, he said.