Travellers from Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka to be allowed in Singapore after Oct 26

WITH the exception of short-term visitors, travellers from Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka with a 14-day travel history to these countries will be allowed to enter Singapore from 11.59pm on Oct 26. All travellers, however, will be allowed to transit through Singapore.

These six countries will now be placed in Category IV, meaning that arrivals will have to serve a 10-day stay-home notice (SHN) at dedicated SHN facilities. The cost of this 10-day stay is S$1,450 per person.

"The situation in these countries has stabilised for some time, and there is no longer a need for a strict 'not-to-land' rule," said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung at a press conference by the multi-ministry taskforce on Covid-19 on Saturday (Oct 23).

Many other changes to country classifications and streamlined protocols for travellers were also announced, all of which take effect from the same time of 11.59pm on Oct 26.

Malaysia and Indonesia - Singapore's two closest neighbours - are among several countries being upgraded to Category III, from Category IV previously. The others are Cambodia, Egypt, Hungary, Israel, Mongolia, Qatar, Rwanda, Samoa, Seychelles, South Africa, Tonga, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam.

Testing procedures are being streamlined such that all travellers need to take just one polymerase chain reaction (PCR) after arriving in Singapore.

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Travellers from Category I countries or via Category II Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs) will only have to take an on-arrival PCR test.

Those coming from Category II non-VTL, III, and IV countries will no longer need to undergo an on-arrival test, and will only have to take an exit PCR test at the end of their SHN.

All travellers from Category III countries or regions will serve their 10-day SHN at their declared place of residence or accommodation, regardless of the vaccination status and travel history of such travellers and their household members.

"By default, they will not be allocated accommodation in any dedicated SHN facilities," said the Health Ministry in a press release. "Returning residents should ensure that alternative accommodation is secured prior to their return if their homes are unsuitable for their SHN."

Separately, the entry of foreign domestic workers will also be increased from 200 a week now to 1,000 a week, which will help to clear the backlog of applications, said Ong.

The curbs on travellers from India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka in particular -- in place since May 2 -- have contributed to an ongoing manpower crunch in the construction, marine and process industries.

Singapore Business Federation chief executive officer Lam Yi Young said the relaxation of measures for travellers from countries such as Bangladesh and India "is good news for businesses with need for migrant workers from these countries, such as those in the construction, landscaping and cleaning sectors".

"Companies in these sectors are reliant on migrant workers and have been deeply impacted by the travel restrictions," he added.

Singapore Contractors Association Limited president Ng Yek Meng said of the revised travel measures: "It will allow more vaccinated workers to return to Singapore. This will help greatly to resolve the acute labour crunch situation in the construction industry."

Hooi Yu Koh, executive chairman and chief executive officer of specialist builder Kori Holdings, also reacted positively to the announcement.

"We have been awaiting this for a long time. It is very helpful. We are eagerly needing to supplement those that have left," he said, adding that he estimates the firm has lost about a fifth of its manpower since the pandemic began. Some workers from India and Bangladesh received in-principle approval from the Manpower Ministry months ago but have been unable to enter, he noted.

But Prime Structures Engineering director Julia Bensily is less optimistic, noting that an entry permit is required for foreigners entering for work.

A staff member who returned to the Philippines to settle some matters has been unable to get an entry permit to come back to Singapore, even though arrivals from that country are currently allowed, she said. "I don't have high hopes about being able to get an entry permit to bring in these people for work purposes," said Bensily.

READ MORE:

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• Germany to classify Singapore as 'high-risk area' from Oct 24