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SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has suspended the work pass privileges of two employers after they failed to arrange for their workers to undergo mandatory routine testing for COVID-19.
Action was taken after employers failed to provide valid reasons or file an exemption request for their workers, according to a joint press release from MOM, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), the Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Health Promotion Board. (HPB) on Friday (October 16).
“As these employers have erred, they will no longer be able to continue employing the two job pass holders,” authorities said.
“The affected workers have been given a grace period to seek alternative employment since they were not complicit in the failure to comply with the requirements,” added authorities.
This is the first time that employers have been penalized for failing to meet the listed routine testing requirements, which are aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19.
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Workers who stay in dormitories, those in the construction, marine and process industries, and all those who go to workplaces must be routinely tested for the virus every 14 days.
Since August, the authorities had made several appeals to employers, reminding them to send their workers for testing before the September 5 deadline.
OVER 2,000 YET TO TRY
The vast majority of some 260,000 workers have undergone or been scheduled for the routine tests listed, authorities said Friday.
However, some 2,200 workers who must undergo testing have yet to do so.
“These include workers who missed subsequent appointments for routine tests on the list, and workers who are recently identified as requiring routine tests on the list because they enter workplaces,” authorities said.
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The AccessCode status for these workers will remain “red” and they cannot return to work.
About half of them have been scheduled for testing and will be able to resume work once they have been tested, authorities added.
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Efforts to support employers included the Swab Registration System and the improvement of swab facilities to ensure sufficient spaces for appointments and increase convenience and accessibility for employers and workers, authorities said.
Earlier this month, MOM and HPB announced that more regional COVID-19 screening centers and dormitory testing facilities would be established to facilitate the routine tests listed.
Four facilities – Acacia Lodge, Cassia @ Penjuru, Central Staff Apartments and Westlite Mandai – would also offer overnight swabs for workers to “accommodate their work cycles,” authorities said last week.
“MOM will continue to take action against errant employers or workers who persistently fail to schedule or attend their scheduled routine test sessions without valid reasons, including revocation of work passes and suspension of work pass privileges,” said the companies. authorities on Friday.
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