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SINGAPORE – People calling for restrictions on migrant workers to be relaxed as the country moves into phase three are forgetting about the biggest issues, said Deputy Human Resources Minister Tan See Leng.
The third phase of Singapore’s reopening, which begins on December 28, is not a return to the pre-Covid status quo, said Dr. Tan, who is also Second Minister of Commerce and Industry.
He added that now is not the time to lower our guard and that the risk of a Covid-19 resurgence among migrant workers is “real and significant.”
Among the restrictions that will be relaxed in phase three, people will be able to meet socially in groups of eight, above the previous limit of five. Capacity limits for attractions, shopping malls and weddings will also be raised.
Some international media and local non-governmental organizations have said that it is unfair that restrictions still exist for the migrant worker community, Dr. Tan said in a Facebook post on Saturday (December 19).
“But they have overlooked the most important issues,” he added.
The risk of a Covid-19 reappearance among migrant workers is “real and significant.”
Dr. Tan noted that while 47 percent of migrant workers living in dormitories had been infected with Covid-19 in the past, more than half have not and are still vulnerable.
To minimize the risk of infection, the government has been building new dormitories with better security standards, and migrant workers have started moving into some of them since October.
Average occupancy rates on existing purpose-built bedrooms have also fallen since April to around 60 percent today. Migrant workers will also receive the Covid-19 vaccine at no cost, Dr. Tan said.
At the same time, other measures, such as routine testing every 14 days and the use of contact tracing devices, should be maintained so that new cases can be quickly identified and isolated, he said.
“We know that our measures have been tough on our migrant workers and we thank them for their understanding and sacrifice,” said Dr. Tan.
Wherever possible, he added, restrictions have been relaxed to allow those who live in some dormitories to use common facilities such as kitchens, gyms and basketball courts.
Some have also been allowed to visit designated recreation centers on their days off, and work is underway to increase the frequency of such visits, added Dr. Tan.
And starting in the first quarter of next year, a new pilot plan will allow migrant workers to gradually return to the community.
Dr Tan said that the government recognizes its responsibility to keep Singapore’s migrant workers safe and to look after their livelihoods and well-being.
“Few countries have done as much for their migrant workers as we have. We provide them with the same level of health care that Singaporeans enjoy, at no cost to them,” he said.
He noted that despite the magnitude of the outbreak in the dormitories, only 25 workers have been admitted to the intensive care unit and two workers died of Covid-19-related causes.
Meals, entertainment and counseling services were also provided, and the government ensured that migrant workers received their wages, he said.
“All of this required a massive combined effort, with the government working with healthcare workers, NGOs, charities, and community groups,” said Dr. Tan.
“Some say that we have been slow to relax our strict measures. But the most important thing we can do for our migrant workers is to remain vigilant and make sure their sacrifices are not wasted,” he added.
For the general population, restrictions on group size and venue capacity persist. High-risk venues and activities are still closed, Tan said.
The government’s strict approach to reopening is precisely why Singapore can now wait for phase three, he added.
“If we relax any of these security measures, we will see new waves of infection,” said Dr. Tan, who has more than 20 years of private sector experience in the healthcare industry.
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