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SINGAPORE: More employees can return to the workplace starting April 5 and split team arrangements will no longer be mandatory as Singapore eases some COVID-19 measures.
The country will move from working from home as a default mode to a more “flexible and hybrid” form of work, Co-Chair of the multi-ministerial COVID-19 task force, Lawrence Wong, announced on Wednesday (March 24).
Up to 75 percent of employees who can currently work from home can now be in the workplace at any time, up from 50 percent today, he said at a news conference.
The current limit on the time an employee spends in the workplace will also be lifted.
“We will no longer impose the requirement to split teams, but we will strongly encourage employers to continue staggering start times and implement flexible work schedules and of course employers must continue to implement all prevailing safe management measures.” Mr. Wong said. who is also Minister of Education.
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Such measures will help reduce the risks of COVID-19 transmission by reducing interactions and overcrowding in common spaces, the Ministry of Health (MINSA) said in a press release on Wednesday.
The Health Ministry added that while split team arrangements are no longer mandatory, companies can continue to adopt such arrangements for business continuity purposes if they so wish.
Restrictions against cross-implementation in workplaces remain in effect.
Social and recreational gatherings, such as employer-organized team-building events, will be allowed, but should be limited to no more than eight people.
“When organizing work-related events, companies are reminded to adhere to the capacity limits and safe distancing necessary to keep employees and stakeholders safe,” the ministry said.
“Due to the increased risk of transmission when people are unmasked, meals should not be the main feature of the event and companies should avoid hosting events during meals as much as possible.”
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As more people return to the workplace, tripartite partners are urging companies to remain vigilant, the Health Ministry said, adding that employers should continue to implement safe management measures, such as regular cleaning of common spaces, demarcating safe physical distancing and the use of masks at all times.
The tripartite partners are the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the National Trade Union Congress (NTUC) and the National Federation of Singapore Employers (SNEF).
Coercive action will be taken against employers who fail to comply with safe management measures, and that includes the possibility of workplace closures.
Employers must also be prepared for the situation to be “dynamic,” the Health Ministry said.
“If there is an increased risk of a COVID-19 resurgence, we will have to adjust our stance and reintroduce stricter measures in workplaces,” he added.
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