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SINGAPORE – Singaporean employers will switch to a “more flexible and hybrid way of working” starting next month as the country will take further steps to relax some Covid-19 measures, Education Minister Lawrence Wong said in a press conference on Wednesday (March 24). ).
Starting April 5, more employees who currently work from home can return to the workplace. Up to 75 percent of people who can work from home will be able to return to their workplace at any time, up from 50 percent today.
Split teams will no longer be mandatory, but employers will be strongly encouraged to stagger their start times and implement flexible work hours, he added.
The updated guidelines come after a review of safe management measures in workplaces by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the National Trade Union Congress (NTUC) and the National Federation of Singapore Employers (SNEF). ). The review was intended to allow greater flexibility for businesses and employees while limiting the risks of Covid-19 transmission.
NTUC Undersecretary General Cham Hui Fong said Wednesday that NTUC will work with companies to ensure that the transition to the new labor agreements is properly planned and communicated to employees.
“There should be a reasonable time for the adjustment to resume operations smoothly and safely,” it added in a statement.
Sim Gim Guan, executive director of SNEF, said that the health and safety of employees must remain a priority for employers, although working from home is no longer the default.
“At the same time, employers could introduce innovative labor agreements that align business requirements with the needs of employees.
“This would allow employers to remain competitive and maintain the implementation of flexible labor arrangements in the post-Covid-19 economy,” he said.
Under guidelines updated Wednesday, employers must, among other things, ensure that no more than 75 percent of employees who can work from home are in the workplace at any one time. This is because the risk of transmission is still present.
There will be no limit to the proportion of work hours an individual employee can spend in the workplace. Employers are encouraged to support as many employees as possible to work from home.
All social and recreational gatherings, such as farewell lunches and team bonding activities inside or outside the workplace, must meet the prevailing meeting size limit of eight people, the MOM notice said.
With more employees in the office, employers are encouraged to stagger start times for all employees so that at least half of them arrive at the workplace by 10 a.m. or later, whenever possible.
Businesses should also continue to hold virtual meetings where possible, but if face-to-face meetings are needed, they can be scheduled after 10 a.m. M.
“These measures would allow more employees to avoid rush hour travel, especially if employees require the use of public transportation,” the notice said.
A statement from the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Wednesday said the tripartite partners urged companies to adhere to the necessary limits of safe distancing and ability to organize work-related events.
“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 holding events during meals as much as possible,” the Health Ministry said.
Enforcement actions will be taken against employers who do not comply with safe management measures and will include the possibility of workplace closures.
“Employers must also be prepared that the situation is dynamic. If there is a greater risk of a Covid-19 resurgence, we will have to adjust our stance and more stringent measures will have to be reintroduced in workplaces,” added the Ministry of Health. .
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