Many have been non-compliant during phase 2 (heightened alert), reports the Ministry of Manpower
Over 66 companies in Singapore were penalised for failing to put in place safe management measures, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). In a Facebook post, the ministry shared that they’ve received over 3,500 feedback about potential COVID compliance issues since the start of phase 2 (heightened alert) on May 16th. They did not clarify whether staff or external parties had alerted MOM about the breaches, but investigations found issues around failure to allow employees to work from home and to communicate operational needs.
Now that Singapore is back in phase 2, MOM advised employers to clearly explain work arrangements to staff. For instance, leaders should clarify why staff would be required back at the workplace during this period, whether it’s due to the nature of the work or if it was on an ad-hoc basis.
The ministry has also reminded staff to do their part to adhere to COVID safety measures. If there were any possible breaches or concerns about poor practices at workplaces, MOM urged employees to report it through their portal.
Read more: Singapore swings back into phase 2
“With the number of locally transmitted cases on the rise, limiting interactions in public spaces such as workplaces is critical to reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission,” said MOM. “The ministry would like to remind all employers that work-from-home remains the default today. This means that employers must allow all employees who are able to work from home to do so.”
MOM’s enforcement officers will continue to conduct spot checks to ensure compliance at workplaces. Workplaces that fail to comply with prevailing measures can be ordered to close their premises or be subject to penalties including fines.
