Covid-19 Resources Hub for Employers and HR Teams

1. Business Regulations for Singapore Employers

A series of social distancing measures have been implemented to stem the rise of infections in Singapore. Here is a comprehensive list of measures that may have an impact on your business operations:

Circuit Breaker

Workplaces of employers that are not deemed as essential services/key economic sectors are shut from 7 April 2020 - 4 May 2020. Employers not deemed as essential services are to facilitate full telecommuting during this period of time. Employers that do not adhere to this may be subject to penalties.

Businesses deemed as essential services must take conscious steps to reduce physical interactions by doing the following:

• Reducing the need and duration for physical interactions;
• Staggering work hours;
• Postponing all group events; and
• Implementing shift work and/or split-team arrangements.

For employers with affected workers who can’t work from home or from the workplace, the Ministry of Manpower has advised employers to work out “clear salary and leave arrangements, based on the principle of shared responsibility”, with the employee.

Stay Home Notice (SHN)

From 23 March 2020, 2359 hours, all short-term visitors (from anywhere in the world) will not be allowed to enter or transit through Singapore.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will only allow the entry / return of work pass holders, including their dependents, for those providing essential services, such as in healthcare and transport.

All Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents, Long Term Pass holders returning to Singapore will be required to serve a 14-day self-isolation at dedicated Stay-Home Notice (SHN) facilities.

Travel restrictions for foreign visitors entering Singapore

Everything you need to know about the Stay Home Notice (SHN)

[Infographic]: Do you have workers affected by Leave of Absence or Stay Home Notice

[Calculator]: SHN/ LOA calculator

Work Passes

From 20 March 2020, 2359 hours,Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will require all new and existing work pass holders (including dependants) planning to enter/return to Singapore from any country, to obtain MOM’s approval before they commence their journey. All employers are strongly urged to defer bringing pass holders into Singapore. To facilitate this, MOM will automatically extend the validities of all in-principle approvals (IPAs) that are expiring soon by 2 months.

The entry approval requirement applies to:

1. Existing work pass holders currently out of Singapore; and
2. In-Principle Approval holders who have yet to enter Singapore

Upon arrival in Singapore, all affected work pass holders will be placed on a mandatory 14-day Stay-Home Notice (SHN). When applying for entry approval, employers will be required to declare to MOM that they have arranged for suitable premises to house these entering/returning employees for the duration of their SHN. * From 29 March 2020, 2359 hours, those with LTVPs issued by ICA need to request for ICA’s entry approval, even if they have LOCs issued by MOM.

[Form] Entry Approval Request

[Advisory]: MOM Advisory to Employers

2. Initiatives to help businesses

Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures - A quick summary of the budget announcements (Unity, Resilience, Solidarity) and how the measures can help your business to tide over this difficult period:

Government Budget Measures

1. Waiver of monthly Foreign Worker Levy due in Apr 2020
2. Foreign Worker Levy Rebate of $750 in Apr 2020 from levies paid this year, for each Work Permit or S Pass holder
3. Increase Government’s risk share of loans from 80% to 90% for loans initiated from 8 Apr 2020 till 31 Mar 2021, under the Temporary Bridging Loan Programme, Enterprise Financing Scheme – Working Capital Loan, and Enterprise Financing Scheme – Trade Loan
4. Enhance Rental Waivers - Increase rental waivers from 0.5 month to 1 month, for industrial, office, and agricultural tenants of Government agencie
5. Ensure Pass-through of Property Tax Rebate - Up to 100% Property Tax Rebate for non-residential properties, for the tax payable in 2020
6. Jobs Support Scheme- To help save jobs, Government will pay 75% of the first $4,600 of monthly wages paid in Apr 2020, for every local worker in employment; Wage support levels will be differentiated by sector for remaining qualifying months

Pledge a Job to Keep Singaporeans Employed

Reach out and pledge any transitory job opportunities that you may have to help fellow Singaporeans who may be displaced due to Covid-19.

3. Business and People Continuity Planning

How to keep it all together when it’s no longer business as usual? Here are some useful articles on safeguarding the mental wellness of your workforce as we hunker down in our homes, adjusting to remote work.

Helping teams adjusting to remote work

Virtual Team Building

Real leaders are forged in crisis

How Chinese Companies have responded to coronavirus

Covid-19 implications for Businesses

4. Other Useful Links

FluGoWhere (Location of nearest PHPC Clinics)

MaskGoWhere (Collection of Re-usable Masks)

Ministry of Health (Latest updateson Covid-19)

Share a Positive Message with Fellow Singaporeans