Singaporeans Must Continue Work From Home After Circuit Breaker

Singaporeans Must Continue Work From Home After Circuit Breaker End on 1 June

 

Remote Working to Continue for Many Singaporeans

Singapore’s circuit breaker period will end on 1 June, but most Singaporeans will continue working from home.

Work conducted on-site has been cut down to 30%. This was on 7 April, before the circuit break period. It is likely this will continue. Only 17% of Singapore’s workforce will commute because they are in the essential service industry.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry is encouraging all those who can work from home to continue. Many have already become used to online platforms to carry out their work over the last few weeks.

The country will focus on production and manufacturing capacities first. Other sectors involving Singapore trading with the rest of the world and critical supplies will start progressively.

 

Safe Working Conditions is the Main Focus

As of now, there is no telling when the economy will go back to its full force. The aim is to sustain low numbers and curb the spread of the virus in the community. If this can be done, more sectors can be progressively opened. The focus remains on safe working conditions, not economic benchmarks for the time being.

Currently, discussions are in the works about resuming essential business travel. South Korea and Japan are among the countries involved. There must be a system in place to track infected persons. Health standards and mutual assurances are needed before things can get back on track.

For now, Singapore’s modus operandi is to see how things progress over the next few months. Working from home should be adopted as the default mode. It will take time to adjust to the new way of doing things. Those who cannot work from home will have their employers review their work process.

Employers must put Safe Management Measures in place for those who need to work on-site. Employers must show that they have made reasonable attempts to facilitate working remotely where possible. Employees should only go on-site if there is a demonstrable necessity to do so.

Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has prepared a range of available resources and digital solutions. Small and medium enterprises that want to adopt these IMDA pre-approved digital solutions can apply for the Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG). More than 80 categories are available for support solutions to help businesses during this unprecedented time. Contact us if you are interested in more information.